Blackberries. A cluster of them, fat and ripe, one of Seattle’s sweetest freebies. Normally, I’d pick them—they aren’t growing next to the road, after all. But on this summer day, I’m standing on Harbor Island in South Seattle, designated as a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hazardous-waste Superfund site, and looking at the lower Duwamish…

Washington marijuana companies report they are struggling to profit significantly due to a 25 percent excise tax the state collects on pot at each stage of processing: as it transfers from growers, to processors, to retailers. While Seattle’s Cannabis City has had over $2.5 million in sales in the past six months, owner James Lathrop…

Protests continued in Seattle this weekend against the recent grand jury decisions not to indict the police officers who killed young black men in Missouri and New York. On Saturday, seven people were arrested when a few hundred marched to the Seattle Police headquarters downtown. Last night, protestors blocked the 4th and Pine intersection with…

Earthquake news: Scientists are worried it’s a little too quiet out there where the Cascadia earthquake fault zone, which normally generates signs of grinding and slipping, lies. You know, typical earth-moving noises. Now, scientists are asking for more instruments that could better detect signs a giant 9.0 earthquake is headed our way. When will Bertha,…

From giving change to Salvation Army bellringers to donating gifts to homeless shelters, there are countless opportunities to give money and goods to worthy local causes throughout December. If you prefer the face-to-face experience, though, or are short on cash, here are a few feel-good, hands-on activities to help restore the season’s original spirit. 1….

Celebrated on December 13, the darkest time of the year, Santa Lucia’s Day originated in Scandinavian countries, and commemorates the charitable work of St. Lucy (or Santa Lucia), an Italian martyr known for her compassion and generous nature. Like many winter holiday traditions, Santa Lucia’s Day embodies a spirit of giving as well as a…

USA Today listed the 52 coldest cities in America and thank goodness we’re not one of ’em. Here’s what’s happening around town today: New gun restrictions from the voter-approved I-594, including required background checks on all gun sales in Washington state, go into effect today. It seems no one is completely sure how much of…

Must SeeSofter Side of Taxidermy on Display (Through 12/31, times vary) Sculptor Rachel Denny’s new show, Strange Menagerie, includes mounted specimens clothed in human trappings: cashmere cable-knits, lace tatting, felt, coins and in at least one case, candy wrappers. Experience the fabric-covered creatures at the Foster White Gallery. Must Jingle Run or Walk in the…

This article originally appeared on Avvo.com. The holidays bring out the generosity in people, whether that means buying the perfect gift for a loved one or giving money to a nonprofit organization. Approximately 40 percent of charitable contributions come in December, according to Slate, right in time for the holidays (and to qualify as year-end,…

There’s something both sweet and foreboding about Rachel Denny’s work—her animal “trophies” bring taxidermy to mind, but instead of fur, fins or feathers, these mounted specimens are clothed in human trappings: cashmere cable-knits, lace tatting, felt, coins and in at least one case, candy wrappers. Her new show, Strange Menagerie, includes a blue-yarn billy goat,…

Yes, the NBA season is underway, and no, we still don’t have a team, but there’s another lineup in town that survived the 2008 buyout and continues to take Seattle by storm. We have to wait until June for their games to restart, but we didn’t want the year to pass without toasting to the…

As promised, there was another protest at Westlake Center last night opposing the grand jury’s decision not to indict the police officer who shot and killed black teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. In efforts to not to replay Friday’s mall swarms, the police came in larger numbers yesterday and managed to contain the crowd….

Must SeeAham Oluo’s New Show at On the Boards (12/4 to 12/7, times vary) Musician/composer/comedian/writer Aham Oluo’s show Now I’m Fine combines monologues with original jazz compositions performed by a live orchestra and chronicles a specific six-month period in 2006 during which he went through a host of health and emotional issues. Must Get Festive…