11.29.2023

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Today’s Forecast

🏡 Mind your manors

Hot Homes: Historic storybook abode near Roanoke Park

A European-style home in the north Capitol Hill area of Seattle, WA with a turret and lush landscaping

Leaded glass windows and a turret lends a medieval look to the home. | Photo via Windermere/Jeri P. Smith

Let’s be honest — when the winter chill creeps in, we all fantasize about shacking up in a cozy castle by the hearth, right? Well, check out this storybook pad.

A European-inspired home at 817 E. Hamlin St. near Roanoke Park just went on the market in mid-November. Built in 1926, the 6,890-sqft space is graced with cathedral ceilings, stucco details, and a striking turret — as all proper manors should have.

Here are a few more ogle-worthy details about the special find that’s currently priced at $2,695,000.

The interior of a home on East Hamlin Street in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle shows white vaulted ceilings, period lighting and light-colored couches. — Many of the original ornate moldings remain in the property’s interior.
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Photo via Windermere/Jeri P. Smith

History with a left-handed twist

The home is listed on the National Record of Historic Places due to its unique design background. Renowned residential architect Edwin Ivey came up with the look, drawing on influences from the English country homes of Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Ivey also may have needed to add in a few unusual amenities. Legend has it that a married man had the house built for his mistress who was left-handed, which might account for the reverse hinging elements. Hey, anything for love.

A garden with a tiled fountain outside a historic home adjacent to Roanoke Park in Seattle — The fountain to the left is one-of-a-kind.
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Photo via Windermere/Jeri P. Smith

Major garden envy

The mistress story was never verified, but the open-air garden space definitely gives off serious Jane Austen energy. In fact, the backyard’s so-called “potting palace” (basically a fancy potting shed) was so fetching it was once featured in Better Homes and Gardens.

If you do host a tea party out there, don’t forget to point out the tiled fountain to guests, too. It’s the only existing fountain designed and built by Ernest Batchelder, a leader in the American Arts and Crafts movement and one of California’s most recognized tile-makers.

You can then take your crumpets around the grounds to admire the drought-resistant landscaping, sleeping porch, Old World craftsmanship, and wet bar. Now, where did Mr. Darcy run off to?

Asked

Which really old school home features do you like best?

A. Castle-like exteriors
B. Old English gardens
C. Period lighting
D. Anything stucco-related

Let us know

Events

Wednesday, Nov. 29

Kingsgate Neighborhood Visioning Workshop | Wednesday, Nov. 29 | 6-8 p.m. | Kingsgate Library, 12315 NE 143rd St., Kirkland | Free | Help officials identify issues and opportunities for an updated version of the Kirkland neighborhood’s plan.
Astronomy on Tap: The Cosmos Are Cool! | Wednesday, Nov. 29 | 7 p.m. | Bickersons Brewhouse, 1514 NW Leary Way, Seattle | Free | Two PhD students from UW take you through a fascinating lesson about outer space as you sip on stellar brews.

Thursday, Nov. 30

Mahler Symphony No. 5 | Thursday, Nov. 30-Saturday, Dec. 2 | Times vary | Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle | $40-$138 | Enjoy the soaring piece of classical music the composer wrote as a love letter to his wife Alma.
Found Footage Festival Vol. 10 | Thursday, Nov. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle | $16 | The VHS tape compilation fest features a video dating service from 1987 and a weird, New Age seminar called “Elimination: The First Step.”

Friday, Dec. 1

Twinkle Twinkle | Friday, Dec. 1 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Freeway Park, 600 Seneca St., Seattle | Free | Enjoy hot cocoa + community cheer before a procession goes down to Pike Place for the Figgy Pudding Caroling competition.
Be Our Guest: 90s/00s Disney Throwback Night | Friday, Dec. 1 | 10 p.m.-1 a.m. | The Crocodile, 2505 First Ave., Seattle | $20 | Warble “Circle Of Life” and “Under The Sea” during this Disneyfied DJ set that also includes hits from former Mouseketeers like Britney Spears.

Saturday, Dec. 2

Arboretum Holiday Sale | Saturday, Dec. 2 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Washington Park Arboretum, 2300 Arboretum Dr. E., Seattle | Free | Browse oodles of handcrafted botanical gifts that can help check off items on your holiday shopping list.
Jenny Lewis | Saturday, Dec. 2 | 8 p.m. | Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle | $30-$55 | Known for her indie rock band Rilo Kiley and sensational solo work, the singer-songwriter plays a soulful set.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Seasonal

Get ready swish swish on the slopes. Popular skiing destination Crystal Mountain Resort announced it will open on Friday, Dec. 1 to season passholders and the general public on Saturday, Dec. 2. It’ll be the first Western Washington Cascades ski area to open this season. (Seattle Times)

Coming Soon

A big-time Korean restaurant is on its way to Bellevue. San Francisco’s Daeho Kalbijjimo will have a location at 3703 150th Ave. SE, bringing its acclaimed namesake dish — a beef short rib stew that blends sweetness with spice. The restaurant plans to open in mid-December. (Eater Seattle)

Stat

95,000. That’s how many Democracy Vouchers Seattle voters doled out this year, totaling ~$2.4 million among 30 campaigns. Vouchers is a public way of financing political campaigns for Seattle mayor, City Council, or city attorney candidates. (Crosscut)

Weather

The tides are high, but we’re holding on. Thanks to the position of the sun, and the moon, the water at Puget Sound beaches were at its highest level since January this week. More King tides will arrive in December. (KUOW)

Open

Carb your enthusiasm — local Italian food pro Brian Clevenger’s G.H. Pasta and Pizza is now open in West Seattle at 7500 35th Ave. SW. Look for dishes like tonnarelli with truffle butter and mushroom campanelle alongside thin-crust pies at the new spot.

Cause

The Living Artists Collective (LAC), a Seattle nonprofit that supports visual artists, is raising funds for a round of grants that would give three low-income creatives $1,000 each. LAC hopes to fully fund the grants by January.

Edu

Score one for Highland Park Elementary. The Seattle Storm donated $5,000 to the West Seattle school’s physical education program. Students were also invited to see a Storm game next spring. (West Seattle Blog)

Outdoors

Take a scenic stroll through the Seattle Japanese Garden while you can in 2023. Starting Friday, Dec. 1. the garden will be closed for the winter due to maintenance. It will reopen in the spring of next year.

Ranked

Seattle’s public parking recently received mixed reviews. The good news is the city ranked high on the lists for accessible spaces and parking for electric vehicles, per insurance website FINN. The bad news is we’re No. 3 for most expensive monthly parking.

Finance

We aren’t given many 21-month grace periods. Oil checks, doctor appointments, Tax Day... time speeds by between them. But The Ascent found a credit card offering 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months — among the longest we’ve seen to avoid interest charges. Learn more.*

Shop

Which ugly Christmas sweater would you choose? We’re liking: the Santa hat-topped wine glass or the “Home Alone” print featuring Catherine O’Hara.*

Development

🚲 Linking things up

SDOT reveals early designs for ‘Missing Link’ alternative route

A rendering that shows pedestrian paths and landscaping in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, WA

Early designs for the “Missing Link” alternative call for 10-ft wide paths and new landscaping. | Rendering via SDOT

Is the “Missing Link” finally getting found?

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) recently revealed new designs for what a connection for the much-discussed gap in the Burke-Gilman bike trail might look like.

Early plans include a 10-ft-wide multi-use path on one side of Leary Avenue and 17th Avenue NW for bikers, scooters, strollers, and general pedestrian frolicking. There are also proposed safety upgrades to the busy blocks cutting through Ballard’s business district, which includes Leary Way and Market Street.

These designs are an adaption of a proposal from councilmember Dan Strauss in March that moved the link away from Shilshole Avenue, which has been a challenge to plan around.

SDOT’s goal is to gather feedback and get the designs 30% completed by the end of the year. You can fill out an online survey to weigh in and track progress on the department’s website.

The Buy

The Buy 11.29.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Anything off of this year’s Oprah’s Favorite Things list. We’re seeing: luxury flaky sea salt, all-weather boots, fleece robes, and a baked brie board.

Answered

What kind(s) of projects in Seattle would you like to see funded by the Carbon Reduction Program?

Cars zoom past Pike Place Market during a twilight hour with the market's famed sign in the background — How might funds from the program be used in areas like Pike Place Market?
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Photo via Pexels

Recently, we shared info on the Carbon Reduction Program, a distribution of $6.4 billion in formula funding over a five-year period in an effort to reduce transportation emissions across the US.

We also asked how you’d like to see funding from the program spent in our urbanized area, should we receive program money again.

Here’s a breakdown of what you said:

83% | Pedestrian-friendly roads and facilities
67% | Public transportation
50% | Fuel alternatives
8% | Traffic management/road diet projects

You also mentioned other projects that you’d be eager to see, like:

More emphasis on “saving our big trees”
Free public transportation

Fiscal year 2024 funding announcements are expected in January or February.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Gabe

From the editor

‘Tis the season again for arguing whether “Die Hard” is a holiday movie or not. I say it is — and you can find out for yourself at Seattle Public Theatre’s annual production of “A Very Die Hard Christmas.”

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