Grand Illusion is Moving — But It’s Not Going Far
Help Seattle’s volunteer-run cinema find a new home
After more than 50 years of screenings in the U District, the Grand Illusion Cinema is losing its lease. The historic arthouse, which has been a staple of Seattle’s film scene since 1970, will have to move from its 1403 N.E. 50th St. location by February 2025 — but it’s not the end of the story…
Must List: The Top 6 Events in Seattle This Week
Iconic voices, film festivals, and a hilarious new play
There’s something about the golden days of early fall — how the light gets softer, trees start changing color, and the air has that crisp bite. As you settle into the change, we’ve got some fun things for you to do…
Willamazing
Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a pinot paradise
Fall is arguably the best time to pay Oregon’s Willamette Valley a visit. Toasty summer temperatures have cooled down, grapes are busy being harvested, farm stands are stocked with fresh bounties, seasonal menus feature fall bounties, and new wine vintages are being released for tasting…
SponsoredA Tropical Reef in the Pacific Northwest
The Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion is now open
Dreading the return of “the Big Dark”? Great news: The Seattle Aquarium has you covered with the opening of its Ocean Pavilion expansion. It’s dedicated to the tropical reef ecosystems of the Coral Triangle, an area in the western Pacific so rich in marine biodiversity that it’s been called “the Amazon of the ocean.” This…
SponsoredUPrep Prioritizes Student Wellness
Comprehensive mental health support programs focus on well-being
At UPrep, a 6–12 private school in Seattle’s Wedgwood neighborhood, student wellness is central to its academic program. Each of its 705 students benefit from a robust student support program. Students have easy access to mental health support. Each grade is paired with a counselor who supports them throughout their UPrep years, fostering lasting relationships….
Seattle’s TEDx Women: Local to Global
Upcoming event is a reminder that ‘we rise by lifting each other’
Earlier this year, I returned to Seattle from crewing on an international yacht race for charity — an experience that solidified my outlook on community and collaboration. That race, and the teamwork involved with strangers from around the world set the stage for a desire to amplify unheard voices. As I settled back into Seattle, something hit me…
A Magical Ferry Tale
Explore Victoria car free with a speedy trip from Seattle via the Victoria Clipper
Located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is accessible by seaplane or by car ferry, from Port Angeles or the B.C. mainland. But thanks to the Victoria Clipper, leaving the car at home to reach the picturesque provincial capital is not only convenient but enjoyable…
‘Transformative’ Overlook Walk Opens Along Seattle’s Waterfront
The elevated walk is another sign that the massive renovation is almost complete
Seattle’s multi-billion-dollar waterfront renovation was always about connecting Pike Place Market and downtown Seattle to Puget Sound and the new 20-acre Waterfront Park. With the Oct. 4 opening of the elevated Overlook Walk, that dream has been realized…
Gym Journey
Chris Travis launched SSP to help others in the same situation he once found himself in
Chris travis remembers working 80 hours a week after starting a new job at Amazon’s Kindle division back in 2010. Not surprisingly, it took a toll on his health. He was eating poorly. He had developed a bad back, and wasn’t exercising…
SponsoredWelcome to the Finer Side of Anaheim
Where luxury knows no bounds
Centrally located and internationally celebrated, Anaheim is the vibrant city infused with Walt Disney’s original spirit of possibilities. An elevated escape with captivating experiences in the heart of Orange County. In the destination where imagination reigns supreme, Anaheim welcomes you to the pursuit of wonder-filled memories — the greatest luxury of all. Crown Collection by…
SponsoredUncommon Thinkers: Pallavi Mehta Wahi
Co-Managing Partner, U.S., at K&L Gates; Managing Partner, Seattle office, K&L Gates
When Pallavi Mehta Wahi started out as a young attorney in Seattle, she thought she’d need to downplay her interests to fit in with her colleagues. Born and raised in New Delhi, her greatest joy came from Bollywood films and Star Trek. She’s since learned that authenticity is a strength, not a weakness. “I won’t…
SponsoredUncommon Thinkers Welcome
Editor’s Note: This series is a partnership between Seattle magazine and Greater Seattle Partners, designed to recognize some of the region’s boldest Uncommon Thinkers — the inventors, artists, leaders, and entrepreneurs who are transforming communities and driving positive change throughout the world. Greater Seattle has deep cultural and economic ties with the Indian diaspora, with…
Remote Vs. In Office: The Debate Heats Up
Workers want one thing, bosses another. Something must give.
Back in March 2020, I was in charge of our entire Seattle office. I enjoyed going downtown and interacting with about 20 colleagues every day. I liked the variety of lunch options, and yes, the occasional happy hour. The choices were limitless. I fed off the energy of the city…
Seattle & Iceland Enjoy Deep Roots
Hot springs are nice, but Iceland’s new creative class is among the top reasons to visit Reykjavík, Seattle’s longtime sister city
One unusually warm afternoon this past April, I found myself in a long line outside a building in downtown Reykjavík, Iceland. Ostensibly, I was waiting for pizza…
SponsoredGet Cozy in Oregon’s Tualatin Valley
Enjoy the bounty of a unique and beautiful destination this fall
During the fall months, Oregon’s Tualatin Valley becomes a sanctuary of comfort and tranquility. Nestled among rolling hills and lush vineyards, the valley takes on a special charm during “Cozy Season.” Cozy Season in Tualatin Valley is about embracing the art of slow living. It’s a time to disconnect from the fast pace of modern…
SponsoredUncommon Thinkers: Ambika Singh
CEO, Armoire
Ambika Singh says she isn’t a natural-born risk-taker, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at her career trajectory. Since launching Seattle-based clothing and rental subscription service Armoire in 2016, Singh has grown the company by more than 300%, employs 85 people, and delivers to customers across the U.S. Meanwhile, it’s caught the attention of…
This Dish Is On Fire
Sichuanese hot pot restaurants find a warm welcome in Seattle
A larger-than-life stuffed panda keeps customers company in the hallway of Qiao Lin Hotpot as people wait for a table on a busy Saturday night in downtown Seattle. Servers bustle by with tureens of bubbling spiced broth and golden cow-shaped vessels proffering paper-thin slices of high-quality beef. Apothecary-style glass jars decorate the walls, and a few more pandas clinging to door jams interrupt the otherwise sleek, modern decor…
Cleopatra’s Story Told Through Traditional Indian Dance
The newest production from Mohini Dance School looks at the trials of the Egyptian queen
In 2013, several of Smitha Krishnan’s friends reached out, asking if she was available to teach Mohiniyattam — a form of classical Indian dance originating from the southern state of Kerala — to them and their children. A dancer since childhood, Krishnan, the artistic director of Mohini Dance School, started training in Indian classical dance at age 4, moving into Mohiniyattam six years later. In 1995…
Costco’s Gold Rush Continues
Sales of gold bullion rise again
In one of the many iconic Seinfeld episodes, comedian Kenny Bania describes a popular bit from his comedy act: “That’s gold, Jerry! Gold.” He may as well have been referring to Costco’s ever-increasing sales of gold bars. The Issaquah-based warehouse chain said in its earnings call yesterday that sales of gold bars rose “double digits”…
Popular Stories
The Houses That Fufu Built
Two Seattleites turn culinary holes in their hearts into popular West African restaurants
Fufu, the shared starch of West African cuisines, is a soft pillow of slightly stretchy dough from which eaters pull chunks to use as a utensil and blank canvas for spicy soups. It represents the long traditions of pounding tubers — plantain, cassava, taro, or others, depending on where and by whom — even when prepared from flour on the stove top. For the West African community in Seattle…
From Tahini Cream to a Tunnel Boring Machine
Three new Seattle books to cozy up with this fall
Fall isn’t just about cozy sweaters, walking on crunchy leaves at Green Lake, and masala chai from Miro Tea — it’s also when the shelves start filling up with books begging to be read. These three Seattle-connected titles should be at the top of your list. And with the holidays speeding toward us like they always do, it’s never too early to start scoping out gifts.
Hidden Washington: Leavenworth All Year
This Bavarian-style village in the Cascade Mountains offers more than just Oktoberfest and Christmas celebrations
Beyond the beer and bratwurst and lively seasonal celebrations — notably Oktoberfest with a “K” and Christmas with a heaping dose of Nutcrackers — Leavenworth is a fabulous place to spend a long weekend…
Hidden Washington: Welcome to Bothell
Small-town charm and quirky fun meet riverside relaxation just outside Seattle
Seattleites traveling on State Route 522 would recognize the famous motto on a road sign: “Welcome to Bothell…for a day or a lifetime.” That is, if the local jokesters haven’t covered up the first three letters of the town name. After decades the signage disappeared, due to accidents and construction. Finally with the backing of local merchants, the markers returned in 2018…
Nashville Beneath the Surface
Take advantage of an easy direct flight between Seattle and Music City
To a certain extent, the traveler knows what to expect when taking the direct flight from Seattle to Nashville for a long weekend. The throngs on Lower Broadway at the honky tonks, the bachelor/ette parties, the face-melting hot chicken, the Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline museums, the Grand Ole Opry. All of it is fun, and none of it is unexpected. But on a recent visit we found quiet, intimate moments of discovery in loud, rambunctious Music City…
A Flatlander Finds Inspiration
Rookie climber discovers beauty, challenge in the mountains
Sprinting down the steep slope as fast as my snowshoes would allow, I called out to a pair of fellow climbers, “Do you have any ibuprofen?” Suffering, scared, and with two aching knees, my brother-in-law, Turner, slowly made his way down to Colchuck Lake, head held high, tail between his legs…
A Seattle Architecture Weekend
A staycation for the design-inclined
Hidden among the thicket of cranes and spheres, Seattle contains an array of architectural marvels that deserve exploration. From historic treasures to contemporary masterpieces, here’s a curated itinerary to immerse yourself in Seattle’s fine design.
Editor’s Note: So Common, Yet So Underappreciated
Most of us have been, are, or will be caregivers in our lifetimes
My mother’s voice was calm, even more measured than usual. “Your father’s breathing tube came off last night while he was sleeping,” she said over the phone from Portland. “I had to take him to the hospital. He’s doing fine.”
This was almost three decades ago, and I still vividly recall not being surprised that something had happened.
Publisher’s Note: Embrace The Magic Of A New Beginning
A fresh start is a mindset as much as anything
Equal parts terrifying and hopeful. That’s how it feels to embrace a completely new career after retiring from your first line of work. For most, retirement is often seen as the end of a professional chapter, a time to downshift, smell the roses, etc. But for those willing to embark on a second or even third act, it can catalyze complete and radical self-reinvention…
Spencer Frazer: Second Act Artist Changing the World
Spencer Frazer is exemplary of multiple talents and multiple acts. Hear his journey of working on top secret government projects, to being a maker of combat knives, to finally emerging as one of the top painters in our region. Learn how he uses his art to change the world.
Peter Tomozawa: World Cup Baller Elevates Seattle, ep. 2
Peter Tomozawa, CEO of the Seattle World Cup organizing committee, chats about how Seattle snagged the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He discusses the hustle of local leaders, the importance of community support, and how the event will benefit the entire region.
Peter Tomozawa: World Cup Baller Elevates Seattle, ep. 1
Peter Tomozawa is the CEO of the Seattle World Cup Organizing Committee, responsible for readying our city for the biggest show in the world. He was also the prior president of the Seattle Sounders, and has had one of the most fascinating business careers spanning the globe. Join us as he tells us why Seattle should take center stage.
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SponsoredA Tropical Reef in the Pacific Northwest
The Seattle Aquarium’s new Ocean Pavilion is now open
Dreading the return of “the Big Dark”? Great news: The Seattle Aquarium has you covered with the opening of its Ocean Pavilion expansion. It’s dedicated to the tropical reef ecosystems of the Coral Triangle, an area in the western Pacific so rich in marine biodiversity that it’s been called “the Amazon of the ocean.” This…
SponsoredGet Cozy in Oregon’s Tualatin Valley
Enjoy the bounty of a unique and beautiful destination this fall
During the fall months, Oregon’s Tualatin Valley becomes a sanctuary of comfort and tranquility. Nestled among rolling hills and lush vineyards, the valley takes on a special charm during “Cozy Season.” Cozy Season in Tualatin Valley is about embracing the art of slow living. It’s a time to disconnect from the fast pace of modern…
SponsoredUncommon Thinkers Welcome
Editor’s Note: This series is a partnership between Seattle magazine and Greater Seattle Partners, designed to recognize some of the region’s boldest Uncommon Thinkers — the inventors, artists, leaders, and entrepreneurs who are transforming communities and driving positive change throughout the world. Greater Seattle has deep cultural and economic ties with the Indian diaspora, with…
SponsoredUncommon Thinkers: Sunny Singh
Founder, Roundglass and Edifecs
For Sunny Singh, wellness is more than his job. As the founder of Roundglass, an app that helps users work activities such as meditation, breathwork and yoga into their daily routines, health and wellness are woven into the fabric of Singh’s life. With decades of tech experience, Singh created the company in 2014 with the…