Knute Berger

Swallowed by Potholes: The Mayor's Race and Seattle Streets

Swallowed by Potholes: The Mayor’s Race and Seattle Streets

If you grew up in Seattle, you’ve probably heard the tale that back in the muddy streets of 19th-century Seattle a boy actually drowned in a huge pothole down on Jackson Street

A New Vision of Seattle Center Comes into View

A New Vision of Seattle Center Comes into View

From a new high school to a refurbished KeyArena, Knute Berger sees visions under way for the next evolution of Seattle Center

KeyArena, originally called the Coliseum, is one of several things at Seattle Center in play for an upgrade

Chew on This: Where Do You Stand on Aplets & Cotlets?

Chew on This: Where Do You Stand on Aplets & Cotlets?

National Public Radio broadcast a story last week about a Northwest institution that many people here take for granted. We’re used to hearing about the groundbreaking achievements of regional brands like Starbucks, Amazon and Microsoft. But Aplets & Cotlets? To many of us, Aplets & Cotlets are those little bricks of sweetness dusted in powdered…

Bridging Seattle's Generational Divide for the City's Sake, and Ours

Bridging Seattle’s Generational Divide for the City’s Sake, and Ours

From Boomers to Millennials, Seattle's generations need each other, especially as we all face the challenges ahead

It is somewhat fashionable for American generations to dislike one another, Boomers vs. Millennials vs. Gen Xers. All have come in for criticism, despite the fact that defining people by age and marketing categories doesn’t fully reflect human experience which, at its best, is multi-generational. The other day I was walking in Columbia City and…

In Progressive Seattle, the Goal Is Always up Ahead

In Progressive Seattle, the Goal Is Always up Ahead

We haven’t always been a progressive city, but Knute Berger finds hope in our continuing efforts to be better

Many Seattleites did not agree with these 1964 demonstrators who wanted to end housing discrimination

Black History and Hitler's Ghosts, on Capitol Hill

Black History and Hitler’s Ghosts, on Capitol Hill

Reflections on Black History Month, the advancement of civil rights and the lingering specter of racism; yes, even in progressive Seattle

The Egyptian Theatre: Once a Masonic temple where pro-Hitler speeches were made

Milos Yiannpoulous: Ringling Brothers' Heir Apparent

Milos Yiannpoulous: Ringling Brothers’ Heir Apparent

The circus may be shuttering, but the alt-right provocateur remains a sideshow

The show goes on, in Milo Yiannpoulous’ twisted, incendiary circus

Sasquatch, Bezos and Seattle's Space Race

Sasquatch, Bezos and Seattle’s Space Race

A UFO sighting near Mount Rainer was the real start of our space age, says Knute Berger, and it fits right in with the Northwest psyche

A spooky model of the disk (UFO?) that Kenneth Arnold reported over the Cascades

Bellevue's University Bookstore to Close, but the East Side Keeps Its Edge

Bellevue’s University Bookstore to Close, but the East Side Keeps Its Edge

Bellevue is in many ways more “urban” than Seattle now—certainly, it’s racially more diverse, which is complete flip from the white-bread suburbs of the ‘60s and ‘70s

Berger supervising a photo shoot of Bill Gates and Brian “The Boz” Bosworth in 1988

Washington's Electors More Faithless Than Any Other State; They Should Pay

Washington’s Electors More Faithless Than Any Other State; They Should Pay

Faithless electors used to be a very rare thing, and this year, Washington’s were more faithless than any other state’s

The Washington Secretary of State’s Office has sent $1,000 fine notices to the four state “faithless electors” who voted for presidential candidates other than the one who won the state, Hillary Clinton. Presidential electors are selected by state parties and their ballots actually determine who is president. They are supposed to vote for the candidate…

Seattle, Island of Blue

Seattle, Island of Blue

The next four years will challenge Seattle, says Knute Berger. Are we up to the task?

On election night 2016, Seattle learned just how much of a national outlier it is. During the past eight years, the uplifting message of hope personified by Barack Obama led us to believe our own PR: that we were a national role model for social justice, the economy, reform and progressive politics in general. Our…

A Win for NIMBYs and YIMBYs

A Win for NIMBYs and YIMBYs

A backyard cottage in Ballard

Filson’s New Ballard Boutique: Bridging Ballard's Cultural Gap

Filson’s New Ballard Boutique: Bridging Ballard’s Cultural Gap

Filson’s new Ballard location on Ballard Avenue at the intersection of NW Dock Street is a historic building that served most recently as a chandlery

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