We’re sharing another installment of The Evergrey’s Locals to Know series, where we cede the spotlight to a local person or organization who’s made their mark on the larger Seattle community. Keep an eye out over the coming weeks for more of these interviews, and if you know of a person or organization that we ought to feature, don’t hesitate to send them our way.
Today, we’re talking to Andrea Porter, the program manager of Seattle Made, a collaboration of nearly 700 local Seattle-based producers and manufacturers who work together to find ways all local businesses can thrive. Scroll on down to learn more about her favorite local spots, how she’s restoring the city’s vacant storefronts and her recommendation for an unbeatable happy hour.
Tell us about your work — your job and/or any volunteer work.
I’m the program manager of Seattle Made, a program of the nonprofit Seattle Good Business Network. Seattle Made is a collaboration of nearly 700 urban manufacturers and producers—makers of everything from chai to candles, bicycles to beer, and jewelry to jam—coming together to ‘make it’ in Seattle. I love working every day with small business owners who are pursuing their dreams and creating a vibrant, inclusive local economy. It’s truly inspiring!
What’s your favorite Seattle memory?
Being a part of Bumbershoot. My husband and I previously owned an art gallery and store in Capitol Hill. For several years in the early 2000s, we brought our store down to Bumbershoot for a special pop-up next to the art installations. It was thrilling to be included in the energy of the festival, showcase our artists and makers to a huge audience, and be included in something so quintessentially Seattle.
Pick a favorite local outdoor experience. What is it? What’re we doing? Who’s going with ya?
A picnic in the park with my husband and son. We often go to Matthew’s Beach Park or Magnuson Park. Both have stunning views of Lake Washington. First, we’ll stop at the grocery store and pick up all of our favorite snacks. We pack them into our picnic basket and then head over to find a quiet spot to enjoy our meal while appreciating the beauty of the Pacific Northwest!
What’s your favorite local Instagram or TikTok account and why?
The Visit Seattle Instagram. It reminds me of all the amazing things we have right here in our own backyard. I am constantly pushing myself to get out and see and experience what our region has to offer.
If you could eat only one meal from a local restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Our neighborhood favorite of Miposto—open flame cheese pizza, caesar salad, and their Hemingway Daiquiri. They have a happy hour that offers all three!
What’s a project you’re working on (big or small) and how can our readers help you with it?
I’ve had the honor of working on the new Seattle Restored project over the past few months. Working in partnership with Shunpike Arts and Seattle’s Office of Economic Development, we’re launching 30 art installations and pop-up shops in vacant storefronts in downtown Seattle now through the end of June. We hope it’s just the beginning of more to come! It’s truly amazing to see how passionate artists and makers are about creating new dynamic artwork and pop-ups to revitalize our neighborhoods!
What are you looking forward to this year?
Seeing all the business owners I work with again! Our programming pre-COVID consisted of lots of in-person events. So many Seattle Made members feel like friends, and I miss them! Luckily, our first big in-person event is just around the corner. The Seattle Restored launch party is on Saturday, April 9. It’s outside at 2 + U in Downtown Seattle. The event is free and open to the public, so I’d invite everyone to come out and join us! We’ll have complimentary food and drink, DJs, performance artists, and you can get a sneak peek at those participating in the project. I’m so excited to see everyone again and celebrate the creativity of the artists and makers who live and work in Seattle!
Know of a person or organization that we ought to feature? Send us an email with the subject line “Evergrey, Locals to Know” to [email protected] and you could see their name in an upcoming newsletter!