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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.

Grand Hallway’s Tomo Nakayama at the Columbia City Theater

Arts & Culture   May 6, 2010 at 4:12 pm Anand Balasubrahmanyan

Editor’s note: Like we said, on occasion, a little culture with your politics.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0UmvbCUb5Q[/youtube]
Three weeks ago PubliCola got a tour of the almost-open Columbia City Theater in Columbia City. Our guide to the new live music venue? Grand Hallway’s Tomo Nakayama, a friendly indie folkster with a taste for chamber pop.

The Theater was still very much under construction but Tomo sat on an unfinished stage and performed three solo tracks for us. His performance is intimate and thrilling, his able tenor moving from frail to throat searing.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxtRHE3IAos[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoJhChtetMM[/youtube]


  • Random Engineer

    “Capitol City Theater in Columbia City”? Publicola really is Capitol Hill centric, aren't you. Oh well, I guess I should be glad you didn't spell it Capital Hill.

  • Josh Feit

    Thanks. And sorry. Fixed that.

    But for the record, I don't think it had anything to do with some perceived Capitol Hill bias.

    Our offices are downtown and Erica lives in Columbia City.

    If you can find examples of Capitol Hill bias please point them out, but also please consider this: Erica came out strongly for the First Hill route for the streetcar not the “Capitol Hill Centric” 12th Ave. route.

  • new fan

    Ooh, very nice. Tomo is a mystic – he channels a direct experience of the Divine.

  • frank

    Any MP3s or stream of this intimate performance? Kind of cruel to describe it in words, but not let us hear it.

    Looking forward to the re-opening.