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Friday, February 8, 2013

News Hood Watch: Industrious Panhandlers, Raccoon Squatters, and Beer

Posted by Unpaid Intern on Fri, Feb 8, 2013 at 11:58 AM

Neighborhood blog roundup by news intern Ben Steiner.

A Woman in the Central District Answered Her Door: It was Patrick, a panhandler, and now the woman is running—seriously—a photo contest for readers who send her pictures of the "charming" panhandler. Read her totally weird post.

Giant ~~Rodent~~ Procyonid Squatters Set Sights on Crane: My Ballard says two raccoons, reportedly very large raccoons, climbed to the top of a massive crane on 24th and Market, built a nest, and completely halted the 150 foot behemoth of construction. As of this writing, the raccoons have not been evicted from their new high-rise home.

Beyond the Barbershop Offers Lessons on Manhood, No Haircuts: The Rainier Valley Post invites the public to join in on barbershop discussion. There will not be haircuts. There will, however, be a series of African-American men speaking on topics that include "personal power, family systems, health management, personal and transgenerational healing, and money management."

Wine Bottle Reprisals: A woman was arrested at a Capitol Hill party for allegedly slicing a man's face and arm with the shards of a wine glass. His crime? Insulting her use of online dating services, according to an SPD report.

Von Trapp's Consolidates Fun: Those who have been vexed trying to find a place where they can drink beer, hang out with their kids, and play bocce at the same location will be inconvenienced no longer! Capitol Hill Seattle Blog announced the opening of Von Trapp's, a Bavarian funhouse containing (but not limited to) all of the aforementioned activities.

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Comments (18) RSS

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Are Raccoons rodents? No, they are not.

It is a Procyonid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procyonidae

Posted by Max Solomon on February 8, 2013 at 12:06 PM

Wait, there are seriously people who haven't heard the spanger "I just need X dollars for gas/a locksmith/whatever" spiel?

Posted by undead ayn rand on February 8, 2013 at 12:25 PM

It would seem Von Trapp's would also serve the Italian community as well as those from Southern France.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on February 8, 2013 at 12:29 PM

It consolidates fun with an iron fist!

That said, I'll probably be at the opening.

Posted by undead ayn rand on February 8, 2013 at 12:37 PM

Max Solomon has informed me that a raccoon is indeed not a rodent, it is a Procynid. The proper corrections have been made.

Posted by Unpaid Intern on February 8, 2013 at 12:39 PM

According to KING 5 news, they set traps to catch the raccoons, but when they went to check the traps the following morning they were empty and the raccoons had moved on.

http://www.king5.com/home/Raccoons-bring…

Posted by Gern Blanston on February 8, 2013 at 1:10 PM

the raccoons have not been evicted from their new high-rise home.

You had a legitimate excuse to use "de-luxe apartment in the sky", and you let it slide right past you.

Posted by Warren Terra on February 8, 2013 at 1:32 PM

@7 Unpaid Taxonomically-Ignorant Intern is probably way more than a little too young to remember that show. It ended in 1985.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jeffers…

Posted by ScrawnyKayaker on February 8, 2013 at 1:44 PM

@3 - It seems doubtful that Von Trapp will allow the ball to be thrown.

Posted by anon1256 on February 8, 2013 at 1:49 PM

Re: central district woman. I don't know why people feel "taken" when money they give to strangers on the street doesn't go to the cause mentioned in the pitch. It's just a hustle, and everyone on the street has one—either give, or don't give, but that's where ends. No need to judge, it's nothing personal.

Posted by Dougsf on February 8, 2013 at 1:52 PM

@2,

I think most people don't expect a knock on the door from a spanger in a residential neighborhood. I certainly didn't, back when I lived in the CD eight years ago, and that same guy gave me his sob story.

Posted by keshmeshi on February 8, 2013 at 1:53 PM

@10,

It's a man, and, as a single woman living alone, I did consider it personal when he came to my door late at night.

Posted by keshmeshi on February 8, 2013 at 1:55 PM

@12 - Not that you're dying for me to clear this up, but I was referencing the woman writing the story (that felt taken), not the man asking for money.

Posted by Dougsf on February 8, 2013 at 2:40 PM

Von Trapp's sounds like the PERFECT venue for Slog Happy. we're late celebrating the five year anniversary! plus, i want to see Brissey botch up boccie ball. who's with me?

Posted by scary tyler moore

on February 8, 2013 at 3:34 PM

@1

Don't expect anyone who writes for The Stranger to be concerned with little things like facts.

Posted by Cascadian Bacon on February 8, 2013 at 4:04 PM

I agree with #12. Its one thing if its a panhandler on the street. Patrick always comes at night, past sunset. Either he's your new gay neighbor who needs a locksmith, or he's looking for Lincoln towing. I think he's been to my place about 5 times since I've lived in the CD, and the first time is pretty damn nerve racking since you don't know that he's just hustling you and not casing your place.

Posted by cjb5 on February 8, 2013 at 6:03 PM

@10 Can't you just not open your door though? Especially if you are single woman alone at night. And- if it really is that scary and "personal" as you say -you could call the cops. I am also a single woman and I get weird white people (that I suspect are mormon missionaries) knocking on my door all the time. Sometimes in the evening, after sundown. You know what I do- don't answer the door and tell the go away. Problem solved.

Posted by Miti on February 8, 2013 at 9:30 PM