All posts by Wendi Dunlap

Editor of the Beacon Hill Blog.
Education, Local Events

Franklin Arts Festival raises funds with music, art, and food

Painting by Franklin student Aren Roberson, courtesy of Franklin PTSA.

Just down the hill, the annual Franklin Arts Festival returns this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Franklin High School, 3013 Mount Baker Blvd. The festival will feature student performances including the steel drum band, kung fu team, jazz band, Quaker band, and lion dancers, along with displays of visual art, ceramics, and wood arts. Franklin High School is celebrating its centennial this year; it opened in September 1912 as the second purpose-built high school in Seattle.

Student clubs will sell a variety of items including heirloom tomato and vegetable plants, woodcrafts, notecards featuring student art, and original ceramic “Quaker cups” hand-thrown and fired by Franklin alum and artist Francis Roque and glazed by Franklin students. Refreshments will also be for sale.

The festival raises funds to benefit Franklin’s art, drama, and music programs and student clubs.

Other Neighborhoods, Recreation

A walk through seven hills and Seattle history

1 Comment
This 1909 photo shows the Denny Regrade in progress; the regrade is the reason we no longer have a Denny Hill. Photo courtesy of Seattle Municipal Archives.

Beacon Hill’s Jose Rizal Park is the grand finale of Saturday’s Seven Hills Walk, a guided 6.5 mile walk through Seattle (and local Scandinavian) history across the city’s seven past and present hills.

The walk is based on a traditional 20-mile hike in Seattle’s sister city of Bergen, Norway. Seattle’s shorter version starts on Queen Anne Hill at the Kerry Park viewpoint, 211 W. Highland Dr. Walkers and history guides will then visit Denny Hill (at least, what remains of it — including Denny Park and the Denny Park Lutheran Church, as well as the former Sons of Norway Hall), Capitol Hill (Cal Anderson Park and Seven Hills Park), Second Hill a.k.a. Renton Hill (Fred Lind Manor, a retirement home which features historical pieces from the old downtown Swedish Baptist Church), First Hill (lunch at Swedish Hospital), Yesler or “Profanity” Hill, and last but not least, Beacon Hill and Rizal Park.

The walk will start at 9 a.m. at Kerry Park and run until about 3 p.m. It is free and all are welcome. Walkers can purchase lunch at Swedish (there is a limited lunch menu) or bring their own lunches. Metro buses will return walkers to Kerry Park; bring a bus pass or money if you wish to ride.

The event is sponsored by the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association and Sound Steps.

BH in the News, Local Business

Fortified wines, some beers a bit harder to buy on Beacon Hill

2 Comments
Photo (not of Beacon Hill, as far as we know) by Steve Snodgrass via Creative Commons/Flickr.

Casey McNerthney at SeattlePI.com reports that a pilot program to voluntarily restrict sales of certain beers and fortified wines on Beacon Hill (previously discussed here) has gone into effect.

The plan addresses retailers such as convenience stores, who will receive “strong prompting” (from alcohol distributors and the mayor’s office) to prohibit sales of the problem products between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m., seven days a week. The plan does not include bars and restaurants.

According to McNerthney, the city is providing a kit of suggested options for small businesses that have previously relied on the sales of fortified wine and beer.

Some Beacon Hill neighbors have been working on creating an Alcohol Impact Area (AIA) on the Hill. In an AIA, retailers may be restricted from selling certain types of alcoholic beverages that are linked to local chronic public inebriation problems. This is the list of products currently banned in AIA areas. The current voluntary plan would not preclude the city from eventually creating an AIA if necessary.

We don’t yet know which Beacon Hill businesses are participating in the plan, but we have asked the Mayor’s office for further clarification.

History of the Hill

97 years ago today…

3 Comments
Sherwood Gillespy (1853-1912) was an early advocate for municipal golf in Seattle, and is commemorated by a statue in front of the golf clubhouse in Jefferson Park. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
On May 12, 1915, the Jefferson Park Municipal Golf Course opened here on Beacon Hill. It was the first municipal golf course in Seattle. 97 years later, the golf course still operates, and still draws golfers from throughout the area to enjoy a bit of Beacon Hill.

You can read a HistoryLink.org essay about the course here. Here’s another essay with more detail about the course.

Thanks to neighbor Corinna Laughlin for pointing out this anniversary to us.

Recreation

Women wanted for Wednesday lawn bowling league

Neighbor Heather sent this invitation:

‘Tis the season for Wednesday evening summer lawn bowling. This is a call out to all the ladies of Seattle who might want to consider joining this fabulous, but little known, summer outdoor activity on Beacon Hill. We are the Beacon Hill Bowl Busters — a women’s league at the Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club working hard to walk the friendly line between social and competitive. The season goes from June 6 to August 1.

Things to know:

  • We are an eclectic group of women lawn bowlers.
  • We bowl every Wednesday evening from 7 til you pretty much feel done or we get kicked off the greens.
  • We have created a light-hearted, socially-competitive environment.
  • We like to get our drink on and have a permit to do so on Wednesday evenings.
  • We like to get our drink on.
  • We welcome people who don’t want to get their drink on.
  • We love our community.
  • We fire up the grill and welcome food.
  • We have a blast bowling together.
  • We have an amazing million-dollar view.

You:

For questions about joining the club contact info@seattlebowls.org
For questions about the league contact Kat Marriner at katmarriner@comcast.net

Education, Food and Drink

Learn how to cook carnitas, pozole, and ceviche at El Centro

Pork carnitas, pozole, and halibut ceviche are on the menu May 20 for a cooking demo at El Centro de la Raza with local chef Vincent Rivera of Jazz Alley. Cost to attend is $40, and for that fee, you’ll observe and learn how to cook a three-course meal along with side dishes. Recipes will be provided.

The demo will include hands-on cooking opportunities, so wear an apron if possible. Be prepared to observe, learn, and take notes.

Tickets are available here. The event is Sunday, May 20, from 1-2:30 p.m. at El Centro’s kitchen, 2524 16th Ave. S. Proceeds from the demo will benefit the El Centro de la Raza Senior Nutrition and Wellness program.

Pork carnitas. Photo by Mike McCune via Creative Commons/Flickr.
Local Events, Volunteering and Giving

Taste of Van Asselt needs vendors, musicians

The folks organizing the Taste of Van Asselt event this summer have issued a call for vendors and musicians. The event is Saturday, July 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Van Asselt Community Center, 2820 S. Myrtle St. on South Beacon Hill.

The cost is $35 per food or arts and crafts vendor, and each vendor must have a Seattle business license. The deadline for registering is Wednesday, July 11. Sound like something you’re interested in? Call 206-386-1921 for more information or to register.

Volunteer musicians are also needed for the event. Interested musicians should call 206-512-5281.

Local Events

New, improved fire station reopens with public celebration

Station 13 in 2010. Photo by Jason Simpson.

Mark your calendars for a family celebration on Saturday, May 19 from 11-1 p.m., when the newly-remodeled Fire Station #13 holds a dedication and open house, sponsored by the Seattle Fire Department and by the Seattle Fire Fighters Union, Local 27. The event will include tours of the fire station, a chance to meet your local firefighters, activities for children, and refreshments.

The station, a Mission Revival-style building constructed in 1928, is a designated Seattle Landmark. From the outside, it looks much the same as it has for 84 years. But inside, it now has expanded square footage, improved decontamination facilities, increased equipment storage, an improved fire alarm and sprinkler system, and a new kitchen. It also has a new roof, an emergency generator, and it has been given a seismic upgrade. Fire crews were temporarily relocated to Station 14 in Sodo for several months during the remodeling project.

The building was previously renovated and expanded in 1987, and received emergency seismic repairs after the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.

Station 13 is located on the southwest corner of Beacon and Spokane, at 3601 Beacon Ave. S.

Urban Planning

El Centro selects team for south lot development project

El Centro de la Raza has chosen the team of SMR Architects/Glenn and Glenn Architects/DKA Architecture to work on the redevelopment of their south parking lot to mixed-use transit-oriented development with affordable housing.

According to a press release from El Centro, “SMR Architects/Glenn & Glenn Architects/DKA Architecture was selected because of their deep level of experience in multi-family mixed-use affordable housing development, work with non-profit cultural organizations and skill in community-based design and outreach. Their ideas for the site were well received at the community open house attended by more than 50 neighbors on April 28.”

The organization plans to build about 100 units of housing, with childcare, retail, office space, and “flexible multi-cultural performance/community space” on the ground floor. They also promise public open space and pedestrian amenities, as well as underground parking for both residents and light rail commuters to use.

Neighbors look at site possibilities while attending El Centro's open house on April 28. Photo by Ashley Haugen, courtesy of El Centro de la Raza.
Local Events

This weekend: Cinco de Mayo fun at El Centro

1 Comment

Not sure yet what to do this weekend? Join the celebration as El Centro de la Raza hosts their 7th Annual Cinco de Mayo festival on Saturday (tomorrow!), May 5, from 1-5 p.m. at El Centro, 2524 16th Ave. S. Admission is free and the whole family is welcome. There will be music, children’s activities, prizes, and craft and informational booths. There will also be traditional Mexican food for sale.

Performances will feature Ameyaltonal Danza Azteca, Ofelia Alanis-Torres, Seattle Fandango Project, Mariachi Seattle Azteca and a desfile cultural (cultural parade).