08.01.2023

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Today’s Forecast

🌳 Setting down Seattle roots

Trees for Neighborhoods helps Seattleites set down roots

A man in a plaid shirt stands next to a newly planted tree on a street in Seattle, WA

The city selects applications through a lottery that takes into consideration low canopy neighborhoods. | Photo via Trees for Neighborhoods

Can you dig this? Seattle’s annual Trees for Neighborhoods is a long-running program that gives away free trees to locals — and this year’s batch of applications is open until Monday, Aug. 7.

Since 2009, the initiative has helped Seattleites plant 13,000+ trees in their yards and nearby streets to beautify the city. If you’re selected, you get assistance from the city on proper care, a watering bag + mulch, and tree health evaluation for the first couple of years.

Participating is easy treesy, but we’ll run down the basics.

How to start

Take a stroll around your yard. The space will help determine the type of tree to apply for — is there room for a large tree? Are you close to power lines? Planting on the street is fine, but there’s a separate permitting process for that.

Also, consider your general goals for planting. That will help determine what species you jot down on the application. You can select up to three per household.

A green shore pine tree in front of a glass building in Seattle, WA — Shore pine is on the list of available trees this year.
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Photo via Trees for Neighborhoods

If your application is approved, you’ll have to attend one of four workshops in late September or early October, so clear your calendar.

Then, it’s time for the fun part — planting. Get that baby going in the fall before it gets too cold.

What’s available?

Spruce up your yard with these options:

Aptos blue coastal redwood | Fast-growing tree that can reach up to 70+ ft and has nice, soft bark
Jubilee Alaska yellow cedar | Can create a lot of shade with its blue-green needles
Shore pine | Highly adaptable native conifer with cones that attract song birds
Mountain hemlock | Shorter species good for rock gardens

Pro tip: the program often receives more applications than it has trees — you can increase your chances of getting one by applying for a larger tree, if you have space.

Events

Tuesday, Aug. 1

ISS National Lab Visit to PacSci | Tuesday, Aug. 1-Thursday, Aug. 3 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave. N., Seattle | Free | This stellar International Space Station pop-up features a lunar rock sample, mock space suits for photo ops, and astronaut food.
Beck and Phoenix | Tuesday, Aug. 1 | 5:45 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena, 334 First Ave. N., Seattle | $45-$135 | No losers here — Grammy-winning rock legend Beck joins Phoenix in a co-headlining gig that should bring back lots of fond alt rock memories.

Wednesday, Aug. 2

Summer Rooftop Yoga Series | Wednesday, Aug. 2 | 6-7 p.m. | The Shop by Porter, 1201 Second Ave., Seattle | $25 | Enjoy a scenic view of the city while learning some yoga basics — bring your own mat.
Women in Tech Walky Talky | Wednesday, Aug. 2 | 6-8 p.m. | The Collective, 400 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle | Free | This Seattle Tech Week event pairs folks up to stroll around while discussing big picture questions like, “How do you see your future self?”

Thursday, Aug. 3

“Campfire Stories: Volume II” Fireside Reading | Thursday, Aug. 3 | 6-7 p.m. | REI, 222 Yale Ave. N., Seattle | Free | The editors of a new anthology of modern prose, poetry, and folklore about the natural world host a reading + signing on the REI terrace.
“The Tempest” | Thursday, Aug. 3-Saturday, Aug. 5 | 7-9 p.m. | Luther Burbank Park Amphitheatre, 2040 84th Ave. SE, Mercer Island | Free | “Such stuff as dreams are made on” includes an outdoor production of Shakespeare’s classic comedy.

Friday, Aug. 4

Seafair Weekend Festival | Friday, Aug. 4-Saturday, Aug. 5 | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. | Genesee Park and Playfield, 4316 S. Genesee St., Seattle | $15-$85 | Seattle’s roaring summer weekend is back with the Blue Angels airshow, hydroplane races, music, food, and lots more family-friendly activities.
The Shipyard Salmon BBQ | Friday, Aug. 4 | 5-8 p.m. | Pacific Fisherman Shipyard, 5351 24th Ave. NW, Seattle | $150 | Take a VIP tour of the Pacific Fishermen Shipyard at this all-you-can-eat alder-smoked salmon feast that includes local beer and wine — and Aquavit.

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Civic

Don’t forget to vote — today is Election Day for the King County primaries. Get that ballot into a drop boxes around town before the 8 p.m. deadline. If you need a primer on the ballot measures and 170+ candidates up for office, we’ve got your back.

Coming Soon

A fancy new restaurant is coming to Wallingford. Chef Johnny Courtney and his wife Sarah plan to open upscale Atoma this fall at 1411 N. 45th St. that was formerly occupied by famed organic spot Tilth. The menu will take influences from Johnny’s time working in Australia, California, and here at Canlis. (Seattle Met)

Closing

We’ll miss you, Trade Winds Tavern. After two years in business, the Belltown bar announced its last day of service was Monday night. Trade Winds had landed on Forbes’ best new cocktail bar list in 2022 and recently hosted our trivia night.

Sports

The Mariners made a big trade yesterday, sending closer Paul Sewald to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In return, Seattle received infielder Josh Rojas and two of Arizona’s top 30 prospects: outfielder Dominic Canzone and infielder Ryan Bliss.

Legacy

SunRay Kelley, the creative force behind many tiny castle-like structures, yurts, and other fanciful homes in Sedro-Woolley, died at the age of 71. SunRay’s structures captured the imagination of the architectural community and have been featured on Discovery Channel’s “Building Off the Grid.” (Seattle Times)

Environment

Charging right ahead — one in six new cars sold in Washington were either fully electric or a hybrid vehicle, which is more than double the pace from 2022. State incentives to manufacture more electric vehicles have increased over the past year and the infrastructure for them in Seattle has expanded. (KUOW)

Weather

Any werewolves out there? With a full sturgeon moon rising in clear skies tonight, August will see two full moons before September 1. The second one is a blue moon, something that happens only once every 33 months, so keep an eye on the celestial calendar. (My Northwest)

Real Estate

Attention Eastside Zillow watchers. Home prices took a sharp downturn in cities like Kirkland, Bellevue, and Redmond in May, with prices dropping between 11% to 12% year-over year. The average home price on the Eastside is still over $1 million, which is twice the average for Washington state. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Traffic

Plan for a long-term detour, Bellevue bikers. The Washington State Department of Transportation is rerouting a section of the I-90 trail in Factoria to the other side of SE 36th Street until Spring 2024. The detour is due to ongoing work for the Sunset Creek Fish Passage project. (Seattle Bike Blog)

Drink

OK, we’ll roll the dice on this sudsy new board game. Beers of Ballard made by local Stefan Hock lets you strategize visiting breweries based on supply, events, new releases, and more. Stefan’s showing it off at local spots like Stoup and Lucky Envelope over the next couple of weeks. (Washington Beer Blog)

Festival

⚓ Ships ahoy

Seattle’s Fleet Week arrives with big boats you can board

The Parade of Ships is an annual tradition featuring vessels you can tour.

The Parade of Ships includes vessels available to tour. | Photo via the US Navy

Drop those anchors, sailor. We’ve entered Seattle Fleet Week, a military + maritime celebration that leads up to Seafair’s high-flying weekend activities.

You may notice the famed Parade of Ships float through Elliott Bay Tuesday with really big vessels from the US Navy, Coast Guard, and Royal Canadian Navy.

Starting Wednesday, Aug. 2, you can even climb on board one of the boats from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the following locations and dates.

Terminal 66 | Wednesday, Aug. 2-Thursday, Aug. 3
Pier 69 | Thursday, Aug. 3-Sunday Aug. 6
Pier 66 | Friday, Aug. 4-Sunday, Aug. 6

There will be free public tours of the ships, search and rescue demos, and food trucks along the pier.

If you’re looking for a good way to get around, look for the free waterfront shuttle, which can take you from site to site in a jiffy.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Gabe

From the editor

I’m fully in live music mode this summer, having gone to two live shows at Tim’s Tavern in my neighborhood this week. I love the chill backyard vibes of the venue, which moved from Greenwood to White Center earlier this year. The beer selection is on point, too.

What’s your favorite small concert venue in the city? Let us know.

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