Skip to content

Food & Drink

Smith Tower Sold, New LEDs on Columbia Center & More

The top Seattle news stories you should be reading today

By Lauren Mang January 15, 2015

smithtower_0

First we thought Capitol Hill’s Kingfish Cafe was closing for good after announcing its goodbyes on its Facebook page. But it appears the restaurant’s owners are merely taking a break, cites King 5 News, before opening “a series of Kingfish Cafes” around the city. Everyone can calm down now! You have until January 25 to visit the eatery as it currently stands in all its glory.

Smith Tower, the iconic 489-foot Pioneer Square building that recently celebrated its 100th birthday, sold yesterday for $73.7M to real estate investor company Unico. That’s a big time increase from its 2012 purchase price of $36.8M. According to Curbed Seattle, the new owners plan to “modernize the elevator” and “upgrade facilities on the Observation Deck/Chinese Room at the top of the tower.” No word on what exactly that means, but I’m hoping it doesn’t translate to ripping out all of the original elevators (it’s one of the few buildings left on the West Coast to still employ elevator operators) or ridding the Chinese Room of its ornate detailing and hand-carved ceiling. But this is Seattle, where we obviously respect the past.

Mayor Ed Murray wants to add more tent cities to help Seattle’s homeless population. His proposal “would allow three tent cities on unused lots in non-residential zones,” Komo News reports. His proposal will go to the Seattle City Council.

As rents around the city continue to rise, Washington state lawmakers are stepping in. Should a rent hike exceed 10 percent, a new bill being introduced would require landlords to give tenants 90 days notice, rather than the existing requirement of 30 days. Read more about the proposed bill at Crosscut.com.

I thought something looked different when I passed the Columbia Center the other night: Expect a colorful new LED light show to illuminate the building’s three rooftops on floors 43, 61 and 76. MyNorthwest.com reports that it’s the first time ever that lights will adorn the tower. The official unveiling is tomorrow at 5 p.m. and, of course, the lights will glow blue and green in honor of the big ‘ NFC Championship game between our Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

 

Follow Us

Seattle Author Wins Pulitzer Prize

Seattle Author Wins Pulitzer Prize

Tessa Hulls wins for Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir

Seattle author Tessa Hulls has added a Pulitzer Prize to her growing list of accolades for Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir. The 2025 Pulitzers were announced May 5. Feeding Ghosts won in the “Memoir or Autobiography” category. As Seattle magazine wrote in a profile of Hulls last year, Feeding Ghosts “braids together the narratives of…

These Cultural Landmarks Honor Seattle’s AANHPI Community

These Cultural Landmarks Honor Seattle’s AANHPI Community

Here’s an overview of some notable spots and happenings

The first Asian American immigrants landed in Seattle in the 1860s, just a decade after the city’s founding in 1852. Seattle is plentiful with sites that tell crucial stories about Seattle’s Asian American community, whether you choose to learn about historic neighborhoods and buildings in the International District or browse sculptures and paintings at the…

Book Excerpt: Old White Man Writing

Book Excerpt: Old White Man Writing

Seattle resident Joshua Gidding examines his own white privilege

In his book, Old White Man Writing, Seattle resident Joshua Gidding attempts to come to terms with his privilege. Gidding grapples with the rapidly changing cultural norms in 21st-century America while examining his own racial biases and prejudices. As Manhattan Book Review notes: “Old White Man Writing is an introspective deep dive into an eventful life…

Glacial Expressions

Glacial Expressions

Local scientist and painter Jill Pelto spotlights climate change in a multi-artist show at Slip Gallery

The divide between the arts and sciences is long-fostered and well-documented. From elementary school onward, children are often singled out for their penchant for math or artistic ability and guided toward classes — and later careers — that align with their right or left brain tendencies. For Jill Pelto — a local climate scientist, painter,…