Queen Anne &Magnolia
Seattle reopens an Icon
By Laura Marie Rivera Contributing Writer
On Thursday afternoon, leaders from Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) and across the region gathered to officially cut the ribbon and welcome visitors to SIFF Cinema Downtown, the theater formerly known as Cinerama. Local politicians, business leaders, and film lovers gathered in the lobby of the historic theater and waited for their first taste of the famous chocolate popcorn since the theater closed in 2020.
The Seattle Cinerama Theater, at the corner of Lenora and 4th Avenue, opened in 1963.
Originally part of an elite group of theaters across the country, it is one of only three remaining Cinerama theaters. Built for the latest 70mm technology, the three projectors and 97-foot curved screen made it a premier destination for film makers and film lovers alike. Because the 70mm film is twice as large as 35mm film, the picture is bigger, brighter, and more vivid.
The theater has been through its ups and downs over the years and was almost turned into a dinner theater in the 1990s. Luckily, Paul Allen, Microsoft founder and philanthropist, was also a film lover. He saved the theater and upgraded accessibility and state-of-the-art
technology.
Tom Mara, SIFF Executive Director, said, “I am particularly appreciative of Paul Allen for stepping up to save Cinerama and I feel a strong responsibility to continue that legacy.” He explained that this has been a huge effort of staff, government, and community. And his most recent round of appreciation started with District 7 City Councilmember Andrew Lewis. Mara recalls Lewis reaching out to him before he had even started his role at SIFF. He said, “Andrew is a real movie fan and played a key role in this acquisition. He
King County Airport could do more to address environment, equity, new audit finds
Submitted
An audit released Tuesday by the King County Auditor’s Office found that while the county has set lofty goals on improving equity, fighting climate change, and doing both hand in hand with the communities it impacts, the King County International Airport (KCIA, also known as Boeing Field) could do more to help the county reach those goals.
While communities around the airport are largely Black, Indigenous and People of Color, KCIA has not documented goals and strategies to address environmental impacts on those communities, the audit found. Though the airport has taken steps to gather community input, airport leaders haven’t adopted a formal strategy to incorporate that input into its processes, leaving community members feeling frustrated.
“King County International Airport is a vital economic asset for the region, but its surrounding communities are some of the most environmentally burdened in King County,” said Kymber Waltmunson, King County Auditor. “By adopting a thoughtful strategic plan, KCIA could amplify its efforts to mitigate its environmental impacts and advance sustainability and equity.”
The audit was presented Tuesday to the King County Council’s Government Accountability and Oversight Committee. Auditors did acknowledge recent steps by KCIA to equity and environmental efforts into its work, including pursing accreditation certification through the Airport Carbon Accreditation program with a goal to be carbon neutral by 2030, and hiring a community liaison in 2022.
But broadly, auditors found that KCIA lacks a clear strategy to achieve its goal of becoming a world class green airport. Nor has it demonstrated how its efforts align with larger county goals like the King County Strategic Climate Action Plan and the Equity
Courtesy Hello There You photos
Seattle leaders and film lovers come together to assist Mel Eslyn in cutting the ribbon and welcome the public to the newly reopened SIFF Cinema Downtown.
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Legislation eyed to reform gift card protections for consumers
By Randy Bracht The Center Square
It’s the gift-giving season, and plenty of Washington residents will likely find retailer gift cards stuffed in their stockings again this year.
But many of those Starbucks, Nordstrom, and REI gift cards go unused by consumers. And while they don’t expire in this state, if a person doesn’t use a gift card or funds on a mobile app from a Washington-based retailer after three years, current law allows those monies to return to the company as profit.
That’s an issue two state lawmakers – Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, and
Rep. Emily Alvarado, D-Seattle – want to address in the upcoming 2024 legislative session.
“Consumers are losing millions of dollars due to unused gift cards, resulting in unfair corporate profit, and that’s simply unacceptable,” Trudeau said in a press release earlier this week. “This legislation ensures that large corporations comport with processes, similar to those around the country, that meet consumer expectations of how they can access their own hardearned money.”
“While gift cards and mobile apps have grown into a billion-dollar industry, our state laws haven’t
and Social Justice Strategic Plan.
Though KCIA is hardly the only environmental concern in the area – flights to and from nearby Sea-Tac Airport contribute, as well as industry up and down the Duwamish Waterway – its 180,000 flights per year and its ground operations pose significant noise and pollution risk to communities made up largely of historically marginalized people. The audit was the first to come out of a new effort by the Auditor’s Office to solicit audit suggestions from the community through a portal on its website.
To turn things around, auditors recommended that KCIA develop and implement a new strategic plan that includes goals, objectives, strategies, and performance measures that align with county environmental and equity commitments. KCIA should also have better plans to communicate those strategies to the surrounding community to increase transparency. Additionally, KCIA should establish a clear and formalized plan to incorporate community input – already coming through its Roundtable – into airport planning and operations.
grown and changed to help consumers,” said Alvarado. “These are common-sense protections for people and accountability for corporations.”
To close a loophole dating back to 2004, the two are proposing legislation that would send the cards’ unused balances to the Washington Department of Revenue’s “Unclaimed Property” website, where people could find their missing funds.
The proposed legislation also addresses other consumer protections for gift cards, including: allowing consumers to cash out small amounts on gift cards or mobile apps; requiring big corporations
had a hope and a dream and an expectation to figure out a way to ensure this theater remains in our lives.”
When Cinerama closed for a planned renovation in early 2020, it was unable to reopen because of the pandemic. And some Seattleites, understanding the costs associated with operating a luxury movie theater in the age of streaming video, feared it may not ever reopen. Lewis recognized that the value of the theater was much greater than the land it was occupying. “It could have been a loss to history and to the recovery of the neighborhood,” Lewis said. To some extent, he says it is now owned by the people, due to the combined efforts of the community, Mayor’s office, city council, county council, and local donors. “I am really proud to have been a part of the history of this really important place.”
King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles highlighted the importance of the arts. “I
LOCAL AGENTS
to notify consumers about unspent gift cards; letting consumers reload gift cards and mobile apps at amounts they desire instead of high minimums.
Small businesses with annual revenue under $25 million would be exempt from the reforms, said Trudeau and Alvarado.
According to the Washington Community Action Network, the amount of unspent gift card money retained by large Washington retailers in 2004 was valued at $4 million, but has since grown to $255 million this year.
If the legislation is enacted as proposed, consumers could recoup their money through the state’s
love this theater, the history, the tradition,” she said. Her favorite Cinerama moment was seeing the U.S. premiere of the re-release of 2001: A Space Odyssey. She also mentioned the recent success of the King County Doors Open program that will benefit arts, culture, science, heritage, and film.
Seattle City Councilmember Sara Nelson celebrated the theater in relation to Seattle’s film economy. “You saved an icon! That will bring tremendous joy and help activate downtown.” In 2022, Nelson championed the legislation to create the Seattle Film Commission and she called the re-opening of this theater the perfect ending to the year.
Chris Swenson, the Film Program Manager for Seattle Office of Economic Development, recognizes the unique history of the theater and welcomes its return. “A vibrant and healthy landmark theater, reimagined with access and diversity, has the potential to elevate moviegoing for community, cultural, and
unclaimed property site. From there, any unreturned monies held by the state could eventually go toward public services such as education, healthcare, or housing, according to WA CAN.
“Over 70 percent of Fortune 500 companies send unspent gift card money back to the states in which they are incorporated, where it can be returned to consumers in the form of public services,” WA CAN says on its website. “In Washington, this law would add approximately $2.5 billion over 10 years for vital public services. That means a stronger education system, healthier communities, and more affordable housing.”
industry events, and become a pillar for the cultural revitalization of Downtown Seattle.”
After all of the fanfare, gratitude, and chocolate popcorn, it was time to cut the ribbon and declare the new SIFF Cinema Downtown open. The official honor went to local film producer, Mel Eslyn.
Wonka, which was coincidentally the code name for the top-secret acquisition, was the first scheduled film and will be playing until mid-January. In addition to new releases and limited showings of classic films, the new SIFF Cinema Downtown will host film festivals in the new year. “We have a lot of work to do and I am tickled to be in this position,” Mara said. Other priorities include expanding their commitment to education and developing their role in the Seattle film ecosystem. “SIFF can champion vibrancy in the community and the economy.” Movie times and more information can be found at www. siff.net.
FILM from Page 1Æ
AUDIT from Page 1Æ
Two bills seek to protect, expand hydropower production
By Randy Bracht
The Center Square
Two members of Washington state’s congressional delegation – U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Sen. Maria Cantwell – have sponsored separate bills that seek to protect existing hydropower resources in the United States and encourage development of new projects.
House Resolution 4045, the Hydropower Clean Energy Future Act, was introduced in June by McMorris Rodgers, a Spokane Republican representing the 5th Congressional District of eastern Washington and chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The measure cleared the committee earlier this month and will move to the full House for consideration.
As proposed, the bill would designate electricity produced from hydropower as a renewable energy resource for all federal programs and procurement requirements, set a two-year licensing requirement by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for “next-generation” hydropower resources, and promote turbine and generator designs that improve performance while protecting fish and environmental resources.
The bill would extend construction timelines for projects already licensed by FERC but delayed due
to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also calls for exempting from FERC licensing requirements any small hydro projects posing few environmental impacts and closedloop pumped storage projects that don’t involve federal land or impounded navigable waters.
There are 19 hydroelectric dams located in eastern Washington.
Without them, McMorris Rodgers said in a press release Wednesday, “Our communities would be in serious risk of life-threatening blackouts … these dams are critical to help us reduce carbon emissions without jeopardizing reliability.”
Only 3% of existing dams in the U.S. produce electricity – most are used for irrigation, recreation, flood control and storm water management. But McMorris Rodgers said they offer “untapped potential” for doubling hydropower generation without building a single new dam.
“HR 4045 will help us get there by modernizing the burdensome and outdated licensing process that can take up to a decade to complete and is standing in the way of next generation hydro-technology,” she said. “It is a real, free-market climate solution that will ensure America continues to lead the way on clean, renewable, affordable, and reliable energy for generations to come.”
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Kim Arispe is the Queen Anne creative genius that wrote “Liberal Libations,” the book that includes 85 cocktail recipes that range from classic to unique, and single servings to party size.
Holiday cocktails: Making spirits bright
Staff Report
Kim Arispe is the Queen Anne creative genius that wrote “Liberal Libations,” the book that includes 85 cocktail recipes that range from classic to unique, and single servings to party size. At a recent shopping event on Queen Anne Frame & Gift, she was serving up her Vermillion Punch. Arispe said that crafting cocktails for others is her love language. “The cocktail is merely the facilitator- our common ground- but the power of sharing a conversation inspires, comforts, and connects us. These connections can move mountainsone small, meaningful moment at a time,” she said. And in the spirit of the holidays, she is sharing one of her recipes for connection. For more recipes or to purchase a book, visit www.LiberalLibations. com.
VERMILLION PUNCH
–FOR ONE–
INGREDIENTS
· 2 oz bourbon
· 2 oz fresh-squeezed blood orange juice
· 1/2 oz cinnamon simple syrup
· 1 oz sparkling wine, such as Prosecco or Cava
· 1 oz sparkling water
· Blood orange wedge, for garnish
· Mint sprig, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
Add bourbon, blood orange
juice, and simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice. Shake well to combine, about 20 seconds.
Strain cocktail through mesh strainer into a glass filled with crushed or cubed ice.
Top with sparkling wine and sparkling water.
Garnish with a blood orange wedge and mint sprig.
BATCH
Serves 12 (91 oz | 11 ¼ cups | 2 ¾ quarts)
INGREDIENTS
· 750 ml bottle bourbon
· 24 oz blood orange juice (you can substitute fresh-squeezed with store-bought juice)
· 6 oz cinnamon simple syrup
· 12 oz sparkling wine, such as Prosecco or Cava
· 24 oz sparkling water, chilled
· Blood orange wedges, for garnish
· Mint leaves, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
Add blood orange juice, bourbon, and simple syrup to a beverage dispenser or punch bowl. Stir to combine and chill until ready to serve.
Shortly before serving, stir the punch, then add the sparkling wine and sparkling water.
Fill glasses with crushed or cubed ice, then add the cocktail.
Garnish with blood orange wedges and mint leaves.
Courtesy Laura Marie Rivera