6 WA Cities Among Best Places To Live In U.S., Report Says
Is your city among the best places to live in the U.S.? Find out.
Charles Woodman, Patch StaffPosted Wed, Jun 2, 2021 at 1:15 pm PT|Updated Thu, Jun 3, 2021 at 10:23 am PT
Seattle placed well, but it didn't nab the state's highest slot. (Shutterstock / Agnieszka Gaul)
SEATTLE — Several Washington cities are among the places to live in the U.S., according to a recent report from Niche.
Niche analyzes and ranks hundreds of cities and communities based on factors like livability, crime rates, the housing market and trends, schools, employment and access to other amenities and resources. Rankings are based on city data from the U.S. Census, FBI, BLS and CDC.
In the 2021 report, six Evergreen State cities made the top 200, with two in the top 50. That's not as good as California, which had 8 in the top 50, but better than New York, Oregon, Hawaii, who were less visible on the list, Travel + Leisure reports.
e how Washington cities stack up:
The Woodlands, Texas
Arlington, Virginia
Naperville, Illinois
Overland Park, Kansas
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Plano, Texas
Columbia, Maryland
Berkeley, California
Bellevue, Washington
Irvine, California
Richardson, Texas
Seattle, Washington
Madison, Wisconsin
San Francisco, California
Sunnyvale, California
Raleigh, North Carolina
Boulder, Colorado
Sandy Springs, Georgia
Torrance, California
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Alexandria, Virginia
Santa Clara, California
College Station, Texas
Columbia, Missouri
Austin, Texas
Scottsdale, Arizona
Rochester, Minnesota
Round Rock, Texas
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Huntsville, Alabama
Omaha, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
Charlotte, North Carolina
Carlsbad, California
Washington, D.C.
Lexington, Kentucky
Gainesville, Florida
Boston, Massachusetts
Tampa, Florida
Irving, Texas
Atlanta, Georgia
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Paul, Minnesota
Pasadena, California
Tempe, Arizona
Charleston, South Carolina
Fort Collins, Colorado
Columbia, South Carolina
Salt Lake City, Utah
Other Washington cities that ranked well include Spokane, which came in #127, Tacoma at #153, Vancouver at #170 and Kent #195.
Niche also tracks other factors like which U.S. cities are best for families, which are most diverse and where is the best place to retire. As people consider where to relocate or travel after this past year and working from home, organizers say the list features the ideal destinations for professionals, families and retirees.
The latest report on best places to live in the country also considers the cost of living, commute, nightlife and walkability. These elements played a big role in decision-making due to the pandemic and shifts in living, working and commuting over the last year, according to the company.
"In the past year, many people have become more mobile than ever before," Luke Skurman, CEO and founder of Niche, said in a statement.
"Especially if they're able to work remotely, people are asking themselves where they really want to live," Skurman said. "Our rankings are designed to help our users find the next place they want to call home based on their unique priorities. For families, we know schools are an important factor. In addition to the Best Places to Live rankings, our comprehensive school profiles and school rankings are very valuable for families looking to make a move."
See the full list of 2021 Best Cities to Live in America.
Patch Staffer Nicole Charky contributed to this report.
School Zone Enforcement To Resume As Kirkland Students Return
Kindergarteners and first graders will return to class next week, which means drivers should watch their speeds around schools.
Lucas Combos, Patch Staff Posted Thu, Jan 21, 2021 at 11:39 am PT Patch.com
(Shutterstock/Tonktiti)
KIRKLAND, WA — Kindergarteners and first graders in the Lake Washington School District will return to the classroom next Thursday, Feb. 4, under the "Pathway Forward" to resuming more in-person instruction.
Lake Washington joins a growing number of neighboring school districts, including Bellevue, that have begun welcoming the region's youngest students back to school buildings. Families that have chosen to continue remote learning throughout the school year can expect a largely similar schedule moving forward, with some slight adjustments. Parents can learn more about what to expect on the district's website.
In Kirkland, the return to class also means police will resume speed enforcement efforts in school zones. That includes photo-enforced cameras near John Muir Elementary, Kamiakin Middle School and Rose Hill Elementary in 2019. According to the city, the initial cameras have successfully reduced speeding in school zones.
Fines for exceeding 20 mph school zone speed limits start at $136 and increase at higher speeds.
Learn more about Kirkland's school zone rules on the city's website.
The Name King County Honors Martin Luther King Jr., But It Wasn’t Always That Way
It took a rookie county council member to reimagine the region as a salute to a civil rights hero, not a slave owner.
By Allison Williams 1/25/2018 at 8:02am Published in the February 2018 issue of Seattle Met
Martin Luther King Jr. was just 32 when he visited Seattle. Before flying back to Atlanta, King reportedly ate two helpings of everything on the menu at Mitchell’s Bar-be-cue, which stayed open late.
IMAGE: DON RICE / LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION
The First Name
The Oregon Territorial legislature picked King County’s moniker before Washington was even a state, a nod to then vice president–elect William Rufus de Vane King in 1852. The Alabama senator, slave owner, and proponent of 1850’s brutal Fugitive Slave Act died at his plantation near Selma just after being sworn in as Franklin Pierce’s VP.
When King Came to Town
Samuel B. McKinney, the pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in the Central District invited his college friend Martin Luther King Jr. to the city in 1961; the activist came for three nights, November 8–11. On the agenda:
University of Washington’s Meany Hall The Seattle Daily Times noted that the “short, compactly built minister” arrived to “roaring applause” and fans seeking autographs delayed his exit.
Garfield High School Seattle Public Schools Board refused requests to prohibit the appearance of such a controversial figure.
Eagles Auditorium The now–ACT Theatre hosted King after the First Presbyterian Church rescinded its offer at the last minute, blaming construction and commitments and drawing criticism that the move was related to King’s radical activism. A First Presbyterian official apologized to the Mount Zion pastor in 1998. “We accept him into our midst as a loyal fellow American.”
A Bite of Barbecue in the Central District Over a meal, MLK told McKinney he was impressed by Seattle’s progressive African American community.
The King Way
In 1981 activist Eddie Rye Jr. collected 4,000 signatures in his bid to rename Seattle’s Empire Way after the civil rights legend. Merchants on the busy boulevard sued over the cost of new signage, but they were defeated in court soon after volunteers plastered street signs with stickers bearing the new name: Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
The Last Word
Before he became King County executive or an Obama Administration deputy secretary, Ron Sims was a newly minted King County council member with a goal: In 1986 he proposed keeping “King” but changing the county’s official namesake, honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Motion 6461 passed on February 24, though it took until 2005 for it to become state law.
Which Neighborhoods Closed 2020 the Strongest in Seattle Real Estate?
December’s sales figures capped a wild year.
By Benjamin Cassidy 1/11/2021 at 10:13am
Greenlake.
WE SHOULDN’T HAVE expected anything different from a year of upheaval, but December offered yet another example that temperatures did not align with Seattle’s real estate market in 2020. “The market is just as hot or almost as hot as it was in the summertime,” says Nicole Bascomb, the owner of Kent-based Bascomb Real Estate Group. “And that just doesn’t happen here. Usually, it cools down tremendously this time of year.”
In King County, pending sales for single-family homes and condos rose nearly 24 percent compared to December 2019, and closed sales climbed more than 28 percent, according to Northwest Multiple Listing Service’s latest figures. In Seattle the differences were even more marked: a 45 percent hike in pending deals and a 30.7 percent bump in closed ones. And median prices went up 5.8 percent year-over-year. So which neighborhoods in our city closed 2020 the strongest in sales?
Queen Anne/Magnolia might have a good argument. The NWMLS map area saw 54 single-family homes go under contract in December 2019; this past December, that number was 117. Expect a flurry of closed deals in this stretch of the city during the early weeks of 2021.
Ballard/Greenlake and North Seattle also posted some seller-friendly stats. Both drew a 44 percent increase in closings. Ballard/Greenlake had a more significant price hike than its neighbors to the north, from $705,000 a year ago to $776,500 in December. The highest proportional rise across the city belonged to Southeast Seattle, at 16.4 percent.
Which neighborhoods didn’t fare as well in December? Prices dropped slightly in Belltown/Downtown. And there were fewer closings in SoDo/Beacon Hill than a year prior (though pendings were way up).
Across the county, suburbs like Mercer Island and Kirkland/Bridle Hills recorded the largest price increases. But the exurbs drew plenty of interest too. Grant County’s pending sales rose 133 percent year-over-year, and Kittitas County’s climbed 55.3 percent.
None of which makes it easier for buyers, especially first-timers, to land a home right now. But perhaps 2021 will bring a more temperate real estate environment.
Winter-Friendly Patios on the Eastside
By Denise Sakaki | December 16, 2020
Courtesy of Spark Pizza
Restaurants are going the extra mile to make outdoor patio dining more winter-friendly for diners’ comfort in light of the gray days ahead. If they weren’t already sheltered, patios are getting tent coverings and space heaters. Capacities remain at limited numbers for safety precautions. Reservations are recommended, masks are required, and temperatures are taken at some locations.
Note: This article was written prior to new statewide COVID-19 mandates. Double-check with these venues ahead of time.
DOCK AND DRINK: WINTER EDITION: Renton’s Water’s Table is open with heated outdoor patio seating during the winter season. In addition, its sister venue Dock and Drink has transformed the lakefront boardwalk into an accessible outdoor escape. Dock and Drink will be open seven days a week and feature bistro-lit chandeliers and a heated pavilion, as well as a full menu featuring traditional Italian dishes. The restaurant is located on the first-level boardwalk at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington. Visit the website for more information and to view the winter food and beverage menu.
HEARTH: The restaurant at the Heathman Hotel is equipped with a built-in, enclosed outdoor patio. Hearth diners can continue with their happy hour hangouts and weekend brunches over woodfire-roasted menu items. Located at 220 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland.
Courtesy of Hearth
ENZO’S BISTRO & BAR: The outdoor cocktail patio is heated, and the interior dining space just got a state-of-the-art UV air filtration system installed. Now you have two places in where you can enjoy Enzo’s Italian comfort food. Located at 120 N.W. Gilman Blvd., Issaquah.
SPARK PIZZA: This favorite neighborhood pizza spot with tasty-topped pies has a covered, light-strewn patio open year-round — a seating option that has been available since its opening. Dividers have been added between tables. Located at 8110 164th Ave. N.E., Redmond.
FEAST: The French brasserie-inspired eatery has installed new overhead patio heaters to allow for outdoor dining year-round; private dining rooms are available for guests 21 and over. Located at 115 Park Lane, Kirkland.
14 Very Seattle Holiday Songs and Albums
From Bing Crosby’s 1945 classic to a new Tomo Nakayama track.
By Stefan Milne Updated 12/15/2020 at 10:01am | Courtesy of SeattleMet.com
SOME ALBUMS
White Christmas by Bing Crosby
1945
Bing was a Tacoma native who cut his teeth in Seattle and Spokane’s jazz scenes. Today you can throw a rock in his catalogue and hit some new compilation of his yuletide hits. May as well go back to the original.
Merry Christmas by the Sonics, the Wailers, and the Galaxies
1965
This compilation finds the three Tacoma garage-rock legends grinding out originals between classics. The Wailers cover the properly sentimental ballads (“Maybe This Year”), the Galaxies the jaunty optimism, while the Sonics, of course, are the ones who spiked the nog with tracks like “The Village Idiot” and “Don’t Believe in Christmas.”
The Ventures Christmas Album by The Ventures
1965
Seattle’s favorite surf band gallops through instrumental covers of Christmas classics, slipping a bit of their “Walk Don’t Run” into “Sleigh Bells.” Their take on “Jingle Bells” is just as much rock as the “Jingle Bell Rock” that follows it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year by Jimi Hendrix
1969 (recorded)
Show up mostly for Hendrix’s medley of “Little Drummer Boy,” “Silent Night,” and “Auld Lang Syne.” Hendrix could play “Chopsticks” and make it sound like gods locked in a celestial psychedelic struggle. Apparently he could do it with holiday classics too. (The other track here, “Three Little Bears,” has… nothing to do with Christmas?)
The Spirit of Christmas by Ray Charles
1985
It’s Ray Charles, who came up in Seattle’s jazz scene, singing a bunch of Christmas hits. I mean, c’mon.
Miracles: The Holiday Album by Kenny G
1994
I cannot actually personally recommend this album—which is merely Kenny being Kenny, churning out classics in jazz so smooth it feels unctuous—but it is one of the best-selling records to come out of this region (platinum 8 times over), and by 2016 was the Billboard’s second best-selling Christmas album ever (after Elvis).
Blackest Winter by SassyBlack
2015
This three-song rejoinder to the whiteness of Christmas music is the sort of Bandcamp riff SassyBlack excels at, oriented around loopy grooves. See also Sassy’s “Kwanzaa Song,” released this summer.
It’s Christmas Time by Deep Sea Diver
2015
The local quartet’s EP features three classics and one original, “It’s Christmas Time (and I Am Still Alive).” Singer Jessica Dobson’s voice is the draw, soaring, murmuring, and galvanizing some typical indie rock backing.
IMAGE: COURTESY SUICIDE SQUEEZE
Dark Sacred Night by David Bazan
2016
If the Ventures indiscriminately crank the tempo and vibe of any track they play, Bazan goes the other way on this album. This collection of classics is slow, lonesome, haunting—often just his aching voice and a lo-fi guitar or piano. Damn if it isn’t pretty, though.
Gimme What I Want by Lisa Prank and Seattle’s Little Helpers
2017
Lisa Prank’s bright, high-schooly pop punk seems built for Christmas, all cheer and whimsy and unembarrassed longing. Here Bree McKenna (of Tacocat) and Tristan Jemsek (of Dogbreth) assist on Prankian takes on Christmas classics. Consider, for instance, this EP’s “Cute Drummer Boy”: “Met him at the record store pa rum pum pum pum.”
Halftime for the Holidays by Dude York
2017
This nine-song album from the Seattle trio is a tight set of punk pop cheer, whether the band is bending a DOA song into “Takin’ Care of Christmas” or knocking out a version of “Silent Night” you can fist pump to. Of special interest this year: “Long Distance Christmas.”
SOME SONGS
“O Holy Night” by Brandi Carlile
2014
Brandi singing a cappella. Again, c’mon.
“Let Me Sleep (It’s Christmas Time)” by Pearl Jam
1991
For nearly 20 years, starting in 1991, Pearl Jam sent its fan club members holiday singles. This first one is among the best; Eddie Vedder’s yearning mumbles make a surprisingly good match for a holiday track. It’s presumably about someone trying to wake him up, maybe when he was a kid, but I can’t understand what the hell he’s saying. It definitely involves sleep. And Christmas time.
“Paper Snowflakes” by Tomo Nakayama
2020
Acoustic guitars and angel-voiced Nakayama singing about Christmas this year: “I’m hanging the lights on my window and thinking about the good times. My darlin’ there’ll be so many more if we just make it through these hard times.” Are you a weeping little socially distanced mess yet?
Hello, World!
Where to See Holiday Lights in and Near Seattle
From classical glimmer to an illuminated velociraptor. By Carli Ricker Updated 12/4/2020 at 9:36am
IMAGE: COURTESY PIKE PLACE MARKET
SEATTLE
Pike Place Market
DOWNTOWN
As one of Seattle’s most famous photo backdrops, it seems fitting that Pike Place will dress up for the holidays. Throughout December, the market’s nine acres will glow with holiday lights and decorations.
Downtown Holiday Lights and Delights
DOWNTOWN
A socially distanced holiday celebration means a livestreamed tree lighting and augmented-reality winter wonderlands. Light sculptures can still be viewed in-person at Westlake Park.
15 Seconds of Stardom
DOWNTOWN
The huge star remains on the building that used to hold Macy’s downtown. Now, you can program it with a custom light show for 15 seconds (or more) for $15 (or more). Some of the proceeds go to Mary’s Place, which works to help women and families out of homelessness.
Campus Luminata
LOWER QUEEN ANNE
The sun setting at 4:30pm isn’t exactly ideal, but it does give more time to roam the Seattle Center’s grounds to view glimmering trees and a winter light display at Cornish Playhouse.
Wildlanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
PHINNEY RIDGE
In a year full of adapting and reinventing, Woodland Park Zoo has created a new holiday light experience: Wildlanterns. Instead of the usual thousands of twinkling lights, guests will see some of the zoo’s beloved animals, like a bear or tiger, as illuminated lanterns scattered throughout the property.
Wildlanters at Woodland Park Zoo. IMAGE: JANE SHERMAN
Candy Cane Lane
RAVENNA
While huge, flashy displays are fun, there’s something quintessentially Christmas-like about seeing holiday lights in a neighborhood. The residents of Ravenna’s Candy Cane Lane might even match the level of holiday spirit of the neighbors from Christmas with the Kranks.
Starlight Lane
SODO
While fans of the Seahawks and Sounders haven’t been able to visit the rebranded Lumen Field (the stadium formerly known as CenturyLink) to see their favorite stars play, Lumen is opening its garage for a drive-through lights and lasers display—with synchronized music, of course.
ELSEWHERE
Evergreen Christmas Lights
ONLINE
For those who still want to see holiday lights but would rather not brave a Washington winter night, Evergreen Church has constructed a completely virtual light show. This might be the comfiest option for holiday light viewing.
Snowflake Lane
BELLEVUE
Whether you want to step out and walk or just roll through in the shelter of a car, the Bellevue Collection’s Snowflake Lane will still be open to help create some holiday magic. This year won’t have the nightly parade and performers, but there will still be lights, music, and a nightly dusting of “snow.”
IMAGE: COURTESY POINT DEFIANCE ZOO
Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium
TACOMA
With more than 700,000 lights, Zoolights has created a giant tiger face, a tunnel of lights, and a mini-replica of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Timed tickets help make sure all these creations can be viewed fully and while six feet from others.
Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park
The sparkling spectacle of Fantasy Lights stretches across a two-mile drive. There will be the usual displays of Santa and reindeers flying over cars, but new this year is a velociraptor. Because why not have a Christmas dinosaur?
Burien Town Square Park Holiday Lights
BURIEN
Town Square Park may be on the smaller side but its holiday lights can still provide a heavy dose of cheer.
Where to Order Christmas (Eve) and Hanukkah Meals for Takeout in Seattle
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK BY KIIAN OKSANA
Your dreams of eating prime rib whilst wearing sweatpants just might come true this year.
By Allecia Vermillion Updated 12/10/2020 at 9:24am
IF YOU’RE PLANNING a special holiday meal and want to support local restaurants—well, you might as well achieve both those aims at once, right? Here is a collection of restaurants in the city doing special takeout menus for Christmas or Hanukkah. We will update these as we receive more information, though this list is by no means comprehensive. You can always call a beloved spot to see if they have anything on tap, or if they can prep a family-size portion of your favorite side dish...or nachos. We’re not judging.
HANUKKAH
Dingfelder’s Delicatessen
Kosher entrees? Matzo ball soup? Latkes by the dozen? Vegan latkes by the dozen? Capitol Hill’s titan of a deli offers a huge menu of Hanukkah fare, from a la carte latke sides to an entire box of dinner complete with dreidel, gelt, and wine. Order online. Capitol Hill
Schmaltzy’s Delicatessen
OMG a Hanukkah cookie decorating kit. Pipe blue and white icing onto dreidel and star-shaped cookies, or (and?) preorder a batch of this Fremont deli’s foundational latkes. Email info@schmaltzy’s.com to place orders. Fremont/Ballard
Terra Plata
Tamara Murphy is embracing Hanukkah with a limited menu of challah, latkes, brisket, matzo ball soup, and sufganiyot. Check the restaurant’s Facebook for more details, but she’s definitely up for single-person orders. Capitol Hill
Zylberschtein’s
This absolutely lovely Pinehurst deli can dispatch a full-on brisket-and-latke celebration dinner, or sufganiyot, latkes, knishes, or rugelah from their a la carte menu. Order online. Northgate/Pinehurst
CHRISTMAS AND CHRISTMAS EVE
The Lakehouse
Jason Wilson’s chic restaurant at the W in Bellevue has assembled a prime rib menu (also: twice-baked potatoes, cheesy roasted brocooli, winter greens, and cranberry butterscotch tarts) you can order for one or two people. The add-ons include a strata to throw in the oven Christmas day. Order online. Bellevue
Limoncello
An Italian-style Christmas Eve begins with cannelloni, then your choice of ham, lamb, or turkey. Call 206-492-0522 (or email limoncelloseattle@gmail.com) to order the menu for two, four, or six people. Belltown
Pioneer Square D&E
The uber versatile restaurant assembled an uber versatile menu, with complete dinners that center on prime rib, whole trout, or smoked king crab legs, plus a few heat-at-home dishes for Christmas Day and add-ons like pie, oysters, or (why not?) a half pound of bacon. Order on Tock. Pioneer Square
Salty’s on Alki
A $70 two-person meal kit of both ham and turkey comes with all manner of fixings; you can opt for extra helpings of certain dishes, or go big with some extra prawn cocktail, crab legs, or lobster tail. Order online. West Seattle
Le Coin
The undersung gem of a bistro in the former Roux (and former former Buckaroo Tavern) space is putting on a family-size menu of prime rib, duck leg, and a deluxe lineup of sides. Maybe round it out with a cocktail kit? Order on Tock. Fremont
84 Yesler
Pioneer Square’s elegant newcomer is all about prime rib this holiday, namely a two- or four-person package of oven-ready roast, creamed spinach, potato gratin and fixings. Order on Tock. Pioneer Square
Altura
Chef Nathan Lockwood brings the multicourse meal format to your dining room with a $125 per person menu you can “spruce up” with caviar or white truffles…or wine pairings. Order online. Capitol Hill
Mamnoon
The modern Middle Eastern restaurant’s take on Christmas means a spiced leg of lamb ready to roast, sides like brussels sprouts tabbouleh and roasted eggplant and tahini, and baklawa for dessert. The $175 package feeds four or five diners, or order dishes a la carte. Capitol Hill
All Things Ethan Stowell
A four-pound prime rib stars in an expansive spread of salad, vegetables, leek bread pudding, and sweets. The $250 package feeds five or six. Get after those add-ons if you like jumbo prawns, oyster, or steamed Dungeness. Pick up at Bramling Cross. Ballard.
Eden Hill Provisions
A $175 box, prepped by this careful Queen Anne kitchen, outfits four diners with salads, sides, a brandy and apricot glazed ham, triple chocolate–peppermint brownies, and flowers for the table. Yep, there are definitely add-ons available. Order online for pickup or delivery on December 24. Queen Anne
El Gaucho
The newly relocated fine dining stalwart made its tradition of chateaubriand a takeout affair, along with a classic Caesar. Order this, or a four-person prime rib dinner for Christmas or Christmas Eve; order by noon on December 20 and pick up the afternoon of the 24th. Downtown/Belltown/Pike Place Market
Haymaker
Brian Clevenger’s West Seattle restaurant has a full menu of prime rib, potatoes dauphinoise, sides, and fancy blondies available for pickup at $65 each (with drink add-on options). Email hello@generalharvestseattle.com to order. West Seattle
The London Plane
An a la carte menu sets you up with mains, sides, dessert, even flowers. Honey-glazed smoked coppa and baked Dinah’s cheese with fig compote feels like a holiday tradition in the making. Order online for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Pioneer Square
Paragon Seattle
Design your own multicourse menu meal kit with a super flexible lineup of dishes (lambchetta, whole stuffed fish, beetroot and blue cheese salad) you take home and prep following detailed instructions. Assemble an order online...and maybe throw in a martini or sparkling wine. Queen Anne
Zylberschtein’s
Why yes, this is a Jewish deli. No reason they can’t ply you with a full-fledged meal of roast beef, parsnips, biscuits, and brussels sprouts with bacon(!). A holiday cookie box might be the best add-on in the world. Order online. Northgate/Pinehurst
Ba Sa
If crab banh beo gratin and Vietnamese bison bo kho stew sounds like an ideal Christmas Eve situation, Bainbridge’s modern Vietnamese kitchen is happy to oblige. Order dinner menus for two or four people by Monday December 21. Bainbridge Island
Goldfinch Tavern
Order Christmas Eve or Christmas day meals by December 17; Tock can walk you through a host of two-person options, add-ons, cocktail kits, and a kids menu. Downtown
Spinasse
That legendary tajarin, braised beef cheeks, and tiramisu come with easy heat-at-home instructions. Even better, you can order up until 8pm on December 23. Aww and a spread of cookies, ice cream, and boozy eggnog helps support the Forgotten Children’s Fund. Order on Tock. Capitol Hill
Seastar
A slate of two-person packages let diners go the sushi and char siu chicken fried rice route, opt for a salmon and caesar-driven menu, or go big with lobster and filet mignon. Why yes, all these options do come with wine. Bellevue
John Howie Steak
Prime rib or chateaubriand packages feed four to six people, and come with a host of add-on options. Call 425-440-0880 to order. Bellevue
Beardslee Public House
Four diners’ worth of rustic Christmas fare (wedge salads and roast beef, ham and mac and cheese) come with various add-ons. Bothell
Metropolitan Grill
Kubota ham, lamb, prime rib, and chateaubriand form the center of holiday kits that come with sides, dessert, and heating instructions. Preorder online. Downtown
Hearth
The Kirkland restaurant offers four courses of Christmas for $55 per person; diners can choose between ham or short rib medallions; kids can bypass all that in favor of mac and cheese. To preorder, call 425-284-5900. Kirkland
Water’s Table
Dine outside, or preorder three-course dinners, which are available in three price points. Renton
Dock and Drink
Th takeout (and outdoor dining) menu at Water’s Table’s casual sibling acknowledges Christmas as a day of watching football; preorder loaded tots, wings, or various flatbreads. Renton
Carillon Kitchen
Order a full-on turkey dinner, or New York striploin menus, priced per person, by December 18. Kirkland
MEATS, SWEETS AND OTHER FUN EXTRAS
Shug’s Soda Fountain
Pike Place Market’s lovely sundae and egg cream shop has devised series of ice cream–centric gift boxes have themes like cocoa, boozy floats. Order on Tock. Pike Place Market
Lil Red’s
If you just need a brilliant piece of meat to anchor dinner, this Jamaican–barbecue–soul food mecca is taking orders for whole hams (8 or 10 pounds) and prime rib—boneless, and cut and tied to your specs, minimum size 2 pounds. Call 206-760-2931 to order by December 18. Columbia City
3 to See: Redmond Lights, A Holiday Movie, and the Issaquah Reindeer Festival
By Nicole Martinson | December 3, 2020 | 425Magazine.com
Courtesy of Cougar Mountain Zoo via Facebook
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Tune in to a live-stream of A Christmas Carol via the Valley Center Stage. The North Bend nonprofit theater is asking for donations of any amount for tickets to the stream on Dec. 5. The stream will also be available in a recorded format until the day after Christmas. See other specifics and secure a ticket here.
REINDEER FESTIVAL
The Cougar Mountain Zoo will continue with the Issaquah Reindeer Festival this year, using individual ticket times to cap attendance capacity. Santa and Rudolph will be outdoors posing for photos in a sleigh. Families can see the zoo’s animals and enjoy holiday decorations and activities. Reserve tickets on the Cougar Mountain Zoo’s website.
REDMOND LIGHTS
Redmond Lights kicks off Dec. 4. Festive lights, art, and decoration will dress downtown from Cleveland Street and 164th Avenue Northeast through the Redmond Town Center. Several local businesses will decorate and host contests, and Santa will make an appearance. Check out details on the City of Redmond’s website here.
Holiday events with a pandemic twist
Not everything is canceled. Consider these celebrations.
BY: NAT RUBIO-LICHT | Updated: November 25, 2020 | SeattleMag.com
Image Credit: 400tmax/iStock
The holidays are a bit different this year, but there are still plenty of activities to choose from. Some holiday events and organizations in Seattle have switched to digital or socially distanced programming. From the annual performances of “The Nutcracker” to a stroll down Snowflake Lane, here are a few options to bring some holiday cheer while remaining safe.
Build a candy-covered gingerbread house
If your family has a sweet tooth, consider the KidsQuest Children's Museum’s Gingerbread Candy Shoppe. Hosted in Bellevue Square, choose all your favorite sweets in its classic candy shop and take home a gingerbread house building kit.
Candy shop visits and gingerbread kits cost $45 for KidsQuest members and $50 for non-members. Families can book a visit time from Dec. 16 to Dec. 19.
Pacific Northwest Ballet’s virtual showing of “The Nutcracker”
The Pacific Northwest Ballet is bringing the iconic performance of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” to your screens at home. Starting Dec. 18 for regular ticket holders and Dec. 11 for Digital Performance Plus buyers, viewers can dive into a “candy-filled dreamland.”
Regular tickets cost $39$ and Plus tickets cost $55. The Plus tickets include Olivia’s reading list, a gallery of costume sketches by designer Ian Falconer and videos of the dancers discussing their roles. Streaming ends Dec. 26.
Watch the Westlake Center tree lighting from home
Watch the Westlake Center tree lighting from your home. Due to state regulations on public gatherings, the Downtown Seattle Association has canceled the public event. However, KIRO-7 will broadcast the lighting of the tree and Westlake Park light sculptures live.
Virtual festivities begin at 5 p.m. Nov. 27.
Take a virtual photo with Santa
Picture Me Santa is partnering with The Landing in Renton to provide families with photos with Santa from home. Upload an uncropped photo of you or your child to Picture Me Santa’s website to get a photoshopped picture. The photo submitted must have a white backdrop.
Pictures with Santa start at $29.99 for one person in the photo and an additional $6 for each other person. Prints come in the mail in three to seven days. The Landing in Renton is offering a $5 discount, using the code “SANTATL” at checkout.
Check out the lights on Snowflake Lane
Though Snowflake Lane will not have a parade or performers this year, the lights will still be bright for all to see. Starting Nov. 27, every night between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., lights and music will bring holiday cheer to Bellevue Way, presented by The Bellevue Collection.
The drive or stroll is free for all, but The Bellevue Collection asks that viewers wear a mask and observe social distancing for safety. The display will be available until Dec. 24.
Take an Instagram-able winter selfie
To get into the winter spirit, downtown Seattle shopping center Pacific Place is offering 20 selfie spots throughout the shopping center. You can take family selfies with winter animals, modern wreaths, holiday marquees and lit up trees, with photo spots for your pets as well.
You can enter photos in Pacific Place’s holiday photo contest. Tag your photos on Instagram with @pacific_place throughout the month of December to be entered for a chance to win a $100 gift card from the store or restaurant in the shopping center. Four winners will be randomly chosen and notified by Jan. 7 via Instagram direct message.
These Seattle Restaurants Offer Takeout Thanksgiving Dinner
Big gatherings might be dicey, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stuff yourself with mashed potatoes and pie. Plus, a few in-person options.
By Allecia Vermillion and Erin Wong Updated 11/17/2020 at 10:38am
IMAGE: JORDAN KAY
THANKSGIVING DINNER can be a fraught experience, even in the best of times. And these...ain’t that. As Covid restrictions curtail travel, more of us will be sticking around for the holidays; some hyper-organized restaurants have begun formalizing their turkey-related offerings. We’ll add to this list as more spots confirm Thanksgiving details.
THANKSGIVING DINNER, TO-GO
All Things Renee Erickson
The chef’s Sea Creatures restaurant group is marshaling several of its restaurant kitchens for a combined Thanksgiving meal kit. A brined, oven-ready turkey comes with Bistro Shirlee cranberry sauce, beef gravy from Bateau, mashed potatoes, stuffing, a Local Roots radicchio salad, pumpkin pie, and rolls from house bread savant Ben Campbell. The whole shebang serves 8-10 people; order on Tock and pick up at Willmott’s Ghost. Denny Regrade
All Things John Howie
Classic, careful, eight-ish person menus are the order of the day at Seastar and John Howie Steak in Bellevue, not to mention Beardslee Public House in Bothell. The famously philanthropic chef usually shuts down his Seastar restaurant to serve three-course meals to food-insecure guests. This year, every Thanksgiving meal purchased will support family meals for Hopelink and Northshore Senior Center. Bellevue, Bothell
All Things Edouardo Jordan
Local favorites Salare, JuneBaby, and Lucinda’s Grain Bar present the ultimate array of Thanksgiving sides: JuneBaby’s mac and cheese, collard greens, and sorghum yams; Salare’s mashed potatoes and green bean casserole; and Lucinda’s Nancy Lee rolls (plus an option to add Lucinda’s apple and sweet potato pies). Preorder by Monday, November 16 for a complimentary bottle of wine or by Monday, November 23 at noon. Ravenna
Addo
Few chefs match Eric Rivera for hustle, so it’s no surprise his virtual restaurant and pantry already has a full a la carte Thanksgiving situation that ranges from prime rib to spatchcocked turkeys to sides and candied apple ice cream. Addo also offers delivery...and its own Butterball-style hotline (via text). Ballard, Various
Artusi
Make your own turkey and call upon Spinasse’s sibling cocktail hangout to set you up with drinks and snacks. A two-person menu of appetizers plus a trio of two-person cocktail kits promises one hell of a good evening. Order on Tock or by calling 206-251-7673. Capitol Hill
Ba Sa
Bainbridge Island’s destination-worthy Vietnamese restaurant offers a remixed version of your classic Thanksgiving feast, including roasted duck, Szechuan jalapeño sausage, and honey walnut prawn toast. For dessert, an almond cassava cake, and to drink, why not pop a bottle of champagne? Customize orders as you like by Monday, November 23. Bainbridge Island
Bluwater Leschi
The Lake Washington stalwart will dispense family-style meals for takeout: Six people’s worth of turkey, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, pie, and more. Dinner is $175, or about $30 a person and comes with a bottle of Oregon pinot. Call 206-328-2233 to order. Leschi
Cafe Flora
At Madison Valley’s vegetarian landmark, two-person Thanksgiving menu boxes come in vegetarian and vegan/gluten-free iterations, plus you can add on various pastries, like pie or coffee cake. A portion of each order benefits Real Rent Duwamish. Order before 5pm on November 18. Madison Valley
D&E Pioneer Square
Smoked turkey rules the day at this quietly spectacular Pioneer Square hangout; order it as part of a traditional family-style package, or off the list of a la carte items so you can double down on gravy and dressing. Pioneer Square
Goldfinch Tavern
Fitting that Ethan Stowell’s restaurant at the Four Seasons would start this lavish meal with a pasta course, followed by various two-person protein options. Though the companion kids menus (chicken strips and broccoli) don’t sound half bad, either. The two-person menu comes with a host of enhancement options, and instructions to heat at home. Downtown
Hearth at the Heathman
Four-course meals (short rib or turkey, with brussels sprouts, soup, and pumpkin tartlette) get boxed up at the Kirkland hotel, along with special kids menus. Preorder by November 24. Kirkland
The Lakehouse
Turkey for one? That’s absolutely a thing at Jason Wilson’s chic spot in Bellevue, though you can order this heat-at-home menu for groups of four or eight as well. Pick it up curbside, and/or throw in a few fall cocktails from sibling Civility and Unrest. Bellevue
Lark
From James Beard winner John Sundstrom, a customizable Thanksgiving extravaganza: Roast turkey and bread stuffing, squash with maple syrup and shallots, salads with green goddess dressing. Check out the rest of the extensive menu and order on Tock for pickup the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving. First Hill
Lil Red
The Jamaican soul food spot you know and love serves up turkey for takeout in three distinct flavors: traditional smoked, barbecue, and jerk, with alternate options for ham or prime rib. Gravy, green beans, and holiday pies round out the meal. Call 206-760-2931 by November 18 to order your choice of Thanksgiving fare. Columbia City
The London Plane
Matt Dillon’s Pioneer Square haven has an entire page of Thanksgiving options, from a full-on classic dinner to various a la carte dishes that reflect the kitchen’s lovely way with vegetables. Plus life-giving basics—pie, gravy, wine. Order turkeys by November 17, and everything else by November 23. Pioneer Square
Mamnoon
Holiday familiars, reimagined with Levantine flair—brussels sprouts tabbouleh, spiced cranberry sauce, even halvah streusel pumpkin pie. Seattle’s singular modern Middle Eastern restaurant lets you order individual dishes, or go all in on a package meal that includes everything except your main protein. Order by November 21 for pie, and November 23 for everything else. Capitol Hill
Metropolitan Grill
This upscale Seattle steakhouse has prepared a special “Met-at-Home” Thanksgiving lineup. Choose from prime rib, roasted turkey, and Kurobuta ham for your main course, and enjoy the full range of Thanksgiving sides. One $125–$175 dinner serves four guests, with additional mains available for additional dollars. Order online by Sunday, November 22 for pickup or delivery. Downtown
Plum Bistro
Makini Howell preps a full-on vegan Thanksgiving that’s available a la carte, or as a family-style package. Or just head straight to her virtual (vegan) pie popup. Capitol Hill
Ray’s Boathouse
The seafood stalwart on Shilshole Bay will pack up three courses of your choice, or you can order from an a la carte menu—or mix and match. Place an order by 8:30pm on November 16. Ballard
The Shambles
For a locally sourced holiday dinner, the Shambles bar and butcher offers curated Thanksgiving meals complete with a free range PNW turkey, brussels sprouts, pancetta and mashed potato kits, and one sweet potato pie. Call 206-659-0074 to pre-order the full set, menu available on Facebook. Roosevelt
Zylberschtein’s
Thanksgiving with a deli spin? Sign us up…either for a dinner menu that centers on smoked turkey, or the a la carte lineup of apple olive oil cake, rolls, pumpkin cheesecake, stuffing, or five kinds of pie, available whole or by the slice. Order by November 22. Northgate/Pinehurst
Best of Kirkland Contest Winners are here
Read the results for the Best of Kirkland 2020
Monday, November 2, 2020 1:23pm
This year’s Best of Kirkland section is a little different this year— we are sharing the win results on our website! Thank you to all the readers who voted for their favorite people, places and things within the city of Kirkland for 2020.
Best of Kirkland 2020 offers you information into some of your neighbor’s favorite spots. Check out the full list of winners below, and remember to continue supporting each other in Kirkland whenever possible, especially this year.
ART & CULTURE/ENTERTAINMENT
Best Art Gallery/Local Artist
Winner: Molly Schwartz
Second place: Ryan James Fine Arts
Runner up:Gunnar Nordstrom Gallery
Best Beach/Park
Winner: Marina Park
Second place: Juanita Beach
Runner up: Waverly Beach Park
Best Community Event
Winner: Kirkland Uncorked
Second place: Fourth of July
Runner up: Christmas Ships
Runner up: WINE WALK
Best Community Volunteer
Winner: Ryan James
Second place: Lynn Sandborn
Runner up: Rod Grahm
Runner up: Terri Fletcher
Best Family-Friendly Business
Winner: Acropolis
Second place: Mezcal Mexican Restaurant
Runner up: Bombaii Cutters
Runner up: Canvas
Best Indoor Recreation Center/Athletic Club
Winner: Columbia Athletic Club
Second place: LA Fitness
Runner up: Basecamp Sports Performance Club
Runner up: Shoot 360
Best Local Nonprofit
Winner: Homeward Pet
Second place: Attain Housing
Runner up: Kirkland Downtown Association
Best Organization to Join
Winner: Kirkland Chamber
Second place: Kirkland Eagles
Runner up: Kirkland Seahawks Booster Club
Best Performing Arts/Dance Center/Studio
Winner: Kirkland Performance Center
Second place: Studio East
Runner up: International Ballet Theatre
Best Place of Worship
Winner: Holy Family
Second place: Antioch
Second place: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Best Place to Work
Winner: Bombaii Cutters
Second place: Windermere Real Estate
Runner up: Nytec
Best Reason to live in Kirkland
Winner: Waterfront
Second place: Location
Second place: Smaller Community feel
Best School
Winner: Lake Washington High School
Second Place: Lake Washington Technical Institute
Runner up: Juanita High School
Best Teacher
Winners: Jennifer Olson, Kari Ely, Sarah Poulin, Steve Deligan
FOOD & DRINK ESTABLISHMENTS
Best Happy Hour
Winner: Cactus
Second place: Beach House bar & grill
Runner up: Brix
Runner up: QFC Beer and Wine bar
Best Ambiance:
Winner: The Slip
Second place: Como
Runner up: Le Grande
Runner up: Anthonys
Best Asian Restaurant
Winner: Isarn
Second place: Spicy Talk
Runner up: Great China
Best Bakery:
Winner: The French Bakery
Second place: DERU
Runner up: Factory Donuts
Best Bar
Winner: wilde rover
Second place: Beach Cafe
Runner up: The Lime
Best Breakfast/Brunch:
Winner: George’s
Second place: Couzin’s Cafe
Second place: Hectors
Best Burger
Winner: The Box
Second place: Burgermaster
Runner up: The Slip
Best Coffee/Tea Shop
Winner: urban COFFEE lounge
Second place: Mercury’s Coffee Co.
Runner up: Starbucks
Best Dessert:
Winner: Sirena Gelato
Second place: Lady Yum
Runner up: Alanya Cafe
Runner up: Burgermaster
Runner up: Coffee & Cone
Runner up: Shari’s Pies
Runner up: Sweet Cakes
Best Grocery Store:
Winners: Metropolitan Market, Trader Joe’s
Runner up: Fred Meyer
Best Italian Restaurant:
Winner: Cafe Veloce
Second place: Ristorante Paradiso
Runner up: Como
Runner up: Volterra
Best Lunch Restaurant:
Winner: Deru’s Market
Second Place: Acropolis, Jersey Mikes
Best Mexican Restaurant:
Winner: Cactus
Second Place: Plaza Garcia
Runner up: La Corona
Best Pizza:
Winner: Pagliacci Pizza
Second Place: Zeek’s Pizza
Runner up: MOD Pizza
Best Place for an Icy Cold Treat
Winner: Sirena Gelato
Second place: Dairy Queen
Runner up: Menchies
Best Place to Grab a Beer:
Winner: Chainline
Second place: The Game
Runner up: The Lodge
Best Seafood:
Winner: Anthony’s HomePort
Second place: Lynn’s Bistro
Runner up: Oto Sushi
Best Take out/Fast Food:
Winner: Burgermaster
Second place: Shake Shack
Runner up: I Love Teriyaki
Best Vegetarian/Plant-Based:
Winner: Homegrown
Second place: Cafe Happy
Runner up: Hb Bev Co
Best Wine List:
Winner: The Grape Choice
Second place: Delile Lounge
Runner up: NW Cellars
HEALTH & WELLNESS & SELF CARE
Best Acupuncture
Winner: Kangs
Second place: 7 Dragons, Atha Wellness, Cheryl Jackson, Dr. Johnson Family Acupuncture & Health, Dr. Andrei Mousasticoshivily ND MSc LAc, Eastwinds Acupuncture, Nicole, Seven Dragons
Best Chiropractor:
Winner: Better Back and Body
Second place: Energize Chiropractic + Wellness
Runner up: Dr. Paul Krause
Best Counselor/Therapist:
Winners: Beverly Brashen, Cynthia Seagar
Runner ups: Bradley Coutts, Guy Oram, Tanya Flanagin
Best Dentist:
Winner: Kirkland Familt Dentistry
Second place: Ryan Fox DDS
Runner up: Aimee Wong
Runner up: Dr. Bernard Pak at Kirkland Smiles Dental Care
Best Doctor:
Winner: Paul Krause
Second place: Dr. Lars Kaine
Runner up: Dr. Laurel Morrison
Runner up: Dr. Karen Sahota
Best Eye Care
Winner: Kirkland Vision Center
Second place: Washington Eye Association
Runner up: Juanita Vision
Best Fitness Center
Winner: Happy Hour by Marisa
Second place: Kutting Edge Fitness
Runner up: Orange Theory Fitness
Best Hair Salon/Barber
Winner: Bombaii Cutters
Second place: Bella Sirena
Runner up: Mermaid
Best Hairdresser
Winner: The Shop
Second Place: Kendal Miller
Runner up: Bombaii
Runner up: Diandra Davies
Best Mani-Pedi/Nail Salon
Winner: Lake Street Nail Bar
Second place: Juanita Nails
Runner up: b&B
Best Massage
Winner: Better Back and Body Advanced Wellness
Second place: Hand and Stone
Runner up: Still Spa
Best Medical Center
Winner: EvergreenHealth
Second place: Better Back and Body Advanced Wellness
Second place: Virginia Mason Medical Center
Best Physical Therapist
Winner: Kirkland Physical Therapy Houghton
Second place: ASCEND, Lee Poston, Matt at MTI
Best Spa/Services
Winner: Heathman
Second place: Still Spa
Runner up: Flawless
RETAIL & SHOPPING
Best Auto Dealership
Winner: Lee Johnson
Second place: Ford of Kirkland
Runner up: Eastside Subaru
Best Consignment/Thrift Store
Winner: Goodwill
Second place: Champagne Taste
Runner up: Ragamuffin’s, Value Village
Best Floral Shop
Winner: Fena
Second place: Safeway
Runner up: Metropolitan Market
Best Gift Store
Winner: Clementine
Second Place: Lady Yum
Second Place: The Ivy
Best Interior Furnishings
Winner: Birdcage
Second place: Fred Meyer
Runner up: Found Interiors
Best Jewelry Store
Winner: Lake Street Diamonds
Second place: Fred Meyer Jewelry
Runner up: Dynamic Designs
Best Men’s Clothing Boutique
Winner: Seattle Thread Co.
Second place: Asher Goods
Runner up: Absolutely Fabulous
Best Pharmacy
Winner: Bartells
Second place: Walgreens
Runner up: QFC
Best Shopping Center
Winner: Village at Totem Lake
Second place: Downtown Kirkland
Runner up: Kirkland Urban
Best Specialty Store
Winner: Higher Leaf
Second place: Everyday Athlete
Runner up: Evergreen Market
Best Women’s Clothing Boutique
Winner: Purpose Boutique
Second place: Via Lago
Runner up: Seduce
SERVICES
Best Apartment Complex
Winner: Mariner
Second place: 128 on State
Second place: Arete Kirkland
Second place: Villa Bonita Apartments
Best Assisted Living Facility
Winner: Merrill Gardens
Second place: Lakeview of Kirkland
Runner up: Madison House
Best Auto Body Shop
Winner: Kirkland Auto Body
Second place: Juanita Collision Center
Runner up: Dave’s
Best Bail Bonds Business
Winner: All City Bail Bonds
Best Bank
Winner: BECU
Second place: Washington Federal
Runner up: Wells Fargo
Best Contractor/Construction
Winner: Stark Construction
Second place: Northwest Remodeling LLC
Runner up: Rod Graham Handyman & Painting Services
Best Financial Advisor
Winner: Cory Shepard
Second place: Greens
Second place: Jenifer Sapel
Second place: Tim McFall
Best Heating and Air Business
Winner: Bob’s
Second place: MM Comfort Systems
Runner up: BelRed
Best Hotel/Lodging
Winner: Woodmark
Second place: The Heathman Hotel
Best Insurance Agent/Agency
Winner: First Rate Insurance
Second place: Allstate
Runner up: Greens
Best Landscaper/Lawn Care Business
Winner: Elander Pacific Landscape Services
Second place: Brediger Landscaping Company
Second place: RedSky Landscape and Design
Best Lawyer/Law Firm
Winner: Max Meyers Law PLLC
Second place: Kruger Beck
Second place: Pat Trudell
Best Mechanic/Auto Repair
Winner: Jays Auto Repair
Second place: Doug’s Auto Tune & Repair
Runner up: Juanita Firs 76
Best Mortgage Advisor
Winner: Wallick and Volk
Second place: Debbie Leviton – Caliber Home Loans
Runner up: Aaron Crossley
Best Pet Care/Grooming
Winner: Pup Scrub
Second place: Scruff and Fluff
Runner up: Juanita Hills Animal Hospital
Runner up: Pickles Playland
Best Photography Business
Winner: Amy Martino
Second place: SHG Photography
Runner ups: Ashley Littlefield, Badon Hill Group, Claudia Noelle Photography, Jennifer Findlay, Justin, Rick Takagi Photography
Best Place for Childcare
Winner: Bright Horizons
Second place: Kirkland Children’s School
Runner ups: Kiddie Academy of Kirkland, KinderCare Totem Lake, Lakeview Montessori
Best Plumbing Business
Winner: Element Plumbing
Second place: Brian the Plumber
Runner up: Jesse Allen
Best Professional Cleaning Service
Winner: Houghton 1 Hour Cleaner
Second place: Moss Bay
Runner up: Rain City Maids
Best Real Estate Agent
Winner: Terri Fletcher
Second place: Sheri Putzke
Runner up: Craig Gaudry
Best Senior Living Facility
Winner: Merrill Gardens
Second place: Aegis
Runner up: Lakeview of Kirkland
Runner up: Madison House Kirkland
Best Tutoring Center
Winner: Mathnasium
Best Veterinarian
Winner: Finn Hill Animal Hospital
Second place: Evergreen Veterinary
Runner up: Critter Doctor Animal Hospital
Runner up: Juanita Bay Vet
Where to Walk to Escape Election Jitters
Steal a page—but just this one—from the Hillary 2016 playbook.
By Allison Williams 11/5/2020 at 8:01am
Wait, do we call this doom-strolling?
So...how are your nerves this week? It’s hard not to think of Hillary Clinton’s response to the 2016 election—she and Bill gathered their dogs for a walk in the woods the day after she lost. Before this rollercoaster of a vote has even been fully counted, it’s already clear that the calming stroll is the only part of this election era that should become tradition. Fortunately, Seattle boasts a plethora of November-ready city trails.
Washington Park Arboretum
The 230 acres of university property on the shores of Lake Washington are so chock full of plant life—some native, some rare—there’s plenty to fill a walker’s attention span. The Japanese Garden on the south end requires an entrance fee, but the rest of the three-and-a-half mile loop is fully free and dog friendly.
Kubota Garden
South Seattle’s gem of a botanic wonderland is dotted with ponds and manicured hedges, celebrating Japanese horticulture but never losing a taste of damp Washington wildness. The cherry-red footbridge and waterfalls are made for meditative strolling.
Discovery Park
The bracing whip of sea air that whips up the bluffs of the former Fort Lawton demands attention to the here and now. With miles of trail—like a nearly three-mile loop trail that circles most of the park—and big open fields, options abound. Don’t forget a trip down to the beach.
Seward Park
The forest on this Lake Washington peninsula encircles walkers like a hug. The interior dirt trails are almost completely sheltered by trees, while the outer paved ring, closed to cars, gets shoreline views. Break out the roller skates for the latter.
Schmitz Preserve
With more than 50 acres and a collection of old-growth trees, West Seattle’s pocket of forest is a surprise in such a residential area. A cluster of short trail pieces allows for birdwatching and a chance to view Northwest plant life in its natural element.
Where to Get Your Pumpkin Spice Fix in Seattle
Some of the city’s most intriguing PSL-themed options for your cozy fall needs.
By Annette Maxon and Courtney Cummings Updated 10/1/2020 at 4:52pm
Bluebird Ice Cream’s pumpkin selection has us fully in our fall mood.
IMAGE: COURTESY BLUEBIRD ICE CREAM
’Tis the season for back-to-school notebooks, the endless parade of Trader Joe’s pumpkin snacks, and the infamous pumpkin spice latte. For something a little different than the standard pumpkin fare, these Seattle locales put their twist on everything pumpkin spiced.
Bluebird Ice Cream’s Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie
Phinney Ridge
The Phinney Ridge creamery riffs off the pie that graces Thanksgiving tables with an ice cream–centric variation: a not-so-delicate waffle cone crust encases a pumpkin ice cream filling, topped with a sprinkling of pecans, brown sugar, and whipped cream. Pie orders can be placed starting November 1; for more immediate gratification, the Phinney Ridge scoop shop serves scoops of pumpkin pie ice cream in a pumpkin spiced waffle cone starting October 1.
Ellenos Pumpkin Pie Yogurt
Pike Place Market and various grocery stores
A combination so simple it borders on masterful—this Seattle cult classic layers lightly spiced pumpkin puree with Ellenos’s traditional yogurt. Make sure to stir the two together to get those satisfying pumpkin-y swirls throughout before dumping on the accompanying pumpkin cookie crumbles (if you haven’t eaten them already). Time to rush to the nearest QFC or Costco, or head straight to the source at the Pike Place storefront: As of September 1, Pumpkin Pie is back on the shelves.
Juice Press’s Pumpkin Spice Protein Smoothie
University Village
For those days when your body craves something more nutritious than yet another pumpkin spice latte, Juice Press’s protein-forward seasonal brings the spicy-sweet goodness of its latte counterpart alongside some actual nutrients, too: fall spices blend with almond butter, banana, and hemp seeds for 23 grams of pumpkin spiced protein power. Get one blended at the U Village counter, opt for delivery, or order a DIY smoothie kit from Juice Press’s extensive online marketplace.
Macrina Bakery
Various locations
As if Macrina’s consistently good squash harvest loaf wasn’t enough, this institution has released a full pumpkin-centric lineup available well into December. The seasonal muffin does double pumpkin duty with a sprinkling of pumpkin seeds atop a ginger-spiced pastry, while the chocolate-studded pumpkin cookies might convince you to start baking everything with the fall gourd. If you’re planning your desserts a few days out, the mini pumpkin cheesecakes are well worth the pre-order requirement.
Mighty-O’s Pumpkin Spice Doughnut
Various locations
Mighty-O brings back its comforting pumpkin spice doughnut and at the end of September. Gently spiced and coated with a brown sugar glaze that melts when dunked in its latte counterpart, the vegan doughnut chain has captured what fall means to many Seattleites—pumpkin spice and plenty of coffee. Visit one of the three brick-and-mortar locations before a meeting to make the whole Zoom call jealous or, if crunched for time, get your doughnut fix delivered to your door.
Molly Moon’s Pumpkin Clove Ice Cream
Various locations
Bye, summer—the homegrown ice cream empire has flipped the calendar to fall’s pumpkin clove seasonal (drool), made with real pumpkin and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and, duh, cloves.
Seattle Cider Company’s Pumpkin Spice Cider
Various locations (or order online)
The pumpkin cider at Seattle’s original cidery has hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, and, of course, pumpkin, all of which pairs perfectly, so we hear, with sharp cheddar or carrot cake. Actually, it might just sound like liquid pumpkin pie. Count us really intrigued.
Shake Shack’s Pumpkin Shake
South Lake Union, University Village
This pumpkin shake may win the hearts of pumpkin spice–skeptics. The chain’s traditional frozen custard is blended with cinnamon, marshmallow, and globs of real pumpkin; add some crunch from the pumpkin seed topping and you’ve got a compelling argument that Shake Shack does pumpkin just as well as fries. Visit the SLU location or the sparkling new University Village storefront for your fix. Don’t want to walk through the rain? Order online for home delivery.
Sweet Alchemy’s Pumpkin Spice Latte Ice Cream
University District
Lois Ko’s creamery gives a nod to the drink that started it all—in ice cream form. The Pumpkin Spice Latte flavor, a pumpkin base dotted with espresso shortbread chunks and swirls of espresso caramel, is available for scoops and pints starting the last week of September. Need more? Add a scoop (or two) of the vegan pumpkin pie.
Top Pot’s Pumpkin Old Fashioned
Various locations
The pumpkin old fashioned at Seattle’s go-to doughnut chain debuted in 2008, before pumpkin spice became full-on synonymous with fall. Canned (but real!) pumpkin flavors put a twist on a classic treat; they even double down with a pumpkin spice glaze.
Westman’s Absolute Pumpkin Bagel
Capitol Hill
Thought you’d never spend a drizzly Saturday morning standing in line for, well, anything? Pumpkin bagels topped with this Capitol Hill bagel counter’s classic schmear might get you out the door earlier than you thought possible. Not to mention the almond pumpkin rugelach—layers of lightly browned pumpkin pastry harmonized with almond filling.
Get Fisher Fair Scones in Bellevue
Courtesy of Fisher Fair Scone
By425Magazine.com Lisa Patterson | August 31, 2020 | Courtesy of KirklandReporter.com
Head to Bellevue Square between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2, to get signature Washington State Fair Fisher Fair Scones, hot with melted butter and sticky raspberry jam. The Fair Scone Wagon will be located at the Northwest entrance, just south of Nordstrom, near The North Face. Nothing says end of summer in Washington like a warm scone (or a couple of baker’s dozens to go).
Because of COVID-19, The Washington State Fair is canceled. This Northwest favorite is coming to Bellevue Square so you can enjoy a taste of tradition while raising money to benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital.
If you want the sweetness to continue at home, make sure to visit the Made in Washington Store to pick up the ultimate scone-making kit. It turns out two dozen and comes with 32 ounces of the signature jam, crisp paper wrappers, and to-go bags with handles. Or purchase your scone kit here.
Ten percent of all scones and kit sales on Sept. 2 in Bellevue will be donated.
King County Is Giving Away Free Masks Today
Here’s the info on the latest popup event.
By Benjamin Cassidy 7/28/2020 at 10:06am | Courtesy of SeattleMet.com
Take a pair.
By this point in the pandemic, you may be a pro at recycling, restocking, and, hell, even making your masks to curb the spread of Covid-19. But many people may also be dreading another pricey Amazon order or trip to the store.
King County wants to ease that burden. The county recently purchased 25 million cloth and disposable masks that it’s distributing through community organization and popup events. The latest giveaway is today in Shoreline, where any King County resident can drive up to the district court facility between 1 and 5pm and receive two reusable cloth masks, or as many as 12 per vehicle, depending on the number of people in the household.
The event follows last Tuesday’s drive-through handout in Federal Way and the expansion of the state’s face covering mandate to include all common indoor spaces, such as apartment building lounges and laundry rooms (wear a mask while you wash another!).
While anyone can take advantage of this ongoing public health initiative, the program is intended to help vulnerable members of the greater Seattle community secure protection for themselves and their loved ones. Consider how much of a burden your latest mask order really is; do you need to divert those resources away from others who are less fortunate?
At the same time, 25 million masks is a lot. And the only thing worse than needlessly taking a mask is not wearing one at all.
King County Face Covering Distribution
Shoreline District Court Facility, 18050 Meridian Ave N, Shoreline
Tuesday, July 28 from 1–5pm
Monday Deadline For Online, Mail Voter Registration In Washington
Those who miss the deadline may still register in-person through Tuesday, Aug. 4 — the date of the 2020 Primary Election.
Jul 26, 2020 12:56 pm PT | Updated Jul 26, 2020 11:24 pm PT
(Lucas Combos/Patch)(Lucas Combos/Patch)
OLYMPIA, WA — With just over a week to go before election day, Monday marks an important deadline for Washingtonians who have yet to cast votes in the 2020 Primary Election: all online and mail voter registrations must be completed by the end of the day.
Ballots must be postmarked or returned to a dropbox by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4. Elections officials recommend mailing ballots no later than Friday, July 31, to ensure they arrive in time to be counted.
This year, dozens of races are underway, including those for major statewide offices, like the governor, attorney general and secretary of state.
As of Wednesday, July 22, just 9.3 percent of registered voters had returned their ballots, according to the Secretary of State's office.
How to verify your voter registration status online:
Register to vote or update your current information via the Secretary of State's website.
Where to register to vote after Monday, July 27:
King County:
King County Elections HQ
919 Southwest Grady Way (Renton)
CenturyLink Field Event Center
800 Occidental Avenue South (Seattle)
Aug. 1, 3 & 4
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King County
Pierce County
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Lake Washington School District will start school year fully remote
Superintendent states this is not the model preferred by the district
Friday, July 24, 2020 11:37am | Courtesy of KirklandReporter.com
Following guidance from King County Public Health and several Eastside school districts’ decisions, Lake Washington School District has announced the start of the school year will be fully remote.
Superintendent Jon Holmen announced the decision Thursday, July 23. Originally the district was working on a combination of reopening options based on families’ preferences. Holmen stated the decision was based on available reports and the limited guidance districts have received related to reopening school in the fall. He also emphasized that this was no the model preferred by the district, but that schools are part of the community effort to slow the COVID-19 virus.
The statement also mentions some changes to this year’s remote learning model:
The use of Microsoft Classroom Teams as the sole Learning Management System
Synchronous/Live Instruction balanced throughout the week and varying by age of the student
Daily attendance
Typical grading practice
Opportunity for whole and small group experiences
The district also held a virtual meeting after the announcement to discuss the move in more detail. You can watch the recording of that meeting here.
Read the district’s full announcement below:
Dear Lake Washington Staff, Families, and Community,
Over the last week I have been actively engaged with a number of entities as we evaluate our plans for school in the fall. As you know, we have been actively working through the details of developing remote learning and a hybrid model. We also asked families to indicate their preference for which model their child would learn in to start the year. I know the amount of time and considerations each family has gone through to evaluate which model is best for their child given the amount of information provided and questions that, at times, we were not able to answer.
Today, I am announcing that Lake Washington students will be starting the 2020-21 school year learning in a fully remote setting.
This means that all students will be placed in the school they were originally planning to attend in the fall and learn from the teachers at that school. For example, if you are an Eastlake High School student that was interested in the full-remote option, you will not be pulled into a separate school with students from across the district but you will continue to be placed at Eastlake and will be taught by Eastlake teachers. Another example would be a student attending a choice school. The choice school student will be placed in the choice school and will be taught by the teachers from their specific choice school.
This decision is being made after a thorough review of available reports and local models. Additionally, I have spent time discussing the current state of our community and county with the King County Department of Health. Given this and the limited guidance districts have received related to re-opening school in the fall; it was decided to start the school year in a remote model.
As a parent, I anticipate you will want to understand what remote teaching and learning will look like for the 2020-21 school year. As a district we learned a significant amount about remote teaching and learning last spring.
Changes you will see this year in LWSD Remote Teaching and Learning:
The use of Microsoft Classroom Teams as the sole Learning Management System
Synchronous/Live Instruction balanced throughout the week and varying by age of the student
Daily attendance
Typical grading practice
Opportunity for whole and small group experiences
Additionally, we have some students in our district that will require in-person learning. This in-person learning will allow us to better plan for returning more students to in-person instruction.
Another topic I anticipate you may have questions about is how and when we will have students return to in-person learning and experiences. First and foremost, this is not the model we prefer as a district. I know that our skilled staff working with students in-person is the best and most effective model. We are continually striving to make that happen and will continue focusing on that target with a collective urgency. To that end, we have some specific data elements that we will evaluate during the full remote learning to help guide our decision making about when to start phasing students back into in-person teaching and learning. These data elements along with our collaboration with King County Health will help guide our next steps and decisions. We know that schools are part of the community effort to slow the spread of the virus. We also know that the models commissioned by King County Public Health state that schools re-opening when the transmission rates are over 1.0 will lead to rapid expansion of the virus within our community. This data point will be one of the factors that we evaluate throughout the fall as we balance our opportunity to have students return to in-person instruction and experiences.
We also know there are families that may need support for their school aged children due to required work responsibilities that cannot be done at home. We are currently discussing options with our child care partners and will provide an update in early August.
I hope you are able to join me tonight at 6:00 p.m. for our Teams Live Event related to the Return to School Task Force. The purpose and format of the event will shift given this decision. I will provide greater context and information about the rationale for the decision as well as a more specific description of the remote instructional model. Additionally, since this is all new information, we will not be holding a live question and answer session during the event, but we will follow up with a K-12 Insight survey to gather questions related to this change.
I can’t thank you enough for continuing to be engaged in this work with us. We are committed to providing your child with a positive and meaningful school experience this year. Our sole focus over the next six weeks will be to further develop our systems, provide training for staff, and ensure that all students and families are connected to their school/classroom/teacher to begin learning on the first day of school.
Thank you,
Dr. Jon Holmen
Superintendent
Kirkland to offer special park hours for seniors
The morning hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at five Kirkland parks are now reserved for those in high-risk categories for COVID-19
Courtesy of KirklandReporter.com
Kirkland community members and visitors are being asked to allow seniors and those in high-risk categories to have priority use at five Kirkland Parks every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 to 10 a.m. starting Monday, July 20 through Labor Day.
Senior hours will be offered at Juanita Bay, 132nd Square Park, Everest Park, Edith Moulton Park and Spinney Homestead Park.
These priority hours are intended to create an opportunity to those particularly susceptible to the effects of COVID-19 to participate in important outdoor activity during this challenging time.
“We are all experiencing the additional stress of living in such challenging times, and we know that being outdoors is very beneficial to maintaining good mental and physical health,” Councilmember Kelli Curtis stated in a press release. “Setting aside these special hours for our most vulnerable populations is one thing we can do to help make sure that all of our community members feel comfortable getting outside and staying active.”
Signage will be posted at the applicable parks asking community members to respect the priority hours for seniors and those in high risk categories.
For more information on the efforts Kirkland Parks and Community Services is taking to keep our community safe and active during the pandemic, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/PlayItSafe.
Family-Friendly Summer Fun During COVID-19
Photo by Juliane Liebermann.
Summer usually means a break from school and more time spent with friends for kids and teens. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, families must consider how to enjoy summer fun while mitigating the risk of illness.
There are ways to get out this summer while also being cautious for yourself and others, Dr. Nawal Alkharouf, a pediatrician with Pacific Medical Centers in Bothell, said.
With confirmed cases decreasing and Washington moving forward in Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start plan, “Summer’s a great time to have fun and to be physically active, especially after all these months of quarantining,” Dr. Alkharouf said.
After spending time staying at home, she said, “We do want our children, our kids to be more active in the summer, and also to be able to experience some socialization again, because it’s good for their development.”
Bothell is in Phase 2, meaning outdoor recreation and gathering with five people outside your household is now possible.
In terms of minimizing exposure, Dr. Alkharouf said families should consider activities based on four risk factors: time, space, people, and place.
The longer you are in a location or doing an activity; the less space you have to socially distance; the more people you are exposed to; and space an activity takes place in can all increase the risk of getting COVID-19, she said.
Each family will have to assess what’s best for them, based on if family members are at higher risk, she explained. On June 25, the Centers for Disease Control released new guidelines for who is considered a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Outdoor activities, such as walking, hiking, camping, and biking are all safe choices for ways to have fun this summer, Dr. Alkharouf said. Doing these things with people in the family unit is a way to limit your exposure, she said.
Some socialization outside of your household is now possible, so families should consider the best ways to participate in these activities. “When you come into contact with others outside of your family unit, that’s when you have to still practice the six-feet of social distancing, the frequent washing (of) hands, wearing a mask,” Dr. Alkharouf said.
Children are still at risk for getting COVID-19, even if most cases Dr. Alkharouf’s clinic has seen are mild, moderate, or even asymptomatic.
When monitoring your child for COVID-19 infection, symptoms can be different from adults. While 70 to 80 percent of adults with COVID-19 will have a fever and cough, only 50 percent of children will, Dr. Alkharouf said. And children can have other nonspecific symptoms or none at all.
If your child is going to interact with children from another family, it is important to ask that family questions, such as if they frequent daycare, who they are exposed to, and how often they are involved in activities outside of the house, Dr. Alkharouf said.
To minimize risk, she recommended interacting with only one or two families outside of your own.
While contact sports aren’t an option this summer, Dr. Alkharouf said that sports like tennis or swimming, where physical contact is not necessary, are great options for staying healthy and maintaining vital socialization for developing children and teens.
Right now, Dr. Alkharouf is telling parents of her patients to come in for yearly checkups and immunizations, saying families should take advantage of this time when case numbers are lower, as there is potential for an increase in the fall.
“Regardless of COVID, every year we get overwhelmed with just typical illnesses (in the fall and winter),” Dr. Alkharouf said.
She expressed her worry that these typical fall and winter illnesses, in addition to a potential increase in COVID-19 cases, could put a strain on the medical system come fall.
When thinking about safety, Dr. Alkharouf said she thinks of prevention. “The best thing parents can do, I think with this pandemic, is making sure that kids are up to date on their vaccines,” she said.