Cat People – Fictilis is your new favorite gallery (The Stranger)
Fictilis is sent from heaven. It’s an 8-month-old, artist-run gallery in Pioneer Square that currently has a bunch of cat faces on display.
SocEnt Weekend: Business Ideas That Can Make a Difference (Xconomy)
The event kicks off Friday evening at the Hub Seattle, a co-working space in Pioneer Square aimed at people tackling social issues. Mayor Mike McGinn is expected to speak, and there are all-star mentors, prizes for the winners, and some entrepreneurial lessons during the program.
Which Seattle neighborhood are you most like? (Big Blog)
Pioneer Square: I know, I know. When you were young, people were different. There were lumberjacks and prostitutes and a bunch of floods. We’ve heard this one before, Grandpa. [editor's note: I don't get it...]
Rising gas prices just another chance to milk the masses (Seattle Times)
Groundhog Day, Part Deux: Emboldened by the smattering of applause after his recent proclamation that the city will defy all known laws of physics by aiding and abetting the world’s first “self-funding” pro sports arena, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn is expected to announce plans to revitalize Pioneer Square via the installation of self-cleaning toilets. Oh, wait; we already took a bath on that idea, too.
[editor's note: I don't know what this reporter is talking about... there is no one talking about self cleaning toilets in PSq. We are working on getting a staffed public toilet, but not a self cleaning one]
The Arena proposal: Oh, what a lovely donnybrook! (Crosscut)
In the basketball and hockey proposal, Seattle has the high-stakes, long-drawn-out conflict it loves to wallow in. Here’s a rundown on the major issues and how they will shake up Seattle politics.
Mushrooms Bloom From Discarded Coffee Grounds in Pioneer Square Storefront (Voracious)
Olson Kundig Architects’ “Mushroom Farm,” a Pioneer Square storefront that’s been deputized for an urban agriculture experiment, is supposed to foster grand questions about community, sustainability and design. But mushroom farmer Alex Winstead, who’s supervising the operation, says many project participants have voiced more prosaic concerns.
Mushroom project teaches warm, sticky lesson in climate change (KOMO News)
What happens when a rag tag group of interdisciplinary professionals gets their hands on a grant aimed at conservation and sustainability? Fungus happens. Well, mushrooms to be exact.
Seattle Mardi Gras celebration is now dead and gone (Examiner)
I officially declare Seattle Mardi Gras as dead, dead, dead. The politics of the city wanted it dead and it took years for it to happen, but politics won. This was a giant revenue source for badly hurting retail operations throughout Seattle, not just Pioneer Square. If Seattle’s elected officials were smart they could have turned this day into something a little more retail minded.
Now Growing | Pioneer Square’s Mushroom Farm (NYTimes)
Last year, the architects decided to rent the ground-floor storefront space in their Pioneer Square office building and turn it over to an ever-changing roster of pro-bono design projects, residencies, community collaborations and other initiatives. The latest is Mushroom Farm, an installation that opens today and runs through March 8.
Seattle poster of bare, fatted actress sparked ire (Seattle Big Blog)
Would this poster for Pioneer Square’s Fat Tuesday festival work in 2012, in the age of undie runs and pantsless rides? When it was introduced in 1978, the Seattle poster caused protests from women’s groups, HistoryLink wrote Thursday.
Seattle: If this is a bust, what will a boom look like? (Crosscut)
During the economic downturn, the city and region have been setting the stage for the next boom.
Mayor, Investor Propose “Self-Funded” Half-Billion-Dollar Arena (PubliCola)
Although not quite located in Pioneer Square, the talk is for just south of the other two stadiums adjacent to our neighborhood. It’s not talked about in the article, but debated slightly down in the comments.
PS Vita: In a world of mobile phones, do handheld gaming devices have a future? (Geekwire)
Fun Bits, a 12-person startup in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, is making a big bet on the PS Vita. Escape Plan, a distinctive black-and-white puzzle adventure game, is a Vita launch title that sells for $14.99 through the PlayStation Network.
Bathroom art: Stuff people do in Seattle’s restrooms (Seattle Big Blog)
The women’s bathroom at the New Orlean’s restaurant makes the cut for interesting art. So does the men’s restroom at the Central Saloon. And the women’s.
Pioneer Square: a little fiber to go with all that brick (TechFlash)
State-of-the-art tech companies that call Pioneer Square home finally have a broadband Internet service to keep up with their needs.
City Planning Director Talks Waterfront Transportation (PubliCola)
Looking at the part of the new Alaskan Way south of Pioneer Square, the road gets awfully wide—101 feet. Why does it need to be so wide, and how is SDOT working to accommodate pedestrians on that segment?
TechNet study: Washington third in ‘app economy’ jobs (TechFlash)
Seattle, home to 5.7 percent of all app jobs created in the U.S. over the four years, was the fourth-highest metro area on TechNet’s list. Topping the list were New York with 9.2 percent, San Francisco with 8.5 percent, and San Jose/Silicon Valley with 6.3 percent.
Al Calozzi Introduces Trenton Tomato Pies (Voracious)
Four months after the planned first firing of his new pizza oven, Al Calozzi’s finally secured the permit to sell tomato pies at his eponymous Pioneer Square cheese steak joint.
Friday Fun: Light Show at Century Link Field in Seattle (Payscale)
PayScale’s headquarters are located in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Seattle. San Francisco based director Jimmy Diebold had just one night to pull off his vision, September 6, 2011. Diebold found seven photographers via Craigslist.org and with their help, and the help of cinematographer Adem Marsden, snapped a ton of pictures of the stadium lights from many different angles. The photos were then synced up with dubstep version of “Midnight City” by M83, remixed by PatrickReza. The resulting video has already been receiving attention from the national news sources and the NFL, including a Tweet from Seahawks coach, Pete Carroll.
Seattle’s Perfect Pies (KOMO News)
Pie-thusiasts can grab a slice of the action in Pioneer Square at Bakeman’s Restaurant. And while the owner is like Seattle’s version of the Soup Nazi, this killer combo just might be the best pie and soup you’ve had.
Greg Smith’s big plans (DJC – subscription only)
The family that owns Diamond Parking is Urban Visions’ joint venture partner on 200 Occidental. The 11-story project planned for the surface parking lot on the east edge of Occidental Park also will have street-level retail and about 80 apartments. Last fall, Smith said estimated the cost of the project at $70 million.
Viaduct and Seattle Condos (Seattle PI Blog)
Our Home Hotel is on the corner of South Main St and and the Alaskan Viaduct in Pioneer Square. The main entrance to this charming century old condo is right on the west side of the building next to the viaduct. It will be interesting for us to revisit these condos again after the viaduct is removed and take a look at the days on market and price per square foot for some of the homes. Perhaps some investors will get in early.
So, this is a very weird news day in that I could only find two articles about Pioneer Square from last week:
Pioneer Square’s Big New Deal (Seattle Magazine)
But the fact that gets Pioneer Square boosters really excited is the 738 new housing units to be brought to the neighborhood—512 apartments in the first phase and 226 apartments or condos in the second phase—almost doubling the total number of apartments or condos currently available in the neighborhood, according to the developer.
Seattle now has vampire tours — and vampires? (PI – BIGBlog)
The tours start from Marcela’s Creole Cookery in Pioneer Square. They run Wednesday through Saturday, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Last week, the Mayor (along with the Alliance for Pioneer Square) hosted a stakeholder meeting to talk about what has happened in Pioneer Square in the last 6 months. This is the second meeting that serves as a follow up to the “Pioneer Square 2015 plan.” (apparently I just live tweeted both meetings, never did a follow up post).
The mayor’s blog has a summary of what was said in the meeting, and what are considered recent accomplishment, including:
North Lot
First Hill Streetcar
Only in Seattle Funding
King Street Station
Broadband
Artist Space Assistance Program (ASAP)
New Businesses
Public Safety (still needs serious help)
Restorative Justice Pilot (the first I’ve heard of it)
Restrooms (yes, this is moving forward! I’m on the committee making it happen)
Special Events Management (also needs serious attention still)
So that was the summary part of the meeting. THEN we got to the good part where the group (made up of city officials, business owners, and residents) was allowed to ask questions. The topics that came up included:
- staggering nightclub hours
- increased graffiti problems
- the tolerance the city/police seem to have for bad behavior during sporting events
- sending hundreds of more buses through the neighborhood due to the viaduct coming down
- restorative justice for those who urinate in public in the neighborhood
- and the major problems with drugs and loitering in Fortson Square
A lot of the answers from the Mayor were along the lines of “we’re aware it’s a problem, and we’re looking into solutions.’ Here’s the thing: if I weren’t more involved in neighborhood groups, that statement would concern me. But I know that there are incredibly hard working staff members at the Alliance and other dedicated volunteers in the neighborhood that serve on so many committees that are already battling these problems and are actually coming up with solutions. At the beginning of the meeting, Leslie Smith of the Alliance, mentioned that this neighborhood has never had so much attention and support from city officials as we do right now. So let’s capitalize on that and continue to speak out for what this neighborhood needs to make it even better than it is now.
Along those lines, can I just end this post with a comment from “Paul” on the Mayor’s blog?
Pioneer Square is simply an unpleasant place. It feels dark, dirty and unsafe and nothing discussed above will change that any time soon. There are too many bars, too many homeless and no real reason to spend any time in the neighborhood. There are a couple of good art galleries but that is not enough to get even an art lover like me to go there very often. The loss of Elliott Bay Books was huge but even before that Pioneer Square wasn’t worth the visit. More housing will help but somehow the City needs to make walking the streets more enjoyable.
If you would just indulge me for a moment to defend my neighborhood from this very short-sighted comment. Pioneer Square is made up of fascinating residents, unique businesses, and amazing historic architecture. We had a snowstorm that shut down the city. Instead of staying inside by the warmth of the fire, locals headed out to the restaurants who stayed open to show their support. We walked over to Carmine’s (who had just passed away) through an empty neighborhood, and joined a full, bustling restaurant, when it seemed the rest of the city was empty. That’s the type of neighborhood we live in.
And on our walk home, a random person ran up to me and handed me a piece of record art, then ran away — no explanation, nothing on the record that says who the artist is. That’s how unique this neighborhood is.
We have business owners, like Mike and Derek from Delicatus, who have an incredibly busy lunch crowd, and use that business to stay open for the residents in the evening, even if it can seem slow at times. There are numerous other business owners who also live in the neighborhood who dedicate their free time to committees that have accomplished things like getting portapotties set up throughout Pioneer Square on gameday, or changing the type of confetti that’s used, or researching the best options for restrooms in the neighborhood. That’s the type of neighborhood we live in.
There is a resident who single-handedly took on the alley behind their building to activate it and make it more friendly to walk through. [And that's not even part of the group and organization that are doing this to all the other alleys in the neighborhood.]
We have the art walk, we have a summer market, we have tech mixers, and business mixers, we have art galleries, and Sounder fans who march through the neighborhood (peacefully), we have unique businesses, and small business owners, and struggling artists. We have the Storefront Seattle program, and the Underground Tour. We have walkable streets, activated alleys, gorgeous ivy covered buildings, and an ideal brick park for family, engagement, and wedding photos. This is the neighborhood I choose to live in.
Those of us who live in this neighborhood, and those that choose to open and keep their businesses in this neighborhood are the people that we want here — we’re just waiting for the rest of you to stop judging this book by its cover and recognize the good that is down here already. Change will come to this neighborhood, but it will be slow, and it won’t ever really change the feel of Pioneer Square. We will always have the homeless in our neighborhood. But that’s ok — because as housing is added and more businesses open, this neighborhood will find a balance that works a little better.
And then the rest of you will see what we see.
Owner neglected landmark Smith Tower, says receiver (Seattle Times)
Goodman’s report reveals, among other things, that the 98-year-old Smith Tower is even emptier than previously thought. It’s just 19 percent occupied, the receiver writes — and that’s only if you count the Chinese Room, rented out for weddings and parties, and the one-of-a-kind apartment on top of the tower. What’s more, Goodman adds, Pioneer Square offices are filling up fast, and little of what remains offers the tower’s views, charm or iconic status. “Smith Tower is being reintroduced to the leasing market at a prime time,” it says.
Why do Utilikilts appeal to many in the Northwest? (KPLU)
Whatever your feelings about them, they are part of the Northwest. The idea was born here. They’re manufactured here. They even have their own store in Seattle’s Pioneer Square Neighborhood. Why, then, are they so polarizing in their own hometown?
Homeless evicted from under Seattle viaduct (Seattle PI)
A two-block area near Pioneer Square was the latest to be swept Monday morning, but no one had to be physically removed. The homeless apparently heeded “no trespassing” signs posted Friday, said state transportation department spokeswoman KaDeena Yerkan.
State to homeless people: No more sleeping under the viaduct (Seattle PI)
But beginning Monday, the downtown dwellers of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be gone. The state will begin sweeping away homeless people, as it expands its tunnel replacement construction a few blocks north to Yesler Way. The evictions are expected to grow through February, as construction moves to Spring Street in Seattle’s downtown core.
Hail to the chief: Sally Clark takes on new role as Seattle Council president (Seattle Times)
Clark largely got high marks for a similar rezone in Pioneer Square last year where McConachie, who serves on the Pioneer Square Preservation Board, said she found “edges and lots” that might be redeveloped without eroding the district’s historic character.
Seattle’s old buildings: Opportunities, not obstacles (Seattle Times)
Seattle’s old buildings should be maintained and upgraded as the city evolves, says writer Lawrence Kreisman, program director of Historic Seattle. Reusing these old buildings, he says, is one of the best ways to improve the environment. It’s much greener than building green from scratch. And it can make good business sense.
Man hospitalized after stabbing at PSq homeless shelter (PubliCola)
One man was hospitalized following a stabbing at a Pioneer Square homeless shelter Tuesday morning.
So cold, even the trees need socks (Seattle Times)
The multi-colored tree-socks couldn’t be more fitting during these cold days we are having. At Occidental Park, they also add a welcoming sense of cheer and whimsy to the neighborhood. I was pulled into the park as soon as I saw the trees from a distance.
Design Perspectives: The new North Lot: erasing a civic embarrassment (DJC – subscription only)
For more than three decades, Pioneer Square has looked south across almost four blocks of surface parking. The North Lot, first by the Kingdome and now next to its replacement, CenturyLink Field, was a civic embarrassment and a developer’s dream: a sea of paving in the historic heart of Seattle, large enough to hold a new middle class neighborhood.
City bites hand that feeds homeless (Seattle Times)
Curbside al fresco is so hip that Seattle officials have put up a website to promote the street-food craze. But not if you’re homeless, says Beverly Graham, whose Operation: Sack Lunch serves meals, mostly outdoors, to the low- and no-income.
Today in Pictures: Jan. 18, 2012 (ABC News)
A Metro bus drives under a canopy of snow-covered trees in Pioneer Square, Jan. 18, 2012, in Seattle. The city is expecting three to six inches.
Paul Dorpat is his own pioneer: then & now (Seattle Times)
THEN: The tarnished image of Sara and Henry Yesler’s home in Pioneer Square is the oldest surviving photographic evidence of any part of Seattle. It is conventionally dated 1859, or seven years after the first settlers on the eastern shores of Elliott Bay moved there from Alki Point.
Restaurateur Carmine Smeraldo dies at 69 (Seattle Times)
Carmine Smeraldo would greet customers at his Pioneer Square restaurant with warmth, offering a handshake, or oftentimes, a hug. He knew loyal crowds turned up for perfectly smoked salmon dishes and handmade ravioli stuffed with bursts of wild mushroom.
2012 guide to staying fit (Daily Helmsman)
Personal trainer Kirstin Piquette helps Paula Sampel during her morning workout at Seattle Fitness Club in Pioneer Square.
Gottesman does it again, wins Startup Weekend with home security product Iron Blanket (GeekWire)
Seattle Startup Weekend, a 54-hour coding marathon, hosted the most recent event at the Hub in Pioneer Square. Fifty four pitches were heard on Friday night, with 15 teams formed for the weekend competition.
p.s. Street Code — an app that lets you scan QR codes on homeless people (and donate) — is apparently already being used in Pioneer Square… has anyone heard about this???
The Climate Corp. picks Seattle for branch office, looks to cultivate talent to crunch weather data (GeekWire)
The Climate Corp. — a six-year-old San Francisco company that specializes in providing weather insurance to U.S. farmers — has chosen to establish a new engineering center in Seattle’s tech-heavy Pioneer Square neighborhood.
Landlord-Tenant Complaints Spiked in 2011 (PubliCola)
DPD spokesman Bryan Stevens attributes much of the increase to better record-keeping by DPD (counting email and in-person contacts, for example, in addition to phone complaints) and the fact that the Downtowner Apartments in Pioneer Square were renovated last year, resulting in the relocation of hundreds of tenants.
Phone hand-off results in New Year’s Day robbery, assault (KOMO News)
Woman robbed after meeting a man in PSq to retrieve a lost iPhone. Biggest mistake to withdraw $400 right before meeting a stranger in the wee hours of the morning.
The rough road to a safer 3rd Avenue (Crosscut)
People in Pioneer Square, Belltown, and the International District have long struggled with public safety problems due, in some part, to the high concentration of shelters and services in their neighborhoods. In Pioneer Square, the hope for the future is to bring in market and workforce housing to restore some balance to the neighborhood, which in turn would help bring in a more diverse mix of retail businesses.
A plan to honor 130 years of fallen Seattle officers (Seattle Times)
Veteran Seattle Police Officer Mike Severance is seeking city approval to place signs near where Seattle police officers have died in the line of duty.
KK Does Aerosmith at Fuel in Pioneer Square: “Even When I Suck I’m Pretty Good” (Seattle Weekly)
Read more about how Fuel does Karaoke.
Pop Artist Troy Gua pokes fun at the ‘Seattle Freeze’ at SOIL Art Gallery (Culture Mob)
Is Seattle really that cold? Is it really so distant? Is the ‘Seattle Freeze’ a real phenomenon? At least one local artist thinks so. Local pop artist Troy Gua‘ s new exhibition ‘N/ICE’, showing January 4-28 at SOIL Art Gallery in Pioneer Square, is an entertaining look at Seattle’s “friendly but distant” social deficiency. The show’s opening reception is Thursday January 5 – the First Thursday Art Walk – from 6:00-8:00pm.
Photo test: Think you know Seattle, but can you name that sign? (Seattle PI – BIG Blog)
The State Hotel sign on First Avenue is left over from Pioneer Square’s early days.
Vulcan sells part of Merrill Place (DJC)
Records show that an affiliate of Vulcan Real Estate sold a portion of Merrill Place, an office and retail building in Pioneer Square, for just over $23.9 million.
Seattle looks to clean up Third Avenue transit corridor (Seattle Times)
The city of Seattle is trying to make the Third Avenue transit corridor, where an estimated 40,000 people arrive and depart downtown each day, safer to protect shoppers and others from a gauntlet of open-air drug deals, the homeless, the mentally ill and crowds of loitering street kids.
Developers still piling into Seattle’s South Lake Union (TechFlash)
South Lake Union will remain a hot spot for commercial development in 2012, while Pioneer Square may emerge as Seattle’s next emerging neighborhood.
Christmas Muggings, Shootings, and Robberies (PubliCola)
A man was shot outside a Pioneer Square club this weekend after he got into a fight with his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend, according to police.
SAM’s Listening Room and “Record Store” are Painfully Out of Touch With the State of the Music Industry and Seattle’s Unique Scene (Seattle Weekly)
There’s a record store in Pioneer Square that doesn’t sell records. The Record Store, as it’s called, is a traveling installation put on by the Seattle Art Museum and Olson Kundig Architects.
Greyhound may test Seattle’s commitment to mass transportation (Crosscut)
The bus line is losing its home on the north edge of downtown. Is a move to Pioneer Square’s King Street Station the best choice, and perhaps the only way to keep the intercity service in Seattle?
A new (and well-traveled) web producer (PSBJ)
The Berliner in Pioneer Square reminds Jennifer Sokolowsky of the Döner kebab stands that are on every corner in Berlin, Germany, where she lived for three years.
Seattle wants to see shoppers in town and offline (King5)
The economy is down and online retailers continue to attract a big chunk of shoppers. However, that hasn’t slowed down the woman, who calls herself “Mouse.”
“I have a PHD from the school of hard knocks in retail,” jokes the owner of Magic Mouse Toys in Pioneer Square. “We appeal to all different ages, all different price points.” She has been in the same spot for 34 years, and won’t admit any concern over online retailers. “I would find that boring to exist, why even leave your house?” Mouse says.