From SDOT’s On the Move:
(image credit: Seattle PI)
Seafair Torchlight Parade: 7:30 – 11 p.m.
300,000 estimated attendance
Parade route: starts at Fourth Avenue N and Broad Street; south on Fourth to S Washington Street; west on Washington to Second Avenue S; south on Second to King Street; disperses in the north lot of Qwest Field;
No on-street parking will be allowed starting at 8 a.m. to accommodate parade staging on streets around the Seattle Center. Streets will be closed at 3 p.m. in the staging area on the east side of the Seattle Center.
No on-street parking will be permitted along the parade route and on some adjacent streets beginning at 4 p.m.
The parade route closes from 5:30 to 12 Midnight: Starts at Fourth Avenue N and Broad Street; heads south on Fourth Avenue to S Washington Street; west on Washington to Second Avenue S; south on Second into the north lot of Qwest Field.
Expect heavy congestion in the Downtown area.
Metro buses will be rerouted away from the parade as early as mid-afternoon. A good option is traveling to downtown via the transit tunnel; but plan your trip home before the last bus or light rail train leaves the tunnel that night.
After the parade is over, there will be a special boarding location, mid-block on Third Avenue between Union and Pike streets, for three Metro routes – the 7, 36 and 124 headed southbound out of downtown .
The West Seattle Water Taxi is a good alternative for people coming from West Seattle; the last return sailing leaves Pier 50 in Seattle at 10:30 p.m. Visit Metro Online at www.kingcounty.gov/metro to access the online Trip Planner to figure out the routes that work best for you. Also, check the Alerts Center under “Construction & Events” for information about service disruptions and bus reroutes. Or, call Metro’s Customer Information Office at (206) 553-3000 for assistance.
There will be no Sounder train service, but Sound Transit’s Link will run at 10 minute headways till the end of service at 1 a.m.
I introduced the ArtSparks program a little more than a month ago here, but I also wanted to post the schedule of events so that you don’t miss anything — there are some really great installations this summer, and many of them are integrated into the new Saturday Market in the neighborhood. You can also check out 4culture’s Facebook page for pictures and updates.
June 19- end date TBA: Prismatic Landscape by MiLa
The installation includes strips of mylar-like material, strung on 40lb monofilament line, and suspended from the tree branches. Tree branches will be protected by black surgical tubing.
July 12 – end date TBA: Celebration and Fanfare by Celeste Cooning
Large “paper cutouts” made of Tyvek, strung between two trees and a lamppost at the west side of the plaza. An articulated boom truck will be used to install July 12 and de-install on Aug 9 or some later date.
July 24, August 14 and two weekdays TBD– Driving a Sculpture by Sol Hashemi
This piece is a small, mobile “sculpture” made of a sapling strapped to a toy, gas or electric powered, remote-controlled truck. Artist will perform intermittently throughout the day.
[editor’s note: this was absolutely hilarious — I have videos of a kid “walking” the plant, the car/plant just slowly following shoppers, and more. Here’s a photo:
August 2-9 – Teahouse by Christopher Ezzell
Monday thru Saturday 12pm & 5:30pm and possibly also a 7 pm demonstration on First Thursday.
A teahouse (hut) constructed out of metal framing and soda-pop bottles will be placed in the plaza. The artist will carry out tea ceremonies in it, at noon and 5:30 daily. (DJC post)
August 9 to Aug 15 (or later) – Accordion panels by Jonelle Johnson
A free-standing, accordion-shaped series of panels will be placed in the plaza.
August 16-22 – Clay Lines by Ben Waterman (not happening during Seattle Square)
Artist will lay down lines of clay in various shapes and directions throughout the park, with changing patterns every day. Part of the performance is for the lines to be disturbed.
August 23-Sept 26 – Wind Map by Michelle Arab
Bells of different tones will be hung from the trees and will sound when the breeze blows.
All September weekends, Thursdays through Sundays, 6:00-11:00pm – Fire Barrel by Britta Johnson (not happening during Seattle Square)
A coin-operated “fire barrel,” like those used by people on the street in some cities to keep warm, will be installed somewhere on the plaza. Artist will either figure out a way to secure it or else remove it each night.
September 7-11 or 12, Stimulate Dance
Preview Performance Wednesday September 8th Noon-1pm
Performances Thursday September 9th Noon-1pm, Friday September 10th Noon-1pm, Saturday September 11th 1pm-2pm. On the Saturday performance, they will locate the dance floor in the same area as the teahouse and the accordion-panel prints will be placed.
Sept 20 11:30-1:30: Red by Joan Laage
Two pick up trucks loaded with bricks will be driven into the park from the SW alley entrance. Performers will build a wall within a cordoned-off area, audience members will write messages on small pieces of paper that will be inserted in the wall and, at the end of the performance, burned. Performers will then remove all the bricks.
Patent Pending will have a retrospective poster show at the Design Commission Gallery in Seattle’s Pioneer Square. Digging deep into the archives, this will be the first time their 11 year body of influential poster work will be seen in its (near) entirety. They are most famous for a lot of the Sub Pop covers in the grunge heydey — and one of their designers is listed as one of the top 100 graphic designers in the world.
Public Opening:
August 5, 2010 – 5 PM – 10 PM
Design Commission
310 S. Washington St.
Seattle, WA 98104
For you out-of-town folks coming to Seattle for Flatstock, this is actually a two-month show so it will be up during Flatstock (Aug 5 – Oct 1). So mark your calendars, book your tickets and tell your friends — you won’t want to miss it. They also hope to do some other “stuff” surrounding the show.
**Update — Just found this great article written by Knute Berger (crosscut) on the new Main Street Program: Elliott Bay Book Company’s move was a blessing in disguise for Pioneer Square
The Alliance for Pioneer Square is hosting a Main Street Training July 26-29 (this week). This training provides a framework for economic and neighborhood development based upon the rich history and assets of our neighborhood. With so many different groups in the neighborhood, it’s going to take all of us to accomplish great things in the neighborhood. The Main Street program relies on volunteers (including residents, business owners, other interest groups) who are willing to step up and participate in the neighborhood.
DATES – Monday July 26 – Thursday July 29
PLACE – Marriott Courtyard Hotel, Pioneer Square
COST – no-cost for participants
Participants are encouraged to attend 1 or all 7 training sessions, led by National Trust Main Street Center trainers, Lauren Adkins and Joshua Bloom. Both have extensive experience in helping communities become more prosperous and sustainable.
Session Topics & Schedule (4 Topics, 7 Sessions)
Business Development/Economic Restructuring: Redefines the district’s niche in the marketplace and sharpens the competitiveness of existing business, while nurturing new enterprises that respond to today’s consumer’s needs.
Design: Targets infrastructure and building improvements that lay the groundwork for a physical transformation that will be both functional and attractive.
Promotion: Focuses on authentic community assets, with high-quality image development campaigns and events that will attract new shoppers, visitors, and residents.
Organization: Builds a pathway to leadership in local efforts by launching community-based, volunteer-driven nonprofit entities that empower residents and investors to collaborate for sustainable revitalization.
Mon 7/26
1-4pm Promotion
Tue 7/27
9-noon Business Development/Economic Restructuring
5:30-8:30pm Design
Wed 7/28
1-4pm Design
5:30-8:30pm Business Development/Economic Restructuring
Thur 7/29
1-4pm Organization
5:30-8:30pm Promotion
For more information contact liz@pioneersquare.org.
From Greater Seattle on the Cheap:
Join us for Ventures Grand Opening Day Party! Ventures officially opened for business on June 1st, and the buzz is beginning to build! If you haven’t yet heard about Ventures, it’s Washington CASH’s gorgeous new retail store that gives local entrepreneurs a chance to directly sell their products and services in the marketplace. The store features the works of over 40 Washington CASH clients, ranging from one-of-a-kind jewelry to Native American wood carvings.
Celebrate with us at our day-long Grand Opening event on Saturday, July 24th from 11 am – 5 pm. Bring your family and friends, and enjoy the face painting, coffee tastings, and other exciting activities planned for Grand Opening Day!
Ventures is located at 314 1st Avenue South, in Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA 98104. Tel. 206-508-1342
Ice Cream Social!
Just in case you’re having trouble seeing the image above, here’s the information:
WHAT: Join us for a day-long gala to raise support for hungry children + families. Satisfy your taste buds with great treats of local ice cream and gelato:
WHEN: Thursday, July 22nd
11am – 2pm
Ice Cream Social – lunch on ice cream in the Globe Building + Elliott Bay Cafe
Ice Cream Alley – watch the final mountain stage of the Tour de France in HD in Nord Alley
5pm – 7pm
Pre-Mariner’s Game Ice Cream Social! Join friends, neighbors and fellow Mariners fans in the Globe Building to sample a variety of local ice creams
WHERE: Corner of 1st + Main in Pioneer Square (Globe Building + Nord Alley)
All proceeds go to www.foodlifeline.org
The Seattle Square is blogging about the type of vendors that have already signed up for the market this Saturday. I’m including a short summary here, but go over to their blog to check out longer write-ups and more pictures. It’s not good for my wallet to have so many amazing vendors located just 1 block from where I live!
And don’t forget that the first 200 people to the market get a free swag bag (silk-screened live by Zone4) with DRY soda, gift certificates to FX McRory’s, free passes to Trinity Nightclub and more!
(p.s. please excuse the lack of normal posts on this blog — I’m one of the volunteer organizers for this market and have lost whatever free time I used to have for regular blog posts!)
Parfait Organic Ice Cream
One of the vendors that we’re really excited about for the market is Parfait Organic Ice Cream. When I first called Adria to see if they were interested in a market in Pioneer Square to help revitalize the area, there was no hesitation — she signed on for every single Saturday! I’m telling you — if you only come to this market to try Parfait — it is totally worth it! It was hands down the best ice cream I have ever had.
Slide Sideways
Scott and Jacqui are the creators and owners of Slide Sideways, a company that they started because of their shared love of “making beautiful things.”
One of the great things about their business is that all of their illustrations and designs are one of a kind.
Glam Spoon
The first thing that caught my eye about Glam Spoon’s application was when she listed her website. She didn’t just list her website, she added “bohemian chic for women with tenacity.”
And a woman with tenacity is just how I would describe the owner – Tina. She is full of energy and you can tell that she’s really passionate about what she does.
Urban Farm Naturals
UFN is a family-owned and-operated bath & body company based out of Arlington, Washington. They create and develop all of their products from scratch. And, they even mix, measure, and make everything the old-fashioned way. And they just keep getting cooler: many of the herbs and flowers that go into their products are grown in their very own backyard.
The International Sustainability Institute (ISI) will be hosting alpine stages of the Tour de France on a large screen project in the Nord Alley (just like the World Cup – see here and here) on July 19th, 20th and 22nd.
Come show your support for making Seattle a great pedestrian and bike-riding city and cheer on your favorite rider!
TOUR DE FRANCE ALLEY
When: July 19, 20, 22 from 9:30am – 1:30pm
Where: Nord Alley — 314 1st Ave S (between Main and Jackson)
For additional information, visit www.alleyart.org or contact Tess Boeker at tess@isiseattle.org.
This family-friendly Seafair sanctioned community event features at least 15 antique fire rigs on display, vintage law enforcement vehicles, Klondike Gold Rush activities and displays, murals by local artists, face painting and more.
The Last Resort Fire Dept Museum, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park-Seattle and the Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum will also be open and showcasing their unique displays throughout the event.
More info at www.lastresortfd.org/
Free & Open to the Public!
Other things to see and do:
KLONDIKE GOLD RUSH NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK
2nd Ave S + S Jackson S
206-220-4240
JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM
SEATTLE METROPOLITAN POLICE MUSEUM
3rd Ave S between Main + Jackson
206-748-9991
INTERACTIVE KIDS DISPLAY
LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT MUSEUM
2nd Ave S + S Main St
206-783-4474
ARTIFACT HUNT FOR KIDS
Also featuring:
- Antique and classic fire engines from the last resort fire department
- Vintage police, sheriff, and state patrol cars
- Child ID Fingerprinting
- Klondike Gold Rush adventure
- Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums
- Inflatable bouncy toy for kids
- Face painting
- Live mural painting by Jeff Jacobson + Joey Nix
- Fire Department Displays
Kicking off on Saturday, July 17th, Pioneer Square will feature an outdoor market from 11am – 5pm every Saturday for the rest of the summer. The Seattle Square will feature a mix of downtown restaurants like Delicatus, with mobile food vendors including Skillet, Ram & Rooster Dumplings and Parfait Organic Ice Cream.
The market will also host a wide range of vintage and craft vendors; selling everything from locally designed clothing, to handmade housewares and accessories, to mid-century modern furniture. To top it off, local and national DJ’s will be providing a soulful, upbeat soundtrack each afternoon in the park.
The Seattle Square is a grassroots, volunteer driven market — organized to activate the neighborhood on Saturdays and to invite people to experience the neighborhood and the great atmosphere and shops it has to offer. When looking at different opportunities to activate Occidental Square Park (remember the post about the ice skating rink?), the idea for a different kind of market approached. One of the market organizers, Don Blakeney, an urban planner who recently came back from New York, saw the popularity of outdoor markets and events like the Brooklyn Flea, MoMA’s PS1, and Seattle’s Mobile Chowdown, and wanted to see if bringing them together in one market would be successful.
Local artists will also be transforming Occidental Park throughout the summer as a part of the ArtSparks program put together by 4Culture and Seattle Parks and Recreation. Shoppers will be able to walk through a maze of art installations as they enjoy the food, music, and market. Local DJ’s will compete in a weekly Battle of the Mega-Mixes–the winner of which will get a headlining slot at a local nightclub later this summer.
“The creative energy behind the Seattle Square is thrilling,” said Todd Vogel, owner of the Nord Building. “The organizers have combined Pioneer’s Square’s artsy vibe and Occidental Park’s beauty to create an event for everyone. I can’t wait to go!” Vogel is the Director of the International Sustainability Institute, a group that forges public and private partnerships to promote public space and urban sustainability. He is also hosting a series of World Cup watching parties in Nord Alley across
from Occidental Park through the finals in July.
Ideally located on top of every form transportation in the city, Pioneer Square offers a perfect town center atmosphere that is accessible to all. In addition to comprehensive rail and bus access, the Seattle Square has partnered with Diamond Parking and the Merrill Place Garage to provide complementary parking for all Seattle Square shoppers each Saturday.
For more information about weekly features, music and mobile food lineup, directions, or contact information go to http://www.theseattlesquare.com/ or email info@theseattlesquare.com.