Plus, grab a passport for Independent Bookstore Day.
 
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From our friends at KING

 
Some sisterly love for you
The Christchurch Arts Centre is housed in a very old looking bricked building — it stands in a wash of a setting sun.
The Christchurch Arts Centre is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. | Photo by Michal Klajban
What could Seattle possibly have in common with a city ~7,400 miles away? Quite a lot, actually.

Christchurch, New Zealand is one of Seattle’s 20 sister cities, created to help keep peace in a post-World War II setting and foster easy exchanges of culture and information.

Seattle’s kept in close touch with this city, and the impacts can be seen in the wide variety of programs we’ve built together. But first, let’s get to know them a little.

A sweeping grassy hill slides into a opalescent blue ocean somewhere along the coastline near Christchurch, New Zealand.

Is someone playing the “Lord of the Rings” soundtrack in the distance? It’s clear why this country was picked for it’s filming.

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Photo by Donovan Kelly

A quick introduction

Christchurch is located on the east side of New Zealand’s South Island and is the country’s second largest city with a population of ~384,800.

The city was founded around 1839, but it was inhabited long before by several Indigenous peoples — first moa hunters then the Ngati Māmoe and the Ngāi Tahu.

Both the history and landscape make Christchurch an excellent place for folks who love exploring the great outdoors — with beautiful grassy hills made for hiking and crystal blue coastal waters that that just beg for a dip.
A group of SCSCA member stand smiling in downtown Seattle on a sunny day.

The Seattle-Christchurch Sister City Association (SCSCA) is made up of about 50% of folks who have New Zealander heritage and 50% Seattleites who just love the country.

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Photo via the SCSCA

What we have in common

The Seattle-Christchurch Sister City Association (SCSCA) developed several programs to boost both of our cities up, utilizing both our similarities and differences, such as:
  • Shared information about earthquake response. Christchurch was heavily impacted by one in 2010, and used the past 10+ years to develop better response technology for future cases.
  • High school and university student exchange programs.
  • An in-the-works dance program that would send local choreographers to New Zealand to learn their styles.

Learning more and getting involved

If you’re looking to get involved, the SCSCA is always looking for volunteers to help out during its various events. But simply attending one of their events is always a great way to learn more about the city.

Keep an eye out for features in the SIFF’s film festival or attend the SCSCA’s Summer Picnic in July.
 
TEGNA
 
Events
 
Monday, April 22
  • State Park Free Pass Day | Monday, April 22 | Washington | Free | Here’s a reminder that you can visit various scenic destinations and all state parks without needing a Discover Pass today.
  • Salsa Practica | Monday, April 22 | 8:15-10:30 p.m. | Century Ballroom, 915 E. Pine St., Seattle | $10 | Practice your moves in a free-flowing, non-judgmental environment — all ages and skill levels welcome.
Tuesday, April 23
Wednesday, April 24
  • Disney’s “Aladdin” | Wednesday, April 24-Sunday, April 28 | Times vary | The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle | $80-$246 | Discover a whole new world with Genie, Aladdin, and Jasmine as they perform some new songs from Tony Award-winning producers.
  • Paint & Sip: Sakura Totoro | Wednesday, April 24 | 6-8 p.m. | Friday Afternoon Tea, 4228 Stone Way N., Seattle | $55 | Celebrate the spring with a whimsical painting lesson from a longtime instructor.
  • BurlesKARAOKE - You Sing, They Tease! | Wednesday, April 24 | 7-11 p.m. | Queer/Bar, 1518 11th Ave., Seattle | $15-$200 | Belt your heart out while a team of flirty dancers perform to your stellar ballads.
Thursday, April 25
  • Upper Left Comedy Fest | Thursday, April 25-Saturday, April 27 | Times vary | Various Belltown Venues, 2505 First Ave., Seattle | $75-$250 | Get ready to have a really sore abdomen after laughing at all of the festival’s national, local, and indie comedians.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
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Environment
 
4 ways Hyatt at Olive 8 is winning the sustainability game
a gif featuring different images of the Hyatt at Olive 8
The hotel is conveniently located near 60+ public transportation routes that connect throughout the city + region, allowing visitors to explore while reducing their carbon footprint. | Photos provided by Hyatt at Olive 8; GIF created by SEAtoday
Caring for the planet while providing world-class hospitality is the main focus at Hyatt at Olive 8. Here’s a quick snapshot of the hotel’s sustainability practices:
  • The Green rooftop retains 75% of rainwater, helping to mitigate stormwater runoff and insulating the hotel’s meeting spaces to reduce heating + cooling energy consumption.
  • Leftover + untouched food is donated to local hunger-eliminating nonprofits, such as Mary’s Place and Plymouth Housing.
  • Each year, 350,000+ tons of waste is diverted from landfills through composting.
  • Rooftop wind turbines capture fan exhaust and turn it into energy.
 
News Notes
 
Biz
  • Fremont Brewing has some new owners. Investment company Seattle Hospitality Group — which also owns Pike Brewing — purchased the brand from founders Matt Lincecum and Sara Nelson. However, customers are unlikely to see any real changes from Washington’s third largest brewer. (Eater Seattle)
Closing
  • Just days before Lululemon closed its Pacific Place storefront, the company has also announced that it plans to close its Sumner distribution center. While some employees will be moved to other locations, ~130 workers will be fired during the closure. (KING 5 + Puget Sound Business Journal)
Civic
  • The City of Seattle recently awarded $1.2 million to community-led services that address domestic violence. The money will be dispersed between API Chaya, Collective Justice, and Seattle’s LGBTQ Center to help train staff and develop trauma-informed practices.
Award
  • We’ll cheers to this — a few Seattle cocktail bars were recently nominated for regional Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, which honors the world’s best bar programs. The list of local nominees includes Navy Strength, The Doctor’s Office, Foreign National, The Mountaineering Club, L’Oursin, and the Dark Room.
Show
  • More than 200 artworks created by Seattle’s population of talented youth artists are on display in the Naramore Art Show at the Seattle Art Museum’s Community Gallery. The works, which come from students in middle + high school, can be seen until Sunday, May 12, but art enthusiasts can also peruse the art through a virtual exhibition.
Open
  • Ballard has a brand new shoe shop. Blundstone, a company known for its functional + very PNW-esque boots, has opened its first West Coast storefront at 5342 Ballard Ave. NW. The store’s hours run Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (My Ballard)
Coming Soon
  • A new space exploration-focused exhibit will blast off at the Museum of Flight on Saturday, June 8. “Home Beyond Earth” takes a look at space stations of the past, present, and future with more than fifty artifacts that help us Earth-dwellers get a glimpse of what it’s like to live and work above our atmosphere.
Sports
  • UW’s football roster is looking a little different after several players entered the transfer portal. Get a look at what went down with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
    Arts
    • Interested in exploring five decades of paintings, drawings, and sculptures that redraw the boundaries of contemporary American art? “Jaune Quick-to-See Smith: Memory Map” features the largest and most comprehensive retrospective of Smith’s work to date. Learn more + grab tickets to view the exhibition now through May 12.*
     
    Read
     
    📚 Attn: bookworms
    Rows of wooden bookshelves fill the lower floor of Elliott Bay Book Company, with large skylights letting in sunlight and worn wooden floor boards across the space.
    Elliott Bay Book Company is one of the 28 participating bookstores. | Photo by SEAtoday staff
    Whether you dog ear, use a receipt, or just memorize your page number — it’s time to bookmark Saturday, April 27 in your calendars for Seattle Independent Bookstore Day.

    This year, 28 different local shops are joining the page-turning event meant to bolster and support local booksellers with merch sales, prizes, and more.

    One seller is new to the list — Charlie’s Queer Books located at 465 N. 36th St. in Fremont.

    More participating shops include:
    One big, unifying experience is the return of the Bookstore Day Passport Challenge. This game challenges book worms to visit each of the 28 stores by Monday, May 6 in return for a 25% discount at each store.

    Check out the full list of bookstores on the event website — and happy shopping.
     
    The Buy
     
    Colorful old fashioned glasses that are perfect for spring and summer. They have the look and feel of glass, but are made from unbreakable and BPA-free Tritan material, meaning they’re pool and party-proof.
     
    Answered
     
    What restaurant would you recommend the Crown Prince of Norway eat at while he’s in town?

    The Crown Prince of Norway listens intently as someone points to an exhibit at the National Nordic Museum.

    Crown Prince Maakon was here April 16-17 to discuss sustainability and innovation.

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    Photo via the National Nordic Museum

    Last week while Norway’s Crown Prince was in town, we asked you all what restaurant you would recommend he eat at if given the chance. Out of the three options we suggested, most of you (30%) unsurprisingly agreed that Dick’s Drive-In was the best call — a bag of Dick’s is good for the soul, regardless of who you are.

    But some other suggestions included Walrus and the Carpenter (Norwegians love seafood, as one reader mentioned), Canlis (of course), and Ivar’s (again with the seafood).
     
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    The Wrap
     
    Alina Hunter-Grah headshot Today’s edition by:
    Alina
    From the editor
    I had a lovely weekend taking advantage of the beautiful weather on Saturday to do a little solo road trip around the Olympic Peninsula. It was a long drive, but plenty rewarding getting to see the coastline. I also got a new piece of driftwood that I’m going to use to hang up a rug that’s been in my family for awhile. I hope you all had just as lovely of a time this weekend.
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