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December News + Updates
Business News and Updates
A warm welcome to our newest businesses and attractions in the neighborhood!

  • Tegridty Goods: 118 1st Ave S.–formerly the Pioneer Vape space, this store carries a variety of house plants and seasonal plants, along with mushroom growing supplies and CBD products.

  • Lolo's Hair Design: 108 Cherry St.- this salon with the goal of helping folks have a better hair day, offers cuts, colors, straightening, plus additional services.

  • Wortzel Gallery: 300 South Washington–this art gallery showing collage and mixed media pieces will premier their space during December's First Thursday Art Walk.


We bid farewell to these neighbors this month!

  • Pioneer Vape: 118 1st Ave S.– offering electronic cigarette starter kits and e-liquids, this vape shop has closed to re-open under the name Tegridty Goods.
Recently Opened

  • Locus Wines: 307 Occidental Ave S.–this award-winning wine producer serves wines "from varietals that best showcase their native climate and soil" in a funky space.

  • Mr Saigon: 161 S. Washington St.– this Vietnamese eatery features affordable banh mi sandwiches made with fresh house-made baguettes and homemade ingredients, along with bowls of phở, in a bright, modern space.

  • J. Rinehart Gallery: 319 3rd Ave S.– founded on the principle that bringing art into your home enhances your quality of living, connects you to your community, and fosters a greater understanding of humanity, this gallery deals in the art of falling in love with art.

  • Foundry Vineyards+fruitsuper: 524 1st Ave S.– a wine tasting room dedicated to finely crafted low intervention wines that express a unique terrior + design studio made up of creators, thinkers, makers, teachers, solvers, and seekers.
Coming Soon

  • The Stop: 616 1st Ave S.-this sandwich joint from the mind behind Voilà! Bistrot in Madison Park will serve world class sandwiches starting in early 2020.

  • Fat Shack Underground: 88 Yesler Way- this growing fast food chain will dish out hedonistic menu items of the deep fried variety.

  • Seattle Snooker: 165 South Jackson St.- this lounge will host numerous snooker tables, a cue-based sport similar to pool, plus drinks and snacks.
The Holidays are Upon Us!
Celebrate the holidays in Pioneer Square with four events- the Seventh Annual Pioneer Square Howlidays, Warm Up in Occidental Mall, Holiday Hooky Hour, 12 Days of Shop the Square.

On December 5th from 5-7p , y ou are invited to bring your prized pooch down to Nord Alley for the Seventh Annual Pioneer Square Howlidays ! We’ll have a early evening of free entertainment, activities and treats—for dogs and people.

On December 12th from 10a-12p , we will host Warm Up in Occidental Square , where folks in the neighborhood will gather in Occidental Mall to enjoy warm beverages from neighborhood coffee shops and other beverage retailers.

All day on December 13th , we encourage the Pioneer Square community to take a moment to wrap up their holiday shopping by patronizing the many unique businesses in the neighborhood as part of the Holiday Hooky Hour .

Follow along on our Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter as we highlight unique gift ideas from December 12th-24th as part of 12 Days of Shop the Square .
Cozy, homey, unique.

Independent shops keep our neighborhood vibrant.

Meet the retail Makers in Pioneer Square .
Pioneer Square, In Lists!
Where Dogs Can be Dogs

We make life easier by compiling easily digestible lists which highlight neighborhood essentials. This month, we run down the neighborhood dog friendly locales . Last month, we featured the historic gems and timeless jewels. We also have you covered for your hair care in the Square needs, local lunches for the office, grab and go lunches + dinners near Occidental Square, and top spots for tunes

Find all the spots in our 2019 Neighborhood Map and Guide .
Looking For Something to Do in Pioneer Square?

Fall has finally arrived and there is plenty of entertainment in the neighborhood- like fun performances, concerts, art exhibits, sporting events, and more! Whether you are looking for must-see art galleries, reading and talks, or the next Seahawks game, there is plenty to see and do in Pioneer Square all month long. Browse our calendar of December events in the neighborhood to plan your next adventure in the heart of Seattle.
Mark Your Calendars: First Thursday Art Walk
December 5, 5-10 PM

Every First Thursday of the month, Pioneer Square welcomes you to join us in the venerated tradition of Art Walk with exceptional artists, innovative works, and creative kinship.

During Art Walk , parking is FREE from 5-10 PM! Make sure to grab your voucher from a participating gallery or studio to park for free at one of three neighborhood garages.

( David R. Boxley , "Huk Dzap - The Artist", Acrylic on Paper, 30" X 22" in Stonington Gallery.)
January 2020 First Thursday Art Walk Date

The January 2020 First Thursday Art Walk will be held on Thursday, January 9th from 5-10P instead of on January 2nd.
Artist Feature:
Carol Rashawnna Williams
Carol Rashawnna Williams is a Seattle-based, interdisciplinary artist in the Tashiro Kaplan Building who makes work that engages audiences in conversations about social, environmental and racial justice. Throughout her practice, Williams contends that the only way to shift race relations and understand climate change is through collective imaginings and re-imaginings of equitable relationships to the land, animals and resources. Williams’ aesthetic forms fall, swim, fly, drip and grow through various layers of reality, spirituality and data analysis. Her narrative installations reject the tidy, toxic logic of scarcity models, suggesting powerful alternatives in collective storytelling, collective ownership, collective re-valuing of biospecies and collective commitments to sustainable environmental practices over time.
West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions Neighborhood Forum
Attend Sound Transit's Neighborhood Forum on Dec 3

As part of Sound Transit's continued engagement with communities along the project corridor, they are hosting a free, family-friendly neighborhood forum on December 3rd from 5:30-7:30PM in the Great Hall at Union Station. Join Sound Transit for a presentation to learn about the alternatives they are studying during environmental review and what happens next. There will also be small group discussions and opportunities to share ideas about your neighborhood and the future light rail stations. Learn more and RSVP to the Neighborhood Forum here .
Link Light Rail Closures Begin in 2020
Link Light Rail between the Capitol HIll and SODO Stations Closed For 10 Weeks

Link Light rail users should begin planning for significant alterations to their normal trips in the New Year. Starting Jan. 6, construction to integrate new light rail to the Eastside into the existing system will require trains to operate less frequently for 10 weeks. The construction, known as Connect 2020, gets underway the first weekend of the January with a full closure of light rail through Downtown Seattle. From Saturday, January 4 through Sunday, Jan. 5, shuttle buses between Capitol Hill and SODO will make stops at the closed stations. Beginning Jan. 6 through March 13, Connect 2020 will require Link passengers traveling through downtown to make a center platform transfer at Pioneer Square. For safety, bikes will not be allowed at the Pioneer Square station. Passengers with bikes must exit at University
Street or International District/Chinatown. Passengers should allow extra time, anticipate crowding, and pay attention to signage. Two additional weekend light rail closures are planned for February 8–9 and March 14–15. Learn more about the Link light rail closures here .
From the Public Realm
Occidental Square Park Projects Update

Two projects are underway or planned for Occidental Square Park- a play area and a pavilion, respectively. The play area project construction began in early September and is now complete, following a ribbon cutting ceremony in late October. The pavilion project will take place during the first months of 2020, when park use is lowest, and is expected to take about four months. Permitting for the Pavilion construction has been secured. Park programming and operations will continue during construction, with temporary fencing around the site to keep it secure and keep visitors safe. Learn more about the projects.
New Trash and Recycle Cans Coming Soon

You may notice new public trash and recycle cans out on the sidewalks. Seattle Public Utilities is piloting a new trash and recycle can design in select neighborhoods, including Pioneer Square. Whether you’re out and about or in your home, click here to learn more about which materials can be recycled, composted, and what goes to the landfill. Every city is a little different, so it’s important to know which materials are accepted in Seattle.
Q4 Clean Walk December 13

You are invited to tour Pioneer Square with representatives from Seattle Public Utilities and the Metropolitan Improvement District. The tour is intended to create a stronger connection between the community and those working to keep the neighborhood clean every day. This opportunity will give you a chance to learn more about the roles of the MID, SPU, and the Alliance. It will also give each of these entities a chance to learn from you which areas in Pioneer Square could use more attention.

For Quarter 4, we will be traveling up and down S King St. Please meet at the Alliance office (105 S Main St. Ste. 201) at 9:00 am. The walk is expected to last about an hour. RSVP here.
Summer Flower Basket Orders Due Soon

It is that time of the year! Keep a look out for your 2020 summer flower basket invoices from City Planters & Co. Invoices should be received via mail this December. Flower basket reservation deposits are due January 10 th. If you have not ordered flower baskets for your building before and are interested, please contact City Planters & Maintenance Co. at mwaltoncp@gmail.com.
Water They Doing on the Habitat Beach?

Waterfront Seattle is shore exited to let you know that they have completed l andscape plantings at the Habitat Beach south of Colman Dock! Now that our flora friends have moved in, they need time to get acclimated to the local environment. If you ever find yourself in the area, we encourage you to stop by and say hello to our green friends, clustered up like an emerald jewel in the crown that is Elliott Bay. 
Neighborhood Construction Updates
Waterfront Seattle Construction Begins on New Alaskan Way

Waterfront Seattle has begun building a new Alaskan Way. Their initial work zones along Alaskan Way spanned from S King to Marion streets and will be extending up to Pike and into Belltown in the footprint of the former viaduct in early December. Activities include establishing work zones, mobilizing equipment, breaking pavement and excavation for utility installation. Head to Waterfront Seattle's website for more information and to sign up for email updates! You may also contact Waterfront Seattle via email at info@waterfrontseattle.org or by phone at (206) 499-8040.
Pioneer Square
Areaways Program

SDOT recently implemented a strict vehicle weight limitation, increased commercial vehicle enforcement, and modified commercial vehicle load zone locations beyond the 1st Ave corridor.

 Throughout 2019-2020, SDOT will install a monitoring system and conduct a complete assessment of the areaways to determine a long-term plan of action to repair necessary areas. In the meantime, our goal is to provide adjacent businesses and residents with accurate and timely information as we move forward to improve safety. Visit the project page for more information.
Chief Seattle Club Construction Begins Early January 2020

Chief Seattle Club  is embarking on a project to redevelop the site at 108 2nd Ave Ext S. This project will create affordable housing and a ground floor health clinic and native arts café/gallery to support the physical, spiritual and cultural needs of the native community. Construction will begin at the site in early January 2020. 

As the front door to this project, Fortson Square will also be recreated as a welcoming place for everyone. The Alliance for Pioneer Square is working in partnership with Chief Seattle Club on community outreach in this redesign effort. Design efforts for the new building and public space are led by Jones & Jones in coordination with SDOT. Learn more about the Chief Seattle Club redevelopment and the re-imagination of Forston Square here .
Columbia Street Corridor Update

With the viaduct ramp now gone, Waterfront Seattle construction began on Columbia Street in early August. Columbia Street will be transformed into a two-way corridor with transit lanes and improved sidewalks. Other activities include installation of new underground utilities. Don’t miss out on watching the future waterfront take shape, head to Waterfront Seattle's website to sign up for email updates!  You may also contact Waterfront Seattle via email at info@waterfrontseattle.org or by phone at (206) 499-8040.
PSQ 2019 Map and Guide Is a Winner
The Alliance for Pioneer Square and our creative design partner Total Creative Inc were recently awarded the 1st Place Regional winner through the 2019 International Best Brochure Competition by the International Association of Visitor Information Providers for the Pioneer Square 2019 Neighborhood Map and Guide.  We are elated to have been nominated for the award by Certified Folder!
Press Highlights
What Are We Up To?
Each month, we highlight two members of the our staff and what those staff members are focusing on
Read about why Chris thinks December is the dreamiest month in Pioneer Square.
Read about Karen's passion for the inspiring business owners operating in the neighborhood.
Monthly Resource
OED Restaurant Success Orientation

Whether you are starting or expanding your restaurant or mobile food business, the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED) offers resources that will help you succeed. Whether you are looking for help navigating the regulatory requirements for getting your restaurant or mobile food business started, looking for financial help, counseling on various aspects of your restaurant business, or advice on how to troubleshoot an issue or figure out next steps, this orientation will help you get connected to a variety of resources available to you. Bring your questions to the OED Restaurant Success Orientation on December 10th from 3-4:30p at the Seattle Public Library - Delridge Branch and meet the City of Seattle’s OED who can help provide and guide you to the resources that will help you get started and grow. Learn more and RSVP here.
Stay Engaged!
Find us on Facebook

Are you a resident or business owner in the neighborhood? The Alliance for Pioneer Square recently created a Facebook page. This page will communicate resident and business owner specific news/information that to compliment our more general Pioneer Square Facebook page.
Alliance For Pioneer Square | 206.667.0687