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To Market, To Market
Start small.
Known as a hotspot for independent businesses and one-off boutiques, Ballard recently doubled down on the “Shop Local” mantra with a new collective shopping experience. “Smål Market was created to help small retailers overcome the financial and logistical barriers of opening a business in Ballard’s competitive commercial district,” says Mike Stewart, executive director at Ballard…
The Connector: Kiesha B. Free
A former tech star using her skills—and her voice—to connect the region’s Black community.
In 2021, Kiesha B. Free was at a crossroads in her life. She had left her job at Microsoft to pursue public speaking and was finding her way as a mother after a divorce—all while navigating a world emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. “I was nowhere near my family,” says Free, who grew up in…
Restaurant Roundup: Burger Month and the Big Game
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
If you’re trying to garner good luck ahead of the Seahawks’ super-sized Super Bowl rematch (Sunday, Feb. 8) with the Patriots, look no further for good omens than the party hosted by Victory Hall at The Boxyard. It’s all-ages, free, and there will be craft cocktails, Métier Brewing beers, NA options, plenty of food trucks,…
Industry Entrées: New Restaurants Around the Sound
Seattle’s newest spots to eat, drink, and gather with friends.
Gao Lhao Bangkok Noodle Shop Green Lake Gao Lhao is bringing Bangkok’s colorful Chinatown scene to Green Lake, channeling the vibrancy of the Yaowarat district via neon-lit murals, street vendor motifs, playful cocktails, and flashy Thai-Chinese fare. The dynamic menu showcases the best of the fusion genre: chewy wok-charred noodles with scrambled egg and shiitakes,…
Seattle Businesses Rally Support for Minneapolis Ahead of National Shutdown
More than 30 local businesses are donating proceeds to help Minneapolis businesses close this Friday in solidarity with a nationwide economic blackout.
If you’re looking for something concrete to do right now, this is it: eat out, grab coffee, or shop local on Thursday, Jan. 29. Across Seattle, dozens of businesses are turning an ordinary day of commerce into a way to support Minneapolis businesses that plan to close on Friday, Jan. 30 as part of a…
After the Line
Two longtime Seattle chefs step away from restaurant kitchens to build Aster Pantry, a free online resource for seasonal home cooking.
After years working nights and weekends inside the constant churn of restaurant kitchens, Mac Tadie and Sten Langsjoen found themselves exhausted and in need of a break. They had spent most of their careers in professional kitchens, where speed, repetition, and service dictated everything, and they were beginning to think more seriously about how cooking…
The Helping Hand: Nikki Gane
The nonprofit leader using her life experiences to help other women.
Nikki Gane wasn’t trying to start a nonprofit that winter day in 2011. She was just trying to buy a pair of shoes. But when she saw a woman standing alone outside the store, she recognized someone in need—and she knew just how to help. Gane went into a drugstore, bought some essentials, and handed…
When the News Feels Like Too Much
A moment to pause and take care of ourselves right now.
The recent news out of Minneapolis has been hard to watch. No matter where you live, it’s heavy and destabilizing. Staying engaged when things start to feel hopeless—and when it feels like there’s nothing you can do—is really difficult. At our staff meeting today, we talked about how many of us are feeling this same…
Serving Holistically
Suzana Sakay leads the Washington Athletic Club into its 95th year.
From answering phones to overseeing more than $1 million in fundraising, there’s no job at the Washington Athletic Club that’s too big—or small—for Suzana Sakay. Fourteen years ago, she began her journey with the organization as a merchandising manager in the spa, and has since moved through the ranks, helping improve membership experience and club…
The Cultural Curator: Marcus Lalario
An entrepreneur building community through music and food.
Marcus Lalario has been shaping Seattle since he was a teen. He launched the Beat Box—an all-ages Capitol Hill club—in 1995 and went on to build a portfolio that includes a music label, record store, hip-hop barbershop, production company, art gallery, cannabis and streetwear brand, and nightclubs including the War Room, HG Lodge, and 95…
The Master Craftsman: Kelsey Fernkopf
The neon artist pushing boundaries to save his industry.
Kelsey Fernkopf remains humble in the limelight; he’d prefer to talk about community, or how letting go is key to staying in the flow. “It isn’t so much that you’re not letting the outside world in,” he muses. “It’s learning to relax. Letting the ideas come and go where they want, instead of trying to…
Restaurant Roundup: Classy Tailgating and a Champagne Cave
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
Look, we know the weather lately is a huge bummer for anyone looking to shred the slopes, but it has also been an all-time sunny run for early-in-the-year outdoor dining. We know we don’t need to tell you to enjoy it while you can, but seriously, bundle up and go grab a bite or beer…
The Wanderer’s Guide to Portland’s Pearl District
Expect the unexpected in this consistently rewarding urban art oasis.
The first sound we hear at ILY2 gallery is not reverent silence, but astonished, contagious laughter. As we enter the room, a giggling couple bends down to grab a fish from a basket and load it into a giant cannon. The (rubber) salmon rockets through the gallery, thuds loudly against the opposite wall, and drops…
The Industry Expander: Jamila Conley
This former tech executive champions diversity in the wine industry.
In 2023, Jamila Conley attended a winemaker’s dinner in Seattle, and as the night commenced, she was surprised that out of the nine winemakers in attendance, only two were familiar to her. “It was a celebration of Black women and wine,” she recalls. “I’m someone who loves wine and has a strong passion for diversity,…
Tax on Short-Term Rentals like Airbnb Again Under Discussion
In Washington, the legislation would allow cities and counties to tax the rentals to fund affordable housing.
The Washington Legislature is again considering empowering local governments to tax short-term housing rentals, much to the irritation of homeowners who rent out their properties on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. House Bill 2559 would allow cities and counties, starting in April 2027, to impose a tax up to 4% on short-term rentals to raise…
The Boys of Summer: The Mariners
The team that united the city.
Eight outs. That’s what stood between the 2025 Seattle Mariners and the franchise’s first World Series appearance. Eight outs to end a 48-year wait. We all know what happened next, and while that Game 7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays is going to sting for a while, that’s only because of the way this…
We’re in a Pickle
Kings of the court.
Unlike some trends, the popularity of pickleball has only increased with time. Here in Washington, the birthplace of the game, we’ve seen a recent wave of new facilities dedicated to the state’s official sport. Last October, Sideout Tsunami Pickleball Center opened in Mt. Baker with 26 state-of-the-art courts that offer instant video replays sent straight…
The Positive Influence: Michelle Merriweather
A community builder inspired to lead a legacy organization.
Urban league of Metropolitan Seattle (ULMS) CEO Michelle Merriweather traces her commitment to civic work back to her high school history class in suburban Los Angeles. Over 30 years removed from Moorpark High School, she continues to refer to her history teacher by the formal Mr. Jones (first name Larry), in reverence to her mentor…
The Hip-Hop Kid: Yonny
The 25-year-old artist looking to lead the Northwest scene.
Yonny laughs when he admits he hadn’t been to he Crocodile, Neumos, or Barboza until after he’d already started performing. “I’ve lived here my whole life,” he says. “But I never really went to any shows. The Seattle scene was something I only really discovered in 2022.” That same year, he met producer Evan George,…
Restaurant Roundup: Game-Day Brunch and Last Calls
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
January is a month of reinvention and fresh starts—and Autumn Seattle in Phinney Ridge is taking that idea and running with it. The restaurant’s last day of service will be tomorrow (Jan. 17), but in the first week of February, it will reopen as GH Pasta & Pizza. Executive chef and restaurateur Brian Clevenger wants…
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