Convention City Magnet Program

July 23, 2025

I grew up attending the magnet schools in Montclair, N.J., and the proven, ongoing success of that simple-yet-effective idea gave me the idea for a different kind of magnet program -- an exchange between the still-fresh Seattle Convention Center Summit and the expanding bounty of the welcoming Capitol Hill neighborhood.

The first part of the proposed Convention City Magnet Program works like this:

Convention center and/or event staff invite visitors to walk the Melrose Loop (see below) Local businesses (and the Starbucks Reserve Roastery) greet visitors with open arms Visitors experience some of our finest neighborhood amenities within walking distance Residents feel the excitement of living in a more popular and bustling neighborhood

Article content Start at the Summit, go over I-5 up Pine Street to Melrose Ave., then back via Pike Street and Boren Ave. QR Cards make it easy. With pre-printed or digital-first QR Cards, anybody working the event (not just locals) can easily share a link to the things people look for when they're leaving the building for a quick excursion -- without having to recall all the details.

Article content Designs for QR Cards for Food, Coffee, Drinks, Pre-flight, Late night, Gifts, and Snacks With a single scan -- no login required -- Convention City visitors see a web page that lists key destinations and a simple map.

Article content Instant map if you need it. As this concept evolves, we'll introduce more destinations, more categories, and more loops (and other shapes) in every direction. We'll guide visitors through their walks from Convention City. And for longer journeys, we can guide them onto monorail, light rail, RapidRide, local bus, ferry, and water taxi.

The goal is to bring authentic neighborhood integration and citywide exploration to Convention City Seattle visitors -- with genuine community engagement rather than manufactured tourist experiences.

Next week: How any Melrose Loop business can get their own QR Card, linking to whatever local spots they want to recommend.