♥️ What to do in February

Support Black-Owned Businesses for Black History Month

The team got together and listed some of our favorite Black-owned businesses, as well as events we are looking forward to this month. You can hear us (or watch us!) talk about it on the podcast, but here are some recommendations below.

• Jane: PJ’s Classic Creamery, an ice cream bon-bon shop in the Central District, my ice cream club loved. The owners are as sweet as the treats they make!
• Sam: Wa Na Wari, an events, arts, meals, and organizing space, is run out of a fifth-generation, Black-owned home in the Central District. They host free art exhibits, film screenings, performances, and workshops. They’re also an extremely meaningful third space in a neighborhood that’s been heavily impacted by gentrification.
• Ashley: I’m a sucker for chicken fingers and crinkle-cut fries, so I'm gonna say Ezell's. But since that one is pretty well-known, I also wanted to shout out Traveling While Black on TikTok and Instagram. That's one of my favorite accounts to follow. They share Black-owned businesses around Washington, they do road trip guides with Black-approved vacation spots, and I think they even offer tours now, which is super cool.
• Liam: I love wandering around mostly organized bookstores with huge stacks of books, and BLMF Literary Saloon in Pike Place Market is no exception. I was recently there with my family, and we picked up a few things. The owner, J.B., is great, really helpful, and it’s just a nice spot to duck into to get away from the tourists at Pike Place.

Local Businesses Close or Donate To Support General Strike 🚫

Seattle businesses stepped up last week to support the “National Shutdown” either by closing entirely on Friday or by donating their proceeds to Minneapolis restaurants that decided to close that day. Over 70 Seattle restaurants participated. [Seattle Times]

Costco Sued for False Advertising Over Rotisserie Chicken 🍗

Like probably a lot of people, I enjoy the $5 rotisserie chicken from Costco. But it turns out that the chicken, despite being advertised as having no preservatives, actually has both carrageenan and sodium phosphate in it. The latter can cause issues for people with kidney disease or intestinal issues. This is according to a recent lawsuit from Chicago-based consumer class-action firm Almeida Law Group. Costco confirmed the use of the preservatives and has removed statements about the preservatives from signs and online advertising. [Seattle Times]

Seattle Public Schools Update ICE Guidance 🧊

Following recent lockdowns prompted by unconfirmed ICE sightings, SPS is updating guidance for ICE encounters. The guidance instructs all school employees to alert the principal and security staff if they observe or hear reports of ICE. Principals were trained on it last week, and they will be training their staff going forward. They’ve also rolled out a new website that details policy and procedures for dealing with ICE. [KUOW]