If you don’t look outside (OK — it’s not so bad to look outside, just don’t go outside right now) and judge Seattle simply by its City Hall-centered activities this week, life is looking pretty sweet around our corner of the PNW.

• Pike/Pine arts honored: The Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce used CHS to crow about it earlier this month — Pike/Pine was named a top “artplace” in America:

ArtPlace announced America’s Top Twelve ArtPlaces, communities that have most successfully combine art, artists and venues for creativity and expression with independent businesses, retail shops and restaurants, and a walkable lifestyle to make vibrant neighborhoods

Friday, Mayor Mike McGinn will come to the neighborhood to accept the award from ArtPlace — “a collaboration of leading national and regional foundations, banks, and federal agencies” —

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We invite you to join us for a press event next Friday, January 25 at Velocity Dance Center at 11:30 am. The national  organization ArtPlace has named Capitol Hill one of the “Top Twelve ArtPlaces” for 2013. At this event Mayor McGinn will be presented with the award. Following the event, guests are invited on a walking tour of the neighborhood, where we’ll talk to business and cultural leaders.

We’re told the tour includes a preview of Capitol Hill Housing’s 12th Ave Arts project site, the Odd Fellows building and Neumos — and none of the few remaining galleries in the neighborhood because the awards recognize “creative businesses and economic vitality.” Low blow! We’ll have more on the award and the tour later this week.

• 520 progress: A committee of the Seattle City Council will respond this week to WSDOT’s plan for the western portion of the 520 replacement project through the Arboretum and Montlake. Montlaker shares elements of the committee’s draft proposal that will include better recognition of pedestrian, cycling and neighborhood priorities and the appointment of a “champion” to help see them through.
• Pot forums: City Hall this week will host Seattle’s stop of the Washington Liquor Control Board’s road trip of community forums to discuss implementation of I-502:

The Washington State Liquor Control Board will hold six evening public forums across Washington regarding the implementation of Initiative 502. The forums are an opportunity for interested citizens to meet WSLCB staff involved in implementation, be updated on implementation and to provide input to the Board for it to consider as it develops rules.

“Clearly there is passion about what Washington’s system of legal marijuana will look like when fully implemented,” said Board Chair Sharon Foster. “This is an opportunity for the public to meet the Board and staff involved in implementation, learn about our role in implementation, and to provide testimony. We appreciate the cooperation of the Association of Washington Cities for their help in arranging these forums.”

The Seattle session takes place Thursday night in City Hall’s Bertha Knight Landes Room. The agenda is epic:

• 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.            Open house with Board and staff
• 7:00 – 7:05 p.m.            Board welcome
• 7:05 – 7:15 p.m.            Overview of Board’s role in implementation and timeline
• 7:15 – 10:00 p.m.          Public testimony

• The Sonics return: The public debate about a new SoDo arena has apparently played out. Now we have a basketball team to — eventually — play in it:

  Hansen, not (yet) running for mayor (Image: Sonics Arena)

We are happy to announce that we have entered into a binding agreement with the Maloofs to purchase a controlling interest in the Sacramento Kings NBA franchise. The sale is obviously subject to approval by the NBA Board of Governors, and we look forward to working with the League in the coming months to consummate the transaction.

While we are not at liberty to discuss the terms of the transaction or our plans for the franchise given the confidential nature of the agreement and NBA regulations regarding public comments during a pending transaction, we would just like to extend our sincerest compliments and gratitude toward the Maloof family. Our negotiations with the family were handled with the utmost honor and professionalism and we hope to continue their legacy and be great stewards of this NBA franchise in the coming years and decades.

— Chris Hansen