Summer is just around the corner—we can feel it as the mercury rises and the days grow longer. This year, that means we’re getting closer to the kick-off of FIFA World Cup 2026, which runs between June 15 and July 6, with matches happening at Lumen Field. In honor of Seattle hosting six games, we put together a thorough guide to many of the things happening around the city in conjunction with the sport, from public art installations to designated fan zones (where you can watch with other soccer lovers). We also spoke with members of the Pride+ Match Impact Council, who created a multi-part advertising campaign showcasing the inclusivity in the city. 

Speaking of inclusivity, our other feature looks at filmmaker, producer, and storyteller Vik Chopra. Growing up in Renton, he was an achiever who graduated from the University of Washington and scored his dream job at KEXP. He seemed to be on the fast-track towards success, but a bad relationship led him down the path of drug and alcohol use, which rippled into choices that landed him in prison. Rather than take on a victim mentality, Chopra chose to own his actions, ask for forgiveness, and use the nearly five years he was incarcerated at the Washington State Penitentiary to turn his life around. Now 13 years clean and sober, he’s determined to change the perceptions that people have about the justice-impacted community—and he runs the state’s only prison-produced podcast, Concrete Mama, which will release its second season this summer. 

In the arts section, we bid a fond farewell to longtime Pacific Northwest Ballet principal dancer, Lucien Postlewaite, who has captivated Seattle audiences for decades with his athleticism, precision, and 1,000-watt stage presence. We also look at the work of Gabriel-Bello Díaz, who combines traditional materials and tech-forward methods to create art that captures the spirit of the moment we live in. And if you’re looking for a little escape, we have three sun-filled options—in Utah, Jamaica, and California—that meet the needs of everyone from spa lovers to adventure seekers. Closer to home, local real estate developer and small business champion Liz Dunn penned an essay for Seattle Business about the importance of showing up in and for your community and supporting the people and businesses that make it great. We couldn’t agree more, and we plan to attend the first Pike/Pine Spring Fashion Walk and Social, happening on May 16. This event will bring together more than 50 independent retailers and restaurants in a series of activations—a fashion show, pop-ups, live music, drink specials, open studios—in a weekend meant to celebrate all the things that make this slice of Capitol Hill great. We heart it and hope to see you perusing the shops and walking the blocks. It’s the perfect place to snag a copy of the current issue, which will be available at Chophouse Row.  

Here’s to the start of a beautiful Seattle summer!