08.24.2023

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Today’s Forecast

Hmm... what to do with $45 million?

New $45 million gift looks to help transform northern Waterfront

Designs for upgrades to Myrtle Edwards and Centennial Park will fall into sharper focus once the community weighs in. | Rendering via Walker Macy

It’s certainly a good couple of years to be Seattle’s Waterfront.

While construction continues on the main Waterfront area between Pioneer Square and Pier 62, a new $45 million gift from Melinda French Gates, Mackenzie Scott, the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, and Expedia Group is paving the way for even more upgrades just north of the market.

The Elliott Bay Connections project will look to build a protected greenway along the east side of Alaskan Way between Piers 62 and 70, while upgrading Centennial and Myrtle Edwards Parks.

The Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) has been tabbed to lead the program and plans to start public outreach later this fall. The ultimate goal is to have everything completed for the World Cup in 2026.

Here’s what’s coming down the tracks.

Untitled design (20).png — The green labels indicate which sections of the waterfront area the Elliott Bay Connections project will overtake.
|
Map via Walter Macy

The new digs

In addition to the greenway that will add two and a half acres of public space, proposed upgrades in the Elliott Bay Connections project include:

Restoration of Myrtle Edwards and Centennial Parks’ beaches and lawns
New restrooms, lighting, seating, landscaping, play areas, and picnic tables
Upgrades to public fishing areas at Pier 86
Improved pedestrian crossings along Alaskan Way (namely the awkward intersection at Alaskan Way and Broad Street)

Waterfront project differences?

If you’re having trouble telling the two Waterfront projects apart, the Elliott Bay Connections’ funding and the entity in charge are key. The entirety of this project will be privately funded, so no taxpayer money will be used. Meanwhile, the other Waterfront project is organized by a nonprofit and has its own board.

What’s next?

DSA will be reaching out to Seattle residents in the coming months to get feedback on what kind of features we’d all like to see in the parks. The design phase will also take place in 2024, so stay tuned for more details.

Events

Thursday, Aug. 24

Four Black Women Talking about Ugly Art | Thursday, Aug. 24 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Rainier Arts and Cultural Center, 3515 S. Alaska St., Seattle | Free | This educational talk looks at how problematic art has been used to hurt Black communities.
Summer Series Presents: Yerbana Yoga In The Park | Thursday, Aug. 24-Thursday, Sept. 21 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Gas Works Park, 2101 N. Northlake Way, Seattle | Free | Bring your own mat for one of Seattle’s biggest outdoor yoga classes, then enjoy some Yerba Mate.

Friday, Aug. 25

Smokus Pocus: A 420 Magic Show | Friday, Aug. 25 | 8-9:15 p.m. | Broadway Performance Hall, 1625 Broadway, Seattle | $30 | Imagine how cool these tricks will be under a little bit of influence.
In Between: a Collection of Short Plays | Friday, Aug. 25 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Center Theatre at Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., Seattle | $15-$25 | Seven short works dive into complex subjects like identity, discrimination, and immigration through the stories of different travelers.
Latte Art Class | Friday, Aug. 25 | 12-3 p.m. | Anchorhead Coffee & Bakery, 1115 12th Ave., Seattle | $150 | Learn how to make all of those cool designs that your favorite barista does for you.

Saturday, Aug. 26

Move Redmond 2023: Open Streets Festival | Saturday, Aug. 26 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Downtown Redmond Park, 16101 NE Redmond Way, Redmond | Free | Walk, bike, and scoot during this celebration of movement that features family-friendly live music, lawn games, food trucks, yoga, and more.
2023 Ring Around the Needle Pub Crawl | Saturday, Aug. 26 | 1-5 p.m. | Lower Queen Anne, 174 Roy St., Seattle | $40-$50 | Support the fight against ALS while bouncing through Atlas Kitchen, Ozzie’s, Streamline, and other spots.
Seattle Night Market: Moonlight Cinema | Saturday, Aug. 26 | 4-10 p.m. | SLU Discovery Center, 101 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle | $15 | Shop from 75+ vendors, get your tarot reading done, and then cozy up for a 21+ only showing of “The Big Lebowski.”

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Open

Ready to try a totally new kind of frozen treat? Hellenika Cultured Creamery is now open in Pike Place serving up what owner Alex Apostolopoulos calls “cultured gelato” — similar to frozen yogurt, but with a higher fat content. Alex has some clout, since he co-founded the famous Ellenos Yogurt. (Seattle Met)

Drink

Reuben’s Brews is sneaking its tendrils just beyond Ballard. The popular North Seattle brewery announced that it’s placing a new taproom at 4401 Fremont Ave. in Vif’s former location. No formal timeline for an opening has been announced yet, but owners are aiming for early Fall. (Eater Seattle)

Sports

Seahawks rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be out three to four weeks while he undergoes surgery to repair a broken wrist bone. Coach Pete Carroll said Smith-Njigba may still be ready for the start of the regular season. (ESPN)

Weather

Seattle has seen its 63rd day in a row of 70°+ weather, the second-longest streak on record. Temps will need to stay warm through Friday, Sept. 1 to reach the No. 1 spot. (Seattle Times)

Coming Soon

It’s not quite the “wake and bake” you’re used to, but Uptown Espresso’s former location in Lower Queen Anne will soon become a pot shop. North Seattle Recreational marijuana shop owner Seth Simpson bought the 525 Queen Anne Ave. N. building for $6 million and plans to move in within months. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Closed

So long, partner. Capitol Hill’s Pakistani-inspired restaurant Karachi Cowboys has closed. Owner Nasir Zubair — who received national acclaim for the spot in 2022 — didn’t reveal details about the sudden closure or possible future endeavors. (Capitol Hill Blog)

Arts

Two PNW artists are taking over the University and Fremont Bridges as part of the 2023 SDOT Bridge Artists in Residence program. Mariah Vicary and Vivian Li are known for their digital data-based artworks and will display bridge-inspired pieces in two public showcases later this year.

Community

The Ballard Farmers Market is ready to expand its weekend footprint one block south. Starting Sunday, Aug. 27, the market border will extend along Ballard Avenue from NW Vernon Place to 20th Avenue NW. The Farmers Marker will host a ribbon cutting at 9 a.m. that day. (My Ballard)

Film

🍿 Get poppin’

Where to see $4 movies in Seattle on National Cinema Day

The exterior of the Admiral Theater in West Seattle with its red-bordered marquee

The Admiral Theater has been around since the 1940s. | Photo by Joe Mabel via Wikimedia Commons

This is reely cool. To celebrate National Cinema Day, AMC, Regal Cinemas, and even indie theaters like West Seattle’s Admiral and SIFF will drop all movie prices to $4 on Sunday, Aug. 27. That includes bigger-ticket formats like IMAX, Dolby, 4DX, and ScreenX.

If you need a sign to see “Barbie” or “Oppenheimer” — well, this is it. We scouted a few other new releases playing locally, including:

“The Little Mermaid” (sing-along edition)
“Strays”
“Blue Beetle”
“Talk to Me”

Looking for a throwback? Try the 30th anniversary “Jurassic Park” or 50th anniversary “American Graffiti” screenings. Disney’s limited run of “Beauty and the Beast” has a showing at the Tukwila AMC, and Seattle’s Regal will show the 2003 action flick “Oldboy.”

Bonus: Save room for popcorn — Regal and AMC will be serving up $4 and $5 small concession combos, respectively. You may not want to ever leave.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Alina

From the editor

Hi everyone — I’m back. I had a lovely little trip out in the Cascades sitting around and just enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery. Of course the smoke was a bit of a damper, but not so much so that my partner and I didn’t spend every minute we could by the river that ran past our cabin.

Anyways, if you find yourself out on Route 2, make sure to stop by Espresso Chalet for a very scenic cup of joe.

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