City Life
The Changing Face of First and Pike
Beautification effort aims to create a welcoming and safe environment
Sure, it’s only a few pieces of furniture, some new lighting, a bunch of colorful planter boxes, and some twirly chairs. But the latest downtown makeover — this time on Pike Street between First and Second avenues, with the iconic Pike Place Market sign in the background — is an important milestone in contributing to…
Making Cents of it All
Coinstar CEO weighs in on pennies, loose change
On one of the many iconic episodes of Seinfeld, Kramer walks into a restaurant and tries to pay the entire bill with pennies, making a mess in the process. He’s thrown out. When was the last time you used a penny? When was the last time you even walked around with change in your pocket?…
A City of Nerds? How About a City of Cool?
Why Seattle is one of the ‘coolest’ cities to visit
So, Seattle’s the nerd capital of America, huh? I’m not buying it. OK, maybe Washington leads the nation in searches for nerdy things such as cosplay, fan fiction and Rubik’s cubes. Those are geeky things, indeed. But now this study from Betway reveals that Seattle is the fifth-coolest city to visit in America. Seattle ranks…
Downtown Seattle Keeps on Winning
Slew of openings highlights downtown’s appeal, vibrancy
In another win for downtown Seattle, high-end men’s apparel retailer Suit Supply just opened a new store at the base of Rainier Tower. The Dutch menswear brand is known for high-quality tailored suits at relatively affordable prices. I have a few in my closet. The company already operates a store downtown and another in Bellevue….
The Pulse: Chasing Sunbreaks
Snow leopard cubs and rogue stop signs
The sky is so bright and blue. On days like this, everyone I run into seems especially peppy. I’ve always loved that about Seattle. We don’t take it for granted, do we? It’s a perfect time to practice my favorite Kurt Vonnegut lesson: “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.” Here’s what’s happening…
Filipino-Hawaiian-Themed Restaurant To Open in Former Highliner Space
Pidgin Cooperative will open in Fishermen’s Terminal after crowdfunding campaign
Seattle’s Fishermen’s Terminal will soon be home to a new restaurant. Pidgin Cooperative — until recently known as Brothers & Co. — will take over the space formerly occupied by Highliner Public House, which closed in February after 37 years. Pidgin is a worker-owned cooperative that operated a long-running farmer’s market hot food stand peddling…
The Pulse: After the Flash
Uni season and lightning bolts
Isn’t spring wild? The sun came out and it was warm for half a second — then the sky cracked open and dropped 1,142 lightning strikes across Washington. I had the windows open, listening to the wind and rain. What a place to live. Here’s what’s happening around town… Trump’s latest executive order sparked immediate…
The Pulse: Twilight Season
A denim party and one very chill sloth
Everyone’s talking about spring. But Seattle — this is it for now. Gray and wet, with some sun speckled in. This is what you’re built for — slick streets and layered jackets. The city is at its most handsome when it’s moody. The cherry blossoms are just starting to show, soft little rebels that they…
How to Celebrate Alien Abduction Day Like a True Washingtonian
If aliens are coming for us, we might as well be prepared
The beauty of Alien Abduction Day (AAD) is that nobody really knows where it came from, much like the aliens themselves. One day, it just appeared. And if any state should fully embrace it, it’s Washington — because according to actual data, we are the second most UFO-obsessed state in the country. The almost-reigning champs…
Back Page: Missile Misstep
Bainbridge Island residents fight missile base
Bainbridge Island residents most definitely did not want a missile base built in their community. Back in March 1969, Seattle magazine chronicled their fight, even praising them for raising awareness of national and international issues that “far transcend their private missile feud.” “If the Army goes ahead with its present plans to build a long-range…
The Pulse: March Madness
A new dart bar and a strawberry pistachio chocolate tart we all need to try
The sun is out, and Seattle is packed with things to do, eat, and see. A new dart bar is opening, and I’m planning a visit. Darts, drinks, and maybe a little friendly competition? Count me in. Here’s what’s going on around town… Have you seen our Emerald City Comic Con photos? The energy is…
Why All The Negativity About Downtown Seattle?
The numbers show that downtown is coming back
My buddy in Kirkland rarely ventures into Seattle. Ask him about downtown Seattle and he gets downright snarky. “It’s a cesspool,” he says. “Why would anyone want to go down there?” I hear comments like this all the time. And I don’t get it. Sure, downtown Seattle — like many other downtowns on the West…
The Tesla Backlash
My neighbors own Teslas. I try not to judge.
I have two neighbors who own Teslas. One is self-conscious about it. The other is not. One is anti-Trump, anti-Musk. The other is apathetic. Neither are concerned about violence, even in the wake of escalating “takedown” nationwide protests against Elon Musk, and Sunday night’s Seattle fire, which destroyed four Tesla Cybertrucks in a lot near…
Join The Must List
Sign up and get Seattle's best events delivered to your inbox every week.