February 2021
Travel Destination: Palm Springs
How to make the most of a trip to Palm Springs
“The desert tells a different story every time one ventures on it.” — Robert Edison Fulton Jr. Everything about Palm Springs defies easy description. It is both the name of a city and a catch-all term for the small towns scattered along the vast Coachella Valley, from Cabazon to Indio. It evokes hedonism, as well…
Sober: Why Dry January Means Something Different to Me
An alcoholic reflects on his journey
I was nearing the end of my screed against holier-than-thou practitioners of Dry January when I came to a startling realization: My brain was broken. This was somewhat alarming as you might imagine, but not totally unexpected. As with many crises, it happened slowly at first and then all at once. Years of arguing on…
Arts Story: Forgotten Voices
A world premiere production by a local playwright and actor looks at the history of Black theater in America
Breakout: “History of Theatre: About, By, For and Near” runs from Jan. 28 through Feb. 12 at Kreielsheimer Place, 700 Union St. in Seattle. When actor-playwright Reginald André Jackson started doing workshops for his upcoming play, “History of Theatre: About, By, For and Near,” which looks at the untold stories of African American thespianism, he…
AIA Home: Goodbye 1970
Family fixes design flaws to bring midcentury home into modern era
“Treehouse” by Floisand Studio Architects returns to glory a Ralph D. Anderson home that had lost its compass. Nick and Rachel Lenington purchased the 1970 Mercer Island home in 2010, attracted to the quiet neighborhood because of its midcentury vibe, big, west-facing windows, and abundant wildlife. An advertised water view didn’t really pan out, but…
Pastry: An Affair to Remember
Chef Ewald Notter of Dote Coffee Bar makes it easy to fall in love with pastry and chocolate
Most romances unfold in predictable ways. An invitation for lunch, where you share sandwiches in a loud café, silently wishing your bread was crisper, but never giving up on the idea that one day it might be. An awkward laugh as your fingers touch while you both reach across the table for sugar in that…
Seattle Artifacts: The Mystery of Chief Seattle’s Death Mask
Is it real? Where did it come from?
In different parts of the world, and throughout the course of history, death has been memorialized in a variety of different ways. One of the more intriguing was death masks. Typically, a wax or plaster cast was made of a deceased person’s face, which then served as a model for sculptors when creating statues and busts. …
The Art of Weathering Winter: Foraging, Bathing, and Gold Dust
Two Seattle chefs on the soothing hobbies that get them through the winter
Though I’ve lived in Seattle nearly my entire life, the early winter sunsets, which fall like a set of blackout curtains over the world, never fail to feel like a curse. This year, though, I wanted to challenge myself to find a better way to get through it. Could it be an opportunity to surrender…
Hip-Hop Healing in Seattle
Rapper Carter Costello’s house is more than just a venue for artists
The last time I was at Seattle rapper Carter Costello’s house was under the cloak of night. I had been invited to an art and music show — featuring Seattle photographer and artist Baby Claypool, a duo of fire dancers, rapper Nobi and Costello — by local photographer James Gerde. Once I set foot on…
Living: This Kitchen Really Cooks
Remodel preserves Victorian charm
Raised on an off-the-grid ranch in southern Oregon, Mandy Lozano took a don’t-fence-me-in approach to renovating her kitchen in Seattle’s Squire Park neighborhood. She sought to balance a respect for the 1900 Victorian’s heritage with a genetic predisposition toward creative license. “I don’t care for modern technology that much, and I don’t like fussy or…
The Five Biggest Lies in Seattle Sports
Some famous and obscure whoppers
Fibbing is a part of American sports. Athletes habitually fudge their height by an inch or two. Coaches are less than forthcoming about the extent of a player’s injury. Contract negotiations are always shrouded in secrecy. There is a difference between being less than completely honest and telling a lie of the bald-faced variety, though….
Letter To Seattle: Grown-Up for a Day
Junior Achievement taught me responsibility and how to plan for my future
Dear Junior Achievement of Washington, My name is Tigran, and I am a sixth grader. Last year, when I was in fifth grade, I visited BizTown with my class, and I wanted to tell you how that field trip made a difference. To prepare for the visit, my class and I spent time with our…
Explore Washington State’s Outdoor Treks
Explore These Backcountry Treks This Winter
November in Seattle means you can count on a few things; Seahawks games, the start of holiday gatherings and rain. The long days of summer, with perfect weather that makes living in this region so worth it, are long behind us. Darkness has set in. Wetness has enveloped our city. It’s easy to get the…