Magical Mollusks

Oysters are one the Northwest’s favorite harvests. The hardworking farmers behind this bounty share a deep appreciation for its source and a personal connection to the processes that yield our food.

It’s hard to describe people who are undeniably connected to the land—often, it’s about a feeling they transmit. Grounded, knowledgeable about their work, and passionate in their care for nature’s resources. Oyster farmers along Hood Canal, like Matthew Macias, give off a certain vibe, as though they have some secret to life that I don’t…

David Gladish

No Longer a Last Resort

The new wave of luxury-forward Mexico all-inclusives delivers cultural immersion and culinary delights.

Thanks to years of party-goers jetting south in the winter, the mention of a Mexico all-inclusive resort tends to conjure a specific image: wristband-wearing revelers in a crowded pool, dancing the Macarena to booming music, and the relentless buzz of the frozen margarita blender. Luring guests with all-you-can-drink packages and stocked buffets, these hotels left…

Natalie Compagno and Greg Freitas

Where to Get Vietnamese Coffee in Seattle

Eight spots we love across the city.

Vietnamese coffee has long been part of Seattle’s Vietnamese restaurant scene, and a new wave of cafés is now building on that foundation with fresh takes and flavors. Here are eight places to try. 1. Aroom Coffee Aroom Coffee serves classic Vietnamese coffee drinks, including egg coffee, coconut coffee, and cà phê đen (traditional phin-brewed…

Aleenah Ansari

Woven Wonders: Textile-based Coast Salish Art Unravels Local History

Indigenous weaving, past and present, on view at the Burke Museum.

On display now at the University of Washington’s Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Woven in Wool: Resilience in Coast Salish Weaving examines the traditional art form and its importance to Coast Salish communities. “This exhibition broadens the definition of American art by incorporating Indigenous voices and artistic practices historically marginalized due to biases…

Seattle Mag

Born to (Run) Ski

Pro runner and University of Washington alum Anna Gibson took up ski mountaineering only eight months ago. In February, she represented Team USA in the endurance sport’s Olympic debut.

Anna Gibson is always beaming. Not a phony only-for-the-socials kind of smile, but an open-mouthed grin of exaltation that seems to radiate from her very core. Maybe it’s the lack of oxygen above 6,000 feet near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where Gibson trains in the Tetons. Maybe it’s because she just really, really loves running. But…

Chelsea Lin

Industry Entrées: New Restaurants Around the Sound

Seattle’s latest spots to eat, drink, and gather with friends.

Mr. Maqluba Greenwood | instagram.com/mr.maqluba/ Since opening in the former Olive and Grape space in January, Mr. Maqluba has been bringing some delicious hope to Seattle’s formerly Palestinian-food-free landscape. The restaurant’s “authentic maqluba, made the traditional way,” according to its social media, is a heavenly pot of seasoned rice that’s loaded with roasted chicken, crisped…

Meg van Huygen

Fave Five: Early Signs of Spring

Where to go when everything starts waking up.

March and April always blend together in my head. Around here, there’s still plenty of rain, but it feels a little more manageable as the green sprawls and the crocuses unfurl right before our eyes. This is the time when things respond to moisture and attention, and when getting back into it feels better than…

Sarah Stackhouse

An Ear For Good Design

Integrated design firm Mithun creates impactful spaces through a culture of listening.

At design firm Mithun, communication plays an indispensable role in the workplace culture. It doesn’t have a single discipline—the practice encompasses architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and urban design. It doesn’t have a single specialty, with projects spanning educational, cultural, civic, and business sectors. And it doesn’t have visual trademarks: each project is hyper-tailored to…

Rachel Eggers

Craft Value: The Founder of Henrybuilt Reflects on What He’s Learned in 25 Years of Business

In 2001, after 15 years of working in publishing—where I was a founding team member of two venture-funded technology companies—I decided to start a different kind of company: one that made physical products. This company, Henrybuilt, would combine product innovation and craft under one roof and sell directly to the end user—the homeowner—so that we…

Scott Hudson

Best Places to Live: Bellevue

A growing tech hub across the lake.

Long known as a quiet, bedroom community to Seattle, Bellevue has emerged as one of the region’s social and economic power hubs. Boasting a diverse population and some of the state’s top-ranked schools, this Eastside city has experienced continued growth in recent years, with families and young professionals topping out its ranks of new residents….

Rachel Gallaher

Best Places to Live: Gig Harbor

For a quiet retirement—or just a slower pace.

In the south sound, gig harbor lures people with the promise of tranquility, space, and some of the most striking views in the region. The city’s picturesque history stretches back to the 1840s—it was named after the small captain’s gig in which the Wilkes Expedition first arrived—and it has evolved into a scenic community known…

Rachel Gallaher

Best Places to Live: Normandy Park

A place apart —but still close to everything.

Normandy Park is a place people choose deliberately. First laid out in 1929 as a suburb, the area grew after the city incorporated in 1953, but it was still home to fewer than 2,000 residents. Much of the land had previously been logged or farmed, and even as Seattle expanded nearby, Normandy Park took shape…