We’re so excited to have the market back this year and hope to see you all this Thursday for opening day.

We have some returning vendors and some new vendors, as well as the return of ARTSPARKS in Occidental Square Park to add a creative backdrop to the evening.

To see the list of vendors, including a schedule for food vendors, check out the vendor info page.

We will begin featuring our upcoming vendors here soon, so stay tuned!

In addition to the amazing mix of activities at the market this summer, one of the highlights for me has been the “children’s area,” hosted by Jeff + Annie Strain, a wonderful local family (and new Pioneer Square business owners).

Although it’s been different every Saturday, activities have included a bubble maker, legos, and a drawing table. They’ve decided to step it up this weekend by hosting a “Family Fun Day,” with even more activities for kids than before.

If you stop by the market this Saturday, in addition to the wonderful vendors and mobile food carts, you’ll see:

1) Lego table
2) Industrial bubble machine
3) Art tables
4) Imagination station with recycled cardboard, etc.
5) riding toys for toddlers
6) sidewalk chalk
7) balls and hula hoops

Vendors should feel free to bring their kids and invite their friends to come as well!

The Stranger signed on as a sponsor back when we were still in the planning stages of the market. Check us out right next to their “Stranger Suggests” page!

We are excited to announce a new media sponsor for the market: PubliCola.

To be honest, I had almost forgotten that we were going to be featured on their site, when I opened their site this morning, to see this:

Woot! PubliCola is a daily read for me and it’s great to have their support. We are going to have ads throughout their site, and think that their audience is a perfect fit for our market. Check them out here.

James Grindle, owner of Earconscious and partner in Knight Riders Inc, is the genius behind our “Music in Seattle Square” program every Saturday. They have scheduled anywhere from 3 – 5 local and national DJ’s every Saturday that all bring a unique style to the market.

This Saturday, Grindle will be on www.kbcs.fm (91.3) from 11pm-1am with Gregory D’Elia on the show Variations where they will be talking about the market, including House of Stank, the featured New York City-based DJ this weekend.

I introduced the ArtSparks program a little more than a month ago on The New Pioneer Square blog here, but I also wanted to post the schedule of events so that you don’t miss anything — there are some really great installations this summer, and many of them are integrated into our market every Saturday. You can also check out 4culture’s Facebook page for pictures and updates.

June 19- end date TBA: Prismatic Landscape by MiLa
The installation includes strips of mylar-like material, strung on 40lb monofilament line, and suspended from the tree branches. Tree branches will be protected by black surgical tubing.

July 12 – end date TBA: Celebration and Fanfare by Celeste Cooning
Large “paper cutouts” made of Tyvek, strung between two trees and a lamppost at the west side of the plaza. An articulated boom truck will be used to install July 12 and de-install on Aug 9 or some later date.

July 24, August 14 and two weekdays TBD– Driving a Sculpture by Sol Hashemi
This piece is a small, mobile “sculpture” made of a sapling strapped to a toy, gas or electric powered, remote-controlled truck. Artist will perform intermittently throughout the day.

[editor’s note: this was absolutely hilarious — I have videos of a kid “walking” the plant, the car/plant just slowly following shoppers, and more. Here’s a photo:

August 2-9 – Teahouse by Christopher Ezzell
Monday thru Saturday 12pm & 5:30pm and possibly also a 7 pm demonstration on First Thursday.
A teahouse (hut) constructed out of metal framing and soda-pop bottles will be placed in the plaza. The artist will carry out tea ceremonies in it, at noon and 5:30 daily. (DJC post)

August 9 to Aug 15 (or later) – Accordion panels by Jonelle Johnson
A free-standing, accordion-shaped series of panels will be placed in the plaza.

August 16-22 – Clay Lines by Ben Waterman (not happening during Seattle Square)
Artist will lay down lines of clay in various shapes and directions throughout the park, with changing patterns every day. Part of the performance is for the lines to be disturbed.

August 23-Sept 26 – Wind Map by Michelle Arab
Bells of different tones will be hung from the trees and will sound when the breeze blows.

All September weekends, Thursdays through Sundays, 6:00-11:00pm – Fire Barrel by Britta Johnson (not happening during Seattle Square)
A coin-operated “fire barrel,” like those used by people on the street in some cities to keep warm, will be installed somewhere on the plaza. Artist will either figure out a way to secure it or else remove it each night.

September 8 – 12 (Wed – Sat), Stimulate Dance
Preview Performance Wednesday September 8th Noon-1pm
On the Saturday performance, they will locate the dance floor in the same area as the teahouse and the accordion-panel prints will be placed.

Sept 20 11:30-1:30: Red by Joan Laage
Two pick up trucks loaded with bricks will be driven into the park from the SW alley entrance. Performers will build a wall within a cordoned-off area, audience members will write messages on small pieces of paper that will be inserted in the wall and, at the end of the performance, burned. Performers will then remove all the bricks.

Hopefully you’ve been seeing news about the Seattle Square pop up on your favorite blogs, but if not, here’s a peek at some of the most recent ones:

(p.s. don’t forget about the blogger contest with great prizes!)

Flea Market Zone: Sunny Seattle Market Opening, July 20

Pioneer Squares: Win Win and Win, the Launch of the Seattle Square, July 18

Got Craft – Things to do Seattle Square, July 18

Confessions of a Laundry Faerie: Seattle Square, July 17

Pacific Standard: Bring Out Your Junk, July 17

The Green Chair Project: Visit us for Seattle Square at Occidental Park, July 16

Cornichon: To Market to Market, July 16

Ciao!: Seattle Square Inaugurating This Saturday, July 16

CakeSpy: Seattle Square Brings Sweetness to Pioneer Square, July 14

A full list of blog posts are also listed on the Press page. If we missed you, I’m so sorry – please shoot us an email!

We’ve have received a lot of great press about our Saturday Market and our fabulous vendors.

Check it some of the links:

Seattle PI: With Elliott Bay Books Gone, Pioneer Square Tries to Shake a Bad Reputation, July 19

Seattle Times: Market Hopes to Reinvigorate Area, July 17

The Stranger: Line Out – Pioneer Snare: Occidental Park’s Summer Music Series , July 16

KOMO: New Outdoor Market Launches Saturday, July 16

The Seattle Times: Retail Report – Pioneer Square Supporters Debuting Outdoor Market Saturday, July 15

Daily Candy: Seattle Events + Diversions, July 15

Seatle Met: Wear What When – Seattle Square Market, July 12

Seattle Magazine: Seattle Square Coming to Pioneer Square, July 9

KOMO: Downtown Seattle – New Outdoor Market Coming to Pioneer Square, June 30

For a complete list of links that will be updated weekly, check out our new Press page.

Good news: In addition to all of the food you can find at the market and at local neighborhood businesses, many bars and restaurants have signed on to take part in a coordinated Happy Hour from 4pm – 6pm every Saturday to show their support of the market. All you have to do is show proof that you were at the market (with either a receipt or a flyer).

The following are businesses that have signed on:

Central Saloon
207 1st Ave S
206-622-0209

Collin’s Pub
526 2nd Ave S
(206) 623 1016

Fado
801 1st Ave
(206) 264 2700

Fuel: Sports, Eats, and Beats
206-405-FUEL
Mon – Sat 11:30am – 2am, Sun open @ 9am

FX McRory’s
419 Occidental Ave S
206-623-4800
Complicated hours — see website

Ibiza Dinner Club
528 2nd Ave S
(206) 381 9090

J & M Cafe
201 1st Ave S
206-467-2666

Last Supper Club
124 S Washington St
(206) 748 9975

McCoy’s Firehouse Bar + Grill
173 S Washington St
(206) 652 5797

Merchants Café
109 Yesler Way
(206) 935 7625

Saké Nomi
76 S Washington
(206) 467 SAKE

Tiki Bob’s Cantina
166 S King St
(206) 382 8454

Trinity Nightclub
111 Yesler Way
(206) 447 4140

Let’s Talk Downtown, who thinks that ‘being a square is cool,’ made a good point on their site today:

The Seattle Square-goers also get a rockin’ happy hour deal at Pioneer Square bars and free parking compliments of Diamond Parking and the Merrill Place Garage.

I’d prefer not to drive. Fair enough. Pioneer Square just so happens to be one of the city’s most-accessible neighborhoods – check out Commute Seattle to see how you can light rail, ferry, bus and bike to your heart’s content!

So to clarify, Merrill Place Garage is offering free parking if you can show that you were at the market (a receipt or a flyer). If you’re a vendor, Diamond Parking is offering free parking directly next to Occidental Square Park (you get a pass when you check in on Saturday).

But the website said it perfectly when they said that Pioneer Square is “one of the city’s most accessible neighborhoods.” Pioneer Square’s bus tunnel is only two blocks from the market — light rail and the free bus system downtown come through there regularly. Give Commute Seattle a try and see just how easy it is to get to our neighborhood.