Smart Parking, Orchard Food Truck, Real Change App & More

Smart Parking. The first to emerge from the $20 million overhaul of Seattle’s paid parking system is a new “smart” variable rate parking machine, The Capitol Hill Blog reports. The new machine will offer a faster, smarter and more seamless transaction process, automatically charging tenants variable rates depending on the time of day. The machines will first pop-up in Pioneer Square, with Pike/Pine on Capitol Hill to follow later this year, and more in 2016. For full parking details, check Washington State Department of Transportation, or head here. 

On Capitol Hill, Orchard Come April. An Orchard is coming to Capitol Hill late April, bearing food sans trees. On Thursday, April 30, Orchard’s pop-up restaurant will occupy the former La Bete/Spaghetti Western space on Capitol Hill, and feature a five-course prix fixe menu of spring inspired offerings from Venessa Goldberg (previously of the How the Pickle Got Out of a Jam food truck, and sous chef for Chris Yang’s Chinese Laundry) Eater Seattle said. The menu includes items like watercress soup and salt baked trout with vegetable slaw, and will cap at $48, tax and tip included. Drink pairings are also offered for a separate charge. Head here to make reservations in advance.

Real Change Goes Digital. With the help of Google-developer volunteers, the street newspaper Real Change has gone digital. On Thursday, the newspaper–which employs 800 homeless and disadvantaged Seattle locals a day–unveiled its new app, which allows smartphone users to buy a digital copy of the newspaper cash-free. The Puget Sound Business Journal said by downloading the new app and scaning a barcode on vendors’ badges, customers can automatically receive a digital copy of the weekly newspaper.

Bee On The Lookout. A semi-truck carrying thousands of bees overturned on northbound I-5 near I-405 this morning. The accident happened while merging from I-405 to I-5, killing many bees amongst the 458 honey bee hives on board at the time. King 5 said officials reported the bees were relaxed at dawn, but becoming more active as the sun came up.