Given the COVID-19 outbreak and King County Health’s recommendations, I’ve decided to postpone event announcements for the foreseeable future.
As Seattle’s biggest fan of human gatherings, this is super-disappointing. But until we have a better understanding of the level of risk that this new disease presents, it seems prudent to err on the side of caution. So I won’t list big events again for a while.
Support Local Businesses
It pains me to think of the effects this health crisis is having on our local small businesses. Saturday night Mark Ifeoluwa Lilly‘s show at Cafe Red was cancelled. Town Hall has postponed or cancelled several shows. Most of the meetups I attend have been cancelled. I’m sure there will be more of this.
I hope we can figure out ways to both support our neighbors and keep everyone healthy in the coming weeks and months. We certainly can’t just cower at home 24/7 until this blows over.
So – doing whatever you feel you need to do to preserve your personal health and well-being as well as that of your friends and neighbors (some ideas here) – here are three local businesses I hope you’ll patronize this week. If you want to avoid crowds, consider going during their slower hours (according to Google).
- Joe Bar (Capitol Hill) is where I curate this list most Sunday mornings. I really appreciate the tasty food and drinks that Isaac, Alex, and Dominique serve.
slower hours: before 9:00 am and after 6:00 pm
- Asia Ginger Teriyaki (Pioneer Square) is my go-to lunch spot when I’m working at the Impact Hall coworking space.
slower hours: before 11:00 am and after 2:00 pm
- The Royal Room (Columbia City) hosts many of the world music shows I have listed here, and it’s a great gathering spot for musicians and neighborhood folks.
slower hours: before 6:00 pm and after 9:00 pm
Your Thoughts?
I got up Sunday morning wondering how to best respond to this situation. This is what I’ve come up with. What do you think? I truly appreciate your thoughts and suggestions.
Do as I Say, Not as I Do
Ironically, I just spent three days at the ConveyUX conference. The event was a little subdued – several no-shows and a few cancelled talks. But several hundred folks connected, bonded, and edified each other as we always do at such events. It was a great reminder of the importance of gatherings, and I hope we can all routinely enjoy similar events again soon.
There were several glimpses at ConveyUX of what might be our “new normal.” Ubiquitous hand sanitizer and wipes. Long line-ups for hand-washing in the restrooms. Non-handshake greeting rituals (elbow bumps, curtsying, and an occasional chicken dance). I didn’t hear a single sniffle, cough, or sneeze at the conference – deep thanks to anyone with symptoms who stayed home.