All posts by Wendi Dunlap

Editor of the Beacon Hill Blog.
Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Coyotes, carols, and a Christmas tree

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Skin Deep Dance troupe is performing tribal-style belly dance at Inay’s Asian Pacific Cuisine on Saturday December 11 and again on December 18. Shows are at 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and waiter Louie will also appear in drag. There’s no cover, but bring cash for tips. Inay’s is located at 2503 Beacon Avenue South.

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Photo by emdot via Creative Commons.
Neighbor Lily sent this report a week or so ago: “I just wanted to report that I believe I’ve heard coyotes howling a lot this morning near Dearborn Park.” We at the BHB have actually seen Beacon Hill coyotes within the last couple of years, crossing the street near 17th and Walker. It’s definitely not a new problem. Please keep your pets safe.

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El Centro is hosting a tree lighting ceremony later this month. Las Posadas, “A Neighborhood Celebration of the Holidays,” is from 4:30-6:00 pm on Monday, December 20 at El Centro de la Raza, 2524 16th Avenue South.

Besides lighting the Christmas tree, the event will feature caroling by the Beaconettes, a visit from Santa, holiday treats, and more.

A reminder: El Centro is also selling Christmas trees until December 19.

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A business named Underground Lighthouse recently applied for a microbrewery liquor license at 2981 South Webster Street. This is not a commercial location, so unfortunately it probably won’t be a Beacon Hill brewpub, but maybe they will sell their beer to some of our local establishments. This appears to be their website.

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Stencil artist Urban Soule (Kim McCarthy) has art currently hanging at Victrola Coffee on Beacon Avenue. Here is a Facebook gallery of the show. Here is more of the artist’s work on Flickr.

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Beacon Hill’s own a cappella group, The Beaconettes, recently took the People’s Choice award at the Great Figgy Pudding Street-Corner Caroling Competition for the second year in a row, singing Seattle-centric versions of carols including “My Favorite Things” and “The 12 Days of Christmas.”

The event, a fundraiser for the Pike Market Senior Center and Downtown Food Bank, was held last Friday, December 3 at Westlake Center. 35 choirs competed in front of a large and cheerful crowd. Here are a couple of videos of the Beaconettes’ performance.

Local Events

Dance performance this weekend at Yoga on Beacon

Choreographer Freya Wormus’ new work, hold, hold on anyway, go anyway, let go anyway, is completing a brief run this weekend at an unusual performance venue—Yoga on Beacon, at 3013 Beacon Avenue South. The four dancers climb and swing from the walls of the studio, using straps and buckles. Sandra Kurtz at the Seattle Weekly reviewed it favorably: “…When they use the wall as a partner, swooping down toward the floor and then rebounding off the end of their tether to swing back up again, physics adds an extra flourish to their dynamism.”

Saturday’s show is sold out, but tickets are still available for tonight’s performance at 8:00 pm. You can get them at Brown Paper Tickets.

Local Events

ROCKiT space raising money, remains open

Photo by Jason.
Betty Jean Williamson of Beacon Hill Music tells us that ROCKiT space will be open in January after all. The current lease runs through January 23, and the outlook for filling the labor and financial gap is positive, though continued support from the community will still be necessary if a new lease can be negotiated.

Here is a letter to the community from Beacon Hill Music:

Twenty-four folks came to the ROCKiT space community meeting on December 5. They voiced great support for keeping ROCKiT space open and developing more programs to make it more sustainable.

Part of the plan is to raise $2000 by January 1, for a rainy day fund equal to one month’s expenses. This will be used to cover the projected $100-200 monthly deficit until new income streams can come on line. Donations can be made at www.rockitspace.org—look for the paypal button on the home page.

ROCKiT space is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 11:00 am-6:00 pm and Saturday 3:00-6:00 pm. Volunteers are staffing these hours; you can sign up to help during business hours or contact Betty Jean Williamson at bjwlmp@msn.com or 206-658-0187.

ROCKiT space Events

  • Beacon Hill Music Songwriter’s Circle
    Beacon Hill Music is starting a casual and quite affordable songwriters’ group where people come together and play songs for each other. Sundays at 4:00 pm at ROCKiT Space, starting this Sunday, December 12. $5 per session to cover costs. Contact Paul Ray through email at beaconrocks@gmail.com or 206-658-3622 or show up at ROCKiT Space on Sunday.
  • ROCKiT Space Supporters Meeting
    Tuesday, December 14, 7:00pm. Reconvene the group that met last week. Updates on fund raising, events and community networking.
  • Open Mic
    Performers come from all over Seattle and even from parts unknown to share a diverse range of music, and audience members join in whenever the mood strikes. Any given session can feature artists of all ages and from all walks of life, making each Open Mic night a completely unique experience. Saturday, December 18, 7:00-10:00 pm. $5 minimum donation at the door.
  • Tuesday Folk Club
    December 28. 7:00pm house party music event features two old time/country bands: Red Dog, a popular trio, and Dram County, a brother sister duo and guests. Minimum donation $7 at the door, $5 in advance, available at Rockit Space starting Monday 12/13 during business hours.
  • Tots Jam
    Suzanne Sumi continues this music happening for the little ones every Wednesday morning 9:00-10:00 am at ROCKiT space.

ROCKiT space is located at 3315 Beacon Avenue South.

Getting Around

Free bike lights today at 12th and Sturgus

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The free bike lights today probably won't be this Christmasy. Photo by Richard Masoner via Creative Commons.
Beacon Hill bicyclists can brighten up their cycling tonight, for free. Ride by the south end of the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge (the start of the I-90 trail, where 12th Avenue South becomes Sturgus Avenue South) today between 4:00 and 6:00 pm, when Cascade Bicycle Club will be distributing 420 sets of free bike lights. Look for the Cascade banner that will mark the spot.

The lights are first come, first served, and the project is part of the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Bike Smart program.

BH in the News

Protest this morning in Daejeon Park

This structure is the central feature of Daejeon Park. Photo by Keith Tyler in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
KOMO reports that an anti-North Korea protest is planned for 11 a.m. this morning at North Beacon Hill’s Daejeon Park, 1144 Sturgus Avenue South. Demonstrators, mostly from Seattle’s Korean community, will be protesting North Korea’s November shelling of the South Korean island Yeonpyeong.

Following the attack, most of the island’s 14,000 residents were evacuated to the mainland. Here are some photos of the island they left behind.

Photos

Sights of Route 36 contest answers

We recently posted the winners of the Sights of Route 36 contest, but have been reminded that we haven’t yet posted the answers! Here they are. You can click the links to see larger photos of each location.

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Picture #1 is the Beacon Hill Realty building, on Beacon Avenue. 		IMG_4148
Picture #2 is the mural on the side of Washington Federal bank, just south of Beacon and McClellan.
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Picture #3 is on the east wall at Beacon Hill International School. 		IMG_4246
Picture #4 is a pillar at the start of the trail in Jefferson Park, near Beacon Avenue South and South Spokane Street.

Picture #5 is a phases of the moon sculpture on a bus stop on South Myrtle Street and 32nd Avenue South.
Picture #6 is the Victor Oishi Auto Service sign at Beacon and Myrtle. (Sorry, not a very good pic of this one.)
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Picture #7 is of one of the pavers, designed by artist Carl Smool, on the ground in front of Beacon Hill Station. Here’s a chart of all the pavers. 		IMG_4289
Picture #8 is the top of a pillar in Katie Black’s Garden, 12th Avenue South and South Atlantic Street.
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Picture #9 is “Hopes and Wishes,” artwork by Cheryll Leo-Gwin in the median on the corner of Beacon and Myrtle. (Scroll down to “Hopes and Wishes” on this page.) 		IMG_4149
Picture #10 is part of the west wall at Beacon Hill Station, above the ticket machines.

Picture #11 is the front of the South Precinct building on South Myrtle Street.
Picture #12 is the NewHolly sign at South Myrtle and 32nd Avenue South. This one you would have to get off the bus to see—it’s the back of the sign if you are looking from Myrtle and 32nd.
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Picture #13 is the sign at the Beacon Bluff P-Patch at 14th Avenue South and South Massachusetts. 		IMG_4248
Picture #14 is one of the “Hydro Roots” planters by artist Glenn Herlihy, outside Fire Station #13 at Beacon Avenue South and South Spokane Street.
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Picture #15 is one of the motion detectors that activate the flashing-light crosswalk in front of the Beacon Hill Library. (We don’t have a good picture of the detector.)
Picture #16 is Larry’s Volvo auto shop at Beacon and Graham.
Clean and Green

Food Forest committee presents urban permaculture slide show

Photo courtesy of Jefferson Park Food Forest Steering Committee.
On Wednesday, December 8, the Jefferson Park Food Forest Steering Committee is hosting a free slide show about home and community permaculture. The event invitation says, “This show will highlight many ways to make our urban homesteads more efficient and provide methods for our community to be more resilient in tough eco times.” Permaculturist Dave Boehnlein will present the slide show, which will showcase home food production, energy efficiency, food forestry and community activation.

The event is Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm, in the Beacon Hill Library meeting room, 2821 Beacon Avenue South. Food and drinks will be provided. All are welcome.

Beacon Bits

Beacon Bits: Vending, volunteering, and vegetarian fare

Judith Edwards of the North Beacon Hill Council sends this information about this month’s NBHC meeting:

Come join the North Beacon Hill Council at 6:30 pm, Thursday, December 2 in the Beacon Hill Library Community Room. No speakers, just food and a chance to meet your neighbors! We’ll do a bit of bragging about what has happened in the past year, thank the Board members for their hard work, and enjoy spending time together. Pizza, salad and water provided by the NBHC Board. Plan to join us!

The library is located at 2821 Beacon Avenue South.

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St. George School is holding their annual Holiday Bazaar on Sunday, December 5, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in the school hall, 5117 13th Avenue South. The bazaar will feature over 25 talented jewelers, artists, crafters, and Fair Trade and commercial vendors from the local community. There will be a continental breakfast available for $3.00, and entertainment will be provided by students, family, and friends of St. George. There will also be a themed gift basket raffle.

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The Pedestrian Advisory Board needs you! Photo by Wendi.
The Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board is accepting applications for new members. This volunteer board plays a role in implementing Seattle’s Pedestrian Master Plan, and also advises the Mayor and City Council, participates in planning and project development, and evaluates policies and makes recommendations to all city departments including the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). Board members serve two-year terms; they must be Seattle residents who are not city employees, and should be frequent walkers of any age, level of mobility, area, or “walk of life.”

Interested? Email a resume and cover letter explaining your interest by December 17 to Brian Dougherty at brian.dougherty@seattle.gov. For more information, call Dougherty at 206-684-5124, or send e-mail to the address above.

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Registration is now open for Adult Beginner to Intermediate Spanish classes at El Centro de la Raza. The classes will run from January 11 through March 17 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. Information and a registration form is here.

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A new restaurant is having their grand opening this weekend in the Valley near the eastern edge of Beacon Hill: St. Dames, a “neighborhood joint for vegetarian fare and spirited care” in the old Maki and Yaki location at 4525 Martin Luther King Jr. Way South, just a block north of Columbia City Station. They promise “Food, drinks and fun for the whole family!
Friday 12/3 Happy Hour all night long! Drink specials through the weekend!”

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The Goodwill Job Training and Education Center just north of the Hill at 1400 South Lane Street is holding registration this month for free classes that will be offered in January and February. Classes will include a nine-week Retail and Customer Service Traing Program, Community College 101, English for Speakers of Other Languages, basic computer skills, writing, math, and cashiering.

Registration will be held from December 13-17 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. For class availability and enrollment information, call 206-860-5791.

Food and Drink

Happy Thanksgiving from the Beacon Hill Blog!

Photo by TheCulinaryGeek (Creative Commons)
Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for all of our wonderful readers. We hope that at least some of you will be celebrating it with Emmett Watson’s famous Thompson Turkey recipe. “You do not have to be a carver to eat this turkey. Speak harshly to it and it will fall apart.” Long-time Seattleites should be quite familiar with this one, but there are a couple of other variations on it as well.

Here’s a BHB holiday tradition of our own: a great pumpkin pie recipe from my grandma’s recipe collection. I’ve used this recipe many times and it is very good. If you forgot to get evaporated milk, this recipe will save the day for you—it doesn’t use it, and you won’t miss it.

Pumpkin Pie

Start with 1 recipe pie crust. Set the uncooked shell aside.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Put 2 cups pumpkin (or one small can) into mixing bowl.

add:
2 eggs beaten slightly (Egg Beaters work just fine if you want it to be lower-fat)

add:
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla

then add:
1 c. scalded milk (skim milk works fine if you wish to use it, and so does soy milk)

Mix all together. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 450 degrees for 12-15 minutes, turn the heat down to 350, bake 45 minutes. It’s done when you can stick a knife in the middle and it comes out clean.

Makes 1 pie. For two pies, use a large can of pumpkin and double everything else exactly.

Enjoy!

Vintage postcard photographed by riptheskull, via Creative Commons.
Getting Around, Weather

Today is another icy day; commute carefully

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A new record low overnight temperature was set this morning: 14F at Sea-Tac Airport. The bitter cold means that many streets are still quite slick today, and driving may still be hazardous. Take transit if you can. King County Metro says that buses are still on snow routes, but fewer routes will be cancelled. (Route 38 on McClellan, however, is one of them.) See the Transit Alerts Center for the latest information. Sound Transit’s alert page is here.

SDOT tweeted that “Snow routes in good condition due to overnight work. No significant problems in that network of streets.”

Seattle Public Schools and the University of Washington remain closed, as do many county offices. A list of closed county offices is here, and as usual, school closure information is here.

The Seattle Times (BHB news partner) has an interesting article on why Seattle can’t handle snow. It explains, among other things, why the anti-ice chemicals sprayed on major arterials in advance of the storm actually made things worse: the brine was diluted by the melting snow, making it ineffective against further snow, and then refroze into a slick sheet of ice.

Speaking of ice, there’s a lot of ice still on sidewalks, steps, and walkways. Please clear the ones you’re responsible for—falling on the ice can be really dangerous.