As you may recall, the Seattle Center Armory’s inaugural happy hour kicked off last month – and, my how time flies: it’s already the 3rd week of March, which means Seattle’s Best Damn Happy Hour is this Thursday, March 21st.

The Armory is incorporating lessons learned in its freshman foray. According to the organizers, there’ll be more bars, more space, more seating, and more games.

This week’s happy hour features:

• DJ WD40
• Prizes from Seattle Center organizations including Chihuly Garden and Glass, EMP, Seattle Rep, the Space Needle, Teatro ZinZanni and more
• Grand Prize Drawings for a Key Arena suite for the April 13 Rat City Rollergirls Bout and two Premium tickets to Rihanna at KeyArena on April 3rd
• Specialty cocktails
• Happy Hour menu specials at Armory eateries

There’s no cover for Seattle’s Best Damn Happy Hour, but they will be checking IDs. And, don’t forget that you can take advantage of discounted parking at the 5th Ave N and Harrison St. garage with Happy Hour validation/purchase.

Beginning in January, the Seattle Center Armory will host a Happy Hour the 3rd Thursday of every month. The Happy Hour will run from 5pm-8pm and will include food from Armory vendors including Bigfood, KABAB, MOD Pizza, Pie, Plum Market, Quincy’s and Skillet:Counter. And, what Happy Hour would be complete without libations? Well, the Armory Happy Hour will have alcoholic beverage specials too, as well as bar games, prizes, music, and more – and that’s where you come in…

The Seattle Center is asking for feedback on what games and activities to host, and also what key elements of a Happy Hour people like most. Take their survey by Tuesday, November 27th, voice your opinion, and get a chance to win tickets to the The End’s Deck the Hall Ball at Key Arena on December 4th, featuring bands like The Lumineers, Of Monsters and Men, and M-83. (note: one survey completion/entry per person, 21 or older only). Then, see if your suggestions make the list at the inaugural Armory Happy Hour on January 17th.

The new Armory at the Seattle Center has been bringing in some fresh (and yummy) new food stalls to delight the taste buds of locals and visitors alike!  The Center now is running a promotion, starting tomorrow, Sunday October 7th, (slated to run until May) that offers $1 parking in the garage off of 5th if you spend at least $10 in food at the Armory.

The parking garage in question is the one on 5th, between Harrison and Republican.  Across the street from the EMP and right at the Gates Foundation.

The validation program applies to parking during the day and evening. The simple system allows parkers to take a parking ticket as usual upon entry into 5^th Ave N. Garage. Then when they make their $10 or more purchase from any one of the participating food merchants, they show their parking ticket and ask for a validation ticket. Directions on the validation ticket then guide them through the process. The $1 fare applies to parking of up to 90 minutes. Vehicles parked longer than 90 minutes and less than five hours receive a $2 discount on the standard rate.

The parking validation program is slated to remain in effect through May 24, 2013 in 5^th Ave N Garage, located just across 5^th Ave N. from Seattle Center between Harrison St. and Republican St. Parking validation is not available on several dates in which parking fares are collected upon garage entry in order to expedite exiting after large gatherings on the grounds such as KeyArena concerts and sporting events. Only one validation per vehicle is allowed, and validation is good only for the day of food and beverage purchase.