No Charge November – Free Extra Leaf Collections

Posted on by

It’s half way through November and if you’re wondering how you’re going to cram all those leaves out front into your yard waste container, we have a solution! Through the month of November, Seattle Public Utilities is coming to the rescue, and collecting excessive bags of yard waste left by your container free of charge. They’re warning that the excessive bags should be filled with only leaves, and should be packaged and contained properly.

Seattle Public Utilities usually charges around $3.20 per gallon bags collected, but this month they’ll pick them up for free to help prevent drain blockage and flooding issues that could occur in the fall. Leaves can also be placed in your home compost piles, as their compost experts have determined that under most circumstances, you will not have to worry about contaminants such as gas or oil affecting the leaves. If you’d like to help the community and Seattle Public Utilities, sign up with their adopt-a-drain program to help clear Seattle drains of debris.

Seattle To Expand Streetcar Routes

Posted on by

After the South Lake Union streetcar line opened to the public in 2007, the street cars have been running with few people on board, with more empty cars than not. Last year the City of Seattle approved a car tab fee that would designate money for more street car routes, which would hopefully generate more passengers and this year, according to the Seattle Times, the first line has attracted around 2,750 passengers per week. Another line is currently being constructed in First Hill, and the reality of having numerous street car routes throughout the city and suburbs is slowly becoming a reality. 

In the next three years, the city of Seattle could be spending as much as $10 Million on studying and designing routes, if Mayor McGinn follows suit with budget proposals approved last Friday. Four routes will be in the works including Ballard, Eastlake, Downtown and North Broadway, all neighborhoods that had running lines before the system was abandoned in 1941. For more information and updates on the streetcar system, visit the City of Seattle.

Free Rainbow Cake at Cupcake Royale Today!

Posted on by

In appreciation of the approval of Referendum 74 this week after elections in Washington State, Cupcake Royale on Capitol Hill is inviting the community to come out and celebrate, and dive into a free piece of what they’re claiming is the world’s largest rainbow cake (shaped in the state of Washington with Rainbow sprinkles on top!).

Photo Courtesy of Cupcake Royale

The cake will be cut at 3:00PM this afternoon and slices will be served until it’s gone. If you miss the freebies, but still want to celebrate, all Cupcake Royale locations are serving “Gaybies” mini rainbow cupcakes, and Obamacakes now through Sunday. See you on the Hill!

Starbucks Accepting Square Wallet Payments Today

Posted on by

We’ve been hearing about the new Square Inc mobile payment system for a few months now, and today it’s official; 7,000 Starbucks locations across the US are now accepting the Square Wallet mobile payment. According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, Starbucks invested $25 million in the Square start-up company, and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz joined the company’s board of directors.

Customers can now download the Square Wallet app, and use the Square payment system by linking their debit/credit card, and clicking pay here to a near by Starbucks location. All the barista has to do is scan a QR code on your phone and the payment is processed. Customers can still make mobile payments using the Starbucks App, which acts as a mobile gift card, but the Square wallet App takes away the inconvenience of having to worry about loading and reloading the account. The Square App also keeps track of each transaction, which will come in handy if you’d like to know how much you’re spending on coffee. Download the wallet app for a list of participating Starbucks in your neighborhood.

O’Dea Principal Quits After Being Accused of Abuse

Posted on by

Photo Courtesy of O’Dea High School

Brother Karl Walczak has resigned as principal at O’Dea High School, after being accused of sexually abusing a minor in the 1970s.  According to the Seattle Times, the accusations against Walczak relate to his time teaching at another diocese in the early 70′s, and he has denied all accusations.

The operation of the high school will continue under the Acting Principal James Walker. The School Board did not learn of the accusations until Wednesday afternoon.  According to the Times, John Shuster, Seattle co-director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) has accused O’Dea School and Archdiocese of Seattle of a cover up, and knowing of Walczak’s accusations back in August, and not acting on the issue. For further coverage on the story, visit the Seattle Times.

Seattle Gets Approval to Design First Hill Street Car Extension

Posted on by

Yesterday afternoon, Seattle Major Mike McGinn said that the City of Seattle has gathered enough funds to begin the design and planning process for the First Hill Streetcar line’s Broadway extension. According to the City of Seattle, $850,000 of federal funding have already been secured, and another $900,000 are pending final approval, in which case the City will have enough funding to design a half mile line extension, requested by the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The line would then extend into Broadway’s Retail District, and be able to support residents by moving the terminus from Denny Way to Roy Street.

The Seattle Department of Transportation is currently constructing the First Hill street car line, and ever since the project’s first stages of planning, the Capitol Hill community has been very vocal about obtaining an extension to the North End of Broadway, instead of it’s currently final stop at the Capitol Hill Link light rail station. The extension project would continue the double track street car installation, with two or three additional stops, and the total extension project is estimated to be around $25 million. For more information on the project, visit the Seattle Streetcar’s website.

Montlake Fall Carnival Tomorrow

Posted on by

Calling all Capitol Hill, Broadmoor, Eastlake, and Madison Park parents; the Montlake neighborhood is throwing a Fall Carnival tomorrow in celebration of Halloween, fun for all ages!

There will be a haunted house and carnival full of various festive games for ages 5-12 beginning at 5pm at the Montlake Community Center. There will be booths giving away candy for trick-or-treaters, so come dressed to impress in your best costumes, for an evening of fun for everyone. If you need directions to the Montlake Community Center, visit their website.

 

Recess Monkey Performs at Cal Anderson This Weekend

Posted on by

If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend, treat them to a fun filled performance at Cal Anderson Park, where the local trio of Seattle elementary school teachers turned rock stars Recess Monkey will be playing live, starting at 2:45pm. Recess Monkey is the nationally acclaimed trio who have made 8 albums of funky music for kids and the whole family.

Photo Courtesy of Recessmonkeytown.com

Their last album In Tents has been reviewed as high energy, and really pin points what gets kids excited, and that ability to nail that has been a huge factor in their success. Time Out New York recently named them the #3 “Kindie” band in America, and their performance at Cal Anderson marks a very pivotal point in their career, as the drummer is bidding the band farewell after the concert to pursue other opportunities. Bring your kids to the Park, and enjoy an afternoon of music this Sunday.

It’s Halloween; Don a Scary Costume, Save at These Local Restaurants/Bars

Posted on by

With Halloween right around the corner, Seattle restaurants are taking advantage of the festive scary scenery, and rewarding  cladly dressed Seattleites with specials on food and drink around town, from now until October 31st. Check out the list of establishments who actually prefer if you’re dining in Zombie attire than suit and tie this week.

Boka will be offering happy hour prices on all food and drink items to all diners dressed in Zombie attire this Saturday October 27th! Zombie diners are also encouraged to head over to the Thrill the World dance off in Occidental Park to break the record for biggest “Thriller” performance.

Belltown Pub will be hosting a Dracula PJ party with Halloween food and drink available, and no cover charge from 9-close on October 27th.

Linda’s Tavern is having a 50′s themed Halloween mixer on October 31st, with guest DJ King Dude. Party begins from 8pm-close, with free entry. Costumes strongly suggested.

Cupcake Royale Place your order of 12 or more cupcakes on or before October 30th for your big Halloween party, and receive a free pint of Cupcake Royale ice cream.

Cafe Flora will host a pumpkin decorating event on Saturday from 10am-2pm in Washington Park, perfect for your little ones. Pumpkin bread, pancakes and spiced cider will be on hand to snack on during the festivities. Costumes are welcome!

Elysian 2012 Pumpkin Beer Festival This Weekend

Posted on by

In honor of the upcoming Halloween holiday, the folks over at Capitol Hill’s own Elysian Brewing Company are hosting a Pumpkin Ale Festival this weekend, taps open at 7pm tomorrow evening.

There will be over 60 variations of Pumpkin beers, with 13 from Elysian, and an actual pumpkin will be tapped each day, filled with a secret Elysian brew. There will be food carts on site to fill hungry bellies, pumpkin carving contests, and costumes are certainly encouraged. The event will actually be held at the Elysian Sodo location, so come on down and enjoy the fall drinks. For more information, visit the Elysian Brewery site.