Capitol Hill Books and Eats

12/18/24 Elliott Bay Book Co. 

Although I have occasionally stopped in to buy books and gifts, it had been a long time since I last sketched inside Elliott Bay Book Company on Capitol Hill. Roy, Mary Jean and I met up at the store’s café to sketch and chat in the relaxed ambiance with a nostalgic ‘70s soundtrack.

Waiting for our meals at Oddfellows Cafe

For lunch we went next door to Oddfellows Café, which is housed in the historic Oddfellows Hall that was built in 1908. If it had been a warmer day, I might eventually have gone outside to sketch building details that had caught my eye. On this day, I was happy to simply scarf down my asparagus eggs Benedict (unfortunately, the asparagus was woody) and sketch in good company.

We did the first swap of our concertina sketchbooks. I drew MJ and Roy at Oddfellows (below) as my first sketch in MJ’s book, which I’ll keep using until the next time we meet and swap again. It will be really fun to have sketches from both of them in my book eventually.

Walking back to the light rail station, we stopped in at the Blick store, but in the interest of my downsizing, I am proud to say that I did not buy even one thing! Perhaps for the first time ever! I have witnesses!

Mary Jean and Roy sketching at Oddfellows after lunch