02.13.2024

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Today’s Forecast

Embrace the space

How locals can show a landmark building some love

A sign that shows an llustration of a large building — underneath, lettering says "Seattle Inscape: History. Arts. Culture."

The INS building was transformed into a center for the arts, but retains elements of its past. | Photo via Seattle Municipal Archives, No. 191709

Romance is building up this week. You can see for yourself at Historic Seattle’s free Heart Bomb event on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 12-12:30 p.m., at the Inscape Arts and Cultural Center.

Heart bombing refers to a public display of affection for historic buildings + sites in which advocates write love letters and often show up to take group pics.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation organizes them to raise awareness about landmarks that are either threatened or rouse strong feelings within the community.

For the past decade, Historic Seattle has been dropping Heart Bombs at beloved locales like Key Arena, The Showbox, and Bush Garden. Now it’s Inscape’s turn to get some love.

💕 Where the heart is

The arts center is located near Lumen Field at the former Immigration & Naturalization Service Building, which was where immigration paperwork was processed from 1932 to 2004. After a preservation effort, the 77,000-sqft space became a hub of creative endeavors with 100+ tenants, from performance arts groups to sculptors to digital media specialists.

Visitors can find remnants of the building’s important past with a permanent installation telling the story of immigrants who passed through its halls over the decades. The Wing Luke Museum even offers a walking tour.

💕 Bombs away

Taking part in the Heart Bomb at Inscape Tuesday is fairly straightforward — create a Valentine’s Day card that expresses your fondness for the building, then show up at noon on Tuesday to take a group photo with other admirers. Take a look at snapshots from a previous Heart Bomb to get inspiration.

If you end up missing this Heart Bomb, don’t sweat it — Historic Seattle has a bunch of other events throughout the year that emphasize a passion for the city’s past. Your heart will go on.

Asked

Which other Seattle landmark deserves a Heart Bomb?

A. Smith Tower
B. Space Needle
C. Pike Place Market
D. Pacific Science Center

Show the love

Events

Tuesday, Feb. 13

Volunteer Open House | Tuesday, Feb. 13 | 6 p.m. | Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle | Free | Learn how to donate your time to the symphony while earning perks like discounted tickets and special event invites.
“Parks and Rec” Trivia Night | Tuesday, Feb. 13 | 8 p.m. | Clock-Out Lounge, 4864 Beacon Ave. S., Seattle | $7 | Enjoy an early Galentine’s Day by testing your Knope-related knowledge of the classic NBC sitcom.

Wednesday, Feb. 14

Valentine’s Night Market | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | 4-8 p.m. | Seattle Restored Downtown, 1501 Fifth Ave., Seattle | Free | The Palengke will set up shop with local vendors like Spill the Tee, Nerdwax Candle, Jolorene’s Kitchen, and more.
Northwest Flower & Garden Festival | Wednesday, Feb. 14-Sunday, Feb. 18 | 9 a.m.-8 p.m. | Seattle Convention Center, 705 Pike St., Seattle | $13-$27 | Discover 20+ stunning display gardens, attend 96+ seminars with global gardening luminaries, and more at the ultimate celebration of spring and gardening.*

Thursday, Feb. 15

Black History Month Keynote with Dr. Doretha Williams | Thursday, Feb. 15 | 6-8 p.m. | Northwest African American Museum, 2300 Massachusetts St., Seattle | $10 | The Smithsonian Museum scholar discusses Black family history and genealogy.
Sign-a-raoke: Love is Love | Thursday, Feb. 15 | 7 p.m. | The Crescent Lounge, 1413 E. Olive Way, Seattle | Free | Sing your favorite tunes with heart-adorned karaoke on seven screens and ASL interpreters on stage.

Friday, Feb. 16

Marlon Wayans | Friday, Feb. 16 | 7 p.m. | Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle | $39.50-$99.50 | The veteran comic delivers belly laughs on his latest tour covering a wide range of topics and impressions.
Feist | Friday, Feb. 16 | 7 p.m. | Showbox SODO, 1700 First Ave. S., Seattle | $44.95 | The award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter transfixes audiences with her catalogue of indie hits.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Concert

Yeah, yeah, yeah — after an electric Super Bowl halftime show, Usher announced he’s coming to Seattle. The R&B megastar will play a date at Climate Pledge Arena on Nov. 10. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m.

Civic

Here’s a reminder that ballots are due today for special elections around the region. Among the measures up for votes are a higher minimum wage in Renton and a transportation sales tax in Marysville. Get more info on the election. (KING 5)

Biz

After opening its newest tower in Bellevue at 117 106th Ave. NE, Amazon announced that its workforce in the Eastside city could top 12,000. In just four years, the company has boosted its Bellevue workforce by 10,000 with employees moving from Seattle and elsewhere. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Environment

Volunteers helped install 1,300 plants for the future Georgetown Community Forest. The project organized by several local nonprofits is on the site of the former Hat ‘n’ Boots gas station. It aims to combat industrial pollution in South Seattle. (West Seattle Blog)

Seattleite

Pack up the knives, because PNW-born chef Kaleena Bliss will be competing on “Top Chef” Season 21 taking place in Wisconsin. Bliss worked at the Thompson Seattle recently before moving to Chicago. You can see her cook up a storm on the show’s premiere March 20.

Development

Seattle Parks and Recreation plans to create a new paved connection along Lake Washington Boulevard to improve pedestrian access to the shore. Work will begin this month on the pathway — the first phase of a larger Lake Washington Boulevard project.

Number

No kidding — new census data shows the number of people under 18 in King County dropped by more than 20,000 since 2020. The last time there was such a decline in the area’s under-18 population was more than 40 years ago. (Seattle Times)

Arts

Local nonprofit the Living Arts Collective (LAC) announced three recipients of the organization’s inaugural grants. Visual artists Rowan Eriksson, AshaAung Helmstetter, and Seattle Stories will receive $1,000 each and will be showcased in LAC gallery shows.

Holiday

A reminder that tomorrow, February 14, is Valentine’s Day. Sending flowers? Shop bouquets at local florists, or get one of 1-800-Flowers’ Valentine’s Day bouquets delivered to that special someone.*

Drink

🍸 Where to happily drink alone

Where to drink alone in Seattle

A look at the green, wood-accented fireplace in Hotel Sorrento's Fireside Room: Seattle, WA

The Fireside Room is a cozy spot for after-work snacks and drinks. | Photo courtesy of Hotel Sorrento

Treating yourself to a nice, quiet drink or meal solo is one of life’s great pleasures. Particularly in Seattle, where there are so many cool nooks to curl up in on a winter’s day.

Here are a few local options that should satisfy all the lone rangers out there.

Twilight Exit, 2514 E. Cherry St. | Central District | The neighborhood haunt offers warm vibes, good convo, and stiff drinks. What more do you need?
The Fireside Room, 900 Madison St. | Cozy seats, roaring fires, and silent reading parties make for boozy literary dreams at Hotel Sorrento’s chill spot.
Off Alley, 4903 1/2 Rainier Ave. S. | The space is tight, but the wine list and rotating snacks with creative uses of offal is even tighter.
Founders Club, 411 University St. | The speakeasy located behind an inconspicuous bookcase at the Fairmont offers a sophisticated atmosphere without pretension — see who catches your eye.

4 more haunts

The Buy

The Buy 2.13.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

This margarita mixers bundle, since National Margarita Day is coming up on Thursday, February 22 and we’re trying to be as prepared as possible, thank you very much. Get four margarita flavors to play with including “Simple Margarita” and “Blood Orange Margarita.”

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Gabe

From the editor

If you’re feeling more on the moody goth side for Valentine’s Day, a bonus “drink alone” spot I’d recommend is 2 Fingers Social in White Center. You’ll love all the macabre memorabilia and potent potions.

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