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Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Gasworks Park

posted by on August 8 at 11:32 AM

PrivateGasworks001.jpg

Someone stole the park in the middle of the night. Or something. Anyway, some huge tents have been set up in Gasworks for what the city says is a private party—and there will be none of that dreadful rock and roll music. So nothing to worry about, Gasworks’ neighbors. Still, the usual suspects are sure to be pissed. And they can suck it, says Seattlest.

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1

This is a wedding, I believe, for some super-rich motherfucker who's got some love for Burning Man or something. I know a guy who knows a guy who's working this event. He says it's *insanely* expensive.

Posted by Papillon | August 8, 2007 12:00 PM
2

private events on public property are public events. or so they said when we got married at the zoo's rose garden.

Posted by rose | August 8, 2007 12:10 PM
3

Except Rose, when the private person is willing to cough up a big chunk-o'-change to the Municipality for the privilege. Then, as in this instance, "public" very quickly becomes "go fly your kite somewhere else today".

Posted by COMTE | August 8, 2007 12:18 PM
4

WHAT!?!?!? An event at MY park??? Parks are for quiet, personal reflection, you hear me? Reflection! REFLECTION ONLY!

Posted by exelizabeth | August 8, 2007 12:32 PM
5

Those are some Saarinen looking tents. They should be a permanent installation.

Posted by Timothy Wind | August 8, 2007 12:40 PM
6

BTW, this guy will be shooting off fireworks and having pyrotechnics on top of the gas structures. (I work with the Parks Dept. thanks for anonymous posting slog!) Guests will be transported from the Space Needle to GW Park on the "Ride the Ducks." They got the permit by saying, in as many words, "money is no object."

Posted by Jaymz | August 8, 2007 12:47 PM
7

I was tossing the frisbee with the husband at Gasworks a couple of weeks ago. Out of nowhere, this large wedding crowd slowly walks between us, causing us to stop.

What were they doing? Walking up to the hilltop for a ceremony. Never mind the trail to the left. Just walk right in our way. We don't mind. Why would we? This is your day, giiirrl! You you you you you. Oh, you're crying? Get used to it. At least you're crying right now because you're happy. Bitch.

Posted by Mr. Poe | August 8, 2007 1:11 PM
8

Those neighbors of Gas Works are horrible bullies who think they own the park. They yell and scream and threaten people; it's awful. Gas Works is a public park and other people can use it. People reserve park space for weddings all the time, it's not unusual.

Posted by please | August 8, 2007 1:16 PM
9

we reserved the rose garden for our wedding, with cash money, but they still said it was public space so it can't be closed off. that's all. maybe we didn't offer them enough cash money. honey.

Posted by rose | August 8, 2007 1:30 PM
10

rose, obviously the host of this event is blowing beaucoup bucks on this shindig. I imagine he paid (in cash money) several times the cost of your whole wedding just for the right to close the park.

Posted by genevieve | August 8, 2007 1:44 PM
11

We got the whole fucking aquarium for our wedding. 'Course, couldn't start until closing time. We let the otters stay.

Posted by j | August 8, 2007 1:46 PM
12

Good thing I'll be skateboarding thru there tonight.

Posted by Will in Seattle | August 8, 2007 2:28 PM
13

I could launch waterballoons from my giant sling shot at their party! My front porch is just above the park! hehehehehe

Posted by waterballoon-man | August 8, 2007 2:39 PM
14

Has anybody found out who this person is yet?

I'm only mad because I wish it were me. boohoo.

Posted by fun shaped | August 8, 2007 2:56 PM
15

This is total bullshit - a one-day event is bad enough, but blocking out that much of a major public park for a private event for several days during the middle of summer is appalling.

The privatization of public space under the Nickels maladministration proceeds apace (you've gotta wonder if they'll EVER get the formerly busy sidewalk between 47th and 50th on U-Way that has been blocked off for a private construction project open any time this decade)

Posted by Mr. X | August 8, 2007 3:08 PM
16

Getting married at the aquarium was pretty much the coolest thing we've ever done. People still compliment us on our wedding.... that may have been because of the copious amounts of alcohol. Whatevs, it meant that our family & friends got to get tanked and gawk at the beasties until 1am, which is awesome any way you look at it, and it was cheaper than a lot of private, crappier facilities.

I would think *any* music in Gasworks would send the cranky neighbors into conniption fits, regardless of it being "rock music" or otherwise.

Posted by Jessica | August 8, 2007 3:34 PM
17

i thought for a second that the seattle symphony was going to play in the park.

but that's just crazy talk - free symphony concerts only happen in cultural backwaters like cincinnati, 6 times every summer, all around the city, attended by thousands.

can't have that here. someone might keep an old biddy up past 9.

Posted by maxsolomon | August 8, 2007 3:36 PM
18

I am totally going to crash it.

Posted by Miss Stereo | August 8, 2007 3:40 PM
19

we should all crash it under the guise of a protest. that way if we get arrested for trespassing on public property, we have an civil liberties claim.

Posted by let's do it | August 8, 2007 3:57 PM
20

The neighbors should be invited to the wedding.

Posted by yup | August 8, 2007 4:10 PM
21

I heard that Bill Gates is throwing an 80th birthday party for Warren Buffett.

Posted by Gurldoggie | August 8, 2007 4:51 PM
22

I'm actually pleased that people hand over wads of money to the Parks Department when they have ceremonies. It's vastly more pleasing than if they were to hand it to a church or private company. I don't understand why some commentators are so bitchy.

Posted by poltroon | August 8, 2007 5:58 PM
23

I'm actually pleased that people hand over wads of money to the Parks Department when they have ceremonies. It's vastly more pleasing than if they were to hand it to a church or private company.

Posted by poltroon | August 8, 2007 6:04 PM
24

We go married at Gasworks. It was wonderful -- our guests had a really nice time.

Until now I had no idea that we were also sustaining those of you who live only to bitch, and who would curl up and die without something to whine about. You're welcome, you Seattle piss ants.

Posted by elenchos | August 8, 2007 8:19 PM
25

The size and scope of this event is just as large, if not larger, than the proposed Summer Nights series, .albeit just for one night. It is a massive intrusion into a public park that happens to be a remediated toxic waste site. This thing is huge! Yesterday there were a half dozen production trailers (some w/o proper flat board ground protection), dozens of 2000 pound concrete anchors, giant pavilions, lighting structures, runways, scaffolding and staging - and they planted grass and sod over a whole elevated platform – putting just as much weight on the stands then ever would have been put on grandstands by Summer Nights. Several dozen loaders and lifts scrambled about on the recently rebuilt and graveled over road from the playground to the point overlooking the water that was done by the city and that we, the citizens of Seattle are subsidizing!

The city has already agreed not to do such an event at Gas Works Park w/o environmental review and they are doing it anyway. The ruling was very specific to Gas Works Park and had nothing to do with traffic, parking, noise, or Summer Nights, but had everything to do with the size and scope of events on a remediated toxic waste site… They also violated the spirit of their promises to properly notify the public of major events.

This secret event is being financed by a company identified by parks as ESam. My research shows that ESAM is a Chicago company that is the entertainment production arm of Equity Group Investments - the apex of financier Sam Zell's pyramid of business holdings. Zell has connections to Boeing, and if I recall correctly his Equity Office Properties was involved in supplying the real estate for the whole Boeing move....so I'm now betting heavily that this is in fact a Boeing party…

Posted by BenJammin | August 9, 2007 1:35 AM
26

@13 - are you a member of WKL?

Posted by Callie | August 9, 2007 10:51 AM
27

it's an elitist party in seattle, on public grounds that have been rented. what's so unusual about that?

anyways, when saturday night rolls around, go watch the fireworks for free. then try to relax.

Posted by superyeadon | August 9, 2007 12:12 PM
28

If Benjammin thinks this party is going to be as big as the Summer Nights series was going to be, he has a few bolts loose. Yes it's going to be a fancy party, no it's not going to be anywhere near the size of Summer Nights, and if he thinks the City has not already inspected this event thoroughly before approving it - given the fallout from Summer Nights - he underestimates the City.

Posted by Sanity Sam | August 9, 2007 5:03 PM
29

Honestly, people. I am with Sam up there.
Want a speculative planner's opinion? (Too bad you are getting it) Summer Nights would not work for way more reasons than just the stage. In addition, this event, which has apparently ONLY been setting up all week, will likely be gone by Monday. A Summer Nights stage would have been set-up ALL summer.
I am sure they are paying/giving plenty of money to be doing this, so WOO HOO more money for the parks department.
I walked down to the park and they are not taking over the WHOLE thing as people are leading to believe. Gasworks is still completely accessible for your summer needs. I am sure Parks is inspecting each day as well, to make sure they are all up to regulations (and there are only three trailers, which would be 1/4 dozen, not 1/2 dozen). The rules of Gasworks are, you can't stake in the ground, ask the Parks dept.
As for other pre-posted concerns and complaints: Boeing can’t throw parties because they have government contracts and that looks bad. Do you really think a company that makes cables and wires for the military is throwing this? You probably didn’t get the aquarium before close because you weren’t willing to pay for it. Private events on public property are NOT public events. The Rose Garden probably would have closed if you had thrown enough money at them. Throw enough money any which way and you can make things happen, it sucks, but that’s life.
If you had that much money, wouldn’t you want to throw your friends a kick-ass party? And would you want people trying to crash it and ruin it, or saying they should be invited, just because they can see it?
And finally, I think you are all jealous because it isn’t YOUR party and YOU weren’t invited (would you still be bitching if you got an invite in the mail tomorrow?). Now, GET OVER IT!

Posted by For the Love | August 9, 2007 6:18 PM
30

Right on "For the Love"!
I was thinking of all these responses to the whiners of Seattle, but I think the last line probably sums up alot of the faux concern posted here.

Posted by bud | August 10, 2007 4:05 PM
31

Actually, no, I wouldn't go if I had been one of the 300 special ones. Why? Because, on principle I'd rather see the money go to ReWa, Casa Latina, the food bank and someone to run against the current mayor. I'm getting sick of the knee-jerk response the park department and mayor's office display when the money gets flashed around.

Posted by Toroo92 | August 10, 2007 7:35 PM
32


Ohh well....

I STILL CAN'T BELEIVE THEY MOVED THE OUTDOOR THEATRE
TO A PRKING LOT IN FREMONT.

I USED TO SIT UP ON THE HILL AND WATCH FREE MOVIES

WHAT THE HELL HAPPEND TO THAT !!!!!!!

JUST ANOTHER UNIQUELY SEATTLE THING GONE TO SHIT...

Posted by What can you do | August 10, 2007 9:02 PM
33


Ohh well....

I STILL CAN'T BELEIVE THEY MOVED THE OUTDOOR THEATRE
TO A PARKING LOT IN FREMONT.

I USED TO SIT UP ON THE HILL AND WATCH FREE MOVIES

WHAT THE HELL HAPPEND TO THAT !!!!!!!

JUST ANOTHER UNIQUELY SEATTLE THING GONE TO SHIT...

Posted by What can you do | August 10, 2007 9:02 PM
34

OK, I'm tired of this public-relations bs that the Council is pulling on you guys. Instead of applauding that small "public donation", remember that tens of thousands more go to private event companies (non-union btw). Your tax "donation" exceeds that amount. Trust me, none of us neighbors are "rich elitists" either - certainly none of us have 4 grand to bribe city officials, probably because we live in tiny boats!

If the neighbors "hated noise", we'd all leave on the 3rd of July. We live near the park and we see people enjoying it. Musicians, fire dancers, skateboarders, kayakers, homeless,family picnics - it all works. We also see animals in the park - herons, turtles, beavers, raccoons, bald eagles - that make NYC's Central Park lawn pale in comparison. Don't you think all people and animals should have priority to the park, every day - not the highest bidder?

Buy the City Council's line, and maybe you'll find yourself shut out of the park on the next nice day. It's yours! It's FREE! We don't want "peace and quiet" - we want to reopen the bike trail! We want to bring a bus line to it! We We want unrestricted unpaid parking! We want Gasworks OPEN for PUBLIC concerts only!

Posted by zolie | August 11, 2007 7:46 PM
35

I have no problem with the noise. I do have a problem with exclusive private use of public property for an extended amount of time (they've been setting up for days). The 4 grand the production company "donated" (can you say bribe) to the city's parks and recreation department is a meager amount for any sort of "private function" (Try booking private property). Just ask the solstice people how much they pay the city to get non-exclusive use of public property. Anyway no one cares about a little noise on a Saturday night around here. The only concern is the precedent set by closing a large part of the park to the public for a private event (and paying so little for the privilege).

Posted by James Black | August 11, 2007 8:47 PM
36

We were there in the park during the party. The fireworks were spectacular and they had a couple of live bands playing cover songs. All the staff there said it was a wedding reception but they were told to lie or make something up. It was actually just a commercial event for a new company that sells intermodal shipping containers. The containers have gps tracking and also can be used as advertisements. The wrap them up in ads just like the metro buses. Check out their website china8project.com. It was just a big launch party for their company.

Posted by WasThere | August 11, 2007 11:36 PM
37

It was a beautiful party with lots of entertainers who invited anybody in the park to watch them--magicians, acrobats, jugglers, dancers, people on stilts, and even a couple of yak costumes. And kite hill was covered with banners and twirling toys, and as many kites as the wind was willing to support.

Posted by Kites | August 12, 2007 12:45 AM
38
Posted by TheWholeThing(andAllYourBitchingAboutIt)IsKindaStupid | August 12, 2007 8:51 AM
39

#36 - you're an F*ing idiot - I was actually IN the party, and it WAS a wedding reception, and an artistic performance those like yourself are simply undeserving to attend.

Posted by adam | August 13, 2007 2:32 PM
40

The main problem is that a private concern was allowed to buy Gasworks Park for 10 days (which included set-up, the party, and tear-down). Private parties of such magnitude should be held on private land. There is a reason there are no condos or office buildings on the site of Gasworks Park. The land was set aside as a park, so that all could enjoy that fabulous view (perhaps the best in Seattle). Gasworks Park belongs to the people of Seattle, who should be allowed access to all parts of it at all times. Holding normal weddings or similar events in parks does not close portions of the parks, as this event did. While I'm grateful for the employment this event provided many of my friends, that is not really the point. Such an event should not have been held in a place that belongs to all of us. The Parks Department knew exactly what they were doing when they snuck it by without a public process, furthering their position that they own the parks, not us.

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41

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42

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