Rob Smith
Back Page: History Repeats
Seattle Police Chief cited "accessibility of guns" as the reason for record violence in 1968
Much as it is now, gun control and street violence were controversial topics back in 1968. Seattle magazine tackled the subject head on with a series of articles exploring violence across the city. One article notes that Seattle’s reputation as an “outpost of placidity in a country of growing turmoil” was a “delusion.” “Every category…
Embracing AI
Washington residents gravitate toward artificial intelligence
Perhaps you’re caught up in the craze to generate AI supervillain images of all 50 states. Maybe you’re using AI to showcase the outdoor beauty of Washington state. If so, you’re not alone. State residents are using AI at such a robust pace that Washington ranks No. 3 in the United States in a study…
A City by Design
Seattle Design Festival seeks to create equitable, thriving communities
THE LARGEST DESIGN FESTIVAL in the Pacific Northwest is right around the corner, and organizers are asking residents to weigh in on Seattle’s future self. The Seattle Design Festival, which began in 2011, runs from Aug. 19-24. It features interactive cultural events across the city with an overarching theme of “Curiosity.” Festival organizers anticipate that…
Proof that Seattle’s Expensive
A modest night out is more than $200, and that's with a fast-food meal
If you’re planning a night out, it’s going to cost you. Seattle is among the most expensive cities for a drink, meal, and budget hotel stay, with an average cost of $210.61 — and that’s for a fast-food dinner rather than fine dining. Price-monitoring website PriceListo analyzed the cost of a median budget hotel, cab…
The Magicians of Memory
Could Alzheimer's be cured here? Maybe, right now, that's not the point
For Joel Loiacono, it’s personal. His mother died of Alzheimer’s disease. His father-in-law and several aunts and uncles battled dementia. As regional director for Eastern Washington and North Idaho of the Washington state chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Loiacono has spent the past 26 years working to reduce risk, promote early detection, and offer resources…
Essentials: Staying Power
Airbnb hosts here rake in a significant amount of money
Airbnb hosts across Washington state earned on average $16,700 last year, almost 20% more than the national average. Top-earning counties are King, Pierce, Clallam, Chelan, and Whatcom. Hosts in the U.S. earned a total of $22 billion last year. Data from Airbnb also find that nearly two-thirds of hosts use the supplemental income to cover…
Editor’s Note: The Story Continues
Julie Lewis has found a new outlet to advocate women's health care equity and access
If there’s anything Julie Lewis wants you to know, it’s this: She’s doing just fine. She has a new book out. And she’s “Still Positive.” Lewis, a 39-year survivor of AIDS and mother to Grammy Award-winning music producer Ryan Lewis, just released a book, Still Positive, with co-author Jenny Koenig. It’s a riveting memoir about…
Stoup to Buy Optimism Brewing
The planned sale allows Stoup to expand with a Capitol Hill location
Two-well known Seattle breweries are joining forces. Ballard’s Stoup Brewing has signed a deal to acquire Optimism Brewing. The acquisition will allow Stoup to open a location at Optimism’s spacious, 16,000-square-foot Capitol Hill space in August. Husband-and-wife team Lara Zahaba and Brad Benson, along with Robyn Schumacher, opened Stoup in 2013 as a cornerstone of…
Essentials: Grape Expectations at Woodinville’s DeLille Cellars
DeLille Cellars nabs an impressive list of awards
One of the region’s most popular wineries is wrapping up its 30th anniversary with a slew of notable awards. Woodinville’s DeLille Cellars — winner of Seattle magazine’s Readers Choice award for best wine tasting — recently received five top 100 accolades. Bordeaux-style blends Chaleur Estate landed at No. 48 on Jeb Dunnuck’s Top 100 and…
Back page: Things have changed in Seattle. Or not.
Seattle is grappling with the same issues half a century later
Nobody would argue that it’s very different today than it was in 1969. Or is it? In June of that year, Seattle magazine tackled several issues facing the city, including transportation, the racial divide, rapid growth, city politics, the environment and neighborhood revitalization. Sure, some of the finer points are different, but the broader debate…
Canada’s T&T Supermarket to Open First U.S. Location in Bellevue
It will become the largest Asian supermarket in the state
The largest Asian supermarket chain in Canada will open in Bellevue next year. T&T Supermarket, which just celebrated 30 years in business, operates 33 locations across Canada. Company executives say they chose the Seattle area for their first U.S. store because of the region’s robust foodie culture. When it opens in summer 2024 in the…
Essentials: Washington’s obsession with movies
Tinsel Town North
Washington residents love movies. Horror flicks in particular. Online casino guide Japan-101 analyzed search volume data for multiple phrases, terms and queries related to movies and movie genres, concluding that “Washington is one of the states most obsessed with movies.” Perhaps it’s no accident that horror movies ranked No. 1. Numerous popular horror movies have…