Lifestyle
Up In Smoke: The Little-Known Story of Seattle’s First Marijuana Initiative
A 1974 ballot campaign came up short, but helped set the stage for legal weed in Washington.
Like many American cities in the early 1970s, Seattle was once a hotbed of political and civil unrest. This era of discontent officially kicked off on May 5, 1970—one day after the Ohio National Guard shot students at Kent State University, killing four and wounding nine. In response, thousands of Seattle-area student protestors shut down…
Rearview Mirror: New at the Zoo, Waterfront Coffee, and Alaska Goes to Rome
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
New Digs for Furry (and Feathered) Friends Last week, Woodland Park Zoo held the press preview for its Forest Trailhead exhibit, and I nearly lost my mind watching one of the zoo’s tree kangaroos, a 12-year-old named Rocket, eat his second breakfast of fresh veggies. It was seriously adorable. Rocket is housed in a modern habitat adjacent…
Photo Essay: Ferry Therapy
Words and photographs by Anna Starr.
Riding the ferry is my favorite Seattle pastime. At any given time on a Washington State Ferry you will find a group of tourists with too many suitcases, someone in work clothes peacefully napping, a jigsaw puzzle diligently being completed, lovers having a Titanic-esque moment on a balcony (fun fact: those balconies are called pickleforks),…
Space to Play: A 900-Square-Foot Kirkland Studio Opens for Creators
Play Studios, founded by Christabelle Granadosin, gives local creators a place to shoot, edit, and build their work.
Despite the name, producing social media content can be an isolating experience. Between capturing an image or video and the hours of editing that follow, the process is challenging to pull off without a dedicated space. Local product designer Christabelle Granadosin was feeling the tedium with her photo booth venture, so she decided to launch…
Rearview Mirror: A Family Coming Apart, SIFF, and My First Fashion Show
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
The Family House A house can hold a lot, and Seattle Rep’s Appropriate knows that. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Tony-winning play, directed here by Timothy McCuen Piggee, drops the Lafayette siblings into their late father’s hoarded, falling-apart Arkansas plantation home for an estate sale, and lets the whole thing crack open from there. The sibling dynamics are…
Photo Essay: The Reefnetters of Legoe Bay
A photographer’s look at the small Lummi Island fleet taking part in a long-standing fishing tradition.
While driving across the country from Detroit to San Francisco in October 2024, I stopped on Lummi Island, about 10 miles west of Bellingham, to visit my friend Peter. I had met Peter while traveling with Bread & Puppet Theater, photographing its national tour. He thought I might be interested in documenting the fishing there,…
Better Together: This Take on Co-Housing Emphasizes Quality and Community
The Seattle project presents an out-of-the-box model, where investors are also residents, and the design focuses on longevity and tenant retention—not profit.
Growing up in rural Detroit, Chad Dale spent many after-school and weekend hours playing with neighborhood kids in an open lot near his house. It’s an experience he always hoped his children would have someday, but by the time he became a father in Seattle, land was at a premium: either already developed or prohibitively…
Rearview Mirror: Ballet’s Saddest Story, New Art in the Sculpture Park, and a Home-Grown Wine Label Promoting Social Justice
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
Circular Thinking I am very lucky to live just a 12-minute walk away from Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Park. It’s a regular destination for my weekly walks and, aside from the world-class art, has one of the city’s best views of Puget Sound. Earlier this week, I went on a wet, windy walk and discovered…
Still Googling Vendors? Here’s How Seattle’s Best Planners Find Theirs
The executive assistant who runs your company’s annual retreat has a secret. So does the board member who somehow pulls off your fundraiser every spring. And the ops lead who makes the holiday party look effortless. They’re not figuring it out alone. They have a secret team. A caterer who remembers the CEO is gluten-free….
Mother’s Day Gift Guide
Shop local and give her something she’ll love.
Mother’s Day is coming up on Sunday, May 10, and the right gift really depends on the mom. Maybe she wants flowers. Maybe she wants lunch by the water. Maybe she wants something useful, pretty, or delicious. Whatever the day looks like, a little thought goes a long way. It can also be a complicated…
Building Connection, by Design
How Angela Dunleavy’s new venture is reimagining experiential marketing—and Seattle spaces.
After two decades running restaurants, a nonprofit, and a large-scale catering operation, Angela Dunleavy reached a familiar midcareer inflection point. She had helped build Ethan Stowell Restaurants, led FareStart through the pandemic, and returned to the private sector as CEO of Gourmondo. But something still felt unfinished. “What is it that I really want to…
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…
Rearview Mirror: A Better Bath, a Bright Riesling, and Les Mis
Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).
Moon Bath Last week, I went to a spring workshop at SLU BRU, the newish beer hall at Dexter Yard in South Lake Union. Open since November 2025 and operated by Gourmondo, it’s definitely ready for nicer weather, with big garage-style windows that open onto the sidewalk. The night was hosted by Orange Moon, the…
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