After five months of procedural delay, Belltown's Five Point Cafe was recently issued a city permit to provide fenced off, outdoor seating in Tilikum Place—the small, paved park off Denny Way and Cedar Street with a large fountain featuring Chief Sealth. The patio, which seats up to 32 people, is now officially open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. And if all goes well, bar owner Dave Meinert has plans to expand its operational hours in the coming months.

"Right now, we're one of the earliest patios to close in the city," says Meinert, adding that if the patio doesn't elicit noise complaints, "[city officials] will hopefully extend our hours sometime soon."

Nearby neighbors—who cited fears of increased bar noise when protesting the restaurant's permit back in January—now have approximately 250-fewer-square-feet of park space in which they can watch homeless people splash about the Chief Sealth fountain. That is, unless they care to do it seated, with a drink in hand.