Perhaps you saw them scattered about the hill last year, parking spaces transformed into small parks for a day in September.  I saw one if front of Rudy’s and Stumptown; Unpaving Paradise set up on Broadway.  What was the occasion, I wondered?

Turns out it was Park(ing) Day.  Created in 2005 by the San Francisco Art and Design Collective Rebar, in response to a dearth of public spaces in their city, Park(ing) Day is now an international event.  This year, on September 18, folks from Brisbane to New York City, from Los Angeles to Florence, will transform spaces normally reserved for automobiles into parks.

Everyone and anyone is invited to participate, whether you’re a landscape architect, hairstylist, visual artist, an accountant or barista: it doesn’t matter.  No professional status as a designer, urbanist, or activist is required.

Want to learn more about the event?  Feet First, the pedestrian advocacy group and Seattle organizer of Park(ing) Day, is hosting a training and informational event on Thursday, from 6:30 to 7:30 in the Officer’s Club in the Armory at South Lake Union.  If you’d like to attend, please RSVP with Elaine Boy at elaine (at) feetfirst (dot) info.

You might also like to know that we will be transforming the People’s Parking Lot into a central park for the day.  So far, we have eight parks confirmed for the space and have plenty of room for more.  We are planning to include acoustic and mobile–electronic music, a design charrette (or at least an informational booth) about the plan for Seattle’s HUB, sodas from a local seltzer start-up, and hopefully some street food at lunchtime.  Please visit the PPL website to make suggestions for events or sign up to host a park.

I first noticed it shining over my building on Capitol Hill.  It was obviously coming from downtown somewhere, but where?  The last time I saw one of these was as a kid back in Texas; a long bike ride led me to the “old” bowling alley.  It was hardly worth the effort.

But tonight, a fussy baby that is best soothed to sleep in the backseat of the car gave me a reason to seek out the source of this beacon.

From Melrose, right above the highway, it seemed clear that Seattle Center hosted the light itself.

A quick ride down the hill brought me to the Pacific Science Center.

And lastly, a trip up to Kerry Park, to enjoy the addition to the skyline.

Unfortunately, the baby in the backseat prevented me from seeking out the actual source.  But with the number of cars pulling up around the Science Center, I’m sure the story will come out shortly (a quick visit to the Center’s website provided no information).

A suite down from the soon-to-be home of Porchlight Coffee, a new restaurant and bar called Meza Latin Fare is scheduled to open in June.

And why should one be excited, besides the prospect of Latin Fare, you ask?

For one, it’s going to be a Sidewalk Cafe!  And even better, it appears that the tables will be beneath the glass awning, ensuring a mostly dry dining and drinking experience.

The website doesn’t yet seem to be active but I sent Mr. Meza an email asking for more info.  I’ll update this post when and if I hear back from him.