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.

Weekly digest

AI House, a partnership between our office, Washington State Department of Commerce, AI2 Incubator, and Ada Developers Academy, continues to be a top news story. Geekwire Editor Taylor Soper appeared on the Seattle Now podcast to discuss how Downtown Seattle is becoming a major hub for AI, thanks in part to the new "AI Town Square" on Pier 70: Seattle wants to be a major hub for AI – KUOW.

Credit: Seattle Channel

🎩 Eclipse Hat Shop at Pike Place Market was recently featured on Seattle Channel’s CityStream, highlighting owner Sharon Hagerty’s talent of crafting custom hats for residents and visitors alike: Eclipse Hat Shop is a personalized sartorial experience for your head – Seattle Channel.

🦖 Never underestimate the economic impact of a dinosaur-themed bouncy house. With the Jurassic Quest “Kids Dino-Mite experience” sold out over the weekend, more than 5,000 children and their families turned out to the Seattle Convention Center for the attraction. 🦕 Kids were able to ride dinos, dig for fossils, do dino-centric crafts and of course enjoy bounce houses: Jurassic Quest.

Reuben’s Brews 🍻, the renowned Ballard-based brewery, is bringing new energy to Downtown by opening a taproom near Pike Place Market, showcasing Downtown as a vibrant hub where people can live, work, and visit: Reuben’s Brews expanding to open new taproom in downtown Seattle – My Ballard.

“Opening a taproom downtown lets us connect with a greater number of locals, tourists, and commuters. It also allows us to craft relationships with more nonprofit organizations, something that we actively pursue through our work with the Reuben’s Brews Foundation,” said co-founder Grace Robbings.

Looking ahead

In need of a laugh? 😂

• Taking yourself on a solo-date? A few single seats are left for Ben Schwartz & Friends this Friday, April 11 at the Paramount.
• Balcony seats are open for Whitney Cummings: Big Baby on Saturday, April 12 at the Moore Theatre.
• Matteo Lane: Can’t Stop Talking returns to the Paramount on Saturday, April 12.
• Tickets are still available for Liza Treyger for the 9 p.m. April 11 and 12 shows at the Here-After in Belltown.

General admission seats are still available for the taping of Live Wire Radio with Rick Steves, Ann Powers, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt and Pedro the Lion at Benaroya Hall on Friday, April 11.

Credit: MOPOP and 5th Avenue Theatre / Asia Vivian Hsu Photography

The 5^th Avenue Theatre’s Educational Touring Company is performing Songs of the Moon at MoPOP on April 12 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The 50-minute performance features folktales from Korea, Vietnam and China, exploring how storytelling bridges generations and preserves cultural heritage.

Seattle Restored launches the Artist Development Series on Wednesday, April 16 at Actualize Air from 6 – 8:30 p.m. 🎨 The evening event includes opportunities for networking and resource sharing, and a talk by local artists A.O. Hamer and Stevie Shao who will share their journeys building full-time creative careers in Seattle. 

🌸Sakura-Con 🌸, one of the longest-running and most popular anime conventions in the Pacific Northwest, invites anime fans to the Seattle Convention Center from April 18 – 20. The event includes musical performances, discussion panels, games, costumes skit performances, and an exhibit hall packed with anime merchandise from various vendors.

Credit: 'Untitled' by Stephen Rock / Seattle Art Museum

Rising is on display this month through April 27 at the Seattle Art Museum. Artists Stephen Rock and Laura Van Horne specialize in creating upward motion and movement through abstract imagery.