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JUNE 18, 2025
VOL. 106, NO. 25
& QueenAnne&Magnolia news QueenAnne
Hot air balloon spectacular to light up night at Seattle Center
Magnolia news Staff Report
COURTESY
The Bartell Drugs location at 2222 32nd Ave. W., near the Magnolia Playfields, is set to close its pharmacy on July 1.
END OF AN ERA:
As dusk falls, the Seattle skyline will come alive with a synchronized “Glow” performance as the balloons ignite their burners, illuminating the night in brilliant color and light. A balloon glow is a stunning spectacle where tethered hot air balloons are inflated and illuminated from within. As their burners ignite, the balloons light up like massive lanterns, radiating waves of heat and vibrant color against the dark sky. The public is invited to witness six towering, 100-foottall hot-air balloons glow
beneath the iconic Space Needle. Seattle Ballooning’s Hot Air Balloon Spectacular is a free, allages event taking place Sunday, June 22, near the International Fountain Lawn at Seattle Center. The event offers a oncein-a-lifetime experience perfect for families, photographers, date nights, and anyone seeking a magical summer evening. The Seattle Center Armory Food & Event Hall will remain open until 9:30 p.m., and Seattle Center Monorail service will extend to 11 p.m.
BALLOON, 3
Magnolia’s Bartell Drugs to close pharmacy this summer By Merrick Parnell Contributing Writer
It’s the end of an era for a long-standing pharmacy in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood. The Bartell Drugs location at 2222 32nd Ave. W., near the Magnolia Playfields, is set to close its pharmacy on July 1, according to store employees. However, the retail portion of the store will remain open until
mid-July. The closure marks a significant moment for the community, which has relied on the neighborhood pharmacy for decades. While the store did not provide a reason for the pharmacy’s closure, the decision comes amid ongoing changes in the retail and pharmaceutical landscape. The future of two other nearby Bartell Drugs locations—one at 419 N.E. 71st
St. near Green Lake and another at 8500 35th Ave. N.E. in Wedgwood—looks bleak, as both are set to join the 32nd Ave location on the closure list. These shutdowns are part of ongoing bankruptcy proceedings for Rite Aid, which acquired Bartell Drugs as a subsidiary in 2020 Attempts to reach staff at both locations were unsuccessful, as the phone lines were not working and
no one was available for comment. The closure of the Magnolia Bartell Drugs reduces pharmacy options for residents in the area. However, some locally owned alternatives are available nearby, such as Bob Johnson's in The Gj Building, 1407 NW 85th St near Barker Park on Crown Hill, and Katterman's Sand Point Pharmacy Near Children's Hospital.
COURTESY
Seattle Ballooning’s Hot Air Balloon Spectacular is a free, all-ages event taking place Sunday near the International Fountain Lawn at Seattle Center.
Seattle Pride Parade marches on Submitted
COURTESY NATE GOWDY
Each year, the free, all-ages Seattle Pride Parade culminates Pride Month on the last Sunday of June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SEATTLE, WA PERMIT 1271
Come get loud at Washington's largest parade featuring an estimated 300,000 attendees and 250-plus community groups, nonprofits, businesses, and civic leaders. Each year, the free, all-ages Seattle Pride Parade culminates Pride Month on the last Sunday of June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion. This year’s theme, Louder, honors those who broke the silence and sparked change, and those who still rise against hate today. It’s a promise to amplify every
voice in our community and a reminder that our joy, love, and resilience are acts of care for ourselves and those to come. “This is not a time to be quiet. It is not a time to be a bystander or to allow others to stand by while bullies — those who were elected and those who were not — try to harm us. Try to erase us. Try to silence us. We’re not going to let that happen, said Seattle Pride executive director Patti Hearn. “We will stand up. We will speak up. We will get loud.” The Seattle Pride Parade takes place in downtown Seattle along 4th Avenue (between Union Street and Denny Way). The day kicks off at the Westlake Park stage with pre-show entertainment at 10 a.m., followed by the parade which begins at 11 a.m. Congresswoman Emily Randall and Cheer Seattle
will serve as this year’s grand marshals. “The first Pride I ever went to was Seattle Pride — the summer after my first year of college. I had just come out to myself, and I came home and volunteered at Pride. As a young queer person from Kitsap County, being surrounded by such a joyful, welcoming community was incredibly meaningful,” Rep. Randall said. “So, being part of Pride this year isn’t just about being Washington’s first out queer member of Congress — it’s about what this moment can mean for someone attending their very first Pride, maybe from a small town, maybe just coming out, maybe looking for that same sense of belonging I found all those years ago.” Party at Legacy Drag Brunch Fundraiser
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