I’ve added a forum to the blog (against Jason’s better judgement, I might add). 🙂 This will give us a place where you can post classifieds, story ideas, job listings, and so on. There will now be a Forum link on the menu at the top of each page.
Please try it out. We want to make sure that the software we are using doesn’t slow down the blog too much or cause any other problems. I’m not particularly thrilled with the user interface (it’s awfully busy), so there may be changes ahead.
Of course, you can still comment on each blog post without using the forum. That won’t change.
There was some recent controversy on the mailing list about live, realtime crime alert posts. Some people found the alerts useful or interesting, while others thought there were too many of them flooding people’s mailboxes, or felt they were too distressing.
The Central District Newsposted the map seen here of the glidepaths for Sea-Tac. The red line is the glide path to the new third runway; the green line is the old one. If you live under these paths, have you noticed a change in airplane noise since the third runway opened recently? If you’re on the west part of the Hill, do you hear more noise? Here at the Blog, we live between those two paths, and have noticed a decrease in noise, but not since the third runway opened. It got quieter months ago for some reason.
Turtle the cat is missing. Please click the image to see the flyer.Turtle the sweet-natured calico cat, last seen on Thanksgiving, disappeared near Hanford and Beacon. Have you seen her? Her dog (yes, her dog) is getting worried. Click the image to the right to see a larger photo and contact information for her humans.
What if you had to do all of your holiday gift shopping without leaving Beacon Hill? Is it possible? The Hill is not known for having a ton of retail, but that doesn’t mean we have to head for the ID, Georgetown, Columbia City, Downtown, or (God forbid) Southcenter to find gifts. Our neighborhood has plenty of great gift ideas to choose from, easily accessible by foot for many of us, making shopping on the Hill a healthy and green option as well as one that supports our neighbors who do business here.
I spent “Cyber Monday” not online, but on foot, browsing North Beacon Hill for shopping opportunities. I was not disappointed. Here’s what I found.
Soaps and other gifts at 3 Brothers gift shop. Photo by Wendi.3 Brothers Cleaners, a dry cleaner at 3210 Beacon Avenue South, is not just a dry cleaner. They also have a small but well-stocked gift shop in the front of the building. The shop has the usual gift shop merchandise: knick knacks, glassware, clocks, candles, soaps, decorations, and the like. The prices seemed very reasonable. I bought a very pretty faux-silk embroidered drawstring pouch for $3.
Victrola Coffee, in the old Galaxie shop at 3215 Beacon Avenue South, has Victrola logo ceramic mugs for $7.95, and travel mugs for $14.95. Combine either of these with some fresh coffee beans, and you have an excellent gift for any coffee lover.
Buggy at 3315 Beacon Avenue South is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays so we weren’t able to go in, but from previous visits we know that the shop is more than just a “baby stuff” shop. Yes, there are baby and kid things galore, including clothing and toys, but there are also knitting supplies, handmade bags, journals, and other gifts that even non-parents would enjoy. We particularly like some of the items from da-a tis.
Fragrance oils for sale at Spoons. Photo by Wendi.Spoons Urban Apparel at 2516 Beacon Avenue South advertises “urban apparel and more,” including an assortment of fragrance oils for men and women at $5 per vial, and a collection of $10 t-shirts. They also have a very cool “Beacon Hill” painted sign inside the store, which is located in what was a long vacant storefront at the junction of Beacon and 15th.
Yoga on Beacon at 3013 Beacon Avenue South was also closed during our shopping trip, but we see that they have a nice selection of workout clothing. A class card or unlimited membership would also be a great gift for a yoga student.
Hello Bicycle at 3067 Beacon Ave South has an assortment of bicycling accessories, and bicycles as well. Their hours are limited; check the website or call before stopping by.
Edible gifts are a great option for the foodie in your life. Despi Delite Bakery at 2701 15th Avenue South has a great assortment of Filipino pastries and many other baked goods. They sell gift certificates for any amount, they say — just ask.
Gift certificates good for a bunch of baked treats like these may be found at the Despi Delite Bakery. Photo by Wendi.Local grocery stores such as the Hilltop Red Apple at 2701 Beacon Avenue South have premium candy, fruit and wine, and flowers to decorate the dinner table.
The shops mentioned here are less than half a mile apart in the North Beacon Hill business district. Who needs a car? But this is only North Beacon. Do you have favorite shopping destinations in Mid-Beacon or South Beacon? Please post a comment. We’d like to feature them, too.
Here’s a map of all the businesses mentioned here, marked with shopping baskets:
Those looking for original gifts made right here on Beacon Hill take note: artist/designer Louise Schollaert is hosting a Ceramic Show and Sale open house this weekend, at 4802 12th Avenue South, from 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm on Saturday, and 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm on Sunday. The show will feature both sculptural and functional works. Saturday’s show will include wine and hors d’oeuvres. Louise’s flyer for the event lists the location as “just east of Georgetown,” but don’t be fooled; it’s pure Mid-Beacon Hill. Georgetown doesn’t have all the art.
Last year December came in with a dusting of snow on Beacon Avenue. Photo by Wendi.
Perhaps this picture of a snowy Beacon Avenue will get you in the holiday spirit. This was taken last December 1, when we had a lovely dusting of snow that promptly melted. This year, temperatures are running about ten degrees above normal, so we aren’t likely to get any snow for a while. It never hurts to have those tire chains ready to go, though. Eventually it will get colder.
When the light at 15th and Beacon looks like this, a right turn could cost you $124. Photo by Ricochet Remington.
Beacon Hill resident Kris Koepke asks about the scofflaws that take right turns on red lights at 15th and Beacon, where the intersection is marked “No Turn on Red.” A Seattle Police spokesman responds, “we have notified our traffic section of this problem.” It’s a $124 ticket if you get caught — Seattle P-I
Just a couple of blocks away from the north tip of Beacon Hill is the Mi La Cay Vietnamese soup restaurant (mi soup, similar to pho, but with some differences), reviewed favorably by D.J. Yasui — Northwest Cheap Eats Examiner
