On the Streets: Capitol Hill, Seattle

It’s that grey time of year again in Seattle. I go back and forth between dreading it and loving it. No matter how wet, cold, or dreary it gets, there are loads of places in my neighborhood – Capitol Hill – where you can warm up with some good food and familiar faces.*

Last night I went wandering around deciding what to eat. I’ve noticed this year that I’m eating more and have been craving comfort foods. I need to change that, which means getting back to running (it’s been a while) and eating more consistently. I’ll start tomorrow.

I went with the cravings and walked down the hill to Harry’s Fine Foods. I think that restaurant’s just about perfect. The layout suits me. It’s small, and you know you’re eating and drinking with others, but it manages to avoid the current trend of being overly loud.

I lucked out and got a stool at a corner of their small bar. The bartender, who was wearing a hat and a vest, looked like he’d stepped out of a 40s or 50s film. I envy people who have a sense of style. They put thought into things. I’ve never had that. I’ve been in there before when it was the same bartender. I suspect his sense of style reflects an emphasis on an old school approach to things, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he’s worked with Murray Stenson. I listened as he talked to some people about making apple cider syrup. I liked hearing the discussion. Slow things down, do it right, and enjoy the process. It reminded me of the main reason I’d like to start consistently shooting film.

I ordered the Vashon tofu veggie curry. It was delicious. I’m including a photo of it, but it doesn’t do the food justice. I left and meandered back up the hill, passing Cook Weaver (another great restaurant) and Joe Bar before making stops to see friends at Corvus. I grabbed a picture of Hugh heading home for the evening. He’s part of that Corvus family, and one of many reasons it’s a great local restaurant.

I left Corvus and went to Nacho Borracho to hear some of the DJ set. For a while now I’ve been working on a personal project to photograph Seattle DJs. It was an accidental project. I’ve met a few DJs since moving here, and I’ve become a big fan of DJ sets. There’s an art to it, and I’m always amazed by their music knowledge. I don’t know how they keep track of it all. Last night it was Ear Dr. Umz. I also grabbed a photo of Dick’s because it’s almost impossible not to.