Crosscut Tout: A fishy fundraiser at the Market

Seattle restaurateur Tom Douglas hosts "Salmon-Chanted Evening," a salmon dinner and fundraiser at Victor Steinbrueck Park, to discourage crime in the area and raise money for the Pike Market Senior Center.
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Seattle restaurateur Tom Douglas hosts "Salmon-Chanted Evening," a salmon dinner and fundraiser at Victor Steinbrueck Park, to discourage crime in the area and raise money for the Pike Market Senior Center.

You'd think there'd be nothing particularly controversial about a barbecue at the Market, but things got all confrontational for a while there. Tom Douglas, who owns Etta's Seafood at the north end of Pike Place Market, and the new Seatown Snack Bar across the street, had in mind a $15 salmon bake at Victor Steinbrueck park, proceeds to go toward park security and the Pike Market Senior Center.

Not so fast, said a quick-to-coalesce coalition of homeless advocates, who feared they'd be pushed out of the park if they couldn't pay for their dinners. They proposed a free wiener roast at the same time. No dice, said the city parks department, Douglas got his permit first. The spat was settled this week when Douglas' CEO, Pam Hinckley, agreed to share the permit — hot dogs at one end of the park, salmon at the other.

This only-in-Seattle opera, dubbed "Salmon-Chanted Evening," starts at 5 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 28) at Victor Steinbrueck Park, Western Avenue at Virginia Street. Cost is $15.

  

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About the Authors & Contributors

Ronald Holden

Ronald Holden

Ronald Holden is a regular Crosscut contributor. His new book, published this month, is titled “HOME GROWN Seattle: 101 True Tales of Local Food & Drink." (Belltown Media. $17.95).