July 2018

This Renton-Based Subscription Service Brings Succulents to Your Doorstep
Each month, a new plant arrives, complete with care instructions
This article appears in print in the July 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe. Procuring and caring for small plants has become easier thanks to Urban Sprouts (Renton, 724 S Third St., Suite B; 206.789.0710). Owner Jen Stearns launched Urban Sprouts as a small, Ballard-based operation in 2015, before moving it to its current location a year later….

A Bothell Artist Is Mixing Wood and Metal to Create These Custom Furniture Pieces
Sean Carleton's work can be seen at the Bellevue Arts Museum's Artsfair, July 27-29
This article appears in print in the July 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe. Bothell artist and craftsman Sean Carleton credits his intimate relationship with nature to the years he spent growing up on a Woodinville farm. That relationship is evident in the angular, industrial-meets–Art Deco furniture and sculptural pieces of mild steel and wood he’s crafted for his…

The Ultimate Backyard Accessory? A Sauna
What makes a house a home? For one Seattle couple, the answer seems to be a personal touch, and a little heat
This article appears in print in the July 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe. A dedicated space at home for artistic endeavors is common enough in a creative city like Seattle, but a matching sauna? It was an obvious pairing for painter Natasha (who asked that we not use her last name) who was in need of a…

Meet Macklemore’s T-Shirt Guy
Graphic designer Sam Bledsoe’s eclectic style is catching the attention of hip-hop’s heavy hitters
This article appears in print in the July 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe. If there were ever someone who embodies the Seattle “cool kid,” Sam Bledsoe would be it. The graphic designer applies his artistic eye to his work at Seattle-based clothier Tommy Bahama and credits his creative outlook to growing up in the…

This Modern Outdoor Table Also Stores Your Drinks
A modern outdoor table gets its signature finish from an ancient element
This article appears in print in the July 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe. Susan Mills, owner of Susan Mills Showroom (Seattle Design Center, SoDo, 5701 Sixth Ave. S, Suite 200; 206.682.6388 ), believes outdoor furniture to be as important as what you find indoors, and options beyond the standard teak and powder-coated stainless steel to be as…

Learn How to Taste Coffee Like an Expert
Want to really know coffee? Then you’ll need to do a cupping
This article appears in print in the July 2018 issue. Click here to subscribe. Living in Seattle comes with a few stereotypical expectations, and knowing more about coffee than the average person is one of them. There’s no better way to boost your coffee cred than at a “cupping,” a coffee tasting experience equivalent to wine tasting. In…

Underneath Amazon’s Shadow, Local Retail Is Reinventing Itself in Seattle
Retailers throughout the city are getting creative in their fight for survival—and many are thriving
GETTING EXPERIENCE: The new SoDo Starbucks Reserve store is tapping into a consumer demand for experiences, sometimes called “retail-tainment”
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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…

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…