🏙️ Which Seattle spots are worth preserving?

What’s Not Vanishing In Seattle?

Today on the podcast, Jane and Sam talk with Vanishing Seattle’s Cynthia Brothers about Seattle’s past, present, and future. With the recent and upcoming closures of Madame Lou’s, Here-After, Shanty Tavern, Slim’s Last Chance, and so many other beloved spots – we discuss local gems leaning into alternate models to stay afloat and grow community, as well as spots we recommend to listeners. [City Cast Seattle 🎧]

Examples of Community and Employee Ownership:

• Black and Tan Hall in Hillman City operates as a cooperative made up of neighbors in the community. They are an arts and cultural hub with a bar, restaurant, and mezzanine.
• Virginia Inn employees, Jackelyn Batingan, Amber Quezada, Manuel Sarabia, and Marisa Mohr, bought the 122-year-old institution this year.
• Wa Na Wari is a community-operated, fifth-generation, Black-owned home and art project. They host community events, meals, art shows, and more.
• Connor Byrne is Ballard’s first community-owned music venue.
• El Rey was recently purchased for a symbolic $20 by the Belltown artist collective Common Area Maintenance. The building will eventually house low-income apartments, an artist residency program, and a performance space.

Seattle’s 30-Year-Old Ethiopian Restaurant Saved by Community: Cynthia also shared an update on the story of Meskel, which was in danger of closing after three decades of operating as a beloved restaurant and community gathering space. To date, their GoFundMe has raised nearly $15k, and they’ve shared how they plan to use those funds to make the business more sustainable. [Vanishing Seattle]

Un-Vanished Local Favorites: Cynthia also shared that the former Queen City Grill has been purchased and will be reopening in the spirit of its 1910s roots as a saloon. And Thai Siam was also able to reopen after an outpouring of community support helped them secure a loan to buy the building.

Ways to Support Those Affected by the Floods ⛑️

As many as 100,000 of our fellow Washingtonians are facing evacuations. On Friday, we talked about how the state may have to step in even more owing to the current administration not proving adequate support. Here’s how you can help. [Seattle Times]

• WA State Fund Drive: Donate via the Washington State Combined Fund Drive.
• Support Local Farmers: Donate to small farms via the Good Farmer Fund, a grant program from Neighborhood Farmers Markets that has previously provided over $790,000 to date to assist small farms facing disasters. They say, another way to support small farms is to sign up for CSA programs, shop at local farmers' markets routinely, and advocate for policy to protect farms and food access work.
• Whatcom County Aid: The Whatcom Long Term Recovery Group has a fund you can donate to to help those in Whatcom County.
• Safe Stables for Livestock: The Evergreen State Fair Park has opened up its grounds to livestock threatened by flooding. You can donate via this page (link at the top) and mark your donation as Emergency Support.
• General Flood Assistance: The Red Cross allows you to donate directly to Washington Flood relief. There are also ways to get help via their website.

Farm Workers Face Painful Evacuation Decisions 💳

Last week, organizers noticed 30 to 40 workers harvesting Brussels sprouts and working in a potato-packing shed on another farm in the evacuation zone. Farm workers have told organizers they have to choose between making rent for their families and safely evacuating and still others are unable to afford to stay elsewhere. Familias Unidas por la Justicia, a local farmworker union, has been advocating for paid hazard leave for farmworkers since the pandemic. [Cascadia Daily News]

Is Seattle the Next Epicenter of Women’s Sports? 🏀

A recent list of women’s sports cities by The Athletic ranked Seattle as third in the country, thanks to our sports legends like Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe. Plus, how much our city is investing in the PWHL and the growing number of women’s sports bars. [Seattle Times]

No Skiing or Snowboarding at Snoqualmie 🎿

A lack of snow because of heavy rain and warmer temperatures means that an opening date for the Summit at Snoqualmie has yet to be announced. [Fox13]

• Visitors Urged To Stay Away From Snoqualmie: The Snoqualmie Indian Tribe has urged visitors to give the Falls space and come another time. Two of the 29 tribal governments, Snoqualmie and Lummi Nation, have declared states of emergency owing to the flooding. [Seattle Times]

A Historic Bookshop and Jazz Night School Team Up in Columbia City 💑

In a story that quite frankly made us tear up in these dark times, the historic South Seattle L.E.M.S. Life Enrichment Bookstore and Jazz Night School will share a property in Columbia City. This comes after years of renting, fundraisers, and financial difficulty for the bookstore, which is the longest running Black bookstore in the area. [South Seattle Emerald]