The 4th Annual Care for the Market luncheon, held yesterday at The Paramount Theatre, was a wake-up call for us. When we think of Pike Place Market, we picture ourselves gorging on Beecher's macaroni and cheese. We envision ourselves carrying bundles of ginormous dahlias, sampling oh-my-god-these-are-good peaches, and listening to the funky sounds of street musicians. We don't necessarily think of meals and housing for low-income senior citizens, childcare for those who can't otherwise......

You may not have noticed the change downtown this week, but the air might taste just a tad more country. One of our skyscrapers just got bought by Texas. Ok, not by Texas, actually, but by Houston-based developer, Hines. 4001 Fourth Avenue Plaza (previously the Seafirst Bank tower) near the new Central Library was purchased for $162 million. Apparently the thing is falling apart. "In need of some TLC," as the Seattle Times phrases it.......