Earlier today SLOG (via Amy DeZellar) reported that another of Seattle's beloved movie theaters is on the brink of shutting its doors. Apparently when an Uptown employee was asked whether or not the Landmark theater chain would consider taking over the theater, the response was that not only was Landmark not interested, they were in fact going to close the Neptune. When The Stranger followed up, they received a terse 'no comment'. DeZellar has also blogged that Landmark is planning to close 30 theaters nationwide. The company owns plenty of other theaters in the area, so this update spells a lot of doom and gloom for other well-known historical theaters in town like the Varsity, Egyptian and our personal favorite the Harvard Exit. more ›

It was just two months ago that the city's Landmarks Preservation Board made a controversial ruling that declared the old Denny's in Ballard a local historic landmark. For those two months, the old building has sat empty behind chain link fences, gaining layers of graffiti and gathering dust. Just this Sunday, Seattlest was driving past the abandoned building when our good friend and passenger asked, "So what are they going to do with that old Denny's anyways?" We just shrugged and shook our heads. more ›

Yesterday, Mayor Greg Nickels announced his plan for a six-year, $75 million levy to renovate Seattle's historic Pike Place Market. If passed by voters, the money would go toward renovating the Market's bathrooms, electric, ventilation, and heating systems, as well as seismic upgrades and new elevators. The century-old Pike Place Market has not undergone major renovations since the 1970s. more ›

"The Board's decision ... was sentimental and capricious, but not legal," says one of the two filings that make up the suit. "The Board's action was improper and illegal."

The intrepid and dedicated bloggers over at My Ballard.com have been providing nearly minute-by-minute coverage of the Seattle Landmark Preservation Societies vote on the old Denny's building on 15th and Market. According to their pain-staking notes, around 6:30 the board's final vote of 6 to 3 in favor of landmark status, was met by gasps and cheers by supporters in the audience. The vote means that the building cannot be demolished and replaced by condos which were already planned for the space. more ›