Rachel Gallaher
Rearview Mirror: An Oyster Party, Money for Art, and Mac & Cheese at 30,000 Feet
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
We Partied for Art I love a party, and I love art, so when the Henry Art Gallery invited me to its annual fundraising gala, it was paddle’s up from the get-go. Held on the floor of Pioneer Square’s Railspur building in a space managed by Rally, Angela Dunleavy’s latest venture (read all about it…
Grange Estate Brings Modern Luxury to Dundee Hills
Foley Wines created a hidden-gem hospitality experience in Oregon’s popular vineyard region.
I have a confession. Although I have long loved Pinot Noir, it wasn’t until January of this year that I visited Oregon’s Dundee Hills, a 12,500-acre American Viticultural Area about 30 miles southwest of Portland. I’ve spent time in the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, the Columbia Gorge, and even Portland proper, but for some reason had…
Supporting Roles
Three women in the Northwest are helping local artists through newly launched residencies outside of Seattle. Here, we take a look inside these thoughtfully designed spaces, and learn what drove their founders to become cornerstones in the creative community.
Iolair Artist Residency Eastsound, WA Years ago, after studying photography and earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Washington, Pacific Northwest native Linda Lewis realized that she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life behind a camera. “The minute I graduated from school, I was far more inspired by the…
The Big Giver: Shari D. Behnke
The philanthropist pouring resources into the arts, hoping to inspire others to do the same.
Like almost everyone who has spent time at On the Boards, Shari D. Behnke has memories of shows that have deeply moved her. And then there are the performances she found so jarring that she walked out part-way through—few and far between, but still a hazard of frequenting contemporary performing arts. “That’s one of the…
I Experienced a Skincare Treatment on the World’s Most Expensive Bed
A Hästens pop-up is currently running at Penelope and the Beauty Bar.
Last week as I was heading out the door for an appointment at Penelope and the Beauty Bar—the spa inside the Fairmont Olympic Hotel—my fiancé yelled up the stairs, “You better not fall in love with that mattress!” I was on my way to experience the spa’s Oxygen Dome Facial as part of a pop-up…
The Connector: Kiesha B. Free
A former tech star using her skills—and her voice—to connect the region’s Black community.
In 2021, Kiesha B. Free was at a crossroads in her life. She had left her job at Microsoft to pursue public speaking and was finding her way as a mother after a divorce—all while navigating a world emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. “I was nowhere near my family,” says Free, who grew up in…
The Industry Expander: Jamila Conley
This former tech executive champions diversity in the wine industry.
In 2023, Jamila Conley attended a winemaker’s dinner in Seattle, and as the night commenced, she was surprised that out of the nine winemakers in attendance, only two were familiar to her. “It was a celebration of Black women and wine,” she recalls. “I’m someone who loves wine and has a strong passion for diversity,…
The Design Star: Michael Bennett
The former NFL player exploring history and culture through design.
Last September, as Seattle’s summer slipped into the golden light of fall, a simple structure made from cross-laminated timber appeared at Seattle’s Northwest African American Museum. Called Night Chapel, it stood vigil in front of the historic brick building for three months as a space for contemplation, meditation, and communal gathering. Designed by former NFL…
Future Thinking
Leaning into lessons from her past, including the embrace of new technologies, Ava Van Snow launched her full-service PR firm with the goal of helping others tell their stories.
Public Relations specialist Ava Van Snow has always had big ambitions. Despite a series of challenges during her childhood in Renton—a father who walked out when she was young, being raised by her immigrant grandparents who fled Vietnam during the war, and depending on government assistance to survive—she set her sights on pursuing a career…
Something’s Brewing
Downtown Seattle is now a micro-hub for taprooms.
When Reuben’s Brews opened its newest location this summer—front-and-center on First Avenue—it joined a small but mighty cohort of taprooms taking up real estate downtown. With the continued influx of people to the neighborhood (tourists over the summer, workers returning to offices, and locals coming to check out the renovated waterfront), these breweries and cideries…
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…
Le Petit Chef Makes a Big Splash in Seattle
The immersive, whimsical dining experience debuts at the Kimpton Palladian Hotel.
At a recent dinner, I sat across from a friend, smiling as a tiny orange-and-black butterfly landed on my empty plate. Just inches away, a small figure in chef whites and red boots strolled out of a greenhouse with a rake perched over his shoulder. He then proceeded to work a patch of dirt, plant…
Queen City Continues its Legacy in Belltown
After five years sitting vacant at the corner of 1st and Blanchard, the neighborhood mainstay returns under the direction of industry veteran Jessica Gifford.
Jessica Gifford got her first taste of Belltown in her late teens, hanging out at classic spots like Queen City Grill, Belltown Billiards, and the Frontier Room. “I started going to Queen City when I was 19 or 20 years old,” she recalls. “I was in awe of everything happening in the neighborhood; I thought…
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