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 us an email.

Weekly digest

Credit: Jo Cosme / Friends of Waterfront Park

☀️ National Geographic is shining a spotlight on Downtown Seattle as a top destination for families. Their latest guide highlights some of the city’s top attractions including the Waterfront, Seattle Aquarium, Great Wheel, Pike Place Market, Seattle Center, and the city’s professional sports scene as great opportunities for family activities: The Best Things to Do in Seattle With Kids – National Geographic.

🚢 Newly released data shows that Seattle welcomed approximately 1.9 million cruise passengers in 2025, the highest total in Port of Seattle history. More than 300 cruise ship arrivals brought visitors to the city while supporting hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, and other local businesses. The record season also came with environmental progress; roughly two-thirds of homeported cruises connected to shore power to reduce emissions while docked: Alaska Cruise Boom Sets New Records in Seattle and Juneau – The Traveler.

Credit: Seattle Public Utilities

♻️ As Seattle welcomed three million soccer fans for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, Seattle Public Utilities worked behind the scenes to keep the city clean, sustainable, and ready for visitors. Crews removed nearly 295,000 pounds of debris and recycling, maintained seven water bottle refill stations, and made sure waste was properly sorted. Reusable dishware at watch parties also prevented the use of 20,000 single-use items, helping Seattle’s biggest global event leave a lighter environmental footprint: SPU and Seattle Shine During the FIFA World Cup – At Your Service.

🏢 A new office-to-housing conversion is opening to residents, marking Seattle’s first major project of its kind in recent memory. The Rejuvenate project transformed a 40-year-old office building into 74 apartments, with approximately 20% already leased before move-in began. The developers have five more conversion projects in the works, showing an excellent example of adaptive reuse: Seattle developers turn empty office space into housing – KING 5.

🏙️ Homegrown Seattle-based architecture and design firm Board & Vellum opened their doors at the iconic Smith Tower in Pioneer Square. The new office space puts a modern twist on a historic space balancing reverence for the past with a bold, contemporary sensibility: A sophisticated design firm studio in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square.

Looking ahead

Credit: Japantown Seattle

🗾 HAI! JAPANTOWN returns this Saturday, August 22 from 12 – 6 p.m. Spend the day exploring Japantown while enjoying taiko, music, shopping, and food and drinks. This year's theme is fireworks, inspired by Japan's Natsu Matsuri summer festivals, with special prizes and limited-edition merch available.

🍷 Sip, shop, and explore Pioneer Square during Sips in the Square on Saturday, August 22, from 1 – 4 p.m. at Grand Central Hall. Local winemakers will pour tastings from Washington boutique wineries at participating neighborhood shops.

Credit: Elizabeth Crook / Seattle Refined

🐼 Panda Fest returns to the Seattle Center on Friday, August 28 to Sunday, August 30 for a three-day celebration of Asian food, art, and culture. Visitors can sample hundreds of dishes from more than 60 food vendors, browse goods from local makers, and enjoy live cultural performances, and family-friendly activities.

🐔 Meet the newest chickens of the Chinatown-International District at the first-ever C-ID Flock Party on Saturday, August 29, from 3 – 5 p.m., at the Danny Woo Community Garden. Snap a photo with the chickens and enter the chicken naming raffle!