Flash+Talk

The Seattle Hotel Association’s 12th Annual Evening of Hope — Pillow Fight Against Homelessness gala and fund-raiser turned the Fairmont Olympic Hotel’s Spanish Ballroom into a giant slumber party on February 7, with many guests attired in elegant pajamas and smoking jackets. A cozy $526,000 was raised to benefit Plymouth Housing Group, which builds affordable-housing communities for the homeless.  

Luxury condo development Fifteen Twenty-One Second Avenue, the first high-rise to make use of the city’s 2006 height code revisions (residential skyscrapers may exceed the base height limit but must give money toward affordable housing), revealed itself on January 29 with a posh hors d’oeuvres-and-cocktails grand opening event sponsored by Seattle magazine. Even with the $1 million-plus per condo price tag, this project has a built-in no-guilt ratio for buyers: developers partnered with the Pike Place Market Foundation and donated a whopping $1.88 million to Seattle’s Affordable Housing Fund.

Also on January 29, the Oscar de la Renta Spring 2009 Trunk Show had the downtown Nordstrom’s second floor abuzz with the promise of warmer days and sun-kissed fashions. The afternoon was dedicated to the February 19 Make the Evening Matter (MTEM) benefit to support the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in the fight against colorectal cancer. Grammy-winning jazz artist and MTEM spokesperson Steve Tyrell made a special appearance and charmed enthusiastic shoppers. 

Not to be outdone, Gucci Seattle threw a grand opening party on January 29 to announce its partnership with the 2009 Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) with whom they will reveal two restored films in June. Located in the former Escada space, this upscale retailer joins the ranks of Louis Vuitton, St. John and Jeri Rice, giving Fifth Avenue and University Street shoppers a glimpse at Rodeo Drive flashiness.  

On January 24, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery opened its doors for the eighth annual Celebration of Washington Wines dinner and auction. Spirits were high, as were the evening’s proceeds (more than $180,000), which will benefit the Washington State University Viticulture and Enology Program.