Seattle Culture
Most Influential: Girmay Zahilay
King County Councilmember
When Girmay Zahilay arrived in Seattle as a 2-year-old refugee, his family lived in public housing and homeless shelters. He was born in a Sudanese refugee camp to Ethiopian parents fleeing civil war. Now, 35 years later, Zahilay is leading the charge to fund affordable housing in King County for working class families to the…
Most Influential: Dave Bateman
Founder, Cyber Civil Rights Legal Project at K&L Gates
David Bateman, a lawyer at K&L Gates who spent his time “finding people who were doing bad things on the internet,” didn’t fully know the concept of revenge porn until he met Holly Jacobs. Jacobs sought help from K&L Gates after explicit photos of her were nonconsensually shared on the internet. Jacobs’ case, Bateman says,…
Matters of the Heart
A gym owner dispenses tips for heart health during National Heart Health Month
In Washington state, heart disease is the second leading cause of death, with one in five women and one in four men dying from heart disease. While some risk factors like family history and age are beyond our control, many others are within our power to change. As we observe National Heart Health Month this…
The Pulse: Thawing Out
Seattle’s food scene steps up and an ugly art tradition lives on
We made it through all the snow and ice this week, and now it’s time to gear up for Valentine’s Day. We’re keeping things simple this year — just stencils, stickers, glitter, and some white cards to decorate. What are your plans? It’s been a week full of news and updates, so here’s what’s happening…
Must List: Six Things to Do This Week
Feb 06 - Feb 12
Black voices and trailblazers in comedy, dance, and film
Hey, how’s it going? My kids have been out of school for three days and they, along with the neighborhood kid crew, somehow managed to build a snowman out of less than an inch of snow — truly impressive. With temps set to drop even more tonight, be sure to stay warm out there. Over…
A Unifying Good Time with Tom Papa
The hilarious and relatable comic brings his Grateful Bread tour to Seattle on Feb. 8.
Comedian Tom Papa wants you to feel a little less alone. He knows life is full of chaos and disappointments — crappy meals, fear of the dark, and endless bad news — but instead of letting it crush you, he invites you to laugh about it. His Grateful Bread tour, much like his baking, takes…
Most Influential: Ethan Stowell
Restaurateur, Activist
Chef Ethan Stowell knows good food can change lives. You probably recognize him as the force behind more than 20 Seattle-area restaurants and cafes. Now, he’s taking on a new challenge: transforming what kids eat in public schools as a member of Eat Real’s chefs council. America’s school cafeterias serve 7 billion meals a year…
Celebrating Black Art and Culture
Ways to honor Black History Month across the city
Black art, culture, and history deserve the spotlight year-round, but February is when Seattle really steps it up during Black History Month. We’ve got everything from film festivals and discussions to art shows and candle pouring. Support Black-owned businesses while you’re at it, and use your Buy Black Card. Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) NAAM’s…
Most Influential: Uttam Mukherjee & Dr. Aakanksha Sinha
Co-founders of Spice Waala
When Spice Waala opened in 2019, husband and wife team Uttam Mukherjee and Dr. Aakanksha Sinha had two goals: bring authentic Indian street food to Seattle and give back to the community. Now, with three locations, Spice Waala is known for its flavorful chaats, kathi rolls — and its impact. Recently named King County Small…
Preston Singletary: The Harmonic Alchemist
Multi-talented Seattle artist fuses sound, cinema and glass artistry
In Tlingit lore the raven is a supernatural being who steals the moon, sun, and stars from a powerful man. Seattle artist Preston Singletary can be forgiven if he is confused for the modern-day manifestation of the raven, also described as a shapeshifter in mythology. Singletary has been enlightening audiences the world over for decades with his…
Most Influential: Hamdi Mohamed
Seattle Port Commissioner
Hamdi Mohamed arrived 30 years ago with her family, refugees fleeing war-torn Somalia. In 2024, the 34-year-old port commissioner became the first Black woman to chair the Seattle Port Commission, the public authority that manages Sea-Tac Airport and the Port of Seattle. Mohamed was not quite a year old when she fled Somalia with her…
The Pulse: Snow on the Horizon
A new MoPOP exhibition, Memorial Stadium’s future, and Pete Carroll in dad mode
Hey there, how’s it going? It’s been a busy week at the office. We’re gearing up for the next print issue — think stunning homes and killer photos. Also, they’re calling for light snow this weekend and possibly into Monday. Any bets on if it’ll actually happen? It’s been a dry winter, so any precipitation…
Must List: Six Fun Things to Do This Week
Jan 30 - Feb 05
Strange brews, hip-hop history, and the perfect bowl of ramen
Wow, there’s so much happening in the city right now, it was tough putting the Must List together — which is not a bad problem to have. For instance, folksinger and songwriter Ani DiFranco takes the stage at The Moore this Saturday, Feb. 1. GRINDHAUS, a wild mix of drag and performance art, hits The…
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