#2HoursinSLU - Shine, a department of the SCCA

Carrie Jacobsen and Eileen Hood are the managers of Shine, a retail department of the SCCA.

The name “Shine” is so appropriate for this wonderful SLU mercantile. Managers Eileen and Carrie are beaming as they talk about this gem that they created, where customers can get more than just gifts and retail therapy.  Eileen and Carrie “live, eat and breathe Shine,” with complete devotion to the store and the way it supports the SCCA and SLU communities.

Shine is not your typical general store. Shop proceeds support patient and family programs at the SCCA, and much of their inventory and services cater to the special needs of cancer patients and survivors. They carry a wide variety of inventory, from oncology products to apparel and gifts. The store also offers special services to help their customers beat cancer and take their life back. They offer mastectomy and compression fittings, complimentary head shaves and wig trims by high-end, licensed cosmetologists and a surprising, discrete section focused on sexual intimacy. Customers walk in overwhelmed and exhausted by their battle with cancer, and leave feeling self-confident and empowered.

Carrie and Eileen are self-proclaimed “Seattle girls” and love being part of the SLU community. The store is located at the corner of Pontius Ave. N. and John St., sitting at the very edge of the neighborhood, but right in the middle of where prosperous new developments meet vulnerable, underserved communities in need. Carrie and Eileen’s favorite spots in SLU highlight places near the store that contribute something special to the neighborhood.

Favorite Spots

For a “mean cup of coffee,” along with wonderful tea and pastries, the duo enjoys a quick trip to the nearby Carabiner Coffee Company food truck. Mary’s Kitchen at El Corazon is a fantastic spot to grab some lunch to-go – the fried chicken is to die for.

For serious dog- and people-watching they head to Cascade Playground, which offers many activities for all kinds of humans and canines. Immanuel Community Services at Immanuel Lutheran Church provides a food bank and community-based social services for those in need, bringing to light the disparity in the neighborhood in what Eileen and Carrie feel is a healthy way.

There is a special place in Carrie and Eileen’s hearts for Nollie’s Café, who takes amazing care of their customers, providing special attention to the SCCA patients from the SCCA House and the Pete Gross House. These are people in cancer treatment, often far from home and in an intimidating and unfamiliar place. Nollie’s gets to know them, serves them delicious food, and even offers blankets in their seating area for patients who might get chilled.

Make a Visit to Shine!

Eileen and Carrie are excited to spread the word about their store, and their favorite places. Visit Shine every Friday in December for Fa La La La Fridays, with 20% off for neighbors who come to shop. Please join us as well at the SLU Chamber Holiday Celebration & Shopathon @ Shine on 12/4 from 5-7 p.m. Guests can celebrate the season and shop with a 25% off discount.

#2HoursinSLU - Glazer's Camera

Here to answer this month’s installment is Debbie Porter, Marketing Specialist at Glazer’s Camera. Debbie has been at the long-standing institution for two and a half years. For those that don’t know about Glazer’s, it is THE place to go for all things cameras: digital, film and video. The store was founded in 1935 near Pioneer Square and business was done with handshakes. Fast-forward almost 80 years and they now offer classes, rentals, and host in-store events as well as feature work from various photographers. Glazer’s Camera will be moving in 2016 but not out of South Lake Union. You can follow their blog to get updates on the project as it progresses.

Debbie kindly shared her picks for #2HoursinSLU with us. It involves starting with a delicious cocktail at Re:Public – an Old Fashioned. Re:Public is a great spot to people watch from their patio in the summer. Up next is the buffalo mozzarella and basil wood-fired pizza just down the street at Tom Douglas’ Serious Pie. Debbie shared her favorite spot for snapping photos in SLU, Lake Union Park. With boats, birds, fountains and a view of Gas Works Park across the lake, you can’t go wrong. What is the camera for budding photographers to take those shots? Debbie recommends the Olympus OM-D E-M10 because it has a classic look with modern conveniences, like built-in WiFi and a screen that tilts to those “from the hip” shots.

SLU certainly has plenty of places to practice your photography skills. Thank you, Debbie! We’ll be watching the future Glazer’s Camera go up and can’t wait to see it inside and in action! 

#2HoursinSLU - Cascade Women's Program

Liz Osteen, Mary Guiberson and Emily Jones are part of the team at the 

Cascade Women’s Program, a transitional housing program in South Lake Union.

No one day is ever the same at the Cascade Women’s Program, a service of Compass Housing Alliance that has called South Lake Union home for 16 years.

“Every day at Cascade looks a little different,” says Program Manager Mary Guiberson, “because we work with the women here on an individual level.”

Among the women of Cascade are people with limited education to those with graduate degrees. Teachers. Professionals. Regardless of their background, all have a skill that they can contribute to their community. But for many, those skills are locked away. Trauma is a common experience for many of the women at Cascade. Learning to overcome that trauma to unlock the person within is one of the most valuable outcomes that the program can offer. It starts with the compassion and care of a talented group of case managers.

“The women we serve are a mirror of who we are,” says Emily Jones, the program’s leasing specialist. “They’re no different than any of us.”

For the women in the program, there are two goals: The first, and universal, is to find permanent, affordable housing, says Community Engagement Specialist Liz Osteen. But the second depends on the individual.

“It might be finding a job, or going back to school, or improving their health. Each woman sets her own goal,” Liz says.

While the program helps women look inward for personal development, the women of Cascade also hope to build bridges within the SLU community. From preparing a community meal to volunteering to hosting an exercise, art or nutrition class, there are a number of ways to get involved. One of the most valuable contributions comes in the one-on-one interactions between volunteers and residents of Cascade, for whom a warm smile and friendly conversation can be therapeutic. And, just maybe, a learning experience for the visitor, as well.

“The person you see on the streets is just like you – they’ve just experienced a crisis that has led them to this,” Emily says.

To learn more about the Cascade Women’s Program or to get involved, contact Liz Osteen at losteen@compasshousingalliance.org or 206-474-1831.

#2HoursinSLU – Samuel Sobota

For our fifth installment of #2hoursinslu, we followed Samuel Sobota, an assistant manager and resident at the True North Apartments on Dexter Avenue. He is relatively new to Seattle, after moving here in December from the Portland metro area, and he loves spending time exploring his new neighborhood.

Photo of Samuel at Coal Creek Waterfall

True North apartments, a brand new luxury apartment building that embodies Northwestern culture, is also the location of the August Chamber lunch, which will take place August 20th at the Summit Room. The Summit room at True North is located on the top floor adjacent to the spectacular roof deck, which also happens to be Samuel’s favorite place in South Lake Union to relax. When Samuel is looking to exercise, he can use the bouldering wall or borrow the kayaks available to residents.

Photo from True North roof deck

Samuel and his friend Cat on the roof deck at True North

When asked how he would spend a typical #2hoursinSLU, being a foodie as well as a having studied culinary arts, of course the first thing he mentioned were some of the excellent dining offerings located just blocks away from his home. Cask & Trotter, a homestyle barbeque restaurant, is hands down his favorite restaurant. However, depending on the day, you may catch him for brunch at Portage Bay enjoying their delicious fruit bar, or at New York Pizza’s happy hour enjoying a weekend cocktail. When he is ready for a caffeine fix, he is fortunate that less than a block away, he can walk to Herkimer Coffee for a delicious, handcrafted beverage from their extremely friendly staff.

Happy Hour at New York Pizza

Meal at Cask & Trotter

Samuel also enjoys getting out and about in his neighborhood, especially during the amazing summer days. On a nice day, he may be spending time walking Lola (his “God Dog”) along with her owner, Alli, around the Cheshiahud loop. Sometimes he’ll also enjoy an “urban hike” on the steep staircase located along Dexter Avenue that connects the South Lake Union and Queen Anne neighborhoods.

Samuel, his friend Alli, and “God Dog” Lola at Lake Union Park

View from Kerry Park at the top of the “urban hiking” staircase on Dexter that leads from SLU to Queen Anne

Samuel has thoroughly enjoyed his transition to Seattle. Living in the South Lake Union neighborhood has given him the opportunity to be steps away from some of the best restaurants and most beautiful outdoor spaces in the city.

    

#2HoursInSLU - Dena Lee

When asked how she “typically” spends two hours in SLU, Dena Lee’s response is, “there is no typical day!” Dena has the energy and enthusiasm many only dream of. Her #2HoursInSLU represents only a tiny portion of the many projects she is up to her elbows in here in SLU.

Walking into Caffé Torino  to meet her, the cafe bustles with members of the SLU Art Walk Team, including artist Carolina Wallin, whom the team is working in collaboration with Bianca’s Mary’s Place on for a woven fence project at Republican between Yale and Minor. Together, Dena and Andrea Florissi, proprietor of Caffé Torino, co-chair the SLU Art Walk Team. This energetic group is, in fact, weaving art right into the fabric of our neighborhood. Over 1200 people attended the inaugural SLU Art Walk on May 2nd. They are hoping for even more attendees at the second one coming up Friday, August 1st, 5-8pm. 

In her spare time, Dena is a dance instructor at the Minor Avenue Children’s House. Carrie Jacobson and Eileen Hood, managers of Shine,  readily agreed to be a venue featuring art by M.A.C.H. children. Dena resides in SLU and regularly attends South Lake Union Community Council meetings as well as local community task forces, such as the force working on the public benefits of the Denny Substation.

Dena and the SLU Art Walk Team are working to show how to create art in our community. It’s working! By actively creating art in South Lake Union, we’re seeing a community come to life right before our eyes. During May's art walk, over 200 people came through Praxis Brazilian Jiu Jitsu studio to view the work of a local photographer. The studio owner, Larry King, must have certainly appreciated the visibility this brought his brand-new neighborhood business!

Dena, Andrea and the SLU Art Walk Team are encouraging non-profits to participate in the August 1st Art Walk: there’ll be hands-on art at the Gazebo at the Cascade People’s Center; children’s art on display at Playdate; Immanuel Lutheran will host art from Orion Youth Center and Cascade Women’s Program; Williams Apartments will display works from Plymouth HousingGroup; and Youth-In-Focus will feature photography at Museum Quality Framing. A map of the August venues can be found here. They hope to spread the idea that art is accessible to everyone. That said, we encourage you to attend the next SLU Art Walk and find yourself inspired by the art, people, and community that’s being created right here in wonderful, vibrant SLU. Be sure to stop by Caffe Torino to view Andrea’s featured artists and have a latte. If you’re lucky, you may even run into Andrea or Dena themselves!