Five Things Seattleites Can Be Thankful for This Thanksgiving
By Gwendolyn Elliott November 23, 2016
Like many west coast progressives, you may be feeling downright discouraged this Thanksgiving. Between a bitter and unprecedented election, dismal, year-long headlines (Syrian refugee crisis; Flint, Michigan; DAPL; Brexit; etc.) and the endless ticker of obituaries (re: David Bowie, Prince, Sharon Jones, Leonard Cohen, Gene Wilder, Alan Rickman, etc.) it’s been a tough year for the left-leaning liberal, fans of film and music and, it would seem, the world over.
Yet there are still things to be thankful for, especially for us Seattleites, who can continue to take comfort in the downy softness of our city’s progressive bubble. There’s also the enduring civility of our neighbors north of the border, with vibrant cities like Vancouver, B.C. practically in our backyard. And there’s more still: If you need a boost of cheer this week, read on for five reasons to take heart and give thanks this holiday.
5. We are a sanctuary city. Mayor Murray was quick to declare Seattle safe harbor for unauthorized immigrants after Trump’s electoral college win. (An act reaffirmed with an executive order he signed today.) The definition of the term “sanctuary city” varies, but according to the Seattle Times, “Broadly, people use it to describe cities with policies and practices that limit local involvement in immigration enforcement.” (The Times offers further detail in its piece, “What does it mean for Seattle to be a sanctuary city for immigrants?”)
4. We are smart and organized. Perhaps you read Alexa Peters’ heartfelt essay about the large, peaceful, youth-led anti-Trump protest the day after the election. Or Ellis Conklin’s terrific review of Garrison Keillor and his thoughts on the subject. We can feel proud that many local high schoolers joined their peers around the nation and walked out of class in protest, that peaceful public demonstrations continue and that a massive statewide march is planned in solidarity with the Million Woman March in January in D.C.
3. We are increasingly diverse. By 2035, according to demographic projections from the Puget Sound Regional Council, minorities will be in the majority. Give yourself a pat on the back for putting down roots in a region where diversity is part of the civic vision.
Follow Us
Ferry Tales: Eight Indie Bookstores Worth the Ride
Plan a summer day around these bookshops in Seattle, Bremerton, Bainbridge Island, Kingston, and Poulsbo.
Independent bookstores tend to be cornerstones of the communities in which they reside, and Seattle is no exception. In addition to helping customers discover their next read, these neighborhood hubs host weekly gatherings and events, like publication release parties, author talks, and book clubs. Many of them have cafés and reading tables that encourage lingering…
Rearview Mirror: Seattle Art Fair is Back, Nordstrom Throws a Block Party, and a Must-Try Ice Cream Sundae
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
SEATTLE ART FAIR RETURNS The buzziest event of the summer (well, aside from the World Cup), is returning next week. Now in its 10th edition, the Seattle Art Fair will once again take over the Lumen Field Event Center, packing it to the gills with art from 101 local, national, and international galleries. This year,…
Studio Sessions: Jennifer Leigh Harrison
Seattle artist Jennifer Leigh Harrison uses layers of paint and abstraction to explore what we carry beneath the surface.
Jennifer Leigh Harrison’s paintings are dense with movement. Color and texture gather into mosaic-like fields, as if they have been fractured and reformed. There are places in the work where a frenetic buzz seems trapped between the canvas and the first layer of paint. That energy runs through Patterns of Belonging, her current exhibition at…
ENHYPEN’s Jay Has K-Pop Stardom and a Seattle Heart
The Federal Way-raised singer talks hometown memories, Ivar’s clam chowder, and how it feels to perform in the place he grew up.
Long before he was performing in sold-out arenas around the world and representing brands like Prada, ENHYPEN’s Jay called the Puget Sound region home. Born Jay Park (not to be confused with the other famous K-pop star of the same name, who is also from Seattle) in Seattle and raised in nearby Federal Way before…