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News

The Weekend Debrief: Seattle Wins, Jerry Comes to Town, and McGinn Loves Pedestrians

Keeping you connected to what matters.

Thy name is clock. Alarm clock. Good morning, Monday.

New sound record attained at the Clink. Because Seahawks.

In case you live underneath a soundproof rock, Seattle sports fans have a lot to brag about from over this September weekend. The Sounders won, the Huskies reign, Richard Sherman gave us something to dance about, and the 12th Man broke a new world record for being the loudest crowd ever. Seriously, Guinness World Records confirmed at 136.6 decibels, which comes just shy of a 747 flying over your head. Go home, 49ers.

Sports writer Seth Kolloen gives you the details on what to care about, and more importantly, on how not to sound like an idiot at the water cooler. He even gives you the next line to throw in during conversation. Hey, the sports illiterate are people too.

Ben and Jerry’s Seattle flavor finally has a name.

Over the weekend, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream released the name to their newest flavor, Sweetness in Seattle. Think Theo chocolate, Caffe Vita, caramel, more chocolate, ice cream, raspberry, cookies, and brownies. The company hosted a block party of free scoops over the weekend to let Seattle sample their new city-specific pint, and Jerry himself could be found parceling out the ice creamy goodness on Friday evening from a B&J’s truck. But it gets better: on Saturday, the company met with volunteers to paint and clean up the homeless shelter on Morrison, a home for disabled homeless adults on Third Avenue that’s been operating since 1908. Ice cream and lunch provided. Isn’t generosity sweet?

Good news for pedestrians in these four neighborhoods.

Grab your tennis shoes. 2014 will mean more pedestrian areas for Beacon Hill, Lake City, Greenwood, and East Marginal Way, courtesy of Mayor Mike McGinn and his pledged $14 million to walkers.

Here’s what he said on that:

“Seattle’s economy is doing well, and that gives us the ability to pave more streets, build more sidewalks, repair more bridges, and conduct additional coordinated transportation planning,” McGinn said. “We’re investing in better roads and sidewalks in neighborhoods across our city.” 

The proposal comes at a time when McGinn really needs to keep his friends close. A recent poll from The Seattle Times reveals that mayoral candidate and competitor Ed Murray might actually edge McGinn out in the next election. The poll found that 40 percent of 652 probable Seattle voters approve of McGinn’s job and doings in office, while 44 percent disapprove. Murray, though? Fifty-seven percent approval, and only 19 percent with a bone to pick. Good luck at the races, friends. 

Arts & Entertainment, Music

What We’re Hearing This Month: Classical Music Picks for September

The Byrd Ensemble (Photo: Charleen Cadelina)

As the summer sun sets and fall begins, Seattle’s musicians are returning to the city’s halls and auditoriums for the start of a new concert season. The Seattle Symphony is always one of the first to kick things off with their annual opening night concert and gala in mid-September. Several other early-bird ensembles will follow suit, though many local groups don’t begin their concert season until next month.

Still, September might be one of the best months to catch a concert in Seattle. Crowds are smaller, programming is adventurous, and there’s a palpable sense of excitement in the air about the season ahead.

Sep. 13 — You’ve heard of Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninoff, but do you know Frolov, Shchedrin, and Zapolsky? Experience works for violin and piano by both beloved masters and lesser known talents at the Russian Chamber Music Foundation of Seattle‘s first concert of the season, “Russian Kaleidoscope”.

Sep. 15 — Lang Lang returns to Benaroya Hall for the Seattle Symphony‘s opening night concert and gala. The ebullient pianist performs Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, a masterpiece full of keyboard fireworks. The orchestra gets plenty of time in the spotlight as well with a colorful medley of folk dances by Brahms, Dvořák, and Bartók.

Sep. 19 — Town Hall Seattle celebrates composers of the 20th and 21st centuries with the ever-popular TownMusic series. The 2013-14 season kicks off with a concert by vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth. The 8-person group received a lot of press earlier this year when member Caroline Shaw won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Music. Join TownMusic artistic director Joshua Roman before the show for a happy hour and season preview.

Sep. 20 – 22 — Hear three brand-new works for a cappella chorus performed by contemporary choral ensemble The Esoterics. These choral pieces were winners of the ensemble’s annual Polyphonos composition competition. This year’s winning composers hail from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and British Columbia and will all be on hand for the premiere of their works.

Sep. 22 — Eclectic performances! Interactive music classes! Food trucks! The Seattle Symphony‘s free Day of Music packs Benaroya Hall with music and art for all ages. Watch music director Ludovic Morlot conduct the orchestra, then wander through the building to catch a variety of local chamber musicians, rockers, rappers, and jazz cats in action.

Sep. 27 – Oct. 6 — Pacific Northwest Ballet honors Twyla Tharp with Air Twyla, a set of three works celebrating the renowned choreographer. The production spans thirty years of Tharp’s career, ranging from 1982’s ballroom-flavored Nine Sinatra Songs to the world premiere performance of Waiting at the Station.

Sep. 28 — Travel back in time to the English Renaissance with the Byrd Ensemble. They’ll sing music by Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, and other famous Renaissance Brits. The program culminates in a performance of Alessandro Striggio’s Agnus dei, which contains 60 independent vocal parts.

 

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Announcements, News

Looking Ahead at The SunBreak

via greatcities.org

Changes are just all over the place at The SunBreak these days. Michael van Baker and Audrey Hendrickson are leaving, Rachel Breiwick and I are on our way in, and change is in the air.

With the official power changeover happening this very week, now seemed like the perfect time to clue in readers on what to expect with new captains at the helm. So here’s what’s coming your way, The SunBreak. Specifically…

A New Posting Series

You may have already noticed, but beginning Monday, September 9, Rachel launched the first of our new weekday series, Your Daily SunBreak. With Your Daily SunBreak, you’ll find everything you love about The SunBreak in a whole new format, with each day bringing its own delicious little slice of Seattle.

On Mondays, you’ll find The Weekend Debrief, catching you up on all the best and most interesting of the weekend’s goings-on. On Tuesdays, become a better citizen with our City Focus, keeping you abreast of the latest and greatest in politics and civic-mindedness. On hump day, we’ll liven up your workweek with the Seattle Spotlight, a wild card post about whatever we think will strike your fancy.

Be sure you’ve eaten — or else are ready to hit the town — on Thursdays, when we post our 5 Things to Know Before Ordering At…, exposing the need-to-know elements before you visit that new place. And, to round out the week, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without our new The Week Ahead post, giving you a heads up about all the events to keep on your radar.

More Articles

Our number one priority at The SunBreak is providing you with the highest quality articles possible, and as many as you can read. We anticipate upping that number in the near future, so stay tuned for the news that matters. We promise not to waste your time.

More Reader Involvement

We love our readers. And we think it’s time to take this relationship to the next level. You can already like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (and if you haven’t yet, what are you waiting for?), but soon you’ll be able to get even more SunBreak goodness on Instagram, and contribute your vision of Seattle to our front page. We know our readers are intelligent and creative people, with much to contribute, and we can’t wait to see what ideas you might have for us. We want to know what you know and see what you see. Insta-addicts, start your engines.

We have big plans for The SunBreak, and we are thrilled to get to take you all with us as we move forward. Get excited, Seattle. It’s going to be good.

News

Welcome to Your New Central Waterfront, Seattle

6 Comments
Via The Waterfront Seattle Project

Yesterday afternoon the team behind the Waterfront Seattle Project met with any and all who had opinions at City Hall. Though the informal step-up-if-you-like Q&A was meant to center on environmental concerns, many seemed focused on elements such as bike lanes, traffic rerouting, finances regarding the new seawall, and plans for the waterfront.

Nancy Bagley, a member of the League of Women Voters of Seattle King County and attendee of the forum, said that she thinks the plans are exciting, though complicated. “Now there is a design, and they’re into the regulatory parts of getting scoping,” she said. “I want to figure out where the process is, what’s going on now, and what are the next steps.”

She’s not alone. The SunBreak spoke with Angela Brady, SDOT waterfront program manager and all-around guru on things pertaining to such. And we got some answers.

Welcome to your new downtown waterfront. Match the numbers and find out what you can expect:

1. Seawall/Pioneer Square Beach: A boardwalk-style drop-down to a pebble beach adjacent to the Coleman Ferry Docks. Expect water access to the tidal habitat and a tree-filled, pedestrian-friendly walk down from Occidental Park.

2. Coleman Dock Gallery: Brady said that they’ve been under a lot of pressure from the managers of the docks, which are owned by State Routes 519 and whose managers insist on including a minimum of two lanes on Alaskan Way for ferry traffic. Brady says that they’ve taken this into account and that South King Street from Yesler Way is prepared to facilitate that traffic in the new plans. New plans that include more bicycle parking, sufficient canopies for waiting commuters, and new options for where to grab a bite or a seat.

3. Marion Street Bridge: An elevated walkway devoted to pedestrians, seamlessly connecting Second Avenue to the Coleman Docks.

4. Historic Pier Walk: The big kahuna in the waterfront’s evolution. Expect a sprawling promenade extending from Pioneer Square Beach to Pier 63, filled with all Alaskan Way historic and commercial stalwarts. The installation of the Seneca Walk will funnel down from First Avenue in lieu of the current northbound Seneca Street viaduct exit. This plan is enthusiastically supported by Post Alley Pizza, whose owners think the changes will be great for business.

5. Union Street Pier: The historic Schwabacher’s Wharf, once made famous for bringing in a rumored ton of gold from the Yukon Gold rush, is prepped to be outfitted as a public water park, completely reimagined for children, Seattle’s growing tourism, and events.

6. Aquarium Plaza: Say goodbye to sunglasses vendors — we’ll see — at the redesigned Aquarium Plaza. Extending up from Alaskan Way through the Pike Place Hillclimb, you’ll still be able to visit the Zig Zag and El Porco Lloron on your way back up to Pike Place Market. This is also where the Overlook Walk will overhang Alaskan Way, promising easier accessibility from Pike Place Market to the Waterfront, and plenty of pretty areas to relax during your lunch break.

7. Pier 62 and 63: Three things: Roller-skating rink, kayak launch, and barge swimming pool to be docked in the summer.

8. Belltown Bluff: Belltown will get a web of streets, stairs, elevators, and bridges connecting the area to the waterfront. Views aplenty will be available in the X-shaped park, spanning from Lenora St. Bridge to Bell St. Bridge.  

Brady said that her department is meeting the questions on traffic, city impact, and financial responsibility head-on. When asked how she thinks inbound traffic might respond to a mainly I-5-based exit system, Brady said that plans are in state, traffic and environmental analyses are being formed, and that they’re “fairly confident [they] can serve traffic well.”

By last report, the South End serves around 33,000 motorists a day, and as you move north, 14,000-22,000 a day, she said. “It’s at the South End where we have competing demands.”

The demands are many, with the watchful eyes of WSDOT, King County Metro System, and the Port of Seattle on the waterfront’s back. The good news is that it’ll take around another decade to see the finished product, and your ideas can help shape it. In fact, your ideas are encouraged. So in case you missed it today, lay down any and all concerns at the feet of waterfrontseattle.org.

News

The Weekend Debrief

1 Comment

Seattle is a unique animal. Downtown may dominate as the hub of commerce and activity, but chances are, you — like the rest of us — call one of the surrounding neighborhoods or suburbs home. Wherever you hail from, we’re Seattleites, and The Sunbreak wants to keep you connected to the heartbeat of this city and the happenings that matter.

You can expect a debrief at the start of every week from The Sunbreak, as part of our new blog series for each weekday. So enjoy your weekend. We’ve got you covered come Monday.

Playtime is outdoors now for Woodland Park Zoo’s tallest baby.

Via Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Woodland Park Zoo announced on Friday the new viewing hours of Seattle’s tallest one-month old. The as-yet unnamed baby giraffe, born of first-time mom Olivia, popped out feet first August 6 at a whopping 6 feet tall. And, kind of like with Prince George’s first debut, all we have right now is a gender. Baby and mother, however, now have access to the outdoor corral and can be viewed to the delight of all between 9:30 and 2:30 daily, scary thunderstorms permitting.

If you haven’t already witnessed this miracle of life — dangling hooves and all — here is Mama Olivia shooting out her newborn right into the chain-link fence. Oops.

After just one month, the little one is doing well. He is nursing, wobbling, and has already shot up to 7 feet tall. For more zoo babies, check out Woodland’s blog that regularly updates new animal births.

Seattle Subways get swarmed upon firing employee for selling a cookie. Seriously.

Via @GoodJobsSeattle

Hundreds rallied in front of Subway franchises Saturday to support Carlos Hernandez, a former Subway employee and leader in the Good Jobs Seattle movement who was fired from the sandwich chain last week on questionable grounds. His crime? Selling a $0.60 cookie to a 3-year old child. Which is why Hernandez’s friends, colleagues, and supporters allege Subway fired him for reasons other than a cookie transaction. Instead, they believe it’s tied to Hernandez’s public stand for a $15 minimum wage, and Subway’s retaliation for all the bad press. Follow the tweeting here.

This isn’t really a new story for Seattle, though. The minimum wage has been disputed the past few months in the form of fast-food strikes and boycotts, garnering national attention for the plight of lower-income workers, many of whom are attempting to support entire families at $9.19 an hour. ($1.94 more than the federal minimum wage.) The Seattle Times calls it the Summer of Labor Discontent.

“Pop-up Cheese Cafe” debuts in SoDo.

If you want to eat cheese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the experts at Cheeses of France certainly have your back. On Saturday, cheese lovers congregated at The Piranha Shop in SoDo to prove it can be done. While the Mariners crushed the Rays 6-2 next door, turophiles gathered for live cooking demonstrations, wine, and so. much. cheese—all of it utterly French. This was the first Seattle location for the pop-up cafe, which had former stints in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. Seattle’s deliciousness ranged from flank steak roulade with Fourme d’Ambert, sage and pickled onions; Camembert and pear chutney on a walnut crostini, and the one of which there never seemed to be enough: potato dauphinoise with Pont l’Eveque and sautéed leeks.

For recipes, info, and to get in on curd culture, visit the website. For samples, visit Greenlake PCC on Wednesday from 11-3. (Among other locations.)

Thousands party in the ID for Night Market and Autumn Moon Festival.

The International District welcomed 20 locally beloved food trucks and thousands of Seattleites for an outdoor moonlit market on Saturday evening. Union Plaza transformed into a bustling bazaar of Asian craftsmanships, wares, hot food, and cultural performances of dance and music. Browse the photo gallery from The Seattle Times.

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French cheese for everyday! Viva la France.
Tower of cheese!
Love the deliciously stinky petit camembert, but if a triple creme brie is too rich for your liking, try a light comte instead.
Cheeses of many French varieties, tête-à-tête.
News, Weather

Seattle Man: “Who Turned Off the Sun?”

Golden Gardens (Photo: MvB)

That Seattle man in the headline is me, by the way. It’s 59 degrees on August 2, with an expected high of mid-60s this afternoon, along with a little rain. (KOMO’s Scott Sistek has a primer on what to do if you experience a rain shower.)

It should all turn around for Seafair weekend, though — hydro races and air show fans can expect to see highs around 80 degrees both days, or so claim the emotionless algorithms at UW’s Probcast.

The last few days brought an ignominious end to end to an otherwise glorious July: “probably the best Northwest weather in a half-century or more,” opined UW meteorologist Cliff Mass. Only two days in the whole month topped out below 70 degrees, while we remained comfortably out of the 90s. Rain, what’s that? Never happened.

In July and August, as a rule, Seattle’s high averages 75 degrees. This year, the trend line reached 78ish by July’s end. That’s the kind of thing that’ll get you named Best Summer Weather City or something, especially when the rest of the country is dropping from heat exhaustion.

Rest of the country? Eastern Washington is on fire. Mass says down in Oregon, the smoke from wildfires has prompted cancellations of outdoor shows at Ashland’s Shakespeare Festival.

Above-normal temperatures are on the way the next two weeks, predicts the National Weather Service. Again, normal is about 75, so don’t panic. Yet.