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Winter Escapes
These cold destinations are pretty hot this time of year
Winter in Seattle is a magical time for holiday lights, cool walks with hot beverages, and the occasional dusting of snowfall on our beautiful parks. Winter is also, paradoxically, the ideal time to get out of town. As the skies darken and the days get shorter, the lure of adventure tempts.
Here are some ideas for winter escapes that will ignite the bonfires of travel as soon as the temperature drops.
Raising Funds, Making Friends | Sponsored
Friends' Pier Party builds excitement around a stunning makeover in the heart of Seattle
Joy Shigaki spent countless hours as a child exploring Seattle’s beautiful city parks. She is now a leader in the innovative and ambitious effort to completely revitalize and transform the city’s waterfront. Shigaki is president and CEO of Friends of Waterfront Seattle, the nonprofit group helping fund, program, and steward the new 20-acre Waterfront Park….
Papa and His Pronouns
A parent works to adjust to his young daughter’s preferences
I love my daughter. Although I’m not sure she’s my daughter. I now call her my child. My little monkey. Sparky. Love of my life. My kiddo. But never, ever, my little girl, even though she attends Seattle Girls School. Because when Valen turned 11 last year, she told her mother and I that she…
A Taste of Europe Comes to Seattle for Christmas
Monthlong celebration begins the day after Thanksgiving
A scene reminiscent of old Europe will be on full display at Seattle Center this holiday season when the city’s first-ever Seattle Christmas Market opens for a monthlong celebration. Inspired by historic German Christmas markets, the Seattle Christmas Market opened Nov. 24 and runs through Christmas Eve at Fisher Pavilion and South Fountain lawn at…
How to Trim the Tree and the Waste
Ridwell CEO: Sustainability doesn’t have to be perfect. It just requires intention.
As we kick off the holiday season, it may not surprise you to learn that the most wonderful time of the year is also the most wasteful. People in the United States create 25% more garbage between Nov. 1 and New Year’s Day, which adds a staggering 4 million to 5 million tons to the…
Lake Chelan: The Ultimate Fall Getaway | Sponsored
Discover a great lake retreat
If you’re seeking a destination that seamlessly combines natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and a touch of seasonal charm, then Lake Chelan should be at the top of your fall getaway list. Nestled in the heart of the Cascades, Lake Chelan offers a picturesque escape with its breathtaking views and activities for every type of traveler….
Shop Seattle 2023
Seattle Magazine's Holiday Gift Guide: A curated selection of fun gifts from small businesses
As we jump into the holidays, take a walk with me through the city of Seattle and beyond to find the best local shops for perfect holiday gifts. Whether you’re searching for a family member, friend, or co-worker, there’s no shortage of great gifts in our beautiful city. Treats Who doesn’t love sweets? Let’s tackle…
Around the World, Sip by Sip (Part One)
Quench your thirst for travel without leaving Seattle
Whether it’s a dry rosé that evokes the sense memory of a sunbaked afternoon in Provence, or a crisp pilsner that brings back a boisterous Prague beer hall, libations transport our minds to faraway lands. The next time you go out, bring the same sense of adventure you would to travel by sampling one of…
Five Things to Eat in November
No need to wait for the holiday spread. Make every meal as comforting and celebratory as the feast ahead.
So often around this time of year, our attention turns to the holiday feast — the giant bird, abundant sides, and numerous pies — such that we forget how everyday meals can be regular opportunities to treat ourselves. Family-owned restaurants are returning to classic recipes and bringing a sense of comfort and ease to our…
Love at First Spark
Redmond pizza joint earns another honor
Italy loves Spark Pizza. The venerable Redmond restaurant has been named one of the Top 50 Pizzerias in the United States for the second consecutive year by Italian publication 50topizza.it. The online guide recognizes the best pizzerias in the world and is updated annually. Spark last year finished No. 48. It finished No. 31 this…
Black Black Friday launches in Seattle
The event is designed to boost Black-owned businesses
An initiative launched in Seattle encourages residents to spend money at Black-owned businesses, starting on Black Friday. Called Black Black Friday, the movement was organized by Laura Clise, founder and CEO of the Intentionalist, an online directory of thousands of small businesses owned by women, people of color, veterans, LBGTQ+, families, and differently abled people,…
Retail Crime in Washington the Worst in U.S.
Forbes Advisor report finds that retailers here are ‘most impacted’
A few years ago, a thief brazenly used a pair of bolt cutters to snip the wires securing several high-end purses at the former Macy’s department store in downtown Seattle. He then calmly left the store. Retail theft remains a driver of numerous store closures throughout the city — Target and Bartell Drugs are two…
What’s All the Fuss About?
Let these Seattle-area restaurants take the Thanksgiving cooking reins
The countdown kicks off earlier each year. Turkey window decals peck at the heels of the skeletons. Soggy brown leaves lay scattered across roads, sidewalks, and yards. From misty blue mornings to frigid evenings, we hear you, nature. It’s time to eat, drink, and be merry. If you’re looking to remove the stress from your…
Running in a Wetsuit, Swimming in Shoes
Swimrun has become a popular endurance sport
Four friends are sitting around a bar in Sweden, sharing a few drinks and catching up. One turns to another and says, “Do you think we can swim and run 75 kilometers up the coastline of Stockholm?” After a few more drinks and perhaps a little chest puffing, a plan was set in motion. The…
Popular Stories
Publisher’s Note: The Lost Art of Civility
How to bring back respectful discourse
Can a city be too “woke”? That’s a provocative question. If we root the term to its original definition from early 1900s to 1950s African American culture, “woke” is an adjective generally defined as “being alert to racial prejudice and discrimination.” Beginning about 10 years ago, it came to also encompass a broader awareness of…
The Gift of Experience
Think activities, not things
I’m reminded at this time of year to slow down and reflect on my life with gratitude. But the official Thursday of thanks ends abruptly, overshadowed by the frenzied Friday that starts the holiday shopping marathon. This is a dizzying prospect that you may also dread, so I offer an alternative: Consider the idea of…
Eat Your Vegetables
Make the most of seasonal produce with these recipes
The parking garage is under a vitamin shop, across the street from an apartment complex. It’s trash pickup day so the garbage cans are stinky and overflowing. A few crows bounce through puddles in the alley, waiting for me to pass so they can get back to doing whatever it is crows do when no…
The Book that Saved a Building
The Boys in the Boat has become a worldwide phenomenon as the movie prepares for a Christmas Day voyage
The new issue will be released at the end of October. Subscribe here. They journey to the old, wooden boathouse on the Montlake Cut from all corners of the country and world. As fans of the bestseller The Boys in the Boat, they want to see firsthand the more than 100-year-old structure that still sits…
Best of Seattle: 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards
Seattle magazine’s annual spotlight on the best of the city
In this annual tradition, we call out the businesses, services, and local establishments that have contributed to making our city truly unique. These awards represent the collective voice of our readers, who have cast their votes to recognize and appreciate the best of what our city has to offer. Food and Drink Best New Restaurant…
Missoula’s Moment
The city is full of amazing wilderness and a sense of adventure
The wagon trail leading from Seattle to Missoula, Mont., is well-traveled. When Missoulians crave the city slicker vibe, they pony up and head west. When Seattleites want to slow things down, they head over the pass to Zootown, as Missoula is affectionately known. There is a kinship between Seattleites and Missoulians; we love our communities…
Hidden Washington: Snohomish is Hiding in Plain Sight
A friendly, quaint, and engaging small town
As Scottish novelist and essayist Robert Louis Stevenson said, “I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move; to feel the needs and hitches of our life more nearly; to come down off this featherbed of civilization and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints.” What the great Stevenson might…
Healing the mind and body on Lānaʻi
The Spiritual island remains a welcome place of refuge
Lānaʻi has always been a sacred place. Hawaiians believed that the fertile lands of Lānaʻi were blessed by Lono, the god of agriculture. Hawaiian chiefs and their families lived on Lānaʻi, bringing spirituality and rituals to the ancient “heiau” (tall rock temple) and other religious sites. Most important, Lānaʻi was considered a place of refuge,…
Beautiful British Columbia
Loop your way around these natural wonders
In road trips, as in wheels, the circle is the perfect shape. Why retrace your steps when you have the wind in your hair and you’re off in search of new adventures? Mixed tapes are similar — carefully selected songs to be experienced in a certain order, over and over again. Pop in this Canadian…
You’re Not Doing it Wrong
Navigating the soiled nest of family life
This morning, I found myself running late as I tried to get my daughter to the bus, but I wasn’t alone in my rush. There was a parade of cars driven by grumpy, frazzled parents eager to position themselves in front of the bus before the next stop. No one wants to miss the bus….
Capturing Hope
A picture is worth more than a thousand words
A year ago, 23-year-old Anika wouldn’t have recognized the person she is today, emerging from a scattered and difficult past with deep gratitude for the support she’s received. “My journey has been broken, lots of broken roads, and very narrow,” says Anika, who asked that her last name not be used. “But I’m on a…
Editor’s Note: An Experience That Lives Forever
The world isn't always as it seems
It was Friday night after a long week. I had just arrived home. The red light was flashing on my answering machine (remember those?). I was ready for the weekend. The call crushed me. My first love, my high school sweetheart, my partner in mischief, had passed away due to complications from Multiple Sclerosis. Gwen…
‘The Answer is in Us’
Equity expert Erin Jones encourages everyone to ‘show up for one another’
Erin Jones has a unique perspective on race. She was put up for adoption after her white birth mother’s family refused to let the mixed-race child come home. She was adopted by a white couple whose parents also struggled to accept her. She was raised in Minnesota until age 5, and then moved with her…
Bernie Griffin: Still in the Spotlight
Longtime 5th Avenue Theatre Managing Director Bernie Griffin just retired, but she remains a staunch advocate for an arts community she helped create. In the latest episode of the Seattle magazine podcast, Griffin shares tales from her colorful career backstage, how live theater is inherently risky and why she always returned to Seattle after holding…
Donald Watts: A Son’s Passion
Growing up with an NBA star taught Donald Watts untold lessons. Donald is now a full-time caretaker for his father, Sonics legend Slick Watts, who suffered a devastating stroke two years ago. Donald recounts his childhood, the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome that prevented him from playing in the NBA, and his commitment to youth and community….
Doug Baldwin & Hilary Young: Champions of Change
Former Seahawks wide receiver and Super Bowl champion Doug Baldwin discusses his motivation for giving back to the community and why he’s proud to call Seattle home years after his playing days ended. He’s joined by Hilary Young of Pioneer Human Services, a nonprofit that’s become a big supporter of Baldwin’s advocacy on behalf of…
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Raising Funds, Making Friends | Sponsored
Friends' Pier Party builds excitement around a stunning makeover in the heart of Seattle
Joy Shigaki spent countless hours as a child exploring Seattle’s beautiful city parks. She is now a leader in the innovative and ambitious effort to completely revitalize and transform the city’s waterfront. Shigaki is president and CEO of Friends of Waterfront Seattle, the nonprofit group helping fund, program, and steward the new 20-acre Waterfront Park….
Preparing Middle and High School Students to Lead a Life of Learning | Sponsored
Students find their voice, passions, and potential at UPrep
At UPrep, a 6–12 private school in Seattle’s Wedgwood neighborhood, extraordinary faculty and staff are devoted to each student’s potential. At a school founded by teachers to nurture true leaders, passionate educators who possess deep expertise in their disciplines work collaboratively and strive to provide the best educational experience for students. The average class size…
AtWork! Empowers Abilities and Changes Lives | Sponsored
Innovative nonprofit fosters independence and self-worth
In the heart of Washington, AtWork! is empowering inclusion. For more than six decades, this trailblazing organization has championed disability employment services, opened doors, and dismantled barriers for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Founded on the principle that every person deserves a chance to contribute, AtWork! is rewriting the narrative around I/DD. It…
Lake Chelan: The Ultimate Fall Getaway | Sponsored
Discover a great lake retreat
If you’re seeking a destination that seamlessly combines natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and a touch of seasonal charm, then Lake Chelan should be at the top of your fall getaway list. Nestled in the heart of the Cascades, Lake Chelan offers a picturesque escape with its breathtaking views and activities for every type of traveler….