08.29.2024

Today’s Forecast

You’ll have to sea it to be-reef it

Seattle Aquarium’s multi-million dollar Ocean Pavilion is now open

A leopard shark is swimming downward in tank full of small schools of fish and stacks of rock formations and coral. The white underbelly of the shark is on full display as it swims along the rocks.

At risk species like the leopard shark are not only aquarium residents but part of restoration programs to help replenish native populations in the wild. | Photo by SEAtoday Staff

Leopard sharks and eagle rays and sea horses, oh my. Seattle Aquarium’s new ~$160-million Ocean Pavilion debuts today, Aug. 29 after four years of work and ~20 years of planning.

Vast views of underwater habitats + informational panels make for an impressive floor-to-ceiling, panoramic showcase of the Indo-Pacific marine life’s vibrancy and magnitude.

The Ocean Pavilion’s exhibits are split into three main areas of focus:

🦈 The Reef

The Ocean Pavilion’s main tank allows visitors to traverse tunnel-like formations surrounding the multi-story, 500,000-gallon habitat for views of a reef community teeming with life.

Swimming alongside the schools of colorful fish is a leopard shark that’s part of an endangered shark breeding program. It will soon be joined by a mate to help restore its wild populations in Indonesia.

Fun fact: All the “coral” in this specific tank was designed by artisans.

A rounded tank with low walls is filled with water, rock formations, and sea creatures like fish and sea stars. Small mangrove trees are planted in the Ocean Pavilion's rock formations that emerge from the water. — The small mangrove plantings are already developing new seedlings and extending their roots into the water below.
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Photo by SEAtoday Staff

🐚 The Archipelago

Mimicking the shoreline of a mangrove lagoon, this habitat has young mangrove trees that will eventually grow to heights just under the lofty ceilings with roots extending deep into the coral reef below.

The two-level display will also expand its collection of coral species with time, as more are added and current plantings adapt to the new environment.

🌊 One Ocean Hall

This 360º interactive video display spotlights marine ecosystems from around the world in the Ocean Pavilion’s central atrium space. Each of the videos were filmed in the wild, keeping in mind the exact structure the film would be projected on. Explore topics from coral spawning and kelp forests to bioluminescent life in the ocean’s deepest recesses.

A room full of small tanks displaying different marine wildlife is dimly lit in dark blue lights to mimic the lighting of deep sea environments. — “At Home in the Ocean” is an immersive exhibit dedicated to young visitors that are ready to get hands-on learning and up-close observations of marine wildlife.
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Photo by SEAtoday Staff

A section of the Ocean Pavilion is also dedicated to the Seattle Aquarium’s young visitors, with displays at lower levels for better access + a crawl-through space where kids can interact with digital versions of reef wildlife.

Events

Thursday, Aug. 29

Khu.éex’ | Thursday, Aug. 29 | 4:30 p.m. | Occidental Square | Free with RSVP | The Indigenous band includes storytellers, activists, and artists that come together to bring an unstoppable energy to the stage.

Friday, Aug. 30

SOS Fest | Friday, Aug. 30-Sunday, Sept. 1 | Times vary | South Kitsap Regional Park | $15-$40 | Stop in for live performances, food trucks, and more family-friendly activities in the great outdoors.

Saturday, Aug. 31

Summer Send Off | Saturday, Aug. 31 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Chateau Ste. Michelle | Cost of purchases | Soak up sunshine in the chateau’s courtyard, which will be bustling with local vendors, food trucks, live music, and a plethora of wines.
5k Beer Run | Saturday, Aug. 31 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Ravenna Brewing Co. | $35-$50 | The course is mapped and the beers tapped — sling on those sneakers and hit the track.

Sunday, Sept. 1

Washington Women’s Soccer vs. New Mexico State | Sunday, Sept. 1 | 1-3 p.m. | Husky Soccer Stadium | $12-$16 | The Huskies are taking on the Aggies on home turf.
Sync Seattle x Métier Brewing Silent Disco | Sunday, Sept. 1 | 2-6 p.m. | Métier Brewing Cherry Street Taproom | $15 | Sync Seattle, which supports local Black-led nonprofits, is hosting an evening of dancing, jamming, mingling, and more.

Monday, Sept. 2

SPIN: Rotating Local DJs | Monday, Sept. 2 | 9 p.m. | Chop Suey | Free | Hit the dance floor while local DJs spin + stick around for raffle prizes including concert tickets, merch, drinks, and more.

Tuesday, Sept. 3

Parlor Greens | Tuesday, Sept. 3-Wednesday, Sept. 4 | 12-1:30 p.m. | City Hall Plaza | Free with RSVP | The fresh organ trio is best known for its soulful sounds and heavy instrumental music.
Psychedelic Salon with April Pride | Tuesday, Sept. 3 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Cloud Room | $18 | Listen in on this guided conversation covering microdosing, emerging sciences, and more information on psychedelics — no consumption or product on-site.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Seattleite

University of Washington’s Samantha-Lynn Martinez was selected as one of 16 interns to join a team aboard Ocean Exploration Trust’s Nautilus vessel. The group will embark in September to explore deep-sea habitats around American Samoa, collaborating with the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.

Shop

Activewear brand Alo Yoga just opened its first Seattle-area storefront at Bellevue Square. Filling the former Amazon Books space, the retailer will be on the first floor of the mall selling its athletic/athleisure wear. The store gained popularity after celebrities like Taylor Swift were spotted sporting the brand. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Environment

As soon as next spring, ~450,000 barred owls could be killed over the course of the next 30 years. Why? To prevent the extinction of the spotted owl, which is being forced out of its native range. The plan calls for protocol-trained shooters in Washington, Oregon, and California. (Seattle Times)

Ranked

Seattle ranked No. 5 among the top 10 green cities in the US. The rankings were determined using 12 key metrics like air quality, green energy, and building standards. Seattle’s CoworkingCafe Sustainability Index score is 53.3, with 77% of its energy coming from renewable sources like hydropower. (CoworkingCafe)

Tech

Seattle startup Supio is planning to expand its local presence downtown via the six-story Westlake Place building. The legal tech company emerged this week following a $25 million Series A round for its AI tool that helps pinpoint weaknesses and compare testimonies from legal documents. (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Sports

Seattle Mariners’ Bryce Miller dominated the Rays over seven strong innings Monday night, striking out 10 while allowing just two hits. Hear from the local experts as they discuss Miller’s continued growth as a pitcher via Locked On’s daily, Mariners-focused podcast.

Finance

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Number

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Pro Tip

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History

📍 Making (unofficial) history

Which locations around Seattle deserve a historical marker?

The exterior of Linda's featuring a sign with a deer on it and a neon sign reading "TOOLS, RADIO, TACKLE."

This spot gets its namesake from founder Linda Derschang. | Photo by Another Believer via Wikimedia Commons

The votes are in for the SEAtoday unofficial historical marker contest. Check out the finalists below, including the contest winner determined by your votes.

Winner: Linda’s Tavern

It was a close call, but when it came down to Linda’s Tavern or the Pacific Science Center, the choice was clear for SEAtoday readers. 44% of our readers voted for this Capitol Hill staple which has been around since 1994. According to Rudd Schupp with Visit Seattle, it is also “the last place that Kurt Cobain was seen alive.”

Runner up: Pacific Science Center

Close behind Linda’s was the Pacific Science Center with 38% of the vote. Designed by Seattle-born architect Minoru Yamasaki, Schupp credits PacSci as the work that secured Yamasaki’s gig as designer for The World Trade Centers in New York.

It doesn’t stop there — we received more submissions than just these two. Check out our map of unofficial historical locations.

Check the map

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Madeline

From the editor

Touring the Seattle Aquarium’s new digs really made me feel like a kid again — there are so many cool new features and intentional elements that make it such an educational and immersive experience.

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