Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

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The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Last Night

Arts & Culture   March 25, 2010 at 3:01 pm Heidi Broadhead

Stella Cafe finally got their liquor license! Last night I walked into my favorite coffee shop (1224 First Ave., across from SAM), and immediately noticed the liquor bottles and gigantic “Diller Hotel” sign behind the counter. Then I noticed the “Diller Room” sign in the First Ave. window, where a little orange pending liquor license sign has been taped up for what’s seemed like an eternity.

The building used to be the Diller Hotel; the back room, known as the “Diller Room,” was its lobby. I can’t wait to have a cocktail in that 1930s-ambient little room, with its high-backed red booths, moody overhead lighting, and cavelike basement atmosphere.