06.12.2024

Today’s Forecast

City

A brief history of Seattle’s Central District

The front of historic Garfield High School features red brick and white stone, with paned glass windows and green bushes landscaped throughout the front grounds. Three flag poles hoist the American Flag, the Pan-African Flag, and the Intersectional Pride Flag high in the air between the parking lot and the building. The flags are flapping in the wind.

Central District’s Garfield High School, which opened in 1923, is one of the neighborhood’s many historic buildings. | Photo by SEAtoday staff

Known for its historical neighborhoods and arts scene, Seattle’s Central District is a hub for Black community and local engagement.

But what led to its cultural importance and the area’s residential and commercial diversity?

As with many of Seattle’s unique neighborhoods, there is much more here than meets the eye.

The timeline

By 1870, the blocks between Cherry and Union streets were cleared and cable cars arrived shortly after. These were pivotal driving forces behind the outcrop of homes and establishment of a multi-national community.

Here’s a breakdown of who arrived and when:

1861 — African American William Grose quickly becomes a success business owner, attracting more African Americans to the area.
1880s — Japanese immigrants mostly settle in the International District, but also spread eastward into Central District.
1890s — Scandinavians build their first church in the area.
1890-World War I — Central District is largely a Jewish neighborhood, comprised mostly of German immigrants.

The crosswalk is painted in the red, black, and green stripe of the Pan-African flag. The crosswalk is leading one side of the street across to Ezell's Famous Chicken, a modest yellow building across from Garfield High School. — Ezell’s Famous Chicken, a Black-owned Seattle chain founded in 1984, still operates out of its first location in Central District.
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Photo by SEAtoday staff

Civil Rights in Central District

Post World War II, many communities migrated to other areas of Seattle. However, due to discriminatory housing laws, the growing Black population was forced to stay put.

Cue segregated housing, de-facto segregated schools, and job discrimination — the Black freedom struggle became a central component to this neighborhood’s culture.

Several initiatives were later launched to combat embedded racism, like:

The Seattle School Boycotts of 1966
The Black Panther Party’s Seattle Chapter
The passing of the Seattle open housing law
The Central Area Motivation Plan

The yellow brick of Douglass Truth Library is decorated with stone blocks, carved into which is the name of the library. Lamp posts with circular tops rest on either side of the entry way's steps leading to the front's double doors. — The Douglass-Truth Library, which opened in 1914, is named after Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth.
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Photo by SEAtoday staff

Looking ahead

In addition to community-led programs, institutions like the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) host regular events to bring its neighbors together.

Here’s what’s going on this week:

Saturday, June 15 — NAAM Annual Skate Party: Juneteenth Celebration
Sunday, June 16 — Celebrating Fathers: Juneteenth Celebration
Wednesday, June 19 — Juneteenth Day Celebration

Visit these historic buildings

Asked

Which well-known musician performed at Central District’s Temple De Hirsch Sinai in the early 1960s?

A. Elvis Presley
B. Nina Simone
C. Ray Charles
D. Jimi Hendrix

Show us your smarts

Events

Wednesday, June 12

Time (Dis)Oriented: “I Saw the TV Glow” | Wednesday, June 12-Sunday, June 16 | Times vary | Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., Seattle | $7-$14 | In this Queer coming-of-age film, a teen’s friend introduces him to a mysterious TV show that fractures his perception of reality.
Sinatra Under The Stars | Wednesday, June 12 | 6 + 8:30 p.m. | Olympic Rooftop Pavilion, 5214 Ballard Ave. NW, Seattle | $20-$39 | If you can’t fly us to the moon, the least you could do is take us to this rooftop for a romantic night of live music under the stars.

Thursday, June 13

Beer Tasting with Top Down Brewing Company | Thursday, June 13 | 6-8 p.m. | Reds Wine Bar, 321 Ramsay Way, Kent | $15 | Meet the brewery’s owners and sample a selection of four beers carefully selected for you.
SeeYouOutside Presents: Theory RnB | Thursday, June 13 | 8 p.m.-12 a.m. | Provisions, 2137 Second Ave., Seattle | $7-$15 | Groove to some smooth R&B under the stars and downtown Seattle lights.
Paint & Sip: “Sunset Dock” | Thursday, June 13 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Locust Cider, 7425 166th Ave. NE, Redmond | $35 | Paint a beautiful scene while you sip on a wonderfully crisp cider.

Friday, June 14

Sally’s Day | Friday, June 14 | 12-4 p.m. | Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle | $0-$26 | Blast off in celebration of the first woman in space with chocolate samples, a choral performance, a spacesuit design fashion show, and a food science class.
Solid Pink Disco with DJ Trixie Mattel | Friday, June 14 | 8 p.m. | Showbox SoDo, 1700 First Ave. S., Seattle | $55 | You’ll be sore the day after this party — but whether that’s from dancing or laughing at the delightfully hilarious Trixie Mattel will be hard to tell.

Saturday, June 15

Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour and Market | Saturday, June 15 | 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Lake Forest Park Town Center, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park | $20-$25 | Stock up on flowers and greenery, then take a tour of six incredible gardens.
Oddities Flea Market: Seattle | Saturday, June 15 + Sunday, June 16 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | AXIS Pioneer Square, 308 First Ave. S., Seattle | $25-$50 | Nothing says home quite like a well-placed animal skull — buy bits and bobs that will intrigue (or terrify) your guests.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Real Estate

Olympic Block’s commercial space has been acquired by LA-based BH Properties as part of a foreclosure. The Pioneer Square property at 101 Yesler Way will serve as the new owner’s Seattle office. The location’s ground floor features retailers Evergreen’s, Halal Guys, and Jimmy John’s. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Coming Soon

After closing in 2020, nonprofit FareStart is reopening its Denny Triangle restaurant on Thursday, June 27. The space at 700 Virginia St. will serve three-course dinners with set menus, all led by guest chefs. Proceeds support FareStart’s culinary programs. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Pets

The annual Dog Parade is coming back to Fremont on Sunday, June 23. Adorable pups will march throughout the area’s fair grounds starting at 2 p.m., with registration to add your pooch starting beforehand at 11 a.m. at the Dog Parade tent on 34th Avenue.

Feel Good

The Woodland Park Zoo has some purr-fect new family members. Snow leopard Marai recently gave birth to three cubs (the first snow leopard cubs born at the zoo since the father Aibek was born in 2017). The cubs will bond with their mother for two or three months before being introduced to the outdoor, on-view exhibit. (Seattle Times)

Tech

Seattle-based real estate tech company Flyhomes is launching an AI-powered home search tool, competing with home search sites Redfin and Zillow. This comes after Flyhomes’ recent acquisition of AI startup ZeroDown. The new search tool uses filters like price, bedrooms, home style, and neighborhoods. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Wellness

New safety reporting system HearMeWA — the first statewide resource of its kind for young Washingtonians — launched yesterday. The service allows users to report things like bullying and domestic violence via phone, text, website, or through the HearMeWa mobile app. Once filed, crisis counselors connect users with service providers. (KING 5)

Cause

The Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford is looking for volunteers to help net its apple orchard. Netting the fruit trees helps keep pests out and prevents sun + weather damage. If you can help out tomorrow, June 13 at 12:30 p.m., let horticulture manager Megan Stanek know.

(Don’t) Eat

Whoever cut the cheese really did it this time — Tillamook’s Colby Jack + Monterey Jack cheese slices have been recalled at Northwest Costcos for containing small quantities of “gray and black plastic pieces.” If you have purchased the recalled items, you can return them for a full refund. (KING 5)

Sports

Mariners Pitcher Bryan Woo was scratched from his return to the field Tuesday night as the team awaits results from an MRI test on his right elbow. Hear from the local experts about what this might mean for the team with Locked On’s daily, Mariners-focused podcasts.

Plan Ahead

ICYMI, the Fremont Fair is taking over six city blocks of the iconic Fremont Neighborhood on Saturday, June 22 + Sunday, June 23 (aka Solstice Weekend). To usher in summer, attendees can enjoy live music, 300+ craft vendors, beer gardens, one-of-a-kind parades, delicious fair foods, and so much more.*

Sports

🏀 She’s got her head in the game

Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd selected for 2024 Olympics

Jewell Loyd is mid-jump, arms in the air about to launch a basketball from beneath the net. Her toes are barely balanced on the court, and she's sporting the red, white, and blue USA uniform from the USA Women's National Team during her 2022 performance in Sydney, Australia.

Jewell Loyd played for the USA Women’s National Team in 2020 in Tokyo, 2022 in Sydney, and is joining for another round in the 2024 Paris Olympics. | Photo by Trenton Miller, courtesy of USA Basketball

USA Basketball recently announced its roster for this year’s Women’s National Team, and (surprise, surprise) Seattle’s own Jewell Loyd made the cut. The Seattle Storm guard will be taking her talents to Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games.

This isn’t Loyd’s first rodeo — she also competed at the 2020 Toyko Games, bringing home the Gold Medal.

Catch Loyd in action leading up to the Olympics with two exhibition games (times listed have already been converted to Pacific Time):

Vs. WNBA All-Stars — Saturday, July 20 at 5:30 p.m., stream on ABC
Vs. German Women’s National Team — Tuesday, July 23 at 8:15 a.m., stream on FOX

After the exhibition, Loyd will be France-bound for three Olympic games:

Vs. Japan — Monday, July 29 at 12 p.m.
Vs. Belgium — Thursday, Aug. 1 at 12 p.m.
Vs. Germany — Sunday, Aug. 4 at 8:15 a.m.

The Buy

Strut your stuff this summer with accessories from Designed For Joy. The Birdie purse comes in various colorways and features a scarf detail on the handle – perfect for a summer date night.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Madeline

From the editor

I wrote a lot of today’s newsletter from Broadcast Coffee in the Central District, which turned out to be the perfect spot to find inspiration.

(Of course, by inspiration I mean Temple Pastries’ pain au chocolat).

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