Today I walked past a drycleaning business on Clay st. between 1st and 2nd. I was excited to see that they provide express cleaning in just 2 hours! However as I read things a bit closer I couldn't help but feel like things just didn't quite add up...
Whoa. An unidentified woman wearing pink pajamas has climbed onto the fourth-floor ledge of her apartment building, about 50 to 70 feet above the street at the Josephium building on 2nd Avenue. According to news reports police officers have passed cigarettes and water to her and are talking to her from a nearby window. Apparently at one point 100 people gathered below, therefore closing streets to traffic. Let's all hope she smokes her cigarette and drinks her water and decides she should go back inside.
Update at 12:15 p.m.: Southbound lanes of 2nd Ave. are now open. Police are still talking with the woman.
Update at 12:30 p.m.: Police were able to talk her down! She's been transported safely to Harborview Medical Center.
It's almost time for Rendezvous' 3rd annual Belltown Pageant, and the theme is "Best Happy Hour Outfit." The pageant is March 9th, but you'll need to drop off your application by tomorrow (Saturday) if you want to participate.
A previous year's participant. Rules and more info here.
Have you heard about Cache, a private "underground" dinner club in Belltown? "Cache is one of the best dinner experiences I've had," writes Katherine at CitizenRain. "We arrived to find a group of about 12 guests -- most didn't know each other. And we all ate together at a one communal table in a funky space (I can't divulge the address -- the secrecy is part of the fun)."
You can sign up on Cache's site for reservations, but it looks like they're sold out for a month or two.
With daylight savings time beginning in just a few weeks, it means winter is finally almost over. Soon we will be trading in our down coats for t-shirts and our snowboots for flip flops. Belltown is one of the best spots on a sunny day in Seattle. With the gleaming water just steps away and the charming urban surroundings it really just doesn't get much better.
Looking for a party this weekend? This event may be interesting: a group of Belltown promoters are hosting a party on a 72 foot boat equipped with 2 dancefloors, mulitple DJ's, and most importantly every beer shall be served in a 32oz frosty mug.
Wow! Sounds like this is one not to be missed!
After The Crocodile's abrupt closing a little over two months ago, it sure has become quite the (for lack of a better word) craphole. The windows are broken and it is completely drowned in graffiti.
I wonder what they're going to do with the place?
Are you looking to meet new people around the Belltown area? If you have a Facebook account, you should consider adding the neighborhoods application. It provides you with a network of people who live in your neighborhood, too. If you don't have a Facebook account, well then you better hurry up and make one. And make sure you join our Belltowner group while you're at it.
Happy social networking!
Uh-oh, drama on the art scene. According to art critic Regina Hackett, there is a shortage of art exhibits featuring black artists in conjuction with Black History Month. She feels its a sign of Seattle's overall discrimination towards the black community.
CoCA Gallery however, is one of the few in full Black History Month force, featuring the art of black Seattle based artist, Ronald Hall. The exhibit includes 20 paintings, prints, photographs and posters that explore the theme of race from around the world, many artworks drawn from his private collection.
The gallery is located at 2721 First Avenue.
As I was walking down the streets of Belltown today minding my own business, I came across a palm tree smack dab in the middle of the sidewalk. I had never noticed that little guy before.
Who woulda' thought?
A drivers license with the name of Jessica McMakin was found near Denny and Broad. If you know Jessica, or if you are Jessica, or even if you think you might know Jessica, please let her know.
Right behind Top Pot donuts, on 6th and Blanchard...
Two 24-story apartment towers. Construction begins in 2009.
That's what Seattle Traveler says about the "Lamington," a pastry at the Grindhouse, a cafe on Blanchard between 3rd and 4th Ave. "A Lamington turned out to be one of the most delicious pastries I've ever tasted -- as good as any of the afternoon treats I've had in Paris, Florence, or even Vienna," she writes.
I have often found myself walking past the Wexley School For Girls located on 5th Ave. between Bell and Blanchard wondering the same as Big Blog contributor K. Murakami: "Are there really little Belltowner girls in there learning the art of being a lady?" It seemed an odd place for a school in the heart of an area known for wild clubbers and crack smokers.
To my surprise, Wexley School For Girls is actually a marketing firm, and apparently a very "non-traditional" one you could say. Inside of their office is a 9-foot-tall wood carving of a bear by one desk, an outhouse with a mannequin bride at another, and a giant chicken with an axe at another.
"The reason why we didn't call it instead something like Cohen and McAllister is because when they have a meeting with the Wexley School for Girls, they'll know the fun people are coming."
Do you people not have anything better to do in the late evening hours than to see how fast your car -- or even more annoying, your motorcyle -- can zip down 1st Avenue here in Belltown? Am I the only one who is bothered by this ridiculous practice? And, it's not just on the weekends, I am talking during the week, too. Don't you people have day jobs?
Construction workers have descended on Denny Way and 6th Ave. over the last couple months (which, by the way, is this technically Belltown?) So far, the only thing left standing is the Starbucks gas station and the boarded-up Bank of America. So what are they building? I found this nifty map on Seattle Condos and Lofts with all the details.
Hyatt Place Hotel & Condominium will occupy a 9-story building just to the west of the Starbucks. A 7-story apartment building is going up behind Starbucks. A 6-story apartment complex called Taylor 28 is going up in the block surrounding the old Bank of America. And the big daddy of them all, the 29-story ICON Tower (pictured), will be built right across the street from Starbucks in that triangular lot.
I don't know about you, but it will be odd to see a building that tall that far north (and relatively close to the Space Needle.)
Some crime news from over the weekend. Late Saturday night a man reported as "extremely intoxicated" called to inform the police that someone had been stabbed near the Moore Theatre. When police arrived, they found the victim with a stab wound to the rib cage. He was rushed to the hospital (don't know his condition), and police were able to arrest a suspect.
If you have never seen a movie projected in 70mm before, you simply have got to! Due to the wide high-resolution film gauge the film quality is (quite simply put) "bitchin." 80's science fiction favorite, Tron, will be playing Feb. 24 (tonight) and continue on Feb. 26, March 2nd, and 4th.
For showtimes go to Cinerama.com.
Has this winter left you looking like something like Casper the friendly Seattlelite? Desert Sun Tanning Salon in Belltown is currently offering a coupon good for an entire month of tanning for only $10.
According to a listing on Craigslist, there are currently studio apartments in a "great location" for the low price of $475 a month. "Funky" is one of those adjectives that leaves a lot to the imagination, but then again you never know. This may be a perfect opportunity for someone who wants to live in the Belltown neighborhood but doesn't exactly have the budget.
Call Pheobe for an appointment: 206 443-6570.
Perhaps you've been hearing that you shouldn't eat too much sushi due to the high mercury levels. If you're anything like me you've brushed off the warnings and indulged anyway. I mean, who can resist a big juicy spicy tuna roll? What's the big deal? However, according to Washington state Department of Health toxicologist Dave McBride, the threat is very real. Too much mercury can damage the nervous system.
Recently 8 Puget Sound locations serving sushi were tested, one of which was Belltown favorite, Wasabi Bistro. The samples were taken toTestAmerica, a lab in Tacoma that has performed metals testing for the state Department of Health. Luckily for us, Wasabi Bistro tested above the national average.
The restaurant's manager sent back a written statement claiming that their mercury levels are well below the USDA limit, and is thus safe for consumption. Sounds like it's sushi for dinner after all!
Belltown's own Lino Tagliapietra is a glass-blowing artist who is in large part responsible for the explosion of glass art in the Northwest. Tagliapietra came to the United States in the 1970's wanting to contribute to the rising international interest in studio glass and was instantly hooked on the Northwest. His office/shipping warehouse is located in the heart of Belltown. You just might be living right around the corner from a modern day maestro. For more information on upcoming exhibitions, visit here.
Are you a woman who is tired of using myspace as your networking tool? Ready to get out and meet people in the three dimensional world? Meet Seattle's latest female professional networking group, Girl Power Hour.
GPH is a monthly social networking experience for young professional women in Seattle. They provide a stylishly inviting environment conducive to meeting other cool women, sharing ideas, inspiring each other and connecting on a personal or business level, over cocktails. Their goal is to get like-minded women together in a comfortable environment that facilitates relationship building in a non-threatening way, allowing socializing and networking to occur naturally.
Ensure that your voice is heard by joining the Belltown Community Council.
The Council meets monthly and is open to all residents and workers located in Belltown.The next council meeting will be held at 2125 First Avenue on Floor 5 Garden Room at 6:30pm.
Contact Zander Batchelder at ZanderB@AOL.com for further information.
An Aveda trained hairstylist is seeking someone to clean her 400 sq.ft. Belltown apartment in exchange for a cut, color, or even a conditioning treatment.
If only I didn't despise cleaning so much I might even consider the offer.
My Day Office, located in Belltown, is a "professional workplace customized to individual work styles and delivers comprehensive, friendly staff support services". The space is equipped with desks, cubicles, and even a networking lounge. Monthly membership runs $50-$300; day rates are also available. It sounds like the days of bringing your laptop to the local coffee shop are over.
Art Not Terminal Gallery in Belltown is currently seeking new artists to hang their work in their non-juried, non-censored venue. In other words, everyone and anyone can hang their art there. Artists are simply required to fulfill a minimum of 6 hours of volunteer time and a small hanging fee.
Now you finally have a place to hang the stick figures you meticulously doodled during all those Monday meetings...
Taking a stroll through Belltown and find yourself craving a rich, delicious, full-bodied cup of coffee that leaves you saying "ahhhhh?" UrbanSpoon says the best locations for finding a mouth watering cup of java in Belltown are:
Top Pot Doughnuts
Artisan Cafe
Elbasha Cafe
Uptown Espresso
Cherry Street Coffee House
My personal stamp of approval? I'm going with Cherry Street Coffee House.
The city says those two vintage streetcars that ran between Pier 70 and the I.D. may be coming back. They were discontinued as workers built the Sculpture Park, and the city replaced them with this bus, called Route 99, that's wrapped to look kinda like a streetcar...
The return of the streetcars hinges on the Viaduct project, which is still up in the air. "While the planning process has been complex and time-consuming, Metro still believes being a part of this new development is currently the best alternative for bringing back the waterfront streetcar," said Metro Transit spokeswoman Rochelle Ogershok. So in other words, this could take a while.
An irritated Belltowner is claiming that the noise leaking into her Belltown apartment is ceaseless. She is wondering if this is something that is common amongst Belltowners and if anyone recommends an apartment building that is less offensive to the ears.
I find the buzzes and beeps of downtown living soothing personally...
The infamous Jesus bashin', makeup wearin' rocker, Marilyn Manson, will be gracing the stage at The Paramount Theatre this evening (Monday). Should you find yourself in the mood for some good old anti-religious sentiment, you know where the party will be.
The sun is glistening in the windows of the condos and corporate offices of Belltown today. Belltowners are walking their dogs, opting for outside cafe seating, and I even saw one guy whiz by in his convertible Mercedes with the top down.
Yes, its a sunny day in the neighborhood, Belltowners. Perhaps you should consider spending your lunch break enjoying that bright stuff in the sky.
The Frontier Room on 1st Ave. has posted a job opening for cocktail servers. They're also looking for (get this) female bartenders to "dance on the dance floor" and "have fun." Now that's my kind of job description....
Sure, every Belltown bar has some "happy hour," but which ones are really all that "happy?" According to Seattle Bar Blog, there are quite a few.
These are my own personal favorites:
The Apartment: Tues-Sat 5-7pm
See Sound Lounge : Daily 5-8pm
Red Fin: Daily 4-6pm, 10pm-2am
Looking for a dog? What about this guy? "Joey is such a sweet dog!" writes his Belltown owner on Craigslist. "His former owners weren't able to give him the attention that he needs so he has been living with me for the past month. He weighs about 8lbs and has been vaccinated, though, he has not been neutered. Energetic and playful, but also likes to snuggle- especially after a long walk."
On Valentine's Day there will be a "Meet & Mingle" party at Twist Bar: Sabrina Presents and Frequency Dates are hosting an evening for Seattle singles at Twist in Belltown. (One of the notably best pick-up spots in Seattle.) The party is from 7 to 10 p.m., and admission includes one free drink, appetizers for the first two hours, and access to prize drawings and giveaways. ($25 advance and $30 at the door).
Twist is at 1st Ave. and Bell.
The Seattle PI is reporting that pedestrians wonder whether it might be time to re-examine the timing of lights on Boren Avenue.
There are times, such as rush hour, when Boren is busy, and the lights should be timed to keep traffic flowing on the street they believe.
Wayne Wentz, Seattle's traffic management director, says traffic should improve. The city is planning to improve the coordination of traffic signals in downtown Seattle in March. He says the engineers will take comments into account, as they try to retime the signals to follow the situation on the roads at different times of the day.
More good news for pedestrians is coming, Wentz says. The city will be doing a study to evaluate whether more pedestrian push buttons should be removed. Based on the study, the city will look at giving pedestrians a "walk" signal automatically.
The following was posted on Craigslist today:
I'm helping one of my residents try to track down a set of keys. She believes she lost them somewhere around 1st ave and Broad st or somewhere on Clay avenue between 1st ave and 4th ave. I'm a concierge for the building that she lives in. If you have the keys, or have turned them in to a local business, please let me know. I dont have a reward right now, but often, I have access to promotions and premiers to local shows, concerts or other fun & entertaining things that I may be able to reward you with in the future.
If you have any information reply to:
comm-570681475@craigslist.org
"I have never been to Spain, but I love the concept that Txori has. Great food in small bites so that you can give everything a try. I went to Txori with my boyfriend and we could not stop ordering. The staff was very attentive and was ready to take your order when you want more. Not only was the food presented well but it tasted fabulous as well. They have some fun cocktail drinks as well as a great wine list. Great atmosphere, great food, and great service all at a great price. What else can you ask for?"
Txori
2207 2nd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
206.204.9771
Crazy about clothes, but fancy a bargain?
Trendy high end downtown boutique Sway and Cake has a sales store right around the corner. It's a secret weapon for people who want the latest in emerging fashion labels but only want to pay half the price. From Diane Von Fostenburg pieces to a designer denim bar, everything is priced at 55-70% off of the original price....
TBC
513 Olive Way
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 728-7778
Belltown Dance Studio is still taking students for their Salsa classes beginning this Tuesday, February 12. No partner? No problem!
5 hours/class series for $55. $5 discount with student ID or if register one week in advance online or in person during class hours.
Belltown Dance Studio/Musician Assn. Building
2620 3rd Ave. (cross Cedar St.)
Seattle, WA 98121
206.930.7246
It's another lazy Saturday night as a Belltowner. Cooking sounds about as appealing as licking a toad, and grabbing take-out at any downtown restaurant after 6pm is seriously out of the question as far as parking goes. Sounds like delivery is the answer!
Alright, now let's look at our options: we've got pizza or... pizza... or perhaps you'd like a little pizza?
As much as we all love ourselves a little Pagliacci now and then, enough is enough. My fellow Belltowners, I present to you a sparkling solution for your lazy Saturday night dinner.
RestaurantsToGo provides restaurant food delivery & catering service. They offer a variety of food cuisines from fifty different Seattle restaurants. Delivery hours are 6:30am - 10:00pm Monday through Friday and 4:00pm - 10:00pm on Saturday and Sunday. There is a $15.00 minimum food order required for all deliveries and a $7.99 fee for residential deliveries to downtown Seattle. Orders typically arrive in around an hour.
You can order online or by calling 206-443-8646.
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