Before heading downtown

• Download PayByPhone to pay for parking with ease. Most metered spots use this app — the days of plopping in coins are long gone.
• Plan where to leave your car using Seattle’s interactive parking map.
• You can also use apps like SpotHero to grab a space and pay in advance.

Know the rules

• Colors are key — curbs marked white, yellow, or red generally mean passenger vehicles can’t park there (or at least not for long).
• Paid street parking is in effect Monday-Saturday and can span two, four, or 10 hours. Keep track of the rates, which were recently updated.
• No matter what the sign says, no car can be parked in one spot on a street for longer than 72 hours — so don’t leave it there on your vacay.

Free parking

• Enjoy a break from paying for street parking on Sunday fundays and national holidays.
• An open secret is that lots near the Amazon buildings in South Lake Union are free after 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and on weekends.
• Pioneer Square’s First Thursday Art Walk also offers parking options gratis.

More resources

• Get details about accessible parking.
• Find electric vehicle charging stations around the city.
• If you receive a parking citation, you can pay your ticket online, in person, or by mail.

• Dancer & Prancer: Festive Friday Concert | Friday, Dec. 1 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Westlake Park, 401 Pine St., Seattle | Free | The trio that bills itself as “Seattle’s Number One Holiday Surfin’ Band” entertains downtown denizens.
• Anthony Jeselnik: Bones and All | Friday, Dec. 1 | Times vary | Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle | $55-$75 | The comedian known for his provocative quips may have you gasping between the giggles.

• Santa at the Space Needle | Saturday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Dec. 3 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Space Needle, 400 Broad St., Seattle | Free with admission | Jolly St. Nick is spreading cheer at great heights — a perfect Instagram opp.
• “Little Women” Double Feature | Saturday, Dec. 2 | 4 p.m. | SIFF Cinema Uptown, 511 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle | $13-$25 | How much March family drama can you take? See both the 1994 and 2019 adaptations of the classic novel, followed by a panel discussion.
• The 1975: Still ... at Their Very Best | Saturday, Dec. 2 | 7:30 p.m. | Climate Pledge Arena, 334 First Ave. N., Seattle | $54-$134 | The British pop sensations have been called “scrappy emo rockers” by critics — but there’s nothing scrappy about those catchy tunes.

• South End Record Show | Sunday, Dec. 3 | 12 p.m. | Clock-Out Lounge, 4864 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle | Free | Enjoy pizza and drink specials.
• Thalia Symphony: Fall 2023 Concert | Sunday, Dec. 3 | 2-4 p.m. | Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle | $20-$25 | This season’s theme covers “Earth and Sky” with works by Johannes Brahms, Eric Whitacre, Barbara Harbach, and Claude Debussy.
• “Star Wars” Holiday Photos | Sunday, Dec. 3 | 3:30-6:30 p.m. | Lucky Envelope Brewing, 907 NW 50th St., Seattle | $12 | May the Force be with you as you snap a memorable pic with your favorite George Lucas characters.

• Bloodworks Northwest Blood Drive | Monday, Dec. 4 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | City Hall, 18415 101st Ave. NE, Bothell | Free | Donating blood is a great way to give back — schedule an appointment at the City Council chambers pop-up.
• Clothing: Power, Story, and Connections | Monday, Dec. 4 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Bainbridge Cinemas at the Pavilion, 403 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island | Free | Robin Little Wing Sigo discusses what fabrics and textiles mean in a broader cultural context.

• Seattle-based health care provider Swedish is planning a new 750,000-sqft medical tower in First Hill. It will have 24 operating suites, a 31-room emergency department, and eight rooms for behavioral health. Construction for the $1.3 billion project starts in January with the opening scheduled for 2027. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

• Thanks for all the sudsy memories — Issaquah’s iconic diner Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-In has closed after 55 years in business. The restaurant at 98 NE Gilman Blvd. opened in 1968 and built a rep for obscenely large portions on its cheeky menu. The space sold for $1.4 million on Nov. 20. (KING 5)

• Nervous yet, UW fans? The No. 3-ranked Huskies play in the Pac-12 Championship tonight against Oregon, with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. It airs on ABC, but if you’re looking for a watch party, there’s lively one planned at Rough & Tumble Pub in Ballard.

• I-5 giving you a headache? It’s not just the stress. A new study from UW researchers found that two hours of exposure to vehicle exhaust during Seattle rush hour could increase blood pressure from normal to elevated levels. (Seattle Times)

• Seattle Parks and Recreation plan to tear down the Lake City Community Center because of damage from a fire in April. Workers aim to complete the demolition by February 2024. The city will gather public feedback when it begins construction on a new center in 2025.

• The Museum of Museums — which closed this fall — has placed one of its longtime works on eBay. A neon sculpture called “All My Friends” from Dylan Neuwirth lit up the entrance of the museum for years. It now has a starting bid of $30,000, in case you’re holiday shopping.

• Heads up, 12s. The Seahawks game at Lumen Field on Sunday, Dec. 17 has been rescheduled to Monday, Dec. 18 at 5:15 p.m. Tickets for that big game vs. the NFC-leading Philadelphia Eagles are still valid for the new date.

• Homeowners in Bellevue, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Kirkland, and Redmond can save up to $6,400 if they replace their gas furnaces or A/C with heat pumps. The city governments hope the program will incentivize more energy efficient methods of heating and cooling homes.