06.20.2023

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Today’s Forecast

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Seattle will get a new area code as 206 numbers run low

A view of the Seattle skyline and the Puget Sound with various highway arteries shown prominently

We’ll probably know the Seattle newbies by their 564 numbers in a couple of years. | Photo via @esc_leo

Hold the phone — Seattle’s getting new digits, and we’re not quite sure how to feel about it. Looks like 206 phone numbers are dwindling, so the national Utilities and Transportation Commission approved the introduction of area code 564 to our city by 2025.

Will there be time to say goodbye? We’re clutching our precious 206 as tightly as we can as we process this news. Here’s what you need to know about the pending switcheroo.

Cracking the codes

Other areas in Washington have already adopted the 564 area code and they didn’t explode into little pieces, so that’s good. The new number on the block has been around since 2017 when it was rolled out in areas like Snohomish, Bellingham, and Whidbey Island.

RonSwansonPhone_SEA — Remember not to do this when you see your first 564 call and assume it’s spam.
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Photo via GIPHY

Regardless, we’re a little nostalgic for 206. It was one of the country’s 86 OG area codes launched back in 1947 before the US expanded to 300+. It also once covered the entire state. It’s a national treasure, really, inspiring everything from burger companies to a sketch comedy show.

In fact, we’ve been LOL’ing about local area code switches since the 90s — remember when Bellevue changed to 425, shared with Renton? The horror.

Finders keepers

Take a deep breath — if you already have a 206 phone number, you can keep it. The 564 addition is an “overlay” area code, basically another option for regions whose supply of a certain area code is running low. Therefore, existing 206 numbers will be able to stay put, even after 2025 comes around.

It helps that service providers allow you to port over an old number to a new phone. So even if you upgrade to a fancy new device within the next couple of years, you can still bring your 206 over — even if you owe fees or an outstanding balance. Whew.

Events

Tuesday, June 20

Weekly Children’s Story Time | Tuesday, June 20 | 10:30-11 a.m. | Douglass-Truth Library, 2300 E. Yesler Way, Seattle | Free | The Seattle Public Library branch’s popular preschooler reading event has returned with dancing, singing, and parachutes for playing.
Seattle Storm vs. Connecticut Sun | Tuesday, June 20 | 7 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena, 334 First Ave. N., Seattle | $13-$350 | The Storm are coming off a big victory and starting to find team chemistry: Can they keep up the momentum?

Wednesday, June 21

Summer Solstice Labyrinth Walks | Wednesday, June 21 | 7-9 p.m. | Saint Mark’s Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. E., Seattle | Free | Get ready to be a-mazed by street labyrinths, stations for chalk art, and crafts.
Janet Jackson: Together Again | Wednesday, June 21 | 8 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena, 334 First Ave. N., Seattle | $45-$505 | Join the “Rhythm Nation” as the legendary pop star ends her first tour in four years playing hits and rarities.

Thursday, June 22

The Concert Truck | Thursday, June 22 | 5 p.m. | Lake City Farmers Market, NE 125th Street + 28th Avenue NE, Seattle | Free | Check out the Chamber Music Society’s wheelie cool mobile concert after you shop for fruits and veggies.
Science and a Movie: Asteroid Hunters | Thursday, June 22 | 6:30 p.m. | Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave. N., Seattle | $5 | This IMAX original film about floating space rocks narrated by “Star Wars” actress Daisy Ridley is followed by a Q+A session with a spaceflight systems engineer.

Friday, June 23

Paula Poundstone | Friday, June 23 | 7 p.m. | Neptune Theatre, 1303 NE 45th St., Seattle | $47-$55 | The legendary comic has been at the stand-up game for 40+ years and shows no signs of slowing down.
A Night of Wine Murder and Mystery: Back to the 80s | Friday, June 23 | 7-9 p.m. | J. Bookwalter Tasting Studio, 14810 NE 145th St., Woodinville | $50 | Put on your amateur detective cap for a “Breakfast Club"-meets-"Clue” style of dinner theater.

Events calendar here

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Announced

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News Notes

Drink

Big shakeup in Seattle’s beer world — Stoup is about to acquire Optimism Brewing. This will be the third location for Stoup, which is planning to take over Optimism’s 16,000-sqft brewery + taproom at 1158 Broadway this summer. Optimism is ending its run after eight years. (Capitol Hill Blog)

Civic

Mayor Bruce Harrell has proposed a means to expedite the city’s affordable housing development, potentially shortening the process by 12-15 months. If passed, the new legislation would provide a permanent exemption for affordable rental projects from design reviews (it’s currently only temporary) and allow affordable home ownership developments the same leeway.

Eat

Meat lovers, rejoice — butcher shop Beast & Cleaver will soon open a permanent burger joint titled Beast & Cleaver 49th Street inside Ballard’s Fair Isle Brewing. The critically acclaimed patties will be served out of the brewery’s kitchen by late July and is expected to be open six days a week. (Seattle Times)

Weather

Walking in a ... winter wonderland? Even though summer officially starts tomorrow, local mountain passes recently saw traces of snow, which forecasters say would stick for a couple of days. In Seattle, the temperature dipped below 50° on Sunday, breaking a 27-year-old cold snap record. (KOMO)

Transit

Stepping things up, Sound Transit restarted a major escalator in the Chinatown-International District station that had been broken since 2021. Escalator 904, nearest to Lumen Field, was initially damaged by rain water. It’s now among the 56 out of 58 currently operating escalators in downtown transit stations. (Seattle Times)

Trending

The Bremerton Office Machine Company recently got star struck when a vintage typewriter signed by actor Tom Hanks arrived in the mail. Tom’s been giving away parts of his extensive typewriter collection to small US shops. The Bremerton store sold the machine on eBay and donated proceeds to a food bank. (KUOW)

Sports

Seahawks rookies all went on a Lake Washington canoe trip with coach Pete Carroll and members of the Muckleshoot Tribe last Tuesday after practice. The team bonding session included lessons from tribal leaders on the importance of water and the area’s ecosystem to the Muckleshoot people. (KING 5)

Traffic

Heads up if you’re meeting someone flying in on a red-eye. Sea-Tac Airport’s curbside arrivals area will be closed from 11:59 p.m. tonight until 8 a.m. tomorrow for construction. Passengers can instead be picked up at the departures area or the parking garage. (KING 5)

Open

Sip your heart out, Barbie — Lula Coffee just opened its second location in SoDo that it has pink-ified. The playful West Seattle shop that serves drinks like Living La Vida Mocha now has a bigger space at 3100 Airport Way S. for all your Instagram posts. (Seattle Refined)

Environment

After planting oysters in Smith Cove Park years ago, scientists are now testing them to see if the shellfish beds have been thriving with aquatic plants nearby. The experiment could help determine how to mitigate the impacts of climate change to marine life. (Seattle Times)

Fact or Fiction

Vanpooling participants have access to 24/7 roadside assistance. See the answer. *

Travel

Wanna save 40-90% on flights? Sign up for Going — a free travel membership — and you can browse deals immediately (like a $300+ round trip to Barcelona).*

Job

We’re hiring a Sales Executive to lead our advertising relationships in Seattle. This exec would also have the opportunity to sell into all 25 of our cities nationwide, pitching the most relevant and modern media offering in town while earning a competitive salary with unlimited PTO. Learn more + apply.

Eat

🍦 Scoop, there it is

Get a taste of Seattle as a flavor of ice cream

A cup of ice cream topped with cookies in a paper bowl with cartoons and the words "sugar" and love"

Cookies + ice cream always equals an unbeatable combo. | Photo via @mayumi.u.n

Recently, we asked you to come up with a unique ice cream flavor that describes Seattle and utilizes one to three locally sourced ingredients. After reading all of your responses, it’s safe to say that our mouths are watering. Here were two of our favorites:

Coffee ice cream topped with honey and macadamia nuts from CB’s Nuts. Called “Nuts About Coffee.” - Lisa S.

Chocolate ice cream made with Theo Chocolate and topped with dark chocolate cherries from Chukar Cherries, walnuts from PCC Community Markets, and crumbled pie crust from Pie Bar. Called “Theos Cherry Chunk.” - Juliette W.

The only thing we need now is a local ice cream shop to make one of these flavors a reality. Molly Moon’s, Sweet Alchemy, Frankie & Jo’s — we’re looking at you.

Submit your Seattle-inspired flavor

Answered

Last week, we asked, “What should empty office space be used for?”

The exterior of Seattle's Mutual Life building in a rendering with a coffee shop and cars and bikes passing on the street. — Hybrid would not alter the main entry, but would add new groundfloor retail and create an alternate, accessible entry.
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Rendering via Hybrid Architecture

After Seattle announced the winner for its office-to-residential ideas competition, we wanted to know what you thought vacant offices should be used for. Out of 50+ responses, more than 78% said “affordable apartments.” Hybrid Architects is on the case.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Gabe

From the editor

I’m so psyched that we will get more of Beast & Cleaver’s burgers soon. Don’t sleep on Fair Isle Brewing’s beers to pair with them — I love their farmhouse ales, especially.

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