Capitol Hill's hardest working man in show business, CHAC's Matthew Kwatinetz, has been devoting long hours to the survival of Odd Fellows Hall as an arts space, ever since he found out about the planned sale. A pragmatist, Kwatinetz isn't tying all his hopes to keeping the Hall for arts use; he's more interested in it as evidence of the arts being forced out of Capitol Hill, an area they once defined. After hosting an......

First things first: You can win a free pitcher of beer. All you have to do: be the first person to email us (james at seattlest dot com) with the correct answer to this question: Who was defeated by Jean Godden in 2003 and by Ken Jennings in 2004? Oh, you also have to show up tonight at the Old Pequliar. And while you're there, you might as well play the quiz. Details: Trivia starts......

When we sat down to do our endorsements we reached a disturbing conclusion. We cannot, in good conscience, vote for anyone. Position 1 Jean Godden: Wrote for the Seattle Times when it endorsed Bush in 2000. Joe Szwaja: Involved in a 1990 domestic dispute in which his then-girlfriend threw a bottle at him and he threw a plate at her. Position 3 Bruce Harrell: Doesn't spend enough time with his 15-year-old son from a previous......

Jean Godden used to write a column where she would point out humorous license plates, as well as the little things that make living in Seattle the silliest. Now she is on the city council and running for re-election. Her main opponent is weightlifting coach Joe Szwaja, who spent some time on the Madison City Council. According to those in the know, "a [Madison] commuter light rail system has been proposed…but has remained on paper......

We’re only going to be in our twenties for the next three weeks, so lately we’ve been trying to feel younger--and there is no better place to accomplish this than at a local district Democrat meeting. Once again we were one of the youngest people in the room. We love you sweet, sweet democracy. What always strikes us about these meetings is how hard it is to find parking, and all the wasted paper......

Lost in the excitement over the Seattle City Council's big week was the Seahawks first trip to the Super Bowl. However, it's not like you can blame Seattleites for ignoring this triumph of footballity, not only have the candidates for Jim Compton's vacated seat been whittled down from twelve to six, but the race for council president took a surprising turn yesterday when Richard Conlin withdrew his name and Nick Licata was declared the winner.......

The man who brought the Space Needle to Seattle is resigning his position as City Councilman. Jim Compton, who was elected to the City Council in 1999 because he used to be on the TV, is stepping down to teach in Egypt and Romania. Or maybe after a heartwarming montage, it will be his students who teach him---how to love again. Although Councilwoman Jean Godden was "shocked" by Compton's decision, others on the council were......

Celebrities, they are good looking, rich, and if you believe what you read in US Weekly, are just like us (they check their mail). More and more, however, celebrities are also making our laws. Why vote for Stuffed Shirt McPolicy when you can vote for karate-chopping superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger? People like voting for faces they recognize; our own city council has former Seattle Times columnist Jean Godden and former TV reporter Jim Compton. Here......