SEATTLE ART FAIR RETURNS 

The buzziest event of the summer (well, aside from the World Cup), is returning next week. Now in its 10th edition, the Seattle Art Fair will once again take over the Lumen Field Event Center, packing it to the gills with art from 101 local, national, and international galleries. This year, once again, the stellar programming includes artist talks, panel discussions, and industry-led tours (The Life Cycle of Collecting Art: What Every Collector Should Know, moderated by the executive director at the Frye Art Museum, Demand & Supply: The interface between Technology, Art, and Public Practice, Journey Beyond the Photograph, presented by National Geographic Expeditions). The Around Town events take art enthusiasts into the city for experiences with SIFF, Assembly (the new gallery-led art fair at West Canal Yards—partly a reaction to the cost of exhibiting at SAF), Actualize AiR, and Cannonball Arts. 

If You Do One Thing: Aside from checking out the new-this-year Assembly, I highly recommend attending the Seattle Art Fair opening night event. It’s always packed with the who’s who of the local art scene, with everyone dressed like they’re going out in New York. The energy is high, the art is varied, and people always seem to be having an absolutely stellar time. I’ll be there, if you see me, say hi!

SUNDAE BEST

Yesterday, food writer Harry Cheadle wrote about Doris, Angela Dunleavy’s new Pioneer Square restaurant in the initial installment of our new digital column, Opening Night. Located along the Second Avenue Extension, in the narrow spot that used to be the famed Salumi, Doris is a sweet little Art Deco-forward place to grab a drink and some snacks with friends. Cheadle does a great job of describing the food and the space, but makes no mention of the fact that there is a delicious, bougie ice cream sundae on the menu. 

I attended the preview event earlier this week, and aside from the pimento cheese dip (excellent), the end-of-meal treat was a standout—and I generally don’t even order dessert. I think it was the quality of the ice cream, the contrast of the hot fudge and cool vanilla creaminess; the salty whole peanuts dotting the top. It was nostalgic. It was a comfort food. It reminded me of a twist on a good old peanut buster parfait from Dairy Queen, which brings back  memories of my suburban childhood. Paired with a glass of sparkling, it’s the ultimate end-of-the-night (or start-of-the-night, there are no rules when it comes to ice cream) snack.

DIAMOND DEBUT

As a bride-to-be (my wedding is just over two months away!) anything to do with rings, white dresses, or frosted tiered cakes is catching my eye right now, so it’s no wonder that news of the newly opened Frank Darling store piqued my interest. A bespoke jeweler with locations around the country, the brand’s latest location is in Pioneer Square,  just steps away from the Smith Tower. Here, clients work one-on-one with a designer, with access to an array of conflict-free natural and lab-created diamonds (as well as moissanite) to create a one-of-a-kind piece, no matter your budget, ethical approach, or style. No walk down the aisle in your future? No worries, if you’re looking for earrings, bracelets, or necklaces, they’ve got you covered, darling.

SALE IN THE CITY 

The beloved Nordstrom Anniversary Sale has kicked off, and the corresponding downtown Seattle Block Party is back this weekend to celebrate. Activating Westlake Park, the celebration is open to the public with free experiences from brands including MALIN+GOETZ (discover a new scent at their pop-up fragrance bar), Clarins (play a round of cornhole and spin the prize wheel for some swag), Tecovas (step right up and try your hard at their wrangling lasso game), and many more. Nosh on complimentary snacks and sips, dance the afternoon away to live entertainment presented in partnership with Sonic Guild, and browse community activations and booths from local organizations including Food Lifeline, the Seattle Aquarium, Mary’s Place, and Seattle Mariners, among others. The Mariners Moose made a special appearance last year. 

Pro tip: Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale before hitting up the Block Party. They are offering free parking with your $25 same-day purchase, July 18-19.