We Partied for Art

I love a party, and I love art, so when the Henry Art Gallery invited me to its annual fundraising gala, it was paddle’s up from the get-go. Held on the floor of Pioneer Square’s Railspur building in a space managed by Rally, Angela Dunleavy’s latest venture (read all about it in our March/April issue, on newsstands now), the event drew the who’s who from the local art world, including photographer Robert Wade, artist Anthony White (a 2024 Most Influential pick), and arts supporter Jennfier Roberts (her recently launched artist residency Landhaus was featured in our last issue). With bites from TOMO and Edition Sushi, performances from Roll Around Seattle, Cheer Seattle, Massive Monkees, and more, the night was festive and fun, raising $300,000 (and counting!) for one of the region’s most beloved institutions. 

Photo by Joe Cosme

Bonus: Attendees walked away with made-on-the-spot, screen-printed tote bags from artist Mary Anne Carter, who created a design to look like her popular “soft sculpture” pieces, which are reminiscent of mylar balloons. I’ve been saying it for years, and it still holds up: the Henry throws one of the best parties in town. 

Photo courtesy of Feed It Creative

Sun Down, Shell’s Up

Early in our relationship, my fiancé and I took a day trip to Taylor Shellfish Farms and spent a sunny spring afternoon eating a dozen ice-chilled mollusks and sipping on white wine. It was one of those dreamy dates that would become a hallmark in our relationship (and possibly the day he made his first official appearance on my Instagram—so, obviously a big deal). Since then, we’ve been back multiple times, and introduced his son to the magical place as well. (That kid can knock back a dozen oysters at an impressive clip.) 

If you, too, are an oyster fan, then Taylor’s annual Night Tide Soiree is NOT to be missed. A special ticketed event that buses attendees up to the company’s Chuckanut Drive location, it offers a very quintessential Northwest experience: bonfires, food, and the chance to don some rubber roots and a head lamp and get out on the beach to pick your own oysters. Tours were led by members of the Taylor family (they have been farming shellfish in the Puget Sound for over 135 years), who explained the different methods for growing and harvesting oysters, and guided us out onto the muddy tidal flats to select our shellfish in large wire oyster baskets, then take them up to the shore for shucking. Say that seven times fast.  

In addition to as many oysters as you can eat (if you don’t feel like putting in the work, there is an oyster bar with multiple varieties already shucked and ready to eat), the evening offered a site-made bouillabaisse stew with sides, wine and beer, and end-of-the-night s’mores, cooked over the giant roaring bonfire keeping everyone warm. Night Tide Soiree season is sadly wrapped for 2026, but keep an eye on Taylor Shellfish’s Instagram for announcements about the 2027 events.

Of Note: A big congratulations to Taylor Shellfish Farms, which was just achieved certification from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, becoming the first certified bivalve farm in the United States. More about what that means here.

Photo courtesy of Beecher’s Handmade Cheese

The Big Cheese

Very exciting news out of Pike Place Market: beloved purveyor Beecher’s Handmade Cheese is partnering with Alaska Airlines to offer its “world-famous” Mac & Cheese on medium- to long-haul flights within North America. I don’t eat meat, so this is a welcome new option for me, but even if I did lean into carnivorous ways, who doesn’t love a comforting, melty bowl of mac? If you say no, I say you’re lying.

Image courtesy of Dylan Neuwirth

The Write Way

Local artist Dylan Neuwirth has worked in almost every medium imaginable, from music to collage, sculpture to neon, and even virtual reality. This month, he’s experimenting with one of the oldest forms around: the written word. Launching next week, and available online and through Elliott Bay Books, NOT A HOLOGRAM is a novel, kind of. It’s autobiographical, stream-of-consciousness form is very Joycean, but also very of-the-moment—there are parts that feel like you’re scrolling through a social media feed—blending the way we think, feel, and experience the world with approaches to form that artists have been exploring for centuries. In true Neuwirth fashion, he mixes new media—text messages, AI-generated writing, and e-mail—with beautifully crafted ruminations on life, addiction, family, relationships, and what really matters in this convoluted moment we’re all stumbling through. I have a lot more to say on this, so stay tuned, as we’ll be posting a more in-depth look on this project in the coming weeks.