Rob Smith

The Pulse: It’s Spring Break in Seattle
Lots of kids, pickleball, and 23-cent bananas
Spring break in some school districts around Puget Sound was this past week. In Seattle, it’s next week. My son will spend most of his time in a gym playing basketball — there are certainly worse things he could do. What about your kids? Like books flying off the shelves at a midnight release, the…

The Changing Face of First and Pike
Beautification effort aims to create a welcoming and safe environment
Sure, it’s only a few pieces of furniture, some new lighting, a bunch of colorful planter boxes, and some twirly chairs. But the latest downtown makeover — this time on Pike Street between First and Second avenues, with the iconic Pike Place Market sign in the background — is an important milestone in contributing to…

Must List: Five Things to Do in Seattle This Week
Apr 10 - Apr 16
Shopping, Blooming, Whale-Watching
Spring has teased us this week, but alas, it’s not predicted to last. Typical. If you do plan on dodging some spring showers, check out Robin’s Restaurant and Market in Fremont, the new eatery from the owners of the popular Greenwood American Bistro. Early reviews are stellar. Maybe take a trip to Seattle’s first Fat…

Making Cents of it All
Coinstar CEO weighs in on pennies, loose change
On one of the many iconic episodes of Seinfeld, Kramer walks into a restaurant and tries to pay the entire bill with pennies, making a mess in the process. He’s thrown out. When was the last time you used a penny? When was the last time you even walked around with change in your pocket?…

How You Can Own a Piece of Olympia’s Rich History
Olympia Distilling launches equity crowdfunding campaign to expand distribution
If the term “It’s the water, and a lot more” means anything to you, here a chance to own part of local history. Olympia Distilling Co. has launched an equity crowdfunding campaign for the public to invest in what it calls “the next chapter of the Olympia story.” Funds raised through the campaign will help…

A City of Nerds? How About a City of Cool?
Why Seattle is one of the ‘coolest’ cities to visit
So, Seattle’s the nerd capital of America, huh? I’m not buying it. OK, maybe Washington leads the nation in searches for nerdy things such as cosplay, fan fiction and Rubik’s cubes. Those are geeky things, indeed. But now this study from Betway reveals that Seattle is the fifth-coolest city to visit in America. Seattle ranks…

Seattle’s ‘Love Boat’ Receives National Acclaim
Event set record for most LGBTQIA+ renewal vows
Seattle’s very own “Love Boat” is still preaching acceptance and inclusivity almost a year after it set sail. Visit Seattle — the region’s tourism and marketing agency — has won one of the highest honors in travel marketing for last May’s “Love For All” Boat event. The event, held May 30, was created to honor…

Downtown Seattle Keeps on Winning
Slew of openings highlights downtown’s appeal, vibrancy
In another win for downtown Seattle, high-end men’s apparel retailer Suit Supply just opened a new store at the base of Rainier Tower. The Dutch menswear brand is known for high-quality tailored suits at relatively affordable prices. I have a few in my closet. The company already operates a store downtown and another in Bellevue….

Daring Women: It’s Never Just About One Person
Perkins&Will’s Marie Henson calls collaboration ‘critical’ to effective leadership
Architecture captivated Marie Henson at an early age. By the time she was 10, Henson had accompanied her history-buff father on visits to all eight Virginia presidents’ homes. It left a lasting impression: She decided on a career in architecture before she graduated from elementary school. Today, the Seattle-based Henson is the firmwide health practice…

Model Restaurant Group’s Second Serving: Fremont
Robin’s Restaurant and Market follows last year’s opening of The Greenwood American Bistro
The team behind popular The Greenwood American Bistro has struck again. Edmonds-based Model Restaurant Group has opened its second restaurant — Robin’s Restaurant and Market — in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. Model describes the restaurant as a “casual dining experience.” Wines will be sourced from Bellevue’s Story in a Bottle. Model Restaurant Group was founded last…

Filipino-Hawaiian-Themed Restaurant To Open in Former Highliner Space
Pidgin Cooperative will open in Fishermen’s Terminal after crowdfunding campaign
Seattle’s Fishermen’s Terminal will soon be home to a new restaurant. Pidgin Cooperative — until recently known as Brothers & Co. — will take over the space formerly occupied by Highliner Public House, which closed in February after 37 years. Pidgin is a worker-owned cooperative that operated a long-running farmer’s market hot food stand peddling…

Seattle U. Unveils Plans For New Museum
It’s set to open in late summer 2028
Seattle University’s new art museum will break ground in August 2026 and will open prior to the start of classes in 2028. The museum has been in the works since philanthropist Richard Hedreen donated his $300 million art collection to the university, along with seed money to fund the museum. Tom Kundig, principal and founder…

Seattle Storm Land Lucrative TV Deal
KOMO and KUNS will both air games, as will some digital platforms
Watching the WNBA’s Seattle Storm just got a whole lot more convenient. The Storm have a new multi-year partnership with Sinclair affiliates KOMO (ABC) and KUNS (CW) to air the club’s games. The deal means the Storm will now reach 2.3 million homes across the Seattle area. The deal calls for 33 games and has…
Join The Must List
Sign up and get Seattle's best events delivered to your inbox every week.