The Landmarks Preservation Board is considering City of Seattle Landmark status for Seattle Pacific University’s Alexander Hall, with a public hearing scheduled for next Wednesday, May 15, at 3:30pm in the Seattle Municipal Tower, (700 5th Avenue, 40th Floor, Room 4060).

Alexander Hall was completed almost 120 years ago, in October of 1893. It was the first building on the new grounds of what was then the Seattle Seminary. The 4-story brick building was the school’s only building and was originally called the “Red Brick Buidling” – later renamed Alexander Hall.

Designed by Seattle architect John Parkinson, in its early days the building served many roles – it housed classrooms, a library, administrative offices, a chapel, and it also was a dormitory for both teachers and students. Fast forward to 1972, and Alexander Hall was placed on the Washington Heritage Register.

Today, Alexander Hall houses the offices for the School of Theology, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Social Sciences, History, Political Science, Geopolitics and Geography, and Sociology. It’s located in the Tiffany Loop – building 1 on the map to the right.

The public is invited to attend the upcoming meeting and make comments. If you cannot make the meeting, you can submit written comments to the Landmarks Preservation Board (deadline is 5pm, May 14) at the following address:

Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board
Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
PO Box 94649
Seattle WA 98124-4649

You can read more about Alexander Hall in the Landmark Nomination Report prepared in advance of the nomination.

The Landmarks Preservation Board is coordinated by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Historic Preservation Program. The Historic Preservation Program handles the identification and protection of more than 400 historic structures, site, objects, and vessels, as well as eight historic districts throughout Seattle. For more information, contact 206.684.0464.

The Uptown Alliance meets this Thursday, May 9th, at 7pm in the Community Room at EXPO (100 Republican St).

A key agenda items is Puget Sound Bike Share. Executive Director Holly Houser will provide an introduction to Puget Sound Bike Share, a non-profit comprised of public and private organizations and local citizens working to bring bike sharing to King County.

Ref Lindmark, a Transportation Planner for King County Metro and board member of Puget Sound Bike Share, will update the Uptown Alliance on the King county’s perspective on implementing Bike Share in our region. He’ll also talk about projected Metro bus cuts that could affect the Uptown neighborhood.

Also on the Uptown Alliance agenda:

• Dan Cardozo of QACC – will introduce a project for combating homelessness
• Consideration/approval of letter to Sound Transit regarding the Ballard Extension Study
• Committee Reports: Seattle Center Memorial Stadium Plan B, Uptown Triangle Planning, Urban Design Framework Committee, and UDF Stakeholder brainstorm

We’ve had several tips from readers this past week about a sign going up at the shop across the hallway/courtyard from Chase Bank at 1417 Queen Anne Ave N, so I took advantage of the splendid weather to stop by and take a look – sure enough, there’s a sign for a new tea shop, and the owners are keeping it local while sharing their South African heritage.

Cederberg Tea House is set to open in June, and it puts a different spin on the typical tea shop with traditional South African sweet and savory baked goods, South African Rooibos tea, and espresso for those of you whose beverages take a coffee form.

The new shop is a mother-daughter venture – that’s right, a new family-owned, independent business is moving into Queen Anne. Native South Africans Natasha Robson-Lovato and Cecile Robson, now at home in Seattle, are at the helm of the new tea shop. Cederberg Tea House originally began as a local catering company named after the region where Rooibos tea grows, and now they’re putting down roots on top of Queen Anne.

Photo courtesy of
Cederberg Tea House

Natasha and Cecile are busy getting it ready for a June opening, and the menu promises delicacies you can’t get elsewhere in Seattle:

• Rooibos Lattes and Cappuccinos: Rooibos tea is pulled through an espresso machine to produce a strong shot of tea with the strength and body of a regular espresso latte, but the unique flavor of tea. Cederberg promises you can’t get this traditional South African drink anywhere else in Seattle.
• South African treats: you can taste a wide range of baked goods including Koeksisters, syrup soaked doughnuts; Melkterts, traditional custard tarts; Hertzogs, jam filled tarts with a coconut meringue topping; Crunchies, coconut, oatmeal and butter cookies; South African Fudge (which has no chocolate – check it out), and more.

Co-owner Natasha says they’re looking forward to being part of the Queen Anne community and sharing a taste of South Africa:

Mark your calendars for June, and get ready to experience some new treats, teas, and coffee at the corner of Galer and Queen Anne Ave N.

The Seattle Parks department is joining with Citizens for Off-Leash Areas (COLA) for a general meeting this Wednesday, May 8th, and the public is invited to join in the discussion. The meeting takes place at the Park Board Room (100 Dexter Ave N), 6:30pm-8:30pm.

Lower Kinnear Park Off-Leash Area

COLA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was formed to obtain and maintain off-leash dog exercise areas in Seattle. Along with Seattle Parks, the COLA Board of Directors will be celebrating the openings of two new off-leash areas – one at Magnolia Manor Park and the other at our local Lower Kinnear Park.

In addition, the meeting will be a forum to share important updates and upcoming events, as well as hold a roundtable discussion on key topics such as events, fundraisers, marketing, education, volunteers, partnerships, and newsletters. Attendees will also be able to learn about the benefits of COLA membership and how to join. COLA member dues help improve existing off-leash areas, support the newsletter, phone line, and creation of educational brochures and materials.

All are welcome – although, please note, dogs must stay at home and sit this one out.

Back in October, Pinkabella Cupcakes closed up shop and their spot in the Queen Anne Space building on Queen Anne Ave N. The storefront has been empty until this weekend… Friday night, nothing (I walked by after dinner out). Saturday, a tip from a reader (thanks, Aaron!) – the windows are papered over, and a sign promising sushi by June 1st is up in the window.

According to the City of Seattle business license applications, Sushi Samurai holds a license for the spot at 1817 Queen Anne Ave N. No more info yet on Sushi Samurai, other than the sign promising sushi soon!

Some local bookstore news to share – this week, Queen Anne Book Company is hosting an author event and kicking off its QABC Reads book group.

First up, the author event: tonight, Monday, May 6th, 7pm-8:30pm with local author Jennie Shortridge. Her latest book  is “Love, Water, Memory” and she’ll be joined by the Seattle 7 band. Shortridge is a member of the band, as is Garth Stein, author of “The Art of Racing in the Rain”. The Seattle 7 band (aka The Rejections (and Trailing Spouses), will be providing background music and entertainment for Jennie’s event.

And, if you’re looking for a book club, look no further than Queen Anne Book Company! They’re kicking off the inaugural QABC Reads book group on Tuesday, May 7 at 7pm. QABC Reads will meet the first Tuesdays of every month from 7:00-8:30pm, and is open to all interested readers. Discussion titles will be posted on the QABC web site and in the store.

The first meeting of QABC Reads will be a discussion of the top ten best-selling book group titles in the Pacific Northwest by co-owner Janis Segress and bookseller Wendee Wieking. Feel free to bring your favorite titles along with you, and by the end of the evening, the group will decide on the first book to be discussed at the June 4th meeting.

Happy reading!

Several weeks ago a sign went up outside Calva Café – “restaurant space for lease”. When a “for lease” sign goes up with a long-time staple still in the advertised spot, it’s usually not good news for said business. In this case, Calva Cafe is the only restaurant space at 1905 Queen Anne Ave N… and it’s closing.

In the past few days, we’ve received tips from multiple Queen Anne View readers who’ve recently dined at the mom-and-pop Chinese/Sushi restaurant, and I also talked with owner today about the restaurant’s future. After 7 years in business on Queen Anne, Calva Café will indeed be closing on May 24th, just a few weeks away. Calva, like other local Queen Anne businesses, is faced with limited options – pay an increased rental rate they can’t afford or close up shop on Queen Anne.

The landlord of the building has increased Calva’s rent twice in the past few years, and with the end of their current lease, the increase is just too much for them to stay in business on Queen Anne. Just as with Tup Tim Thai, Calva’s owners have always paid their rent and have been good tenants. They just can’t keep up with the cost of renting restaurant space on Queen Anne – an increasing cost that’s hard to understand given the number of empty retail spaces on both Upper and Lower Queen Anne.

Although they would like to keep the restaurant open, Calva’s owners have no plans at this time to relocate, so stop by to get one last home-cooked stir-fry meal or plate of hand-made sushi, and say goodbye before May 24th.

FREE woodchips ready for the taking!

Gilman Gardens, the self-sufficient community garden on West Queen Anne ordered two truck loads of wood chips for spring garden work… then the service showed up with four. Now that Gilman Gardens has used what they need from the pile of wood chips, they’re now offering the rest of them for free to the community.

The wood chips are located in the median just north of the main garden (down the hill on Gilman). There are about 15 cubic yards left, and it’s first-come, first-serve. All you need to do is show up at Gilman Drive and 13th Ave W, and have a way to haul what you need away – by the bucket, wheelbarrow, or truck!

On Fridays we feature an adoptable pet from the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS). SAS is located at 2061 15th Ave W, just north of Whole Foods, at the corner of W. Armory Way. SAS is open Wednesday – Sunday, noon-6pm.

Queen Anne View has not met any of these pets – SAS is providing us with the description, as they know them well. We encourage potential adopters to get in touch with SAS and work with them to evaluate the compatibility of your home and a new pet.

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Meet Jake, a very handsome Great Dane/Hound mix, who is one smart boy! Jake is around four years old, and is already neutered and housebroken. He is a high energy fellow who would be a fantastic agility dog if given the right training and opportunities.

He is very active and gets along well with other dogs (that’s him and his foster sibling in the photo below). He will thrive in an adult home with someone familiar with his unique blend of breeds and who has had lots of prior experience with dogs.

Jake’s motto is, “Will work for food!” He loves treats and is eager to earn them, so he is an excellent student and quickly mastered sit and stay. Jake can be a bit shy at first, so he will need an understanding, patient home where he will receive training, generous amounts of exercise, confidence and lots of love. And with a face like Jake’s, how can you not fall in love with him?

Jake (SAS #13-3416) is being adored in a SAS foster home. If you would like to meet this dog, you must submit a Dog Adoption Application to SAS. Download the application and follow the instructions for submission via email or fax. If you have general questions about this dog, you may call the Shelter’s Animal Care Staff at 206-386-4294.

Happy Cinco de Mayo weekend! Plenty to do this weekend, but plan ahead if you want to venture across the Ship Canal on Saturday – it’s opening day of boating season and the bridges will be busy with many more openings than usual. Plus, don’t bother taking Mercer to I-5 as both the on and off ramps will be closed all weekend.

Traffic Impacts:

• Mercer: full closure of I-5 on- and off-ramps at Mercer Street 11pm Friday to 5am Monday
• Montlake Bridge: closed to vehicle and foot traffic Saturday, May 4, 7am-4pm for opening day of boating season
• Fremont & Ballard Bridges: due to opening day of boating season, expect heavier traffic than usual at Ship Canal bridges on Saturday
• Metro: 9am Friday, May 3 until 10pm Sunday, May 5 transit service operating along 3rd Av between Bell St and Virginia will be rerouted due to construction. Affected routes include Queen Anne routes 2, 3, 4, and 13

Multi-Day Events:

• Meg Murch: Coloring Outside the Lines, Pottery Northwest, May 3- 24
• Master Gardener Plant Sale, UW Center for Urban Horticulture, May 4-5
• Cinco de Mayo, Tacos Guaymas, Green Lake, 7am Saturday -midnight Sunday (2nd Ave NE between Woodlawn and Green Lake Way closed), May 4-5
• Boeing Boeing, Seattle Repertory Theatre, April 19-May 19
• The Taming of the Shrew, Seattle Shakespeare Company, April 25-May 12
• Mike Daisey, Seattle Repertory Theatre, May 1-11
• Sister Angelica & Human Voice, Seattle Opera, May 4-18

Friday, May 3

• Family Fun Night, Queen Anne Community Center, 5:30pm-8:30pm
• SIFF Uptown: Showing of Eden and panel discussion on human trafficking co-presented by Hope for Justice and World Affairs Council, 7pm
• SIFF Uptown New & Continuing Films: Eden, The Angel’s Share, Renoir, The Source Family

Saturday, May 4

• March of Dimes March for Babies, Seattle Center, 9am-noon
• Opening Day Boat Parade and Windermere Cup, Montlake Cut, Portage Bay, Union Bay, 9am-3pm
• Fiesta 5K Ole, Volunteer Park, 9:30am
• Queen Anne Jane’s Walk, Boston & QA Ave N, 2pm FREE
• SIFF Uptown: Showing of Eden and panel discussion with director Megan Griffiths and producers Colin Plank and Jacob Mosler, 7pm
• Land of Pines Album Release, Vera Project, 7:30pm

Sunday, May 5

• Queen Anne Historical Walking Tour, Kerry Park, 10am
• Cinco de Mayo & Children’s Day, Seattle Children’s Museum, 10am
• Asian-Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration, Seattle Center Armory, 11:45am-5pm FREE
• Mobile Food Rodeo, N 35th St in Fremont, noon-7pm, FREE admission
• Community Bicycle/Helmet Blessing, St Anne School Playground, 12:30pm-1pm

Have an event that you would like us to report on? Drop us an email at tips@queenanneview.com

Queen Anne is losing another long-time independent business to increasing rents. After 24 years at 118 W Mercer Street, Tup Tim Thai will close its doors on May 28th.

According to a tweet by Hanna Raskin, Seattle Weekly food critic, the restaurant’s landlord is doubling the rent, forcing Tup Tim Thai to close. Per Raskin, Tup Tim Thai’s Nat Chien says that the restaurant has never been late on rent payments or short on customers. So, if you have a favorite dish, you have 25 more days (and counting down) to get your orders in.

As for the new tenant, no word yet.

Photo courtesy of SPD Blotter

According to the SPD Blotter, a 35-year old man was arrested today after leading SPD officers on a car chase through Queen Anne – traveling via a stolen SPD patrol car.

The incident began just after noon today when SPD received a report of the suspect attacking another man on a Metro bus near Aurora and Denny Way. He fled south through the Battery Street tunnel, where two SPD patrol officers intercepted him. He then attacked a female officer and escaped in an SPD patrol car.

Photo courtesy of Jim Leach

Officers pursued the suspect up Queen Anne to W Olympic Place and 8th Ave W, with the chase ending when the suspect crashed the stolen SPD patrol car into a retaining wall.

According to Queen Anne resident Jim Leach, “it appear[ed] to me when the perp passed the Kinnear Park swing set, he saw two Police cars coming toward him on the arterial and he made a late decision to drive up 8th West, but he entered the corner way to hot.”

Post-crash, officers took the suspect (who appeared to be “very intoxicated”) into custody. Since he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, he suffered cuts to his hands and face. He was transported to Harborview for treatment.

The Blotter reports that SPD in investigating the suspect’s possible involvement in a hit-and-run on his chase route, as well as further details around the day’s events.