Winter at Golden Gardens Park
Ten years ago, when I lived in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, I was in between things. In between relationships. In between apartments I actually liked. At the end of one job and the beginning of another. In between the earth and the sky. That’s just how I feel when I walk at Golden Gardens Park in Ballard this time of year. In […]
Street Entertainment at Pike Place Market
At Seattle’s Pike Place Market, we all know that fish get thrown down the hallway. But the best action happens out on the sidewalks. The sidewalk musicians are called “buskers,” an English term meaning street performers. A busker might be a juggler, puppeteer, musician, or mime, or may combine a few of these entertaining activities as […]
The Best Macarons in the Northwest
Currant Pistachio. Salted Caramel. Fleur de sel! Where do you find the most elegant and flavorful French macarons outside of Paris? In the Pacific Northwest! These colorful little gems are popping up at bakeries throughout Seattle and Portland. When I happen upon a new bakery that specializes in French pastries, I always sample their macarons. In the Northwest, […]
5 Cheap, Great Dates in the Northwest Great Outdoors
It’s February, the month when sweethearts everywhere exchange symbols of their affection, from heart-shaped boxes of chocolates to richly-embellished cards. And that’s all before noon. When the sun goes down hand-holding over fancy dinners booked weeks in advance will commence, perhaps followed by a little nooky by candlelight for the lucky ones. A traditional Valentines Day […]
Seattle’s Lunar New Year Celebration
It’s the Year of the Snake. My friend Shane Farnor captured this lion dancing in Seattle’s Chinatown/International District as part of the Lunar New Year Festival this past weekend, along with plenty of kung fu, firecrackers, and lanterns.
Fishing in the City
Perhaps you’ve seen them fishing off the pier along Ruston Way in Tacoma, or casting from the beach in West Seattle. Have you wondered what those people are fishing for? That depends on the season. And of course, the time of day. This coming August we’ll host a run of pink salmon in Puget Sound. They surge into our […]
Ten Essentials for Surviving the Northwest Rain
Drip, drip, drip. In autumn, we wait for the inevitable. We wait, patiently, for the rain to come and stay. The days on end of grey. The constant puddles to dodge. And once winter is here, it’s here for days on end. Months, even. And then we wait, patiently, for the rain to end. The sun will […]
Q: Day Trip to Bainbridge Island?
Dear TripFinder, Q: We live in Seattle and will host out of town guests over an upcoming weekend. Our guests would like to get out of town a little, and we’re pondering a day trip to Bainbridge Island as a possible outing. We’re hopelessly urban, so we need your help! What’s there to do over […]
Favorite Shops for Gifts at Seattle’s Pike Place Market
When you step into Seattle’s Pike Place Market, you step into the heart and soul of the city. Everything is here – our gardens, our art, our sea, our food, our music, our people… our history. “The Market” as locals call it, bursts with vitality in summer months, with the freshest flower bouquets and the […]
Seattle’s Best Brunch
Is there a topic (besides politics) that Seattleites have stronger opinions on than where you will enjoy the best brunch in town? I think not. There’s something gravitational about a favorite neighborhood brunch spot. One’s loyalty to their weekend wake-up call is fierce! During the years I lived on Seattle’s Phinney Ridge, I couldn’t have fathomed a Saturday morning […]
