SPOTLIGHT: XO Seattle
When space sits unused, local curators see potential. A former Downtown retail space in the Coliseum Theatre building will soon turn into a home for large-scale art exhibitions. I got a chance to tour the space ahead of its opening last week and it is marvelous – they showcase so many inventive and stunning styles and pieces, and the curation team has done a fabulous job highlighting the unique architecture and space of the old Coliseum. I highly recommend checking it out!
XO23 is now open and ready for visitors! Check it out – right at 5th and Pike.
Good News Downtown
- According to the Downtown Seattle Association’s Recovery Dashboard, nearly 3 million visitors came Downtown in June – the second-highest month for visitors since March 2020. June also saw the highest level of weekday worker foot traffic since the start of the pandemic, the second month in a row where worker foot traffic averaged more than 80,000 visits daily.
- More than 10,000 people visited the Westlake Park area on Friday July 7 to check out the kickoff to the DSA Downtown Summer Sounds concert with R&B sensation UMI. UMI was born in Seattle and brought in one of the biggest turnouts for the Summer Sounds series EVER, and generously staying for 45 minutes post-show to take photos and sign autographs for fans.
- Speaking of concerts…Downtown businesses are getting pumped for a Taylor Swift economic bump. Let the games begin: …Ready for it? Seattle’s Pioneer Square prepares for Taylor Swift shows | king5.com
- Plant lovers lined up for hours to get a glimpse (and sniff) of Morticia 2.0 at Amazon’s Spheres: Rare corpse flower blooms in Amazon’s Spheres and thousands line up to snap a pic and take a sniff – GeekWire
- Fresh off her Emmy nomination for her role in the Netflix hit, Beef, Comedian Ali Wong performed not one, not two, not three, not four, but five back-to-back shows at McCaw Hall from Wednesday to Sunday, with the first two completely sold out. Ali Wong on Instagram
- The CID Food Walk had people lining up for Spam musubi and spiced plum popcorn chicken at their 2nd CID Food Walk on Saturday. Amy Chen Lozano on Twitter. The next food walk is August 19. Mark you calendar.
- Roast Magazine heralds the new Fonté Coffee Bar at Rainier Square and its expansive gathering space in the building lobby: Fonté Coffee Roaster Raises the Bar in Downtown Seattle Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine
- Six the Musical, which runs through July 23 at the Paramount, gives the wives of King Henry VIII a chance to tell their side of the story: Broadway hit ‘Six’ arrives at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre, sassy as ever | The Seattle Times
- New financial support for the Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion expansion as part of the new Seattle Waterfront: Seattle Aquarium receives $1M Murdock trust grant for expansion project | The Seattle Times
- A new exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum, “Souls of Black Folk,” provides portraits of people of African descent with a standout approach from Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo SAM’s new show features the works of global art star Amoako Boafo | The Seattle Times
- Deep-fried breakfast pizza, ube pancakes, hot pot and poké? Fresh spots delivering the goods. “This is an investment to help us revitalize downtown. We want downtown to be more of vibrant place … we want to be part of the solution.” Feast your eyes: More than 40 new restaurants open around Seattle | The Seattle Times
- Summer at SAM is officially underway! The Seattle Art Museum presents an entire summer season packed full of free activities and performances that combine visual art, music, and community. Join Thursdays for evening concerts with food trucks and art making and Saturdays for daytime movement classes, tours, and community partner activities. Summer at SAM – SAM – Seattle Art Museum
- “That little girl from the Central District dreamed of this day. My name up in lights at the iconic Paramount Theatre.” Besa Gordon films her new segment, “Back 2 Besa” at the Downtown venue: 👑 BESA on Twitter
ICYMI: All Star Buzz
Downtown sparkled on the national stage for the 2023 MLB All Star Game as 80,000 people flocked to SoDo and the surrounding area for all the games and festivities.
- “We’ve gotten overwhelmingly positive feedback on the experience from all over but we’re always trying to get better, better, better.” All-Star Week success sets high hopes for Seattle’s summer tourism, national profile | KOMO (komonews.com)
- Tourists, or Terminator? “I’LL BE BACK.” Visitors say they are excited to visit Seattle again after MLB All-Star week experience | king5.com
- Downtown will go down in All Star history for hosting the first-ever HBCU Swingman Classic Converge Media on Twitter
- Have you spotted some of the murals Downtown? MLB, Visit Seattle, and local arts organizations teamed up to showcase the incredible arts footprint in the area:
- Miss the drone show? Local photographer has a timelapse here.
- Shohei Ohtani is a fan:
LOOKING AHEAD:
- Downtown Summer Sounds continues with Star Anna, Show Brazil! With Eduardo Mendonca, Chong the Nomad, and Dude York all playing next week. Downtown Summer Sounds 2023 (downtownseattle.org)
- Bite of Seattle kicks off July 21 at Seattle Center. BiteofSeattle.com
- Afrobeats Music Festival is Saturday July 29 at Fisher Pavilion in Seattle Center, all ages welcome. BLASTFEST: Afrobeat Music Festival – Seattle Center
- Enjoy live music, local food trucks, a beer garden, and all the sights and sounds of Seattle’s waterfront at Pier Sounds on July 28 and 29. Free to attend! Waterfront Park — Pier Sounds 2023 (waterfrontparkseattle.org)
- Mark your calendar – next CID Food Walk is August 19! Start at Hing Hay Park to pick up a menu and spin a game show-style wheel to try your luck at winning gift cards and gift certificates before you stroll to the shops.