Lifestyle
The Ultimate Water Saver
Giant rain barrels and Washington's first legal grey water system set this Jackson Place home at a h
The 1,750-square-foot house architect Robert Humble designed for himself and his wife is entirely nontraditional for Seattle. It’s modern, flat-roofed and boxy, and was prefabricated off-site and delivered by truck in sections to the skinny, empty lot owned by Humble and his wife, Nicole. But that doesn’t mean the owner hasn’t tried to integrate it…
A New Low of Toxicity Levels
A Ballard resident uses simple strategies to rid her bungalow of harmful, hidden chemicals.
You wouldn’t think a Ballard bungalow with pink asbestos siding and lead paint would appeal to a couple with an interest in the environment, but Rachel and Izaak Koller planned to remodel the Ballard home themselves—wearing suitable hazmat gear. Thanks to the previous tenants, the couple had to remove or remake nearly everything in the…
Inside Seattle’s Super-Eco Homes
You don't have to go totally gaga for green to reap the rewards of a few simple home-improvement mov
Those who grew up in the 1970s may recall the appearance of a brick in the bathroom toilet tank—a popular do-it-yourself water-saving measure. Fortunately, living green has become a little more sophisticated in recent decades. In Seattle—a city famous for its green-built, LEED-certified offices, restaurants and condos—many residents have taken the green-living ethos into their…
Outdoor Gear Worth Splurging On
Heed the outdoors’ call in style with these new offerings from top local gear makers.
A new line of urban bags from Cascade Designs’ SealLine brand ($64.95–$169.95) coddles your stuff when you’re out enjoying our region’s infamous inclemency. The Seattle-made bags feature roll tops with easy-open clips, and welded seams that ensure that your precious cargo stays dry. And add-on accessories, like a zip pocket or phone holster, sweeten the…
Road Trip to Port Townsend
These Northwest artists and Kinetic Sculpture Races are worth the trip.
WHERE: Northwind Arts Center in Port Townsend WHY: To see the “(so) Much (too) Little” group exhibition (through 10/31; 2409 Jefferson St.; 360.379.1086; northwindarts.org), featuring the gorgeous work of three emerging (and hot-hot-hot) Northwest visual artists: Counsel Langley, Gala Bent and Sharon Arnold. SIDE TRIP: Time it right and indulge your quirky side with Washington’s…
Super Efficient Energy
A Rainier Vallery homeowner employs the common sense - and human powered - Passive House standard.
The first time Dan Whitmore welcomed a group of friends to the nearly completed Rainier Valley home he was building for his family, it was a bit like a treasure hunt. “It was our first blower door test,” says the goateed contractor. (A blower door test is performed to check airtightness of a house and…
Road Trip: British Columbia’s Bard on the Beach
Go thither to Vancouver for a memorable marathon of plays by Shakespeare and contemporary playwright
WHERE: Vancouver, British Columbia, for the 22nd annual Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival (through 9/24; 1695 Whyte Ave., in Vanier Park; bardonthebeach.org). Why: To experience As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice performed in the newly renovated main-stage tent against a stunning natural background of mountain peaks, ocean and sky. Beyond the…
Old Ballard Hotel Gets Extreme Makeover
Hotel Ballard is back with exciting modern updates and its original Old World elegance.
Ballard residents, rejoice: A new boutique hotel gives visitors an alternative to sleeping on your couch. Built in 1902 for the American Scandinavian Bank (the words “Bank Building” still appear on the façade), the two-story building at the heart of Ballard Avenue became a hotel in 1920. In more recent decades, it served as a…
Road Trip to Winthrop
Winthrop welcomes all comers—from fiddlers to insect wranglers.
WHERE: Winthrop, Washington, in the Methow Valley. WHY: For the BIG NORTH CASCADES OLDTIME FIDDLERS CONTEST (8/27. $15; kids younger than 12 are free. Spring Creek Ranch, 22 Belsby Road; 509.996.2111; winthropfiddle.org), where you’ll celebrate American folk music via hardcore fiddling competitions for all age divisions, from Pee-Wee to Senior. BRING: Your own insect or…
Road Trip: Winthrop
Celebrate American folk music via hardcore fiddling.
WHERE: Winthrop, Washington, in the Methow Valley. WHY: For the BIG NORTH CASCADES OLDTIME FIDDLERS CONTEST (8/27. $15; kids younger than 12 are free. Spring Creek Ranch, 22 Belsby Road; 509.996.2111; winthropfiddle.org), where you’ll celebrate American folk music via hardcore fiddling competitions for all age divisions, from Pee-Wee to Senior. BRING: Your own insect or…
Summer Guide 2011: the Water Issue
Like the mountains that frame our city, water gives Seattle its identity. Life here is a life aquati
From the briny smell of Elliott Bay wafting over downtown to the sight of sunlight sparkling on Lake Washington during a summer morning commute; from the lapping sound of waves against docks and kayaks to the taste of our drinking water—some of the purest in the world. And—we’ll say it—the feeling of warm rain splattering…
Seattle Garden Trends: What’s In and What’s Out
Take outgrown habits to the compost heap and refresh your garden with a new approach.
Seattle gardens and yards tend to hit the dried-out doldrums in August, so it’s a good time to kick back with a glass of cool lemonade (garnished with homegrown mint, naturally) and think about how to refresh your approach to planting. Here’s a look at what’s new—and what’s past its bloom—according to local gardeners, along…
Best Camping Spots in Washington
Whether you prefer authentic camping or luxury "glamping," our camping guide has you covered.
Roughing ItThe Northwest offers plenty of ways to commune with nature, but nothing quite surpasses the getting-back-to-the-land feeling of hiking, sleeping and cooking outdoors—especially when s’mores await at the end of a day spent entirely free of walls. Not-so-Roughing ItIf sleeping on the ground—even on a pad in a warm sleeping bag and tent—is more…
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