Need a good cuddle from a complete stranger? Make your way down to Portland, where a woman has turned the up-close-and-personal behavior into a profession. According to King 5’s Evening Magazine, professional cuddler Samantha Hess charges $35 for a 30-minute snuggle session and $60 for a full hour. And should you book her services, don’t…

Known for her wisteria-colored hair, cat-eye spectacles, regal composure and biting wit, Australian comedy goddess Dame Edna Everage (Barry Humphries) has been entertaining audiences for nearly a half-century. But sadly, the empress of satire is calling it quits; this year, she embarks on Dame Edna’s Glorious Goodbye: The Farewell Tour (1/15–1/18. The Moore Theatre; stgpresents.org)….

It’s a new year—time to engage in the annual tradition of shaking yourself out of a holiday food coma and putting down the pecan pie in favor of an exercise plan. But first you must ask yourself: When it comes to working out, are you a loner or a joiner? Do you prefer to exert…

It’s 2015. You’re back in the office. Here’s what’s happening now around town. Weather: Severe windy and rainy conditions have done a number on the Puget Sound region last night and this morning, including causing school closings, mud slides and power outages. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for parts of Western…

This article originally appeared on Avvo.com. This is a great time of the year to make charitable contributions. Not only will you help out a great cause, but you may also be able to deduct the amount you contributed from your tax return in April. Here’s what you need to know about making tax-deductible charitable…

The holidays are over—baking, white elephant exchanges and all—and your social schedule has opened up again. There are various local ski options to level your January blues, but if snow sports evoke torture for you, here are some mostly indoor activities to pry you away from Netflix this winter. From board game stores that invite…

Must Take the PlungeThe Annual Polar Bear Plunge is Here!Thursday (1/1, 12 p.m.) It’s an age-old tradition that requires a steely resolve—and a warm robe to step into as you emerge from the wintry water. Psych yourself up and jump into Lake Washington at Matthews Beach Park (at noon) or at another favorite splashy spot….

Happy day before the day before Christmas! Leading off: In garbage police news: Ready to do some extra sorting of your trash? The new policy requiring no more than 10 percent of compostable food scraps and recyclable materials in your garbage goes into effect January 1. And the City of Seattle is fully prepared to…

Punxsutawney Phil tends to (ground)hog all the attention, but truth be told, weather-predicting woodchucks are a dime a dozen (see Shubenacadie Sam, Wiarton Willie, General Beauregard Lee). In our rainy climate, we prefer a more amphibian take on meteorology, specifically, a revered bullfrog named Snohomish Slew. 2015 marks the 10th annual GroundFrog Day celebration, in…

After two New York City police officers were shot and killed on Saturday, King County deputies are showing their support and donning mourning bands across their badges. KING 5 reports that the deputies have been instructed “to wear the mourning bands until midnight on the day of the last funeral in New York.” The Happiest…

Two historic enemies recently achieved a remarkable détente. The agreement grabbed headlines, but for many, the topic was inherently a snoozer: an alliance between the ports of Seattle and Tacoma. It might sound yawn-inducing, but it could be a harbinger of a major—and positive—shift in regional dynamics. In the new deal, the two ports will…

A proposed 95 percent tax on electronic cigarettes and other vapor products has local shops that sell e-cigarettes in a tizzy. The tax hike is part of Governor Jay Inslee’s buget plan, which was announced yesterday. KING 5 reports the American Vaping Association (yes, that’s a thing) says that Inslee’s proposal would ” nearly [double]…