Rob Smith
Seattle Swipe Skeptics
Online daters across the city increasingly wary of tech-driven romance
At a Super Bowl party last weekend, I asked a friend who had recently become single if she was preparing to jump back into the online dating pool. “No,” she said emphatically. “Online dating sucks.” Now comes new data as to exactly why. In Seattle alone, 57% of online daters say they’ve encountered romance scams….
Most Influential: Andy Jassy
CEO, Amazon
There were two distinct and opposite reactions when Amazon President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy announced the company’s controversial return to office policy in September. Amazon employees balked. Downtown Seattle business owners and commercial real estate professionals cheered. Like it or not, there’s no denying that Jassy has had a major influence on Seattle….
New Filing Fix Can Help Tame Your Taxes
Free site aims to untangle tax questions
For many, filing taxes is akin to deciphering an ancient cryptic scroll. A new website is here to help. MyFreeTaxesWA.org connects Washington residents with IRS-certified volunteer tax professionals who can offer in-person or virtual tax help. As the name implies, it’s a free service and is available in multiple languages. The effort is funded through…
Downtown Seattle Foot Traffic is Up, Thanks to Amazon
Still lags pre-pandemic numbers
Amazon’s return-to-office mandate resulted in a measurable increase among downtown Seattle office workers in January, but the numbers still aren’t anywhere near where they were six years ago. The Downtown Seattle Association’s Revitalization Dashboard shows foot traffic in neighborhoods where Amazon’s offices are located (South Lake Union and Denny Regrade) at 74% of that of…
Lumen Field Lauded for Vegan, Veggie Options
Food appeals to environmentally conscious fans
As the Seahawks prepare for next season, so do their vendors. It’s safe to say that the latter is much more ready than the club’s offensive line. A report from Placer.ai — a data firm that measures foot traffic via cell phone data, among other things — calls Lumen Field (the home stadium for the…
Pickleball Franchise The Picklr Takes Theo Chocolate Space
Fast-growing chain plans to open in the Fremont neighborhood this fall
A location housing a non-descript warehouse operated by Theo Chocolate in Fremont won’t stay vacant for long. It will soon become home to a pickleball complex. The Picklr, a Utah-based nationwide franchise of pickleball chains, will open in the 27,000-square-foot space this fall. It is adjacent to the historic retail outlet and production facility Theo…
Super Bowl Ads: Winners & Snoozers
Seattle ad agency vets weigh in on what worked and what didn’t
Matt McCain and Michael Boychuk were among the estimated 123.7 million Super Bowl viewers Sunday. Like most everyone else, they were also keenly interested in the ads, but for different reasons than you may think. McCain and Boychuk are co-founders of Seattle ad agency DNA&STONE. Boychuk, who built and ran Amazon’s first in-house agency and…
Seattle Bars, Restaurants Unite to Support Immigrant Rights
Fundraiser seeks to counter nationwide immigrant crackdown
More than 100 Seattle restaurants, bars and pop-ups are joining forces in support of immigrant rights. Between Feb. 7-9, they’ll donate a portion of their proceeds (up to 10%, depending on the establishment) to raise funds to counter the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigrants. According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants make up 22% of…
Goodbye Seattle Freeze. Hello Seattle Bear Hug
US Chamber of Connection seeks to unite newcomers to the city
Aaron Hurst is outgoing. He’s friendly. After just a brief conversation with him, it’s difficult to imagine he would have a hard time making friends. That, however, is exactly what happened when he moved to Seattle from Brooklyn about 10 years ago. His wife, Kara, had just landed her “dream job” as Amazon’s chief sustainability…
UW Names Robert J. Jones New President
Jones replaces Ana Mari Cauce, who is retiring
The University of Washington has named Robert J. Jones its 34th president. Jones, who has spent the past nine years as chancellor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, replaces Ana Mari Cauce, who will have held the role for 10 years at the end of the academic year in June. Jones, who also previously served…
Housing Growth is Happening in This City
Kent is the region’s second fastest-growing housing market
The iconic TV show Almost Live constantly poked fun at Kent (and, in fairness, most other things Seattle) 30 years ago for its blue-collar roots and lack of amenities. But if you want to buy a house, you may want to look at Kent. The South King County city is second only to Seattle in…
Seattle Pride Revamps Giving Plan
New fund replaces grants and sponsorship program
The nonprofit organization responsible for the Seattle Pride Parade and Seattle Pride in the Park has launched a new community giving program. Seattle Pride is replacing its 7-year-old grants and sponsorship program with the Seattle Pride Impact Fund, dedicated to empowering LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and trans, queer and questioning, intersex, asexual or agender,…
Prominent Seattle Arts Organizations Seal Merger
ACT Contemporary Theatre and Seattle Shakespeare Co. began discussing the proposal last spring
Eight months after first floating the proposal, two Seattle arts heavyweights have announced plans to merge. ACT Contemporary Theatre and Seattle Shakespeare Co. will officially join forces July 1. ACT’s downtown Seattle space at 700 Union St. will become home for Seattle Shakespeare productions. Seattle Shakespeare Executive Director John Bradshaw will become managing director of…
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