Author Archives: Shamaar Thomas - CHS Reporting Intern

About Shamaar Thomas - CHS Reporting Intern

As an aspiring journalist, I strive to ensure that my work’s portray the truth and are transparent for readers to learn from. Fail forward. >>> The University of Washington News Lab gives advanced journalism students an opportunity to build a dynamic clip portfolio by reporting for any of 70 client news outlets in the greater Seattle area. CHS is proud to work with young journalists and feature their work. You can learn more here.

Arté Noir arts center creating a space to grow ‘Black art, artists, and culture’ at 23rd and Union

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This work from artist Takiyah Ward will grace the development’s central square — “A past, present, future timeline of what was, what is and what can be if people look to humanity and treat their neighbors as they would themselves want to be treated. To tell the colorful history of this block with images and words that have stood the tests of time and aided in the perseverance of all who encounter them. To tell the truth of our past, live in our present and set intentions for the future.” (Image: Midtown Square)

Myron Curry’s portraits — including this image of CD legend DeCharlene Williams of the Central Area Chamber of Commerce and D’Charlene’s — grace the building’s 23rd Ave-facing street front (Image: Midtown Square)

Construction is nearly complete on the Midtown Square apartment complex. Leasing for the mix of market rate and affordable apartments is beginning. And Arté Noir, a new Central District arts center focused on “Black art, artists, and culture,” is getting ready to fill the core ground floor commercial space, a one of a kind “anchor tenant” for the new development.

“Honing in on the vision, creating a business structure that takes us from a lease to ownership at the end of the lease, and raising the needed funds to support the plan we have for creating a permanent home for Black arts and culture in a reparative wealth generating structure, have all been challenging,” founder and editor-in-chief of Arté Noir Vivian Phillips said.

With the launch of an online magazine in May 2021, Arté Noir formed as a way to bring attention to the city’s creators and is now preparing to bring the same spirit to a real world center with room for art, artists, and the community.

Arté Noir seeks to contribute to Black culture in the Central District. “Being from the Central District and having watched the numerous changes, I want the message to be that Black culture remains a significant part of the foundation and fabric of this community,” Phillips said.

CHS reported late last year on the unique set of circumstances that led developer Lake Union Partners to tab Phillips and the arts center and gallery plan for the Midtown project’s key retail space after years of planning for a major drugstore chain. Continue reading →

Starbucks Workers United? Why baristas at Broadway and Denny shop are demanding unionization

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(Image: CHS)

District 3 representative for the Capitol Hill and the Central District Kshama Sawant is standing with workers from a Broadway Starbucks Tuesday, calling for an evening rally in Cal Anderson Park against “union-busting” actions by the Seattle coffee giant.

Friday, workers from the Broadway and Denny shop filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board and accused Starbucks leadership of disciplining an employee for supporting unionization efforts.

“They are a big company, and companies make money off of the difference between their profits and labor costs. So there’s no reason for them to have our best interest at heart, which I think is why it’s so important to form a union,” Sydney Durkin, one of the Broadway and Denny Starbucks workers organizing the efforts told CHS last week. Continue reading →

After three years as a ‘pop-up,’ Sankaku Japanese Onigiri Cafe and Bar here to stay at Melrose Market

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(Image: Sansuka)

In 2019, Japanese food pop-up Sankaku had aspirations to become a permanent part of Capitol Hill. At the start of 2022, Sankaku announced that it is planning to expand into those dreams in the Melrose Market.

Still getting acquainted with running a full-time business, Sankaku owner Rie Otsuka told CHS that she is ready to kick the year off strong; however, due to current conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Otsuka is fine settling for a slower pace. The less lively crowds of Melrose Market are a time for Otsuka’s business to develop a tight-knit community.

“It’s really quiet and a very scary time,” Otsuka said. “In general, in January, I just want to take time to figure things out so it’s a quiet time to fit in.” Continue reading →

In response to debates over critical race theory, Seattle march for MLK Day 2022 will support education and counter misinformation

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Marchers in 2021

One of the largest celebrations of Martin Luther King Jr. in Martin Luther King County will take place with an emphasis on safety and community at the Central District’s Garfield High School.

Over the weekend, the Seattle MLK Jr. Coalition will host a variety of virtual events plus a rally and march on Monday starting at 23rd Ave’s Garfield High School. The MLK Jr. Coalition seeks to celebrate the legacy of MLK Jr. as well as unite Seattle and King County communities.

“Every year we pick a theme, this year it was truth and education now,” vice chair of the MLK Jr. Coalition Bobby Alexander said. “Before I graduated law school, I was always frustrated that race was not a part of our legal analysis because race has such a profound impact on law. To hear a bunch of non-lawyers essentially arguing about whether it’s relevant in general education, it was infuriating to me.” Continue reading →