05.29.2024

Today’s Forecast

😏 They may leave, but they always come back

5 best places for a sunset view in Seattle

An orange, hazey sun is sinking down to the horizon, above the choppy waves of Elliott Bay. A small sailboat floats by in the distance just beneath the sun. The water just beneath the sun reflects it's orange rays. The sky is a soft blue, painted with whispy clouds of yellow and orange.

Seattle has it all — water views, city skyline, and majestic mountains. What more does a sunset view need? | Photo by SEAtoday staff

Clear skies are on standby, but we’re here to prep you for when they arrive with some of the best sunset views in Seattle.

Our city offers a multitude of hideaways, refuges, and vantage points to fully experience the sky’s beauty as the sun goes down. Here are some of our faves.

Kerry Park | 211 W. Highland Dr.
You really can’t beat the view from this Queen Anne park that offers sights of downtown, Elliott Bay, and Mount Rainier when the clouds retreat.

Seacrest Park | 1660 Harbor Ave. SW
This is a slightly different approach than your typical, straight-on sunset view. Sit on an eastern-facing bench at this West Seattle spot and watch downtown buildings as they reflect the sun’s evolving hues, gradually shifting from golden hour glows to city lights at night.

The Lookout | 757 Bellevue Ave. E.
We 10/10 recommend pairing some almond-crusted brie with your sunset watch party on this bar and grill’s patio. Oh, and did we mention it has killer views of downtown and the Space Needle?

Volunteer Park | 1247 15th Ave. E.
You’ll want to find a spot on the eastern side of the Volunteer Park Reservoir during golden hour when the water reflects the sun’s golden hour haze. If you’re ready for a change of scenery you can venture up into the Water Tower Observation Deck for a more panoramic perspective.

Someone holds an umbrella overhead as they secure it in the sand of Golden Gardens Park. People sit on towels and blankets facing the water as the sun sets in the distance, reflecting off the water. — Golden Gardens Park is a popular spot for sunning and water views in Seattle.
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Photo by SEAtoday staff

Sunset Hill Park | 7531 34th Ave. NW
Watch sailboats glide gracefully across Elliott Bay with Bainbridge Island and the Olympic Mountains as a backdrop. If this park is extra crowded, we recommend checking out nearby Golden Gardens Park — another fantastic spot with similar views.

Want views that make you feel like a coming-of-age film main character?

Dramatically stare off into the distance with us

Events

Wednesday, May 29

Silly Science | Wednesday, May 29 | 12-12:30 p.m. | Seattle Children’s Museum, 305 Harrison St., Seattle | $13-$15 | As part of the museum’s “Creative Corner” series, this event is a playful, hands-on exploration of scientific concepts.
“When the Apocalypse Is Over: Queer Philippine Shorts” | Wednesday, May 29-Sunday, June 2 | Times vary | Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., Seattle | $7-$14 | This film is a collection of imaginative stories by Filipino filmmakers.
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake | Wednesday, May 29 | 7:30 p.m. | Lumen Field, 800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle | $18-$335 | We’ll decide for ourselves whether this Salt Lake is real or not, thank you very much.

Thursday, May 30

University Village Sidewalk Sale | Thursday, May 30-Sunday, June 2 | Times vary | University Village, 2623 NE University Village St., Seattle | Cost of purchases | Enjoy 50% off at participating stores and restaurants in the area.
Kent Kitty Hall | Thursday, May 30 | 1-4 p.m. | Kent City Hall, 220 Fourth Ave. S., Kent | Cost of adorable cat | In the market for a furrever friend? Find your next family member at this weekend adoption event.
Elysian Brewing + KEXP Celebrate The Pearl Jam Dark Matter World Tour | Thursday, May 30 | 3:30-8 p.m. | The KEXP Gathering Space, 472 First Ave. N., Seattle | Free | This day party features pre-show events + a jam sesh with other Pearl Jam fans.
“Venus & The Vixens: Games of Love” | Thursday, May 30 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Emerald City Trapeze Arts, 2702 Sixth Ave. S., Seattle | $35 | It’s the first night of this world-premiere rock musical that features a retelling of Cupid and Psyche’s epic love story.

Friday, May 31

Pride in the Park | Friday, May 31 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Park at Bothell Landing, 9919 NE 180th St., Bothell | Free | Hear community speakers, learn about local resources, and snack on sweet treats.
Sour Fest 2024 | Friday, May 31-Sunday, June 2 | Times vary | Outer Planet Brewing, 1812 12th Ave., Seattle | Free | Find discounts on featured flights, pop-ups, live music, and raffles at this beer-centric event.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Closed

Chinatown-ID’s Wing Luke Museum closed until further notice following a staff walk-out in reaction to new exhibit “Confronting Hate Together.” The exhibit will still be on display + free to access once the museum reopens. Walk-out participants believed the exhibit set a “dangerous precedent of platforming colonial, white supremacist perspectives.”

Development

Two development companies just closed on $48 million in financing for an all-electric housing project in Lower Queen Anne. The 169-unit housing development has already broken ground with an expected completion some time in 2025. (The Registry)

Transit

Sound Transit is stepping up its lightrail inspections. Last year, agency staff estimated ~50% of riders weren’t paying. Fare ambassadors may now start asking for ORCA cards or tickets on platforms instead of just on moving cars. More changes may come during the summer. (Seattle Times)

Real Estate

Seattle-area media personality Jennifer James just listed her Burien home for $4.9 million. The 7,890-sqft at 15809 Maplewood Ave. SW is surrounded by ~1 acre of gardens, ponds, and a lap pool + river. Inside the waterfront estate, windows steal glimpses of the Olympic Mountains and Vashon Island. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Travel

The rate of trips for Seattle-area vacationers is at an all-time high, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Out of the area’s 4.5 million adult residents, 85% have taken at least one overnight-or-longer trip in the last year. This is up 5% from the pre-pandemic rate of 80% vacationing Seattleites Feb. 2018-Feb. 2019. (Seattle Times)

Arts

MoPOP is now open on Wednesdays for pop culture fans this summer. Daily hours will run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Washington residents can get exclusive discounts through the remainder of May.

Concert

Any K-pop stans in the house? Girl group ITZY is bringing their EDM and house music vibes to Seattle at WAMU Theater on Monday, June 6 at 8 p.m. Regardless of who your favorite idol is (Ryujin is the right answer by the way), you can snag tickets to see their dynamite choreography live.

Sports

Ryan Bliss made his MLB debut in the Mariners’ 3-2 win over the Astros on Monday, May 27. Hear takes on more happenings from local Seattle Mariners experts with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Home

Did you know you could finance your fixer-upper with home equity? You could get up to $50K with a HELOC — calculate your payment.*

Shop

Summer’s fast approaching — which means we’re hitting the Tory Burch sandal shop.*

Sports

The Kraken’s out of the bag

Seattle Kraken name Dan Bylsma as new head coach

This photo from 2009 shows Dan Bylsma waving a towel in the air, sporting a black shirt reading "Stanley Cup Champions" during his time coaching the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Bylsma earned the nickname “Disco Dan” during his time on the Los Angeles Kings because of his reputation for dancing in the locker room. | Photo by Andrew Crampton, via Wikimedia Commons

New head coach incoming — the Seattle Kraken announced that Dan Blysma would be taking over the role in a press release on Tuesday, May 28.

So, what has Bylsma accomplished in his two-decade career leading to this moment?

Bylsma’s background

After many years on the ice as a player, Bylsma started his coaching career with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.

Bylsma is best known for his stint coaching the Pittsburgh Penguins for its ’08-'09 season. The team was struggling to make the playoffs and relieved its head coach mid-season, subbing in Bylsma as interim head coach.

What’s Kraken?

Our NHL team’s staff, players, and fans see Bylsma’s potential for guiding the Kraken into the next season.

“Dan is a winner with a proven track record of developing both young and veteran talent, and his leadership will help our team as we move forward,” said the team’s General Manager Ron Francis.