pictures wanted

poster vandals, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

For anyone running around taking photos of poster vandals (or other neighborhood nifties), here's an added request. If you see someone out taking a dog for it's daily poop, and they don't bag it and run off, catch a picture of them and send me the link. I'm tired of stepping in poop, so it's time for a shame campaign. If you're one of the sneaky sidewalk poopers, consider yourself warned.

signs of something.

no cherry blossoms this year, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

I guess I spoke too soon about the QFC. As I walked by today, I noticed they've ripped out all the cherry trees that line the sidewalk. I'm sure there will be something better there soon....

qfc north

abandoned qfc, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

When QFC first moved into the Broadway Market, I was of a mixed mind. On one hand, the neighborhood got a much better grocery store than the previous QFC and the Safeway combined. On the other, we lost a Fred Meyer and all the interesting bits of the Broadway Market, both of which I spent a lot of time in. We do most of our shopping there, and although discussion has popped up about the need for more and more niche grocers, I have to say, they've got most of what I need (although I'm not big on some of their specials).

It's been about 3 years since they abandoned their old building, the Bartells is long gone, and Taco Bell closed at the beginning of this year. I still see lights on in the apartments on the North West side of the block, so I wonder just how long it's going to take to start construction on their mega project. If the vacant lot across the street that was the Harvard House is any indicator, I think we're in for a wait.

ewaste

ewaste, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

Electronic Waste sucks. The Seattle Weekly says the city will come pick up the monitors in 2009, and that derelict dumping isn't a huge problem, but I see at least one monitor dumped every day on Capitol Hill.

Currently, it costs $12 to "recycle" a monitor at Staples. The city doesn't have any sort of facility to pick this stuff up curbside. What happens to it when it's left on the curb?

Somewhat related (in a smashing stuff, bikini girl way), I saw this vid on BoingBoing today, "Throwing Away Broken Electronics". Enjoy...

Trompe L'oeil on First Hill

lindeman pavillion, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

While not officially on my meandering route to work (or even on Capitol Hill), the Lindeman Pavillion at Virginia Mason is a wonderful bit of whimsy in the city. I remember the first time I saw this building back in the early nineties, I had to walk up and touch it (it was late, I was inebriated).

It's a beautiful example of Trompe L'oeil, and I wonder if the idea came before or after they had made the entire north face of the building with no windows. I seem to remember it having a bit more contrast back then, but I would imagine it's a bit tougher to maintain than sheets of glass and brick.

It's Capitol Hill

lrn to spl pls, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

I'm not a spelling nazi by any means, but every time I see Capital Hill on an Internet post, or even worse, on a sign, it makes me a little sad and it stokes my inner editor. It's Capitol Hill, and it was named in 1901. Whether it was named as a sentimental nod to a Denver neighborhood, or as a money-making scheme, it is still Capitol Hill. Unless you're being ironic, and talking about the infusion of development money, please learn to spell.

Coming Soon: cats and paperbacks

coming soon, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

I'm sure you've probably heard of this already, but Twice Sold Tales is moving from their Broadway and John location to the SW corner of Harvard and E Denny. I wonder if they'll be able to keep their late night hours now that they'll be in the first floor of an apartment building. Either way, I'm glad to see that light rail isn't pushing them off of the hill.

crawl space?

crawl space, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

On the way in today, I noticed this sign for Crawl Space. It is on a fence just south of the Hillcrest Market, on Summit, in the Denny/Olive split. Intrigued, I did a bit of googling and found it is the Crawl Space Gallery, open noon-to-five on Sundays. Going through their website, it looks like a pretty interesting gallery. They should probably remove Redline and Messiah as landmarks from their directions page though, both are now defunct.