March/April 2026
Seattle’s Vietnamese Coffee Wave
Rooted in history, evolution, and flavor, the city’s current bean boom is more than a caffeine fix.
While the number of Vietnamese coffee shops in Seattle has risen in the past few years, the beverage itself is not a new phenomenon in the region. Many Vietnamese restaurants in South Seattle have long served the beverage alongside other traditional dishes, such as bánh mì and pho. In fact, Bao Nguyen, shopkeeper of the…
Up In Smoke: The Little-Known Story of Seattle’s First Marijuana Initiative
A 1974 ballot campaign came up short, but helped set the stage for legal weed in Washington.
Like many American cities in the early 1970s, Seattle was once a hotbed of political and civil unrest. This era of discontent officially kicked off on May 5, 1970—one day after the Ohio National Guard shot students at Kent State University, killing four and wounding nine. In response, thousands of Seattle-area student protestors shut down…
Trupanion CEO Margi Tooth Leads the Pack
As the CEO of the largest pet insurer in the United States understands the importance of collaboration—and building a trusted team.
Growing up on a farm in the United Kingdom, Margi Tooth dreamed of channeling her love for animals into a career as a veterinarian. Although she took a different path—working in market research and business development before moving into the insurance sector—she still ended up with a job that helps animals. Tooth is the CEO…
Photo Essay: Ferry Therapy
Words and photographs by Anna Starr.
Riding the ferry is my favorite Seattle pastime. At any given time on a Washington State Ferry you will find a group of tourists with too many suitcases, someone in work clothes peacefully napping, a jigsaw puzzle diligently being completed, lovers having a Titanic-esque moment on a balcony (fun fact: those balconies are called pickleforks),…
The Warmest Welcome: Why You Should Visit the Tri-Cities This Year
Just a few hours away from Seattle, this robust community offers great wine, a budding food scene, and more than 300 days of sun.
There is a point, when I’m traveling along Interstate 82 (I-82), somewhere around Exit 26, when I usually notice a shift in the light—especially in the wintertime. Coming out from the pass and heading south to leave the flat, cloud-shrouded gray of Western Washington behind, I feel a burst of happiness at the blue skies…
Space to Play: A 900-Square-Foot Kirkland Studio Opens for Creators
Play Studios, founded by Christabelle Granadosin, gives local creators a place to shoot, edit, and build their work.
Despite the name, producing social media content can be an isolating experience. Between capturing an image or video and the hours of editing that follow, the process is challenging to pull off without a dedicated space. Local product designer Christabelle Granadosin was feeling the tedium with her photo booth venture, so she decided to launch…
Grounds for Success: Instant Coffee Brand Seoulli is Bringing Korean Café Culture to the Pacific Northwest
Liz Kang and her best friends aren’t strangers to the entrepreneurial journey. With roots in fashion, merchandising, tech, and business ownership, the local group of Korean American women grew up together dreaming about future success. Their newest venture is Seoulli, a Korean instant coffee brand that’s introducing the Pacific Northwest—and the world—to Korean café culture,…
Getting Ghosted: A New Northwest Novel Tackles Alienation in the Face of Loss
Kim Fu’s latest novel turns a rain-soaked Pacific Northwest winter into the backdrop for a story about grief and loneliness.
In their latest novel, Seattle-based author Kim Fu gets one thing right about the Pacific Northwest: the rain. Set during a particularly bleak winter, The Valley of Vengeful Ghosts tells the story of Eleanor Fan, an online therapist grappling with the recent loss of her mother, Lele. After Lele’s passing, Eleanor inherits money to put…
Better Together: This Take on Co-Housing Emphasizes Quality and Community
The Seattle project presents an out-of-the-box model, where investors are also residents, and the design focuses on longevity and tenant retention—not profit.
Growing up in rural Detroit, Chad Dale spent many after-school and weekend hours playing with neighborhood kids in an open lot near his house. It’s an experience he always hoped his children would have someday, but by the time he became a father in Seattle, land was at a premium: either already developed or prohibitively…
Paint Check: Select Alaska Airlines Planes Get a Fresh Look
The local aviation company debuts a bold Aurora Borealis-inspired livery as it expands internationally.
At the beginning of the year, Alaska Airlines unveiled its new global livery: a bold design inspired by the Aurora Borealis. Painted in a palette of deep blues and shimmering emerald greens, the sleek look is a nod to Alaska Airlines’ continued addition of international destinations, which will expand to London, Rome, and Reykjavik by…
A New Home for Seattle Artists in Pioneer Square
Actualize AiR expands its footprint with studios and a public gallery
Three years after launching Actualize Artist in Residency (Actualize AiR), founder Kate Bailey has relocated the venture to Pioneer Square. The women-led arts organization, originally opened in downtown’s Coliseum Theater, focuses on supporting emerging artists through long term residencies in free or low-cost studios. Early this year, Actualize AiR opened its new space—which spans 14,000…
Building Connection, by Design
How Angela Dunleavy’s new venture is reimagining experiential marketing—and Seattle spaces.
After two decades running restaurants, a nonprofit, and a large-scale catering operation, Angela Dunleavy reached a familiar midcareer inflection point. She had helped build Ethan Stowell Restaurants, led FareStart through the pandemic, and returned to the private sector as CEO of Gourmondo. But something still felt unfinished. “What is it that I really want to…