All posts by Wendi Dunlap

Editor of the Beacon Hill Blog.
Education

Discuss Seattle Public Schools boundary changes at Mercer 9/23

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The Seattle Public School District has drafted potential attendance boundary changes for elementary and middle schools, including some in the Beacon Hill area. For example, some students from Northeast Beacon Hill who previously would have been assigned to Beacon Hill International School will now be assigned to Thurgood Marshall in the Central District when the new boundaries come into effect in 2014. You can see the new maps here.

The District is hosting a series of community meetings to discuss the changes before the final proposal is introduced at the October 16 school board meeting. Asa Mercer Middle School is hosting the meeting for our area on Monday night, September 23 from 6:30-8 p.m.

Mercer Middle School is located at 1600 South Columbian Way. The meeting is in the lunchroom, and there will be Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese and Tagalog interpreters on hand.

Food and Drink, Local Business

Now open: Pippy’s Café, with salads and sandwiches

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Pippy's Cafe is open for business. Photo by Wendi Dunlap/Beacon Hill Blog.
Pippy’s Cafe is open for business. Photo by Wendi Dunlap/Beacon Hill Blog.
There’s a new place to eat on Beacon Avenue, where Pippy’s Cafe opened this week just south of the corner of Beacon Avenue South and South Stevens Street. The café’s menu features salads and sandwiches, including chicken or tofu pita sandwiches, veggie wraps, a chicken club, and more. Soup will be added to the “Simple Foods Made Fresh” menu soon.

Pippy’s is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 3007 Beacon Ave. S.

This Pez collection may be seen behind the counter at Pippy's. Photo by Wendi Dunlap/Beacon Hill Blog.
This Pez collection may be seen behind the counter at Pippy’s. Photo by Wendi Dunlap/Beacon Hill Blog.
Clean and Green, Local Events

Horticulture Open House welcomes community 9/28

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Did you know that there is a facility on South Dakota Street that grows about 200,000 to 250,000 annuals and perennials each year, producing plants to be used in parks and other city landscapes? The Jefferson Horticulture Facility on South Dakota Street propagates these plants that keep Seattle green. On Saturday, September 28, the community is invited to find out more about the facility at the Seattle Parks and Recreation Jefferson Horticulture Facility Open House, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At the Open House, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about Parks’ Natural Resources Unit and their role in the city’s specialty gardens, parks and urban forestry. It’s also a chance to learn more about the nearby Beacon Food Forest, and enjoy light refreshments and family activities.

All ages are welcome. The facility is located at 1600 South Dakota Street. For more information on the event, contact Necka Kapesi at necka.kapesi@seattle.gov.

OpenHouse at Hort 9.28

Getting Around

Greenway survey needs your opinions

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Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Beacon BIKES (Better Infrastructure Keeps Everyone Safe) are doing a survey about bike and pedestrian safety on and around the Beacon Hill Greenway, and your opinions are needed.

It’s not just for cyclists, but for anyone who uses the sidewalks and streets of Beacon Hill, whether it be on foot or any type of wheels. Survey results will be shared with the Seattle Department of Transportation and Seattle Police Department to contribute to future policies.

Find the survey at this link.

Getting Around

Mayor to announce transportation investments today

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Mayor Mike McGinn will visit North Beacon Hill today, Wednesday, September 11, to announce a slate of neighborhood transportation investments that will be part of his upcoming budget proposal.

Among the investments are road maintenance and repair, bridge investments, coordinated transportation planning in four corridors, sidewalks, and more.

The announcement will be at 10:30 a.m. at the Roberto Maestas Festival Street, just north of Beacon Hill Station at Beacon and Lander.

Arts, Local Events

NEPO 5K Don’t Run: an art-filled path to Beacon Hill

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It kind of sneaked up on us this year (can it be September already?), but this Saturday, September 7, from 12-8 p.m. is the third NEPO 5K Don’t Run art event, a 5km walk from the International District up to Beacon Hill.

Not just your normal walk, the route of this one will feature over 60 art projects including sculptures, interactive artworks, poetry readings, video projections, sound installations, music, and theater. The end of the route at the NEPO House on South Lander Street will have live music and DJs, a beer garden, and food trucks.

Registration for the walk is in Hing Hay Park in the International District from 12-3 p.m. Admission is $10, free for children.

For more information about the big event, see the NEPO House website.

This polka band was part of the festivities at the first NEPO 5k Don’t Run in 2011. Photo by David Lasky in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
Meetings

North Beacon Hill Council meetings start up again 9/10

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After a couple of months off for the summer, the North Beacon Hill Council (NBHC) will meet on Tuesday, September 10 at 7 p.m. in the Beacon Hill Library meeting room to discuss air quality, new construction, and other issues of interest to Beacon Hill neighbors.

Here’s the agenda for the September meeting:

  • 6:45-7:00 Snack and shake hands: come early, get to know your neighbors, enjoy a little bite
  • 7:00-7:20 Introductions; NBHC updates plus reports from the Greater Duwamish District Council and Department of Neighborhoods
  • 7:20-7:40 Happening on the Hill/Community Calendar: updates from neighborhood groups and calendar of events
  • 7:40-8:00 Air quality concerns and how to deal with them. Craig Kenworthy, Executive Director Puget Sound Clean Air
  • 7:45-8:15 What are they doing on that corner? Update on new developments and how to cope with construction.
  • 8:15-8:30 Wrap up: new/other business
  • 8:30-8:55 NBHC Board meets in Beacon Hill Resource Center (open to the public)

The Library is at 2821 Beacon Avenue South.

Photos

A look back at summer on Beacon Hill

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Though summer technically continues for a few more weeks (and we hope the weather does too), Labor Day is the traditional end of summer around here. Kids are going back to school, the sun is setting earlier, and that long, gray winter is just around the corner. Here’s a look back at this summer on the Hill, with photos from the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr. Your photos are always welcome in the pool — please join!

Garrett Doherty, winner of the adobo contest at AdoboFest on August 18, shows off his winner’s trophy. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
A panoramic view of one of the Beacon Hill Night Out block parties on August 6. Click the image to see a larger version. Photo by Bridget Christian.
Enjoying performing at Beacon Rocks! in June. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
These scarlet runner beans on 16th Avenue South are part of the “Beacon: A Hill of Beans” project this year. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Dancers entertain at a Beacon Hill Night Out event on August 6. Photo by Bridget Christian.
Dancing at Beacon Rocks! on June 30. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Neighbors enjoy a shady spot in front of The Station at AdoboFest. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
A change to a local business: Dragon Auto Repair moves in to the old Chin Auto site across from the Beacon Hill Library. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Finally, building begins on part of the Beacon Hill Station block. This will soon be an apartment building with retail. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
NewHolly neighbors enjoy the Gathering Place Family Fest. Photo by Rob Ketcherside, who reports there was a “huge line for BBQ!”
Further north, a crowd enjoys AdoboFest on North Beacon Hill. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Sushi prepared at Beacon Rocks! Photo by Wendi.
Riding into the clouds on the Chief Sealth Trail. Photo by Rob Ketcherside.
Local Events, Recreation

Jubilee celebrates Jefferson Park, 9/14

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Neighbors enjoyed last year’s Jefferson Park Jubilee. Photo by Wendi Dunlap/Beacon Hill Blog.
Summer may be drawing to an end (don’t remind me!), but summer fun still awaits in Jefferson Park on Saturday, September 14, when the Jefferson Park Jubilee sets up in the park for a day of music, art, food, film and fun celebrating the recently rebuilt park.

From 1-7 p.m., the Jubilee will feature food and craft vendors, traditional park games to recreate historical Japanese picnics that used to be held there, tours of the Beacon Food Forest, performances, and more. From 7-10 p.m. is the summer’s final outdoor movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark. See the event schedule here.

The park is located on Beacon Avenue, just south of South Spokane Street. Parking near the event may be scarce, so alternate transportation is recommended.

For more information, contact info@beaconhillmerchants.com.