🎨 Is art a public safety strategy?

100+ Years of Seattle Coffee History

Today is National Coffee Day, and in honor of the occasion, our team got to discussing Seattle’s coffee roots. And, of course, HistoryLink has the full download on the more than 100 years of brewing history in our city. And there are some great stops along the way, like Pike Place's actual first coffee shop, Manning’s Coffee, which charged 2 cents per cup in 1908! [HistoryLink]

• From roaster to coffee shop to coffeehouse: Seattle’s coffee scene started with local roasteries in 1887. Then, coffee shops became popular in the 1940s as places for business people to gather. But it was the beatnik scene in the 1950s that created the coffeehouse we know today: a place with art, live music, and conversation. Though this also posed a problem. Because of the live music, coffeehouses were classified as cabarets and legally could not allow minors inside. The business owners had to band together to get the age limit removed. Coffeehouses also introduced espresso, starting with Cafe Encore in 1958. This opened the door for the business sensibilities that led to the creation of Starbucks. Brad Holden’s article details it all. [HistoryLink]
• The oldest coffee shop and roaster award goes to: Cafe Allegro, home to many a late-night study session for generations of UW students since 1975, holds the honor of being the oldest continually operating coffeehouse in Seattle. And Bargreen’s Coffee is the oldest roaster, the company has been roasting beans in Everett since 1898. Oh, and by the way, coffee chains across the city are offering free drinks to celebrate today.
• Starbucks layoffs continue: Late last week, Starbucks announced the company is closing 250 stores across North America, including locations in Ballard, Rainier Beach, and inside the Nordstrom’s building. Employees who cannot be relocated to another shop will receive severance support. Last year, the company closed 627 stores across North America and Europe. In Seattle, many of the former Starbucks locations are becoming home to locally owned coffee shops (someone commission this story from reporter Joe Veyera, please). [KING 5]

🩺 New flu and COVID-19 vaccines available: COVID-19 cases are starting to tick back up again in the county, and flu season is nearly upon us. For the first time, mRNA flu vaccines are available. This is good news because the mRNA vaccine can be better tailored to the latest flu strain. The West Coast Health Alliance recommends getting both COVID and flu vaccines. I got mine over the weekend! [Seattle Times]

💸 Executive Zahilay proposes $746 million supplemental budget: As Mayor Wilson released her budget closing the city’s deficit, Executive Zahilay’s budget reflects less urgency. His budget focuses on crisis care, land conservation, housing, and transit. And, as CHS Blog reports, because King County’s projected $120 million shortfall doesn’t arrive for two more years, the executive can afford to spend countywide. [Capitol Hill Seattle Blog]

🍻 Cal Anderson is old enough to drink: Thanks to contributor Ryan Packer, our team learned that Cal Anderson Park officially turned 21 last week. The park was originally the site of the Lincoln Reservoir, which increased the city’s water infrastructure after the Great Fire. In 2005, the reservoir was covered over, and the park officially opened after being renamed in honor of Washington’s first openly gay state legislator. [Cal Anderson Park Alliance]