Settling In, Not Just Moving In: How Seattle Newcomers Find Their Footing
Photos courtesy of Royalty Moving & Storage Seattle. Explore: Seattle Relocation Resources Moving to Seattle is rarely just about transporting belongings from one address to another. For many newcomers, it marks the beginning of learning a city that operates on its own terms, shaped by distinct neighborhoods, changing weather, and an unspoken culture that locals…
Up In Smoke: The Little-Known Story of Seattle’s First Marijuana Initiative
A 1974 ballot campaign came up short, but helped set the stage for legal weed in Washington.
Like many American cities in the early 1970s, Seattle was once a hotbed of political and civil unrest. This era of discontent officially kicked off on May 5, 1970—one day after the Ohio National Guard shot students at Kent State University, killing four and wounding nine. In response, thousands of Seattle-area student protestors shut down…
Growing What Works: Early Outcomes from Washington’s Charter Public Schools
What happens after high school may be one of the most important measures of whether our public schools in Washington serve students well. A new report published by Agency, Inc, Turning the Tassel in Washington State: Outcomes for Charter Public School Graduates from 2019-2025, seeks to answer that question by exploring early adult life outcomes…
15 SIFF Movies to Put on Your List
From Boots Riley’s opening-night film to a local documentary about human composting and one very talked-about chicken.
The Seattle International Film Festival is back for its 52nd year, which means your moviegoing ambitions are about to get a little unruly. It runs May 7-17 with 203 films from 71 countries and regions, including 18 world premieres and 10 U.S. premieres. The fun, and the problem, is figuring out where to begin. I’ve…
Renew Yourself in Bellingham, Washington
Images courtesy of Visit Bellingham Unwind and reset in 2026 with a trip to peaceful Bellingham, Washington. Located between the stunning Cascade Mountains and the tranquil Salish Sea, there’s no better place for a trip packed with quiet moments in nature combined with the amenities of a culturally rich college town. Bellingham is known for…
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Every Dress Tells a Story
Dhivya Balasubramanian’s new collection reworks fashion classics using Indian textiles.
For Dhivya Balasubramanian, the story often starts with a sari. Sometimes a client brings one in, folded carefully and full of family history. Other times, Balasubramanian pulls from the collection she has gathered on trips to India. Either way, the fabric usually comes first. At her Queen Anne studio, it might become a gown, a…
After Ballet, Lucien Postlewaite’s Next Act
After nearly two decades at Pacific Northwest Ballet, principal dancer Lucien Postlewaite is retiring from the company and stepping into a new, offstage career.
In ballet, extension is everything. The ability to lift and hold the limbs in the air is the basis for much of a dancer’s movement and artistic expression. No one knows this as well as Lucien Postlewaite, who, at 42, has been dancing for almost his entire life. A principal at Pacific Northwest Ballet—and the…
Beyond the Notes: Xian Zhang Expands Seattle Symphony’s Reach
The music director talks representation in classical music and the work of bringing new audiences into the concert hall.
As Xian Zhang prepares to lead the Seattle Symphony into its 2026/2027 season, the acclaimed conductor returns to one of the city’s most storied cultural institutions. A Grammy and Emmy-winning maestro with an international résumé spanning the New Jersey Symphony, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic and major opera houses across Europe, Zhang’s relationship with…
Cities Only Work if We Show Up
The case for small business, creative density, and why culture is a team effort.
I have always been in love with cities. I joke with friends that I have crushes on cities the way they have crushes on good-looking strangers. Sometimes—as with Paris and London—my unrequited crush meant finding an excuse to move there. With Seattle, however, that initial attraction grew into a long-term relationship. I arrived here as…
Rearview Mirror: Lobster Rolls, Cold Plunges, and Opening Night at SIFF
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
SIFF Goes Full Boots Last night, I covered the SIFF opening night red carpet for the first time, and it was as fun as I hoped. The festival opened at Paramount Theatre with I Love Boosters, Boots Riley’s new bonkers comedy about a group of professional shoplifters taking on a cold-blooded fashion girl boss. Keke…
Restaurant Roundup: Malay Food and Free Wine Tastings
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
It’s that time of year again. The sun is getting less and less shy, people are dining out more, and restaurants are opening right and left. It can be a lot to keep up with, but here are a few to give a try this weekend. Queen Nzinga is bringing Angolan food to the Chinatown-International…
Studio Sessions: Yaminee Patel
A second generation Indian American, artist Yaminee Patel uses her work to explore her heritage, a childhood growing up in the Midwest, and the larger economic and cultural factors surrounding agricultural practices around the world.
Over the past year, Yaminee Patel has narrowed her artistic focus, centering rice as the medium for her work. A symbol of sustenance, survival, hard work, and culinary tradition, rice is a deeply important element in many cultures around the world. It also represents the idea of sharing a meal together, creating human-to-human connection, which…
Like Nowhere Else
Muckleshoot Casino Resort. The biggest and best in the northwest.
Photos courtesy of Muckleshoot Casino Resort. Located south of Seattle, Muckleshoot Casino Resort offers a truly unforgettable escape—one with indulgence, relaxation, and exhilaration, all right at your fingertips. Whether you’re planning a thrilling night out, a spontaneous staycation or a memorable weekend away, this is the experience you’ve been looking for. Our luxurious hotel has…
Capitol Hill Gets a Fashion Walk
The inaugural Pike Pine Social brings more than 50 businesses together for a weekend of style, food, music, and neighborhood fun.
Capitol Hill, like most Seattle neighborhoods, rewards a loose plan. You wander into a shop, follow music down the block, stop for a drink, admire a jacket in a window that you definitely do not need, and end up at the park watching an impromptu soccer game. That spirit is behind Pike Pine Social, a…
5 Dishes to Try in May
New plates to put on your radar, from citrus olive oil cake to tableside French toast.
I’ve heard it said, and I believe it now, as a co-owner of a new restaurant: the first year is the hardest. There is a saying that describes a restaurant in its first year as “building the boat while sailing it.” You might find that the sails catch wind and you roar forward. Just as…
Up In Smoke: The Little-Known Story of Seattle’s First Marijuana Initiative
A 1974 ballot campaign came up short, but helped set the stage for legal weed in Washington.
Like many American cities in the early 1970s, Seattle was once a hotbed of political and civil unrest. This era of discontent officially kicked off on May 5, 1970—one day after the Ohio National Guard shot students at Kent State University, killing four and wounding nine. In response, thousands of Seattle-area student protestors shut down…
Dog of the Month: Josie
Adopt this wiggly two-year-old who loves hiking and bedtime snuggles.
Josie comes with big claims. She says she is the owner of a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 that needs a little bit of work but should be “totally sweet” once she “hits the junkyard for a couple of parts.” When asked for further details on Josie’s ownership of the car, a baffled Washington Department of…
Dog of the Month
Meet Josie
This lovable young pup is ready for a home. Learn more >
Podcast & Event highlights
Urban Grit Meets Wild Beauty: Inside Seattle Art Museum’s Beyond Mysticism
Seattle’s history is rooted in its fascinating juxtaposition of industry and nature, inspired by the region’s dramatic landscapes and rapidly changing cityscape. Seattle Art Museum’s current exhibition, Beyond Mysticism: The Modern Northwest, invites you to meet the artists who captured that tension and transformed it into a bold new vision of Modernism. Modernism, Made in…
Chihuly Returns to Venice
The Tacoma-born artist marks 30 years since ‘Chihuly Over Venice’ with three new glass works along the Grand Canal.
We’re standing on the Accademia Bridge in Venice, watching massive cardboard boxes marked “FRAGILE” craned up from a barge. It’s a few weeks before the opening of Dale Chihuly’s new exhibit, and from this vantage point, we can see all three monumental works on the Grand Canal being assembled. “It really did start here,” says…
A Different Kind of Mattress Store
Photos courtesy of Bedrooms and More. If you’re looking for the best mattress shopping experience in Seattle, the right choice often comes down to materials, transparency, and expert guidance – not just price or brand names. Bedrooms & More specializes in natural and organic two-sided mattresses and offers a no-pressure showroom environment where customers can…
The May/June Issue is Out! Score Your Copy Today.
We’ve got you covered from World Cup to art openings, to this spring’s sun-soaked, must-visit destinations.
Summer is just around the corner—we can feel it as the mercury rises and the days grow longer. This year, that means we’re getting closer to the kick-off of FIFA World Cup 2026, which runs between June 15 and July 6, with matches happening at Lumen Field. In honor of Seattle hosting six games, we…
Your Land, Your Legacy: A New Way to Build at Suncadia
For those who believe that where you live should reflect how you live and how you’ll be remembered Suncadia invites a deeper kind of ownership. It’s an opportunity to create a home that is entirely your own, on some of the most desirable homesites in the Cascades, while benefiting from the ease, support, and long-term…
Trupanion CEO Margi Tooth Leads the Pack
As the CEO of the largest pet insurer in the United States understands the importance of collaboration—and building a trusted team.
Growing up on a farm in the United Kingdom, Margi Tooth dreamed of channeling her love for animals into a career as a veterinarian. Although she took a different path—working in market research and business development before moving into the insurance sector—she still ended up with a job that helps animals. Tooth is the CEO…
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…
Seattle’s Pizza Just Keeps Getting Better
New openings across the city make a strong case that Seattle can finally stop apologizing for its pies.
Complaining about Seattle’s pizza scene is a well-worn civic ritual, on par with decrying the sad state of the city’s sports teams. But wake up: It’s 2026, the Seahawks are world champs, the Sonics are coming back, and Seattle is awash in great pizza. Granted, this town of transplants has no “style” to claim as…
AANHPI Month: Where to Celebrate, Eat, and Learn Around Seattle
From festivals and museum exhibits to food tours and historic neighborhoods, here are a few ways to mark the month across the region.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month—known as AANHPI Month—is observed in the U.S. each May. It began as a weeklong observance in 1978 and expanded to the full month in 1992. Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in the United States extend back much further, including to the late 16th century, when…
Black Panther Park in Skyway Becomes First Black Panther Park in the World
The new community garden honors the Black Panther Party’s legacy of food justice and the Skyway neighbors who helped bring it to life.
On a sunny Sunday earlier this month, at the corner of 75th Avenue and Renton Avenue South, the community gathered for the opening of Skyway’s Black Panther Park. Inspired by the Black Panther’s Free Breakfast for School Children program that compelled the federal government to provide breakfast in schools, Black Panther Park is a community…
Rearview Mirror: A Family Coming Apart, SIFF, and My First Fashion Show
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
The Family House A house can hold a lot, and Seattle Rep’s Appropriate knows that. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Tony-winning play, directed here by Timothy McCuen Piggee, drops the Lafayette siblings into their late father’s hoarded, falling-apart Arkansas plantation home for an estate sale, and lets the whole thing crack open from there. The sibling dynamics are…
Restaurant Roundup: Mother’s Day Brunch Bonanza
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
What a mom wants, what a mom eats, whatever makes her happy sets you free. You don’t need a slightly misremembered hit song by Christina Aguilera to remember that this Sunday is Mother’s Day… right? In case this news is hitting you harder than Y2K, we’re here to throw you a lifeline, because there are…
Grounds for Success: Instant Coffee Brand Seoulli is Bringing Korean Café Culture to the Pacific Northwest
Liz Kang and her best friends aren’t strangers to the entrepreneurial journey. With roots in fashion, merchandising, tech, and business ownership, the local group of Korean American women grew up together dreaming about future success. Their newest venture is Seoulli, a Korean instant coffee brand that’s introducing the Pacific Northwest—and the world—to Korean café culture,…
Restaurant Roundup: Rooftop Bites and Pineapple Juice Coffee
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
If you thought getting a table for before- or after-noon pancakes and mimosas was difficult before, hold on to your orange juice—the great brunch crunch is coming. We kid, but Mother’s Day is just over a week out, and sometimes to make Mom feel special, putting in the time to wait in line is the…
Restaurant Roundup: “Pho-potle” and Yemeni Cuisine
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
This is it. The week (or two) that you, as a food and drink aficionado, wait for every year. A double whammy of epic portions. Seattle Cocktail Week (April 19-26) and Seattle Restaurant Week (April 19-May 2) are finally here. Let’s start with a beverage Seattle Cocktail Week is your chance to get out and…
Rearview Mirror: New at the Zoo, Waterfront Coffee, and Alaska Goes to Rome
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
New Digs for Furry (and Feathered) Friends Last week, Woodland Park Zoo held the press preview for its Forest Trailhead exhibit, and I nearly lost my mind watching one of the zoo’s tree kangaroos, a 12-year-old named Rocket, eat his second breakfast of fresh veggies. It was seriously adorable. Rocket is housed in a modern habitat adjacent…
Photo Essay: Ferry Therapy
Words and photographs by Anna Starr.
Riding the ferry is my favorite Seattle pastime. At any given time on a Washington State Ferry you will find a group of tourists with too many suitcases, someone in work clothes peacefully napping, a jigsaw puzzle diligently being completed, lovers having a Titanic-esque moment on a balcony (fun fact: those balconies are called pickleforks),…
Space to Play: A 900-Square-Foot Kirkland Studio Opens for Creators
Play Studios, founded by Christabelle Granadosin, gives local creators a place to shoot, edit, and build their work.
Despite the name, producing social media content can be an isolating experience. Between capturing an image or video and the hours of editing that follow, the process is challenging to pull off without a dedicated space. Local product designer Christabelle Granadosin was feeling the tedium with her photo booth venture, so she decided to launch…
Photo Essay: The Reefnetters of Legoe Bay
A photographer’s look at the small Lummi Island fleet taking part in a long-standing fishing tradition.
While driving across the country from Detroit to San Francisco in October 2024, I stopped on Lummi Island, about 10 miles west of Bellingham, to visit my friend Peter. I had met Peter while traveling with Bread & Puppet Theater, photographing its national tour. He thought I might be interested in documenting the fishing there,…
Popular Stories
Resistance Turned to Resilience
The Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority is celebrating 50 years of lifting up a neighborhood besieged by challenges from all sides.
On November 2, 1972—after a steady overnight rain cleared to leave a construction site near the King Street Station thick with mud—about 200 people gathered for the official groundbreaking of the Kingdome. A project that had seen its funding rejected several times by voters, the Kingdome was finally on its way, with the hopes that…
Barnes & Noble Is Coming Back to Downtown Seattle
The bookseller will open a new flagship at 520 Pike, marking the largest retail lease in downtown Seattle since 2020.
Barnes & Noble is returning to downtown Seattle for the first time since early 2020. The national bookseller has signed a 10-year lease for a new flagship at 520 Pike Street, a 29-story tower, taking over 17,538 square feet on the corner of Pike and 6th Avenue. The store is expected to open in the…
Lessons from the Land
At the Organic Farm School on Whidbey Island, the ground-to-table mindset is rooted in good intentions.
For some, it’s tough to choose between a perfectly sun-ripened summer tomato and a juicy strawberry—but not for my three-year-old. Tomatoes, always tomatoes. Especially one that he has picked directly off the vine, on a working farm filled with fresh produce, chickens, and pigs. As the juice dribbles down his chin, and the sound of…
I’ve Completely Slept on Shibuya HiFi
The Japanese-style listening bar is an absolute must-visit for music lovers.
Every once in a while, I stumble upon something in Seattle that I either didn’t know about or knew about but didn’t experience for months (or years), and become completely, can’t-stop-telling-people obsessed with it. Some examples include the Lonely Siren bar, Kraken games, and Lagree Pilates. My latest discovery is Shibuya HiFi, the Japanese-style listening bar…
Restaurant Roundup: Soy Sauce Tastings and Roman Pizza
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
“There’s never been more to SEA.” That’s the slogan for Visit Seattle’s new campaign designed to encourage people to get reacquainted with all downtown has to offer. With the Perks Pass (free to download straight to your phone), you can enjoy 40+ special offers not only at bars and restaurants but also at hotels, arts…
The Warmest Welcome: Why You Should Visit the Tri-Cities This Year
Just a few hours away from Seattle, this robust community offers great wine, a budding food scene, and more than 300 days of sun.
There is a point, when I’m traveling along Interstate 82 (I-82), somewhere around Exit 26, when I usually notice a shift in the light—especially in the wintertime. Coming out from the pass and heading south to leave the flat, cloud-shrouded gray of Western Washington behind, I feel a burst of happiness at the blue skies…
Paint Check: Select Alaska Airlines Planes Get a Fresh Look
The local aviation company debuts a bold Aurora Borealis-inspired livery as it expands internationally.
At the beginning of the year, Alaska Airlines unveiled its new global livery: a bold design inspired by the Aurora Borealis. Painted in a palette of deep blues and shimmering emerald greens, the sleek look is a nod to Alaska Airlines’ continued addition of international destinations, which will expand to London, Rome, and Reykjavik by…
No Longer a Last Resort
The new wave of luxury-forward Mexico all-inclusives delivers cultural immersion and culinary delights.
Thanks to years of party-goers jetting south in the winter, the mention of a Mexico all-inclusive resort tends to conjure a specific image: wristband-wearing revelers in a crowded pool, dancing the Macarena to booming music, and the relentless buzz of the frozen margarita blender. Luring guests with all-you-can-drink packages and stocked buffets, these hotels left…
Queen of the Hill
A 1918 landmark reworked with design cues drawn from early industry.
Seattle’s historic MarQueen Hotel has unveiled an extensive renovation that blends contemporary comforts with vintage glamour. Originally built in 1918 as the Seattle Engineering School, the brick building at the bottom of Queen Anne Avenue provided housing for students developing the Ford Model T. The refreshed design, by Cusack + Co. Interiors, features historic wood…
Studio Sessions: Raili Jänese
The Kirkland painter brings a playful eye to daily life and the little rituals of being human.
Artist Raili Jänese pays close attention to the small stuff. It might be a goose on the move, a rabbit in the yard, or a person lost in the rituals of coffee or cooking. The Estonian-born artist, now based in Kirkland, makes colorful acrylic works that turn everyday behavior—human and animal alike—into something funny and…
Getting Ghosted: A New Northwest Novel Tackles Alienation in the Face of Loss
Kim Fu’s latest novel turns a rain-soaked Pacific Northwest winter into the backdrop for a story about grief and loneliness.
In their latest novel, Seattle-based author Kim Fu gets one thing right about the Pacific Northwest: the rain. Set during a particularly bleak winter, The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts tells the story of Eleanor Fan, an online therapist grappling with the recent loss of her mother, Lele. After Lele’s passing, Eleanor inherits money to put…
Go See Diné Artist Eric-Paul Riege’s Largest Show to Date at the Henry Art Gallery
With a mix of mediums, ojo|-|ólǫ́ examines questions surrounding the authenticity and ownership of Indigenous work.
It’s a phrase that’s been drilled into most of us since we were young children: When you’re visiting a gallery, please, do not touch the art. In many cases, it’s with good reason: the pieces on display are fragile, one-of-a-kind, or historic works that cannot be reproduced. It’s such an ingrained approach to the museum-going…
Studio Sessions: Gabriel Stromberg
For his current show at studio e gallery, Gabriel Stromberg explores the challenges of working with clay.
Gabriel Stromberg has been a name about town for nearly two decades. As one of the cofounders of design firm Civilization (where he was the creative director and lead designer from 2008 to 2022), Stromberg worked on many award-winning projects, helped produce the wildly popular and always packed Design Lecture Series, and co-created and moderated…
Andrew Yang: The AI Plot Twist, Politics, & What’s Next
Entrepreneur and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang joins Seattle magazine publisher Jonathan Sposato to talk about AI and the economic shifts it’s driving. Yang reflects on the ideas behind his 2020 campaign, how automation is changing jobs, and what those shifts could mean for politics. He also talks about the Forward Party and whether another…
Bruce Harrell: The Man Behind The Mayor
In this special episode, we sit down with Bruce Harrell, the 57th and current Mayor of Seattle. Beyond the office, who is the man leading our city? Join us as we pull back the curtain to learn more about his story, his motivations, and what truly makes him tick. This is Bruce Harrell: the person, not just the politician. Tune in, get inspired, and discover a new perspective on Seattle’s leader.
Javier Saade: Serial Investor Betting on Seattle
In this episode Jonathan Sposato sits down with Javier Saade; Saade is a recent Seattle transplant and a seasoned leader committed to making a meaningful impact on the city’s economic and entrepreneurial landscape. From founding companies to shaping innovation policy in the Obama administration, Javier has built a career guiding impact-driven ventures while serving on…
The Truth About College Admissions With Adam Miller
Adam Miller, vice president for admissions and financial aid at Whitman College, is pulling back the curtain to give us an exclusive look at how college admissions really work. In this episode, he brings fresh insight and energy to the conversation, sharing how parents can best support their child’s college journey, what makes a standout…
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Dog of the Month: Josie
Adopt this wiggly two-year-old who loves hiking and bedtime snuggles.
Josie comes with big claims. She says she is the owner of a 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 that needs a little bit of work but should be “totally sweet” once she “hits the junkyard for a couple of parts.” When asked for further details on Josie’s ownership of the car, a baffled Washington Department of…
Still Googling Vendors? Here’s How Seattle’s Best Planners Find Theirs
The executive assistant who runs your company’s annual retreat has a secret. So does the board member who somehow pulls off your fundraiser every spring. And the ops lead who makes the holiday party look effortless. They’re not figuring it out alone. They have a secret team. A caterer who remembers the CEO is gluten-free….
Growing What Works: Early Outcomes from Washington’s Charter Public Schools
What happens after high school may be one of the most important measures of whether our public schools in Washington serve students well. A new report published by Agency, Inc, Turning the Tassel in Washington State: Outcomes for Charter Public School Graduates from 2019-2025, seeks to answer that question by exploring early adult life outcomes…
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…