December 2016

Betty MacDonald: Once, Bigger Than Semple

Betty MacDonald, more popular than Maria Semple in her time, is the subject of a new biography

Seattle’s MacDonald: Movies based on her books sold about as many tickets as those for Quentin Tarantino’s flicks

Tim Appelo

2016: The WTF Year in Review

#manintree perhaps best summarizes the overall WTF zeitgeist of 2016

Seattle Magazine Staff with Jake Laycock, Rebecca Ratterman and Eva Seelye

A Brief History of Rotary Viewpoint Park’s Totem Pole

There’s more to West Seattle’s totem pole than meets the eye

Robin Young’s totem pole in West Seattle; in 2009, it was recovered along with a second stolen totem, Renton’s Henry Moses Honoring Pole, which was also put back up

Jake Laycock

Cuniform, a Sustainable Styling Agency, is Goodwill Indeed

Stylists Christine Tran and Colton Dixon Winger are paying it (fashion) forward

Winger and Tran in their farm-to-table threads

Jennifer McCullum

Billy Footwear Adaptive Shoes Take Anyone, Anywhere

Billy Price designs adaptive shoes that work for anybody

The zippered shoe designed by Billy Price appeals to kids who need help with laces, grown-ups with arthritis and anyone in a hurry

Sarah Murphy

Cider House Rules, Seattle Style

As Northwest hard ciders evolve, so do the flavor profiles at a growing number of local cider bars

A tasting flight from Citizen Six

Kendall Jones

Uniting Music Lovers and Makers Through Tech

Two websites that curate alternative shows create community and revenue for musicians

Seattle’s Stacey Mastrian sang at Carnegie Hall, the Vatican, and for GroupMuse, on a Queen Anne porch

Sarah Murphy

Food We Love: Tonkotsu Ramen at Arashi Ramen

Warm up with this aromatic, velvety bowl of comfort

The velvety tonkotsu ramen at Arashi Ramen (Tukwila and Ballard), with pork belly, egg and a side of chicken karaage

Jessica Yadegaran

Corvus and Co.’s Antivenom Cocktail Recipe

Savor the herbaceous highlights of this multilayered bourbon- and vermouth-based cocktail

Izzy Guymon in his animal-themed bar, Corvus and Co., on Capitol Hill

AJ Rathbun

Seattle Seawalls No Longer a Shore Thing

Bulkheads and other forms of ‘armoring’ line 92 percent of Seattle’s marine shoreline. Removing these can help restore habitat for endangered species—but can also erode land. Not surprisingly, some homeowners are resisting

walled off Most of Seattle’s marine shoreline has some kind of armoring like this seawall in West Seattle. Armoring is sometimes necessary but can also degrade habitat for for bugs, birds and fish

Maria Dolan

Seattle Companies Seek Opportunities in Virtual Reality

Virtual reality offers a different way to see the world. Seattle companies are jumping on board—and believe it will change the way we live

In the not-too-distant future, virtual reality may immerse kids in educational experiences and help them explore the universe in a whole new way

Connor Raikes and Drew Atkins

Value-Based Health Plans: Healing Medicine?

Our medical costs are out of control. Some local companies are trying value-based health plans. Are they the answer?

Sabrina McKinney faced an important decision two years ago. It was Boeing’s annual open enrollment period, when employees choose a health plan for the following year. McKinney, now in her 39th year with the company, chose something new: a “value-based” health plan. It meant a small monthly health insurance deduction from her paycheck and access…

Elaine Porterfield and Leslie Helm

Join The Must List

Arts: Picture Perfect

Robin Layton is nothing short of a Seattle treasure

Much like capturing the perfect moment on film, photographer Robin Layton’s life is a series of moments that are almost hard to believe. Some would call them coincidences, and others, instances of fate. Remember that iconic photo of a grinning Ken Griffey sliding across home plate (“The Smile at the Bottom of the Pile”) to…

Rachel Gallaher

Sea-Tac drops in latest J.D. Power survey

Airport rankings fall from last year

A friend who recently flew out of Sea-Tac International Airport told tales of long lines, unhappy fellow passengers, and an unfortunate bag mix-up. He literally had to buy a new suit for a business meeting once he reached his destination. I heard a similar story from another friend whose family flew internationally on vacation this…

Rob Smith