GNDT Jan. 23 – 28

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 01/28/2025 01:30 PM PST

Hi all,

Sending another Good News Downtown, a communication to showcase uplifting, interesting, positive stories about activities and people Downtown.

If you have news or events to share or if you want to talk about the work being done to revitalize Downtown, send me an email.

🐉Happy Lunar New Year! 🐉

Thousands gathered at Seattle Center to mark the Lunar New Year, the first celebration since it became an official state holiday. People braved the cold to watch centuries-old lion dances.

Credit: Seattle Times

📰 Read more:

Thousands ring in Lunar New Year in Seattle, now an official WA holiday – Seattle Times.
Wing Luke Museum and Little Saigon Welcome Year of the Snake – South Seattle Emerald.
Seattle Magazine put together a guide to Lunar New Year events throughout the city, including some great events in Downtown:
- Seattle Asian Art Museum’s programming includes a lion dance and other family-centric activities. Free with suggested museum admission starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1.
- Chinatown-International District festivities culminate with the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area’s celebration at Hing Hay Park. Neighborhood restaurants are also participating in the annual Food Walk from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.

Weekly digest

Credit: Friends of Little Sài Gòn

Friends of Little Sài Gòn rang in the Lunar New Year with a 🍙 Bánh Tét-making workshop 🍙. The sold-out event taught 100 students how to create their own bánh tét’s: Friends of Little Sài Gòn held their Bánh Tét-making workshop to welcome in Lunar New Year – NorthWest Asian Weekly.

Credit: Betty Lau

💡There are more lights illuminating the Chinatown-International District! The new lights will light up the neighborhood year-round and can change color to celebrate special events, such as the Lunar New Year: Mayor Harrell Celebrates New Permanent Lighting Features in Chinatown-International District to Enhance Community Safety and Vibrancy – Office of the Mayor.

A fresh new look is coming to a Pioneer Square classic. Hotel Westland’s history will be at the forefront of the property’s new design, which will also feature the area’s first-ever rooftop bar and restaurant: A New Art-Forward Hotel Is Opening In Seattle This Spring – Forbes.

The Seattle Art Museum’s ❄️ winter mindfulness series ❄️ was recently featured on King5’s New Day Northwest show discussing the free event series occurring on Saturdays throughout the Winter months: SAM Body + Mind: Seattle Art Museum's winter mindfulness series - New Day NW.

🎊 Congratulations 🎊 to the Downtown Seattle-based restaurants who were chosen as James Beard semifinalists including:

Outstanding Restaurateur - Quynh Pham and Yenvy Pham: Phở Bắc Súp Shop, Phởcific Standard Time, and The Boat.
Outstanding Bar – Roquette.
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service – Anu Apte, Rob Roy

Eater Seattle recently compiled their list of the 🍜 Best Asian Noodles in Seattle 🍜 with a few Downtown shoutouts to help you forget about these cold winter days:

Mike’s Noodle House sells quick-to-make and inexpensive noodles, making it easy to enjoy some comfort food.
King Noodle offers a huge amount of customization between soup base, noodles, and toppings.
Kilig's rotating menu offers of all kinds of options, ensuring there’s always something new to try.

Looking ahead

Credit: Museum of Pop Culture

Black History Month kicks off Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Museum of Pop Culture with an all-day event celebrating Black Sci-Fi, speculative fiction, and Afrofuturism. The event includes special exhibits, a screening of Men in Black, and a talk with Arts and Culture specialist Ashanti Davis.

If you missed Oscar nominated film 🤖 “The Wild Robot” 🤖 when it was in theaters, SIFF Cinema Downtown is showing it on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m.