Category Archives: Local Events

Local Events

Dance your way through the Hill today

Stuff is happening this weekend! There’s art, music, dancing, and more happening on (or even through) the Hill today. Here are a few of the things you might want to check out.

First, get out of bed and get over to the Maple School Natural Area work party at 10 a.m. today. This is a monthly event, held every first Saturday. Volunteers will help improve the parkland, then have a community potluck. More info here.

After the hard work, it’s time to enjoy some art, music, or dance. You have several choices tonight.

NEPO Little Treats presents Trotter, an exhibition of works by Amanda Manitach. The opening is tonight, Saturday March 5, from 6 until 8 p.m. Bacon-wrapped dates will be served, and there will be a screening of Cremaster 4 at 8 p.m.

Klara Glosova of NEPO House, smiling at last month's NEPO opening while holding a gun-shaped glass bottle. Photo by Dan Bennett in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
NEPO Little Treats is a series of monthly shows that focus on presenting new work by individual artists and small groups at NEPO House, 1723 South Lander. Regular open hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays 12 to 2 p.m. and by appointment. More information about NEPO House and the show here. Some photos from last month’s opening are here.

If a musical trip is more your speed, Light Rail, Dark Rail is for you. Live performers including the Beaconettes, Cafe Racer Sessions, Jordan O’ Jordan, Tahoe Jackson, and more will liven up Link Light Rail trains.

Start at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the International District/Chinatown Station for a “summoning performance” by Prawnyxx. Then at 6 p.m., enjoy a “Musical Tour Guide and Overture” on southbound trains to SeaTac. At SeaTac, you’ll deboard, then board a northbound train. One is Dark Rail, and the other is Light Rail—you don’t know which you’ll get. Head to Sodo Station for the after party at Radar Hair + Records, 2721 First Avenue South, at 7:30 p.m.

If you prefer swing dancing, stay up on top of the Hill for the Beacon Rocks! swing dancing fundraiser, from 8 until 11 p.m. tonight at the Garden House, 2336 15th Ave South. There will be a live swing dancing performance and swing-dance lesson by Savoy Swing at 8:15 p.m., a live cake raffle, and more. Suggested donations start at $10.

On Sunday at 3:30 p.m., visit our neighbors in Mount Baker to see the Medieval Women’s Choir perform a short concert at Mount Baker Community Clubhouse, 2811 Mount Rainier Drive South. The choir will sing medieval music with soloist Linda Strandberg, accompanied by period instruments played by percussionist Peggy Monroe and harpist Bill McJohn.

After the weekend’s over, don’t forget the UPTUN quarterly meeting, Nightmares and Opportunities: Broadstripe and City Underserving Neighbors on Monday, March 7 at 7 p.m. at Beacon Lutheran Church, 1720 Forest Street South. See our earlier post for more info.

Local Events, Volunteering and Giving

Beacon Hill Festival needs you

Leave a comment
Pottery for sale at last summer's Beacon Hill Festival. Photo by Jason.
The Beacon Hill Festival is now accepting applications for vendors, donations, and volunteers. If you are interested, please contact Chris or Doreen at the Jefferson Community Center (206-684-7481) or email chris.ertman@seattle.gov for more information. The festival is being held on Saturday, June 4 from 11-4 p.m.

Arts, Local Events

Beacon Rocks! fundraising swings into gear; ROCKiT settles into new space

Neighbors enjoyed a Beacon Rocks! performer in August last year. Photo by Erika Warner-Court in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
The first Beacon Rocks! fundraiser of 2011 swings into the Garden Club Headquarters House on Saturday, March 5 from 8 to 11 p.m. The event, billed as An Evening of Swing Dancing and Swing Era Fun, will include a live swing dancing performance and swing-dance lesson by Savoy Swing Club, a live cake raffle, and more. Hors d’ oeuvres will be free, beverages will not be—but the proceeds will go to the cause.

Swing Era costumes are encouraged. Suggested donations start at $10. The Garden Club House is at 2336 15th Avenue South.

The first Beacon Rocks! series was held last summer on Lander Festival Street next to Beacon Hill Station. For four afternoons, Beacon Hill performers entertained folks from the neighborhood and beyond with music and dance. Scheduled dates for the second Beacon Rocks! this summer are June 26, July 31, and August 28—plan ahead!

Beacon Hill Music and ROCKiT Space are hosting the fundraiser, and the Savoy Swing Club Performance Troupe are donating their time as well.

Speaking of ROCKit Space, the organization has relocated to the Garden Club House, and the new regular office hours are Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m.

Other news from ROCKiT Space:

  • Shunpike Arts Collective has accepted ROCKiT Space as an associate program, providing them with their 501c3 umbrella. Donations will now be fully tax deductible.
  • There will be no open mic on March 5. Open mic at Kusina Filipina will resume the third Saturday in March on its regular schedule.
  • Beacon Idol auditions for Beacon Rocks! will be held during Open mic nights on March 19, April 2, and April 16. Contact beaconrocks@gmail.com to schedule your audition or submit a recording for consideration. Open mics are held at Kusina Filipina, 3201 Beacon Avenue South.
Getting Around, Local Events

Love your BIKE! for Valentine’s Day

Beacon BIKES is hosting Love Your BIKE!, a Valentine’s Day open house at the Beacon Hill Library, with special guest speaker, KUOW commentator, Adventure Cyclist columnist, and Beacon Hill neighbor Willie Weir. Weir will tell “Tales of Bicycle Love,” including stories of his many cycling adventures and destinations.

The evening will also include an open house discussion of the current plans and ideas to improve pedestrian and bicycle circulation on the Hill, and sweet and savory Valentine treats for all.

The event is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, February 14, and is open to all, including children. The Beacon Hill Library is located at 2821 Beacon Avenue South.

For more information, contact Frederica Merrell, frmerrel@seattleschools.org.

Local Events

Mayor McGinn to attend Town Hall

Mike McGinn at an earlier Town Hall meeting on Beacon Hill during his 2009 mayoral campaign. Photo by Melissa Jonas in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.
Mayor Mike McGinn will visit Beacon Hill for a Town Hall meeting next Tuesday, February 15, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Jefferson Community Center. The Mayor and City staff will host an open question and answer session, and representatives of City departments and local volunteer organizations will also be present to answer questions and discuss volunteer opportunities.

Entertainment will be provided by the Jefferson Park Community Center Lion Dancers.

For more information, please contact Becky Stanley, (206) 684-8106 or becky.stanley@seattle.gov.

Jefferson Community Center is located at 3801 Beacon Avenue South.

The evening’s agenda:

  • 5:30-6:30: Meet and Greet with City departments and local volunteer organizations
  • 6:30-6:35: Performance by the Jefferson Park Community Center Lion Dancers
  • 6:35-8:00: Q&A session with the Mayor and City staff
Local Events

What’s happening this weekend (and beyond)

Image courtesy of Klara Glosova/NEPO House.
There’s another art show opening at NEPO House this weekend. The Pajama Game, an exhibition curated by Jason Hirata, features works by Gretchen Bennett, Sol Hashemi, Matthew Offenbacher, Daphne Stergides, and Ian Toms. The opening is on Saturday February 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. Afterwards, there will be a movie screening in the NEPO House living room from 8 to 10 p.m.

Klara Glosova of NEPO House tells us,

This is the first installment in our brand new NEPO Little Treats series of exhibitions at NEPO House. We will present a series of monthly shows that will focus on presenting new work by individual artists and small group shows. In order to avoid moving too much furniture the shows will take place only and entirely in our entry room. The openings will take place on the first Saturday of a month from 6 to 8 p.m. (with optional movie screenings afterwards).

NEPO House regular open hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays 12-2 p.m. and by appointment.

NEPO House is located at 1723 South Lander Street.

* * *

The Station will be hosting a Super Bowl watching event on Sunday, February 6. Owner Luis promises “beer, wine, mimosas, sangria and much much more!!” The Station is located at 2533 16th Avenue South, just north of Beacon Hill Station.

* * *

A public meeting is planned for Monday, February 7, to update the community on the city’s plans for a transitional encampment for homeless people and listen to neighborhood feedback. The meeting will include Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith and staff from the Department of Planning and Development, Human Services Department, and Seattle Police Department.

The meeting will be from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Monday, at the Seattle Department of Transportation Sign Shop, 4200 Airport Way South.

* * *

Jumping ahead to next weekend, local resident Tess Martin, who lives near the library and Stevens Place/Triangle Park, is hosting a neighborhood potluck on Saturday, February 12. If you’re interested in attending, please email tessmartin@hotmail.com for the exact address and time. Tess writes, “Come meet your neighbors! February 12 also happens to be Neighbor Appreciation Day according to the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, so that’s another reason to attend besides, of course, the good food and conversation you will no doubt encounter.”

* * *

You may want to save the date for these other upcoming events:

  • El Centro de la Raza community meeting to discuss the development on their south lot, Saturday, February 19, 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at El Centro.
  • Town Hall meeting with Mayor McGinn, Tuesday, February 15, 5:30 – 8 p.m. at Jefferson Community Center.

More information about these events will be posted in the blog soon.

Local Events, Urban Planning

El Centro proposes parking lot

24 Comments
The El Centro building on opening day of Festival Street in December 2009. The lot behind the chain-link fence is proposed to become a temporary parking lot until it can be developed. Photo by Jason.
(Updated at 12:48 p.m. to add a link to Estela Ortega’s letter. The link was mistakenly left out of the story when posted earlier this morning. — Ed.)

El Centro de la Raza is seeking permission from the city to open a parking lot south of the El Centro building until the land on that site can be developed, and is asking neighbors to support this proposal.

A January 31 letter from El Centro’s Estela Ortega (read the full letter here) to the Beacon Hill community requests support for a temporary parking lot in El Centro’s south lot, adjacent to Beacon Hill Station. The proposal is for 80 public parking spaces, to “help generate much needed revenue to support (El Centro’s) programs and mission during these difficult economic times.” The letter goes on to describe potential benefits to the neighborhood including security improvements, access to Link Light Rail and neighborhood businesses, hosting of mobile food vendors, and parking for Festival Street events.

Currently new parking lots are not allowed in light rail station areas. A current proposed land use amendment would allow interim parking use on lots that already have legally established parking near Mount Baker, Columbia City, Othello and Rainier Beach Stations, but the proposal says “Light rail parking would not be allowed within the North Beacon Hill station area.” However, though El Centro is adjacent to the station, it is not within the officially-defined “station area.” The land use amendment currently being considered would allow commuter and business parking on certain lots such as El Centro’s that are just outside the station area and already have existing parking.

You can give your opinion on the proposed parking lot at a hearing of the City Council’s Committee on the Built Environment on Wednesday, February 23 at 9:30 am in the City Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue.

Ortega’s letter lists other El Centro items of note:

  • Santos Rodriguez Park has new playground equipment and is open to all neighbors. $350,000 in funding from the Seattle Parks Opportunity Fund will be used to improve the park further, with input from a community advisory committee.
  • South Lander Street between 16th and 17th Avenues South will be renamed Roberto Maestas Festival Street in honor of El Centro’s late principal founder and leader. Lewis Park, at the north end of Beacon Hill near the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge will be renamed the Roberto Maestas Nature Park.
  • El Centro has received funding to begin a community process to plan the development of their south lot. A community meeting is planned for Saturday, February 19 to discuss the project. The meeting time will be announced later.

Also at El Centro:

  • United Way is operating a free tax preparation site. In addition to filing tax returns, customers will be able to purchase savings bonds, open credit union accounts, sign up for prepaid debit cards, and apply for public benefits such as the Washington Basic Food Program. Hours are Tuesdays from 5-9 p.m. (English, Spanish, and Arabic), Thursdays from 5-9 p.m. (English, Spanish, and Chinese), and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. (English and Spanish).
  • Spanish classes at El Centro will run from April 12 until June 9, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuition is $300. Please contact 206-957-4605 or execasst@elcentrodelaraza.org for more info, or visit the El Centro website to enroll.
  • The Just Garden Project is kicking off their Spring into Bed fundraising campaign with an event at El Centro on March 5 from 7-9 p.m. Proceeds from the event go to building free and subsidized gardens for low-income families in King County. See the invitation for more info.
  • Estela Ortega has been confirmed as one of 14 community members to serve on the city’s Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee III. This is the third committee of its kind that has selected to advise the city on questions that affect transportation in Seattle. Other members represent organizations including (among others) Cascade Bicycle Club, Downtown Seattle Association, Carpenters’ Union Local 131, Transportation Choices Coalition, and Seattle Children’s Hospital.