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The Salmon Connection: Don’t Miss Bristol Bay Salmon Week
Seattle-area chefs put wild Alaska sockeye in the spotlight Nov. 14-21, with special dishes that celebrate the fish and the people who bring it to our tables.
Every June, Toby Bloom heads to Alaska for a summer that involves very little time on land. By midmonth, he’s aboard a commercial fishing boat in Bristol Bay with three crewmen, catching wild sockeye salmon. They’ll spend the next several weeks working on the water, heading into town only when they need something that can’t…
Elevated Gaming, Now With a Luxury Stay
Debuting a new era in Pacific Northwest gaming, the opening of the now Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel, transforms a premier gaming destination into a full-scale getaway–pairing top-tier play with the convenience and comfort of an upscale luxurious overnight stay just 30 minutes from downtown Seattle. Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel offers one of the most expansive…
Rearview Mirror: Godzilla, Cork, and a New Sushi Spot
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
POPPING OUR SENSES I don’t think I’ve ever given much thought to a wine cork beyond the satisfying pop it makes when opening a bottle, but after spending a morning at DeLille Cellars in Woodinville with about 50 other people, I have a new appreciation for it. The occasion was “(Pop) Open Your Senses,” a…
Entertaining Like a Pro: Holiday Hosting Tips from Herban Feast’s Culinary Director
Holiday season means one thing for hosts: pressure. Whether you’re planning a corporate client appreciation party or an intimate gathering at home, the goal is the same: you want people talking about it well into January. Herban Feast, the Seattle-based farm-to-table catering company and award-winning creative force behind some of the region’s most memorable events…
Where to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month Across the Pacific Northwest
Explore Indigenous art, food, and cultural events throughout November, with opportunities to support Native artists and businesses.
As we head into the thick of the holiday season, there’s another meaningful observance to keep in mind: Native American Heritage Month. While Indigenous history and culture deserve recognition year-round, November brings opportunities to engage with Native artists, businesses, and cultural traditions. Here are some ways to take part. Explore art galleries and exhibits Stop…
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The Sisters Behind Seattle’s Phở Bạc Are Bringing Dinner Parties to the Page
This Small Washington College Has a Big Idea About Tuition
Opening Night: Bar Dojo Gives Seattle Art Museum a Dining Upgrade
Seattle Holiday Outings Full of Comfort and Joy
United Nations Honors Seattle’s Urban Forests
How Art Stays Afloat in Iceland
Readers’ Choice 2026
Studio Sessions: June T. Sanders
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Seattle’s MEAN Sandwich Opens in Bellevue
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Seattle’s Best Plastic Surgeon is Dr. Javad Sajan
Article Brings Its Modern Furniture to the Bellevue Collection
Images courtesy of Article. For over a decade, shopping at Article was completely online, and you could furnish your home without leaving the living room. The direct-to-consumer modern furniture brand built a loyal customer base in the Pacific Northwest by letting shoppers browse, order, and have products delivered to their doors without ever setting foot…
Restaurant Roundup: Literary Libations and Tequila on the Docks
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
There are still three weeks until Thanksgiving, but the spread of offerings this year at Seattle-area hotels is already impressive. Whether you’re traveling in the city or simply don’t want to deal with dirty dishes, the cornucopia overfloweth. Enjoy a feast at the Four Seasons’ recently remodeled Goldfinch Tavern, or a three-course meal at The…
The Northwest’s Gateway to Wine, Culture & Adventure
Escape the crowds. Slow down. Savor fall in the Lewis Clark Valley. As autumn paints the hillsides in gold, crimson, and amber, the Lewis Clark Valley becomes a picture-perfect place to slow down and savor the season. Where Washington and Idaho meet, fall brings crisp days, colorful landscapes, harvest among the vines, and plenty of…
Can a Sound Bath Wash Away Stress?
A first-time experience at the Washington Athletic Club offers a different way to unwind during the busy holiday season.
The sound of the singing bowl vibrated in my ears so strongly that I felt it traveling through my body. Next came the Kenari shaker—the noise fluttering throughout the room like leaves rustling in the wind. A gong sounded, keeping me awake and aware, connecting me to the floor I was lying on, next to…
A Fresh Start for Seattle’s Shelter Pets
Bringing home a newly adopted pet is exciting. It’s also a quick lesson in how little control you actually have over your routine. There will be muddy paw prints where there weren’t any before, water mysteriously making its way across the floor, fur settling into places you didn’t know fur could reach, and, yes, the…
The Magic’s in the Making: Theo Chocolate Co-Founder Joe Whinney Finds His Next Act
After stepping away from the chocolate industry, he never thought he’d return. Now, he’s launched his second chocolate company with history-making treats.
For years, Joe Whinney was Seattle’s own Willy Wonka, complete with his own chocolate factory. One of the cofounders of Theo Chocolate, Whinney applied his passion for social and environmental justice to the brand, using organic ingredients and fairtrade practices that ushered in a new era for the industry. He remained at Theo’s helm until…
Seattle Breaks New Ground: Where Supercars, Superyachts, and Collectors Converge
Photos and video courtesy of Terminal One Seattle. On the shores of Salmon Bay, a new waterfront destination is bringing architecture, automotive culture, and the art of collecting together. Terminal One Motor + Yacht Club introduces a new category of luxury real estate with private condominium garages and future dockominiums. Forget everything you thought you…
News
Democrats Gain Ground in Washington Legislature
Initial tallies show Democrats winning nine Republican-held seats in the state House, but more votes will be counted in the coming days.
Buoyant Democrats are on course to strengthen their grip on power in the Washington state House. But the caucus is poised to lose its longest-serving member, and a series of intraparty battles could unseat incumbents in both legislative chambers. Meanwhile, several incumbent Republicans are staving off stiff challenges. Numerous races deserve a close eye through…
Inside SEA’s Revamped Concourse C
Upgrade era: More room to relax, local food, and Pacific Northwest-inspired design give travelers something to enjoy before takeoff.
Over the summer, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport revealed the latest iteration in its expansion plan: the new renovation of Concourse C. Designed by the Miller Hull Partnership and Woods Bagot, in collaboration with the Port of Seattle, the space measures 229,500 square feet (more than double its former size) and features a two-story, daylight-filled marketplace; open,…
Seattle Author Kristen Millares Young Follows Her ‘Desire Lines’
Blurring the lines between desire and expectation, her debut memoir explores what women inherit, sacrifice, and claim for themselves.
In her debut memoir, local author Kristen Millares Young dives straight into precarious experience of being a woman. Blending myth, history, personal essay, and travelogue, Desire Lines (Red Hen Press), out October 6, is an unflinching look at the challenge of balancing one’s own desires with the demands of motherhood, marriage, and work, and the…
CID Night Market Returns This Saturday With a New Food Walk
More than 100 vendors will take part in the free festival, with food specials starting at $6.
My daughter and I were recently watching the Tokyo episode of Eugene Levy’s The Reluctant Traveler, and we couldn’t get over how pretty the lanterns looked along the busy streets. It made me want to be out in a city at night, somewhere with good food and plenty of people. Now in its 19th edition,…
Food & Drink
Best Brunch: Portage Bay Cafe
At Portage Bay Cafe, ordering pancakes or French toast comes with a decision: how high to pile the toppings. The cafe’s signature toppings bar, stocked with berries, other fruit, and organic whipped cream, lets diners fi nish their plates exactly as they like. There’s plenty for the savory brunch crowd, too, with benedicts, scrambles, hashes,…
Best Coffee Shop: Drip Drip Coffeehouse
This women- owned and minority-operated coffee shop gained popularity for its Vietnamese-style coffee and matcha flights. The former is brewed with a phin—a Vietnamese coffee press in which hot water slowly drips through coffee grounds—yielding a bold, concentrated brew. Drip Drip’s phin-brewed coffee comes in sweet and savory flavors, including banana, salted egg yolk, coconut…
Best Distillery: Westland Distillery
Launched in 2011, with the goal of making an American Single Malt whiskey that reflects the Pacific Northwest terroir, Westland Distillery was an early entrant into the Washington-made spirits genre. The brand distills its product in SoDo and ages it for three years in the Skagit Valley, using a fi ve-malt mash bill that gives…
Best Fine Dining Restaurant: Canlis
A recurring winner in the Fine Dining category, Canlis has been a Seattle staple for more than 75 years. Perched over Lake Union in a building designed by Northwest modernist architect Roland Terry, Canlis offers fine dining rooted in regional cuisine and unmatched service. Last year, the restaurant appointed a new executive chef—Seattle-area native James…
Lifestyle
How can a good person believe that?
If you knew who someone voted for, would you know everything about them? We asked dozens of everyday Americans, split evenly between red and blue, one question: What perspective that’s different from yours are you most curious to understand right now? As the midterm dust settles, this short, special episode introduces you to a liberal…
Best Fitness Studio/Gym: MVMT/MTHD
MVMT/MTHD opened in Lower Queen Anne in 2025 with a workout philosophy that’s pretty easy to understand: build a body that will serve you well for a long time. One side of the studio offers Lagree, a hardcore, high-intensity, low-impact workout performed on a MegaPro machine using slow, controlled movements and resistance to build strength…
Best Instagram-Worthy Location: Smith Tower
Smith Tower has been ready for its close-up since 1914. Head to the 35th-floor open-air observation deck, where there’s no glass between your phone and 360-degree views of downtown Seattle and Elliott Bay—and, on clear days, Mount Rainier gets in the shot. Even the ride up is photo-worthy, thanks to the tower’s historic Otis elevators….
Best Park: Discovery Park
Seattle’s largest park covers 560 acres on Magnolia’s northwest tip. With more than 10 miles of walking trails—including the 2.8-mile main Loop Trail—there are plenty of opportunities to get outside and explore new territory with each visit. Additional highlights include a children’s play area, tennis and pickleball courts, the West Point Lighthouse (built in 1881),…
Seattle Sauna Festival Returns to Ballard for Another Round
Mobile saunas from around the Northwest will gather at the National Nordic Museum November 7-8.
In Seattle, November is usually something to face in a raincoat. At the National Nordic Museum, you can meet it in a bathing suit. The Seattle Sauna Festival returns to Ballard November 7-8 for its second year, bringing mobile saunas from around the Northwest onto the museum grounds. Visitors can try several, cool off in…
Seattle’s Brudi Brothers Go From Busking to Big Time
The local band is bringing its analogue Americana to Climate Pledge Arena with Kacey Musgraves.
In discussions of film and T V, there’s a phrase that sometimes comes up: “They have a face that looks like it’s seen an iPhone.” The same can be said of music, especially as vintage inspirations and pastiche have become more standard. Some bands sound like contemporary interpreters, some sound like tourists, and a few…
Opening Night: Death & Co. Brings the Hype to Pioneer Square
The famed cocktail bar’s long-awaited Seattle outpost serves polished drinks, oysters, and a side of big-city validation.
A quarter-century ago, Krispy Kreme opened its first doughnut shop in the Northwest in Issaquah, occasioning the sort of rapture you’d expect if aliens revealed themselves to humanity. In the middle of the night, hours before the 5:30 a.m. opening, there was a line stretching around the building, reported the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “Cars lined up…
Helsinki is Like Seattle—Only More Hockey-Obsessed
As the Kraken head to Finland in November for their first regular-season games outside North America, Seattle fans will find ferries, coffee, craft beer and a familiar devotion to life by the water.
We were maybe 15 minutes into our inaugural Helsinki stroll when my kid asked the question my jet-lagged brain had mulled over but filed under “later”: “Where are all the cars?” We were walking down Esplanadi on a bright June evening near the summer solstice, and the street noise was mostly gulls and the whine…
Meet West Seattle’s “Freelance Beaver Detective”
A group of urban beavers helped Pamela Adams through a tough time. Now she’s returning the favor.
Pamela Adams was living in Port Townsend when her marriage fell apart. Little did she know at the time that she would soon find love again while doggedly pursuing the Five Families—not the ones of Mafia lore, but a four-legged sort living along the Longfellow Creek Watershed. Prior to moving to Washington, Adams resided in…
House Special: Soondae Gukbap at Busan Jeong
Every component of the signature pork soup is made in-house to create a lasting impression.
Seattle is not short of quality Korean restaurants, but many offer similar menus built around the best-known, most popular dishes. When global restaurateur Hoyeon Park moved to Seattle, he noticed that it was difficult to find authentic Busan-style pork soup, a beloved comfort food in Korea but largely unknown in the States. Park currently operates…
Travel
Best Sports Team: Seattle Seahawks
Seattle loves a winner, so it’s no surprise that our two-time Super Bowl champions snagged this award. After the February 2026 win, nearly 1 million fans turned out to cheer on the Hawks along the 2-mile victory parade route—many people skipped work, school, and other obligations, treating the event much like a national holiday. Runner…
Best Financial Advisor/Broker: Chad Mortenson
Planning for the future can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to your finances. Rather than go it alone, hiring a financial advisor can ease the stress of thinking about big life decisions. With nearly a decade of industry experience, Chad Mortenson excels at helping Northwesterners with financial planning, retirement goals, estate planning, college savings,…
Best Real Estate Agent: Chris Cooley
Real estate agents are local celebrities in their own way—their faces turn up on signs, mailers, shopping carts, and billboards. But when it’s your house and your money on the line, a good one is worth knowing. Edmonds-based Windermere broker and condo specialist Chris Cooley has spent more than 25 years in the business. His…
Best Resort/Hotel: Populus Seattle
Once again, Populus Seattle has taken the gold for Best Hotel. A gem in Pioneer Square, this 120-room property—part of the neighborhood’s Railspur micro-district—is an adaptive reuse project that converted the century-old Westland Building into an inviting, art-forward space with a beloved rooftop bar, Firn. (It’s the only rooftop bar in the neighborhood.) The rooms…
Arts
Best Bookstore: Beguiled Books
This Pioneer Square darling is easy to spot: pink doors and candy-striped details mark its home near Occidental Square. Beguiled Books started in 2024 as a mobile bookstore, making its way from table to tent to trailer, and finally to its current brick-and-mortar space. Labelling itself as “Seattle’s Original Romance Bookstore,” Beguiled specializes in just…
Best Music Venue: Showbox
Duke Ellington, Muddy Waters, the Ramones, Pearl Jam, Prince, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, and the Foo Fighters have all taken the stage at the Showbox. Open since 1939, the ballroom across from Pike Place Market has lived through nearly every chapter of Seattle music, while welcoming generations of touring acts along the way. More than 85…
Best Vintage Store: Fremont Vintage Mall
Walk down the stairs and you’re entering a Seattle treasure hunt. The multi-vendor shop winds through individually curated spaces packed with vintage clothing, records, furniture, art, jewelry, memorabilia, knickknacks, and collectibles—the kind of place best visited with someone else, because you’re going to need a person to show things to every 30 seconds. There are…
Best Art Gallery: Foster/White Gallery
A pillar in Pioneer Square’s arts ecosystem, Foster/White Gallery opened in 1966 (then called Richard White Gallery) as the first space of its kind in the neighborhood. It soon gained notoriety for showing preeminent Northwest artists such as Morris Graves, William Morris, George Tsutakawa, and Dale Chihuly. In the decades after founding the gallery, its…
Podcasts
How can a good person believe that?
If you knew who someone voted for, would you know everything about them? We asked dozens of everyday Americans, split evenly between red and blue, one question: What perspective that’s different from yours are you most curious to understand right now? As the midterm dust settles, this short, special episode introduces you to a liberal…
Braving the midterms: Your playbook for whatever comes
How do you get through a midterm season this tense with your integrity intact, whatever the results bring? Moni and April Lawson, your politically red and blue co-hosts, bring a survival guide: practical, evidence-backed tips for the anxiety, distrust, and exhaustion so many of us are carrying into this election. Don’t go it alone, whether…
Is the news doing more to you than for you?
Left and right agree on one thing: something’s broken in the news. So what would it take for journalism to serve *everyone* in a divided time? Moni asks two friends and partners in good trouble who’ve spent years on that question: Joy Mayer, founder of Trusting News, and Jonathan Stray, a data journalist turned conflict…
Mónica Guzmán: Curiosity’s Great Connector
What happens when we get curious about people we disagree with? Journalist, author, and podcast host Mónica Guzmán has made that question central to her work, drawing on her own experience navigating political differences with her Mexican immigrant parents, who support Donald Trump. In this episode of the Seattle podcast, Seattle magazine publisher Jonathan Sposato…
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Article Brings Its Modern Furniture to the Bellevue Collection
Images courtesy of Article. For over a decade, shopping at Article was completely online, and you could furnish your home without leaving the living room. The direct-to-consumer modern furniture brand built a loyal customer base in the Pacific Northwest by letting shoppers browse, order, and have products delivered to their doors without ever setting foot…
Seattle’s MEAN Sandwich Opens in Bellevue
Straying from the familiar landscape of Seattle, I found myself in Lincoln Square, Bellevue, with an urgent food order for the hungry Seattle magazine staff back at the office. How else would we make our print deadline without nourishment? When I arrived on the second floor, MEAN Sandwich signs hung, announcing the restaurant’s opening day….
A Fresh Start for Seattle’s Shelter Pets
Bringing home a newly adopted pet is exciting. It’s also a quick lesson in how little control you actually have over your routine. There will be muddy paw prints where there weren’t any before, water mysteriously making its way across the floor, fur settling into places you didn’t know fur could reach, and, yes, the…
Seattle Breaks New Ground: Where Supercars, Superyachts, and Collectors Converge
Photos and video courtesy of Terminal One Seattle. On the shores of Salmon Bay, a new waterfront destination is bringing architecture, automotive culture, and the art of collecting together. Terminal One Motor + Yacht Club introduces a new category of luxury real estate with private condominium garages and future dockominiums. Forget everything you thought you…