February 2008
Seattle Public Library: A Blizzard of Fun During Winter Break
Activities offer a cozy, festive atmosphere for kids
I wish my kid would use the library during winter break. He’ll be at a gym playing hoops instead. He’s obsessed, much like the character Basketball Jones in that old Cheech & Chong routine. But for those worried about how to fill time the next few weeks (Seattle Public Schools resumes Jan. 4), the Seattle…
Must List: 6 Things to Do in Seattle This Week
Holiday trains, seasonal brews, jazzy celebrations
Hey, how’s it going? It’s cold and it gets dark so early but the twinkling lights help. I love walking the neighborhood this time of year — bundled up, hands in pockets, enjoying all the pretty decorations. We’ve been cozy in the evenings with a fire and last night we watched Hot Frosty, which was…
Seattle Offers Free Virtual Therapy for Teens
A new program makes mental health care easier to access for young people
Being a teenager is tough. I know — I have one. Friendships, school pressures, and social media can complicate everything. She’s lucky she can talk to us, but not every kid has that support. Last week, Seattle launched a free online therapy program for residents ages 13 to 24. In partnership with Talkspace, young people…
Among the Trees
Creative San Juan project seeks harmony with nature
Harriett “Hatty” Hatch began her career as a confident art teacher, but uncertain artist. In time, she would voluntarily check herself into the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. “I just wanted to be able to design a stable for a horse,” she recalls, “but I didn’t have a horse.” She eventually crossed trails with…
Let There Be Light: Off-the-Radar Waikiki
Six hours from Seattle, tropical light chases away winter blues
Humans crave light. It fuels our bodies, lifts our moods, and makes even the darkest days feel a little brighter. When winter in the Pacific Northwest drags on, the trick is to learn from our feathered friends and fly south. In this three-part series, we’ll explore three escapes from the gray: Waikiki, Santa Barbara, and…
Merry Fishmas: Feast of the Seven Fishes
Once rarely seen in Seattle, the traditional Italian Holiday dinner is gaining steam, ostensibly thanks to Hulu’s The Bear
As a born-and-raised Seattleite from a lapsed Lutheran family, I’d never heard of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, a traditional Italian holiday meal. That is, until I got hooked on Hulu’s The Bear, wherein a pivotal episode shows the fractious Berzatto family disintegrating over the dinner. Traditionally, “you would fast the entire day, and…
Must List: 6 Festive Things to Do in Seattle This Week
Holiday laughs, lights, and live music
It’s officially frost season. Gloves are back in rotation, mornings are taking a little longer as we wait for the car to warm up, and the slopes are open. Is anyone skiing this weekend? I’m more of a lodge person myself. It’s crunch time here as we wrap up the next print edition of the…
What Did the Eras Tour Mean for Seattle?
Taylor Swift’s sold-out shows brought millions to the city
The Eras Tour is over. Taylor Swift’s 21-month world tour came to a close last Sunday after six nights in Vancouver, B.C. Along the way, it added a staggering $4.3 billion to the U.S. GDP — a number on par with the Super Bowl and the Olympics. But Seattle had its own economic moment when…
Rise and Grind
It’s no secret that we like our coffee. Here’s how much
How often do you go to Starbucks, or one of the many other coffeehouses throughout the city? Any idea how much you spend on coffee each year? What’s your bean budget? Turns out that Seattle is the third-best coffee city in the United States. Personal finance website WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities across 12…
Pieces of a Ferry: The Story of the Kalakala
Remembering 'the workhorse of Puget Sound'
People often ask how I manage to find so many historical treasures, and quite honestly, it’s often just a matter of dumb luck. Case in point: Several months back I decided to stop at a random garage sale while out running errands. Nothing initially grabbed my eye, but on the way out I noticed an…
Seattle Baker Wins Food Network Cookie Challenge
Janet Tan’s $10,000 victory moves her closer to her dream
Seattle baker Janet Tan emerged as the winner of Food Network’s The Christmas Cookie Challenge, a victory that brings her one step closer to achieving her dream of opening her own storefront. “I was surprised when I found out that I won because the other bakers are equally talented, and this challenge was so tough,”…
From Tech to Toys
Amazon hosts Winter Wonderland for underserved kids
Amazon’s downtown Seattle campus is usually full of tech workers. Last weekend, it was overrun by children. The company transformed its downtown Seattle headquarters into a Winter Wonderland, hosting more than 1,000 underserved children and their families for a day of festive activities and holiday fun. Each child had the opportunity to select up to…