Rearview Mirror: A Timber Stage, Goodwill Vinyl, and the Summer Camp Hack I Needed

STAYING POWER

So, the World Cup in Seattle is over. Our final match was Monday, July 6, when the U.S. unfortunately lost to Belgium, but man, was the whole thing fun while it lasted! Seattle broke attendance and transit records, the streets were packed, and there seems to be a collective sense of, Hey, our city is pretty great.

A large crowd gathers in an outdoor plaza during the day, watching a big screen near a colorful building, with trees, tents, and nearby parked cars visible.

Photo courtesy of City of Renton

One place where some of that energy is sticking around is Renton. As part of a larger downtown revamp, the city turned a former gravel lot into Legacy Square, an arts and culture hub with a 15-foot screen and a permanent performance stage designed by Seattle architecture and design firm Mithun. The sleek 900-square-foot structure is built almost entirely from Pacific Northwest-sourced mass timber, with a wedge shape designed to help carry sound and improve views of the screen. Weathering steel nods to Renton’s industrial past, and the use of cross-laminated timber reduced embodied carbon by 20% from a comparable steel and concrete structure. Mithun describes it as a “civic porch for arts and culture performances, sporting events, movie nights and festivals.” The square will also feature public art by Renton artists.

Find upcoming events at Legacy Square here.

Person in a green hat leans on a clothing rack in a vintage clothing store, surrounded by various garments on hangers.

Courtesy of Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington

GOODWILL HUNTING

Rachel G., our editor in chief, fell hard for Shibuya HiFi, the Ballard listening bar inspired by Japan’s listening-bar culture. After hearing her talk about it, I am, in fact, planning my next birthday party there despite never having been, lol. So naturally, a Shibuya HiFi-meets-Goodwill pop-up got my attention. Brian Rauschenbach, the DJ, vinyl collector, and longtime thrifter behind Shibuya HiFi, has curated a corner of the Ballard Goodwill with records, audio gear, and clothes that reflect his own style, with nods to ’90s grunge and streetwear.

“I was looking for pieces I’d be excited to find myself—great denim, band tees, sneakers, audio gear, and those one-of-a-kind items that make thrifting so rewarding,” Rauschenbach says. “Goodwill has always been about the hunt, and I wanted people to experience that through this collection.”

Rauschenbach will spin vinyl at the Ballard Goodwill July 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. The pop-up goes through August 6. Find more information here.

A person with short brown hair leans out of the window of a red vehicle, resting their arms on the window frame and looking directly at the camera.

Courtesy of Amelia Day

FLOWER POWER

I love a farm, and I love good music, so this was always going to grab me. The very first Dahlia Farm Music Festival takes over Suyematsu Farms on Bainbridge Island August 15, with heavy-hitters like Mary Lambert, Amelia Day, Brittany Davis, Rae Isla, and Lo Pony playing throughout the day. Rolling Bay Music Club is putting on the all-ages fest with local food and makers, and a portion of proceeds will support Seattle Pride’s youth programs. And because this is, in fact, a dahlia farm, you can pay to pick flowers while you’re there.

Also, did you see our recent story about another farm-y concert, Tarboo? Consider this a reminder to get outside among the crops and pretty lighting to hear some good music this summer!

For more information about Dahlia Farm Music Festival and to purchase tickets, go here.

Three athletes stand on an Olympic podium; two raise their fists while the third stands with his hands down. Several officials and photographers are present.

The salute at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games.

BEHIND THE SALUTE

I know the photograph, but I only knew part of the story. At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised black-gloved fists on the medal podium as Australian silver medalist Peter Norman stood beside them.

A display wall covered with colorful drawings behind a black table and two stools in a gallery setting evokes the creativity of a Summer Camp Hack, with informational panels on the surrounding walls.

Photo courtesy of NAAM

The Northwest African American Museum’s The Story of the Salute goes deep into that famous image, following Smith, Carlos, Norman, and sociologist Harry Edwards, founder of the Olympic Project for Human Rights. With Seattle recently welcoming the world for the World Cup, the interactive show asks visitors to reflect on what it means to take a stand, and a replica podium turns the question toward us: What would you stand up for today?

The Story of the Salute is on view at Northwest African American Museum though fall 2026.

Two children make batter; one pours milk while the other uses a red electric hand mixer in a glass bowl, with baking ingredients on the table.

Courtesy of PCC Community Markets

CAMP SAVE

Around here, summer camps fill up so fast you need to have your entire summer planned by January 1, and I’m just not that organized, nor will I ever be. So I was very happy to discover PCC Community Market’s kids’ cooking camps still have summer openings.

My 11-year-old daughter just finished Culinary School Basics and came home excited every afternoon. She saved delicious things for us to taste, now wants to help with dinner, and even corrected the way I was holding a knife, which totally made a difference! The classes get surprisingly ambitious, too. She tackled everything-bagel gougères with whipped scallion cream cheese and chicken with sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy Parmesan sauce. I also love that it’s only a couple of hours a day. Enough to do something fun and learn a few things, then come home and play video games or run around the neighborhood while I work without feeling guilty about any of it.

Also, while we’re talking PCC, the downtown Corner Market at Fourth and Union is turning 1 on July 15. There will be free snacks, giveaways, games, and music from 1 to 4 p.m.