Lora

South Lake Union’s newest neighbor has arrived!  After much anticipation, Amazon.com employees began moving into the first phase of their new headquarters this week.   The entire headquarters will be opening in phases until 2013, and Amazon’s total footprint in SLU is about 2 million square feet.  

Many of you who live and work in the area have likely seen the first buildings taking shape along Terry Avenue, with more buildings still under construction.  The first phase that was just completed includes three new buildings plus the historic Van Vorst Building (which in its past life used to serve as a stable for delivery-wagon horses).  The public plaza also features a striking piece of mosaic artwork created by local artist Ann Gardner.

You can read the full news release with more info here:  http://www.discoverslu.com/files/content/668/FINAL_Amazon_Phase_I_Opening_Release.pdf

As part of the Seattle Storm's 10th Anniversary season celebration, Storm legends will be hosting a youth basketball clinic on Friday, July 31 from 11:30am - 12:30pm at Vulcan Real Estate's Denny Playfield court (corner of 9th Ave. N and Denny). 

Storm legends Jamie Redd, Simone Edwards, Kamila Vodichkova, Sheri Sam and Robin Threatt-Elliot will provide basketball pointers/instruction to youth from the Montlake Community Center.  The Storm mascot "Doppler" will also be making a special appearance!

The official 10th Anniversary celebration for the Seattle Storm takes place at Key Arena on Saturday, Aug. 1 in a matchup against the San Antonio Silver Stars.  The first 3,000 fans to pass through Key Arena's doors will receive a commemorative Storm All-Decade Team poster.  For tickets, you can go to www.stormbasketball.com or call 1-877-WNBA-TIX.  Go Storm!

Vulcan hosted a groundbreaking ceremony this morning at the Terry Avenue Building to officially kick off construction on the latest phase of Amazon’s headquarters in SLU.  Watch the  video to see what speakers Governor Chris Gregoire, Mayor Greg Nickels, Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago, the Executive Director of Capitol Hill Housing (Chris Persons) and Ada Healey from Vulcan had to say about the upcoming move.

John Howie's highly anticipated Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar will be opening its doors for business in South Lake Union next Tuesday, January 27! See Seastar's press release for more details:

Chef/owner John Howie is bringing his signature culinary concepts to South Lake Union when Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar opens its doors for dinner on Tuesday, January 27 (with lunch service added the following day). Located at 2121 Terry Avenue in the 2200 Westlake project, the new restaurant is adjacent to the Pan Pacific Seattle hotel.

Seastar in Seattle joins a similarly named sister restaurant which set the benchmark for destination seafood dining in Bellevue when it opened in March 2002. Both were designed by the award-winning architectural firm Weber Thompson.

Seattle's top sommelier Erik Liedholm will be pulling double duty as Director of Wine at both Seastar restaurants. The new restaurant's sommelier station is a standout feature, which divides the bar from the dining room and is reflective of the emphasis on wine. The expansive list will include the opportunity to try sought-after wines by the pour, thanks to the restaurant's 'Enomatic' wine serving system that preserves a wine's character and freshness.

The restaurant menu features the critically-acclaimed fresh seafood, meats, poultry and pasta dishes that have become John Howie's trademark, along with the popular raw bar menu of sushi, sashimi, poke and ceviche. Unique to the Seattle restaurant, several items may be ordered in entree or small plate size. It also differs in offering al fresco dining with 32 seats available on fair weather days.

Chef de Cuisine D.J. MacIntyre (formerly of SPORT) and General Manager Douglas Kawasaki (formerly manager at Canlis) head the restaurant team. Dinner Manager Tim Lodahl will migrate from Seastar in Bellevue, as will Lunch Manager Shannon Leistiko.

Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar in Seattle will open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and for dinner from 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday, 5:00 - 10:00 p.m. on Saturday and 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. on Sunday. Happy Hour will run from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. daily and the raw bar will open daily from 11:30 a.m. until closing. For reservations or more information, call (206) 462-4364.