Bergdahl Real Property's Top 10 Kirkland Happy Hours!
By the RedB team
What is better than a good Happy Hour?! A good Happy Hour right in your own backyard! We have been doing our research and have decided on our Top 10 Kirkland Happy Hours....in no particular order as it was hard enough to narrow it down this far! Cheers!
Milagro Cantina
Images & Information courtesy of milagrocantina.com
"A bit of authentic Mexico in lively downtown Kirkland. At Milagro Cantina, sights, sounds and aromas mingle to create the romance of a Latin experience. Rich dark woods, leather accents and fiery cauldrons evoke a suave sophistication and flair. The air is filled with the aromas of dishes prepared in authentic style from the freshest local ingredients. The inspiration for the menu draws from regional Mexican cuisine, and the staff spares no detail in preparation."
Happy Hour Daily
3:00 - 5:00 P.M.
10:00 - Close
Hector's
Images & Information courtesy of hectorskirkland.com
"Your favorite foods prepared with uncommon flair, conveniently located in downtown Kirkland!
The 40 year tradition carries on at one of the Northwest’s most revered neighborhood establishments. Join us for classic comfort food, prepared from the freshest ingredients, served by a friendly wait staff that makes out-of-towners feel like regulars, and regulars feel like home. The Sunday brunch with our classic Eggs Benedict isn’t just a menu item – it’s a local institution. Or drop in for a drink in front of the 114-year old carved mahogany bar back, and imagine the stories it could tell you.
The original brickwork and cozy fireplaces are still here. So is the longstanding tradition of great food with unparalleled friendly service."
Happy Hour Daily
3:00 - 5:00 P.M.
10:00 - Close
Trellis
Images & Information courtesy of heathmankirkland.com
"At Trellis, the menu is crafted around what's fresh for the season. Food to make your taste buds happy for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Whether sharing plates with friends, or enjoying a casual dinner for two, the atmosphere is lively and the service welcoming. A popular neighborhood destination for locals, as well as guests of The Heathman, Trellis is also a prime hot spot for Kirkland Happy Hour. Try a craft cocktail featuring house-made infusions on the patio that's open year round, or a glass of Washington wine at the bar. (Pairing that glass with food works too!)
Speaking of food, the menu is inventive and flavorful, and not at all stuffy. Trellis works with local purveyors that specialize in all the amazing ingredients that are available in the Northwest. And with food, there should always be great beverages. Trellis partners with local wineries, breweries and distilleries for an authentic regional experience with tastes that you can't find just anywhere.
Trellis' weekend brunch in Kirkland is not to be missed, and if you're looking for a fun place to relax the day away, experience our Afternoon Tea served Thursday through Sunday. Add a glass of bubbly to top off your tea in style!"
Happy Hour Daily
2:00 - 6:00 P.M.
9:00 - Close
Bar & Patio Only
Beach House
Images & Information courtesy of beachhouserestaurants.com
"The BeachHouse bar + grill restaurants are located on the Waterfront in Kirkland and in the Madison Park neighborhood of Seattle. Chef/Owner Ricky Eng stays true to his Northwest roots with the use of fresh, natural and local ingredients served up in a menu of gourmet burgers, oversized sandwiches, fresh salads, and Northwest seafood dishes. Locals and visitors alike enjoy our lively neighborhood bar atmosphere, Hand-Crafted Cocktails, Refreshing Draft Beers and a Delectable Wine List. Offering Lunch, Dinner, Daily Happy Hours and Weekend Breakfast."
Cactus
Images & Information courtesy of cactusrestaurants.com
Since 1990 we have been offering Seattle innovative Southwestern, Mexican and Spanish cuisine from our humble Madison Park restaurant, Cactus. Home to Seattle’s first tapas bar, we continue to innovate with seasonal menus, nightly specials and fresh cocktails.
In early 2002 we ventured east and opened our second restaurant in downtown Kirkland to great success. Realizing that proximity to large bodies of water was surely a good thing, we founded our third location right off Alki Beach in West Seattle. We set our sights on downtown Seattle in 2011 and opened a fourth location during the fall in the up-and-coming South Lake Union neighborhood. Finally, in 2013, we ventured east again and opened our largest location at Bellevue Square.
Join us for hand-crafted cocktails, daily happy hour, and the always exciting cuisines of the American Southwest and Mexico.
Happy Hour Daily
Weekdays 3:00 - 6:00 P.M.
Weekends 3:00 - 5:00 P.M.
BOCADITOS
Red Chile Roasted Cauliflower
Smoked fresno aïoli, serrano chiles, pickled fresno chiles, Cotija cheese, cilantro.
Chips & Salsa
Warm homemade corn chips and Cactus salsa casera.
Guacamole
Crushed Hass avocados, cilantro, lime, onions and serrano chiles with pico de gallo and warm chips and salsa.
Spiced Caesar
Chopped romaine hearts with chile–dusted croutons, Cotija cheese, black beans and roasted corn tossed in our smoky Caesar dressing.
Smoked Chicken Chop Chop
Romaine hearts, bacon, red pepper, radish, jalapeño chiles, olives, pico de gallo, pepitas, Cotija cheese.
Grilled Jalapeños
Herbed goat cheese, bacon, buttermilk crema.
Smoked Chicken Quesadilla
Bacon, poblano chile rajas, guacamole, buttermilk crema.
Chipotle-Mushroom Quesadilla
Jack cheese, Laura Chenel’s Sonoma goat cheese, caramelized onions, poblano chiles, crema, guacamole.
Nachos
Roasted corn, black olives, jalapeños, pico de gallo, charred tomato salsa, buttermilk crema and guacamole.
Apple Wood Smoked Chicken Flautas
Baby arugula, lime vinaigrette, queso blanco, chipotle cream.
Mexico City Street Tacos
Three small street tacos with house–made corn tortillas — one each with house–made chorizo, carnitas Yucatecas, spicy potato rajas.
Tex Mex Queso
Beecher’s Flagship cheese, house–made chorizo, red onions, cilantro, warm white corn tortilla chips.
Camarones d' El Diablo
Crispy white Mexican prawns, spicy Diablo sauce, coriander–pasilla verduras escabeche, mango–pineapple mojo.
Spicy Ahi Tacos
Spicy Baja “poke,” red onion, smoked fresno aïoli, avocado, crisp corn tortilla.
BEBIDAS
Mules
House–made ginger beer with tequila or vodka, dope copper mug.
Cactus Margarita
The classic. 100% Blue Agave Blanco, organic agave nectar, lime.
Classic Mojito
Our version of the Cuban national cocktail is a wonderfully refreshing blend of light rum, fresh mint, fresh lime juice and sparkling water.
XX Amber Beer
Prosecco La Marca
Veneto, IT. Soft floral and citrus aromas are followed by notes of crisp green apples, bright citrus and light mineral undertones on the palate. Clean, refreshing
and elegant.
Chardonnay, Columbia Winery
Elegant Northwest style Chardonnay. Bright aromas of pear, apple and tropical fruits with balanced acidity. Finishes with notes of sweet vanilla oak.
Red Blend, Columbia Winery
Columbia Valley, WA. Rich full bodied Syrah and Merlot blend with ripe red fruit characteristics and hints of spicy vanilla and nutmeg.
Sangria
Sparkling punch made daily with seasonal selections of wine, fresh fruit and brandy. Served over ice.
Dobel Reposado
Cactus Barrel Select Shot with salted Tecate, 9
The Market St.
Images & Information courtesy of themarketstkirkland.com
Local Kirkland Restaurant & Bar with hand crafted cocktails, comfort food & more! Fresh local ingredients with a caring staff that will make you feel like you are the only customer there!
Happy Hour Daily
4:00 - 6:00 P.M.
Drink Specials and rotating food menu.
The Lodge Sports Grille
Images & Information courtesy of thelodgesportsgrille.com
Happy Hour Daily
Sunday - Thursday: 3:00 - 6:00 P.M, 9:00 P.M - Close
Friday - Saturday: 3:00 - 6:00, 10:00 P.M - Close
Wilde Rover
Images & Information courtesy of wilderover.com
"Established in 2006, Wilde Rover believes that there is no simpler form of entertainment than good food, drink, music, conversation and friends. Our philosophy on food revolves around this. Start with high quality ingredients. Add passion, integrity and technique....and friendship will endure. At Wilde Rover we strive to offer something for everyone, to bring people together with food that is simply good."
Happy Hour Daily
3:00 - 6:00 P.M
10:00 P.M. - 12:00 A.M. daily, 1:00 A.M Friday & Saturday
HAPPY HOUR FOOD
Sliders
3 Sliders of your choice on a brioche bun - 9
Beef - Irish Cheddar, whole grain mustard aioli
Lamb - Tyrosalata, tomato, cucumber
Pulled Pork - Whiskey BBQ sauce, Kale-slaw
Salad
Choice of Public House, Caesar or Wedge - 4
Basket of Chips
‘Fries’ served with house-made tartar and curry ketchup - 4
add a cup of curry sauce - 1
Crispy Jumbo Wings
Jameson Whiskey, Traditional Hot, or chipotle-garlic dry rub - 7
Loaded Potato Skins
Crispy fried potato skins, minced Irish bacon, cheddar cheese, scallions, and roasted garlic & horseradish sour cream - 6
Boxty Quesadilla
Roasted chicken, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and peppers stuffed into a boxty and topped with chipotle cream, served with fire-roasted pico de gallo - 7
Brussels Sprouts
Choice of : Balsamic rasher and smoked bacon jam, white-wine bloomed golden raisins, toasted hazelnuts, and pecorino cheese OR citrus-caramelized with pomegranate arils- 7
Reuben Tots
Corned beef, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut in a rye bread crumb crust, served with thousand island dressing - 2 each
Mediterranean Trio
Hummus, peperonata and tyroslata, served with cucumbers, kalamata olives and grilled pita points - 6
Smithwicked Clams*
1/2 pound of manila clams in Smithwicks Irish Ale and lemon-thyme broth, bacon, chilies, and shallots. Served with half a grilled potato baguette - 7
Irish Poutine
Chips (fries) topped with fresh cheese curds, smoked bacon and scallions, smothered in brown gravy - 6
Smoked Salmon and Lox
Pacific cold-smoked salmon, Turkish-spiced lemon lox, braised-beet spread, citrus greens, crispy boxty wedges - 9
Guinness Lamb Stew
Roasted lamb, carrots, celery, sweet onions, pasnips, new potatoes, in a rich Guinness-rosemary gravy, served with fresh Irish soda bread - 7
Irish Nachos
House-made potato crisps, Southwest-seasoned shredded pork, cheddar cheese, jalapenos, scallions, olives and fire roasted pico de gallo. Add sour cream for .5 - 6
Basket of Cod & Chips
Crispy-fried wild Alaskan cod with chips, served with tartar sauce and ketchup - 7.5
Anthony's
Images & Information courtesy of anthonys.com
"Anthony's HomePort Kirkland is located on the Eastern shores of Lake Washington with stunning views of Hunts Point, Sand Point and the Seattle skyline. This location was founded in 1975 and was the very first Anthony’s HomePort."
Happy Hour Daily
Monday - Thursday: 4:30 - 9:30 P.M
Friday & Saturday: 4:30 - 10:00 P.M
Sunday: 3:00 - 9:00 P.M
Rotating menu, sample menu below.
Bottle & Bull
Images & Information courtesy of bottle-bull.com
"Experience the travels of Ernest Hemingway through your palette, eating and drinking your way through the cities that Hemingway loved to frequent; Havana, Paris, Florence and Pamplona (where he discovered his love for bull fighting!) to name a few.
Focusing on scratch cooking with hand crafted cocktails; as fluid as the seasons.
Like Ernest Hemingway, our hunger knows no borders!"
Happy Hour Daily
3:00 - 6:00 P.M
Bar Specials
16oz Can of Montucky $4
16oz Can of Cider $5
Draft Beer of the Day $5
Torres Verdejo White $7
La Gardea Garnacha Red $7
Moscow Mule $7
vodka, lime juice, house ginger soda
Old Fashioned $8
bourbon or rye, sugar, angostura
Classic Margarita $8
blanco tequila, lime juice, triple sec, simple syrup
Dark & Stormy $8
aged rum, black strap rum, ginger soda
Katie Marie $8
vodka, elderflower liqueur, orange & grapefruit juice, bitters, sparkling wine
Classic Daiquiri $8
aged rum, lime juice, simple syrup
Red Sangria 8
red wine, brandy, orgeat, fruit juices
Food Specials
Oysters $2.50 ea.
champagne mignonette*
Speck-Wrapped Dates $2 ea.
goat cheese
Truffle Pomme Frites $4
roasted garlic aioli
Pork Belly Slider $4 ea.
pickled apple, frisee, BBQ sauce, brioche bun
Lamb Slider $5 ea.
vaudovan aioli, smoked tomato, chevre, pickled shallot*
Pickled Eggs $5
smoked salmon mousse
Albondigas $6
pork & lamb meatballs, roasted red pepper, garlic, soft herbs
Grilled Lacoti Farms Asapargus $8
orange beurre blanc, pistachio
Cubano $9
smoked pork, ham, cheddar, pickles, Dijon, smoked BBQ jus
Mussels $9
tomato chipotle, white wine, garlic, lime juice, cilantro
Tostones $9
shrimp a la plancha, crispy plantains, avocado, spicy aioli
Teatro ZinZanni to Live on at Marymoor Park
The popular dinner theater heads to the Eastside this fall.
BY: MICHAEL RIETMULDER | Posted June 20, 2017
Image Credit: Michael Doucet
After losing its Seattle location this year, Teatro ZinZanni is heading east.
Three months after packing up its big top, Teatro ZinZanni is getting its second life.
The dinner theater institution closed this year after the lease on its Queen Anne location expired. At the beginning of the year, a developer purchased the plot from the Seattle Opera, Teatro ZinZanni’s longtime landlord. After a bitter fight to extend its stay, the curtain officially dropped on the theater group in March.
But on Tuesday, ZinZanni brass announced it’s mounting a comeback this fall at Marymoor Park. A six-month run of its original show Love, Chaos, and Dinner kicks off in the Redmond park on Oct. 19.
“We are thrilled to join forces with King County Parks as we make ourselves at home on the Eastside,” said Norm Langill, ZinZanni founder and artistic director, in a statement.
Langill went on to praise Marymoor Park as “King County’s most scenic location” and a “spectacular” live entertainment destination. The company leader also noted that Eastsiders have long flocked to ZinZanni’s Seattle digs.
“I can think of no better place to launch the next chapter of Teatro ZinZanni's history,” he said.
Of course, the century-old cabaret tent that’s housed ZinZanni’s cheeky, interactive shows for years will make the trek across Lake Washington. For Marymoor Park, the Seattle area’s premiere outdoor concert venue, the theater’s run adds a cool-weather draw after the summer concert season dies down.
According to the announcement, Teatro ZinZanni is still hunting for a permanent home in the Seattle area. But at least for now, the show will go on.
“Stay tuned,” Langill said. “The best is yet to come for the most amazing and dedicated fans in the world.”
Solar-Powered Brewery Opens in Once Beer-Starved Kirkland
Maelstrom Brewing Company makes its Eastside debut Thursday.
BY: MICHAEL RIETMULDER | Posted July 13, 2017
Image Credit: Scott Vanderheiden
By nature, brewing beer isn’t the greenest endeavor. The energy and water it takes to brew a 50-barrel batch is enough to make Al Gore pull his hair out.
A flat roof with direct sunlight isn’t usually the first thing aspiring brewery owners look for in a building. But the solar-panel potential was a definite perk for Scott Vanderheiden when he found the home of his new Maelstrom Brewing Company.
“There’s a part of me that’s guilty that I’m using a lot of water and a lot of electricity, because this is big equipment,” the Prius-driving brewer says.
That brewer’s guilt (and a decent deal through the city) led him to install a 9-kilowatt solar panel system on the roof of his brewery, which opens Thursday. While Maelstrom won’t be entirely sun-powered, it’s enough to offset a portion of Maelstrom’s energy use and knock a chunk off his electricity bill.
Photo by Scott Vanderheiden
For Kirkland beer fans, Maelstrom becomes just the third brewery within city limits, joining Flycaster (which is reportedly for sale) and pilsner aces Chainline. Back when Vanderheiden started casing out locations near his Kirkland home, the Eastside burb was a local beer dessert, he recalls. Vanderheiden and his wife/co-founder Katherine hope to keep Maelstrom a neighborhood taproom, with limited distribution in the area.
Maelstrom’s 1,750-square-foot brewery has seats for 32 in the taproom, plus another 20 on the patio outside a roll-up garage door. They’ll debut with just a handful of beers—a porter, pale ale, IPA, Belgian wit and a kolsch, one of Vanderheiden’s personal faves. With 18 taps (including a cask handle and a couple nitros), Vanderheiden plans to flesh out his lineup over time, doing the usual one-offs and experimental beers small breweries can.
As Vanderheiden, who still works as a full-time radiologist, readied for Maelstrom’s opening, the homebrewer of 20 years has largely been brewing to style. He enjoys the challenge of trying to replicate beers with a sense of place, while making them his own. Vanderheiden draws some inspiration from his travels through Western Europe, including his last trip to Cologne where he hit four kolsch houses over two days.
“Brewing is magical where you can take some malt, yeast, water and a little bit of hops and in a few weeks you get this beer that reminds you of that time you were in this place, having this great time,” he waxes.
Maelstrom Brewing Company
11014 120th Ave. NE, Kirkland
Renewed Beauty: Remodeling Excellence Awards
By 425 staff | June 15, 2017
Older homes and buildings have history, character, and stories to tell — there is something special about bringing these spaces back to life. Every year, the members of the Remodelers Council of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties submit their favorite projects to the Remodeling Excellence Awards. Check out the 21 first-place award-winning remodels, and be inspired.
Major Remodel Excellence Residential
Beach House Refined
Whole House/Rebuild, Less than $300,000
This home feels fresh, airy, and beachy thanks to light and bright choices from the doors and trim, to the counters, walls, and even the light gray floors. “A major overhaul of this 3,000-square-foot home includes a kitchen remodel, three-and-a-half baths, wet bar, flooring, lighting, doors, trim, and paint throughout the home,” according to the design statement. “The remodel literally began at the front door, and new finishes and trims were selected throughout. Built-in cabinetry acts as a bar for family gatherings, but looks elegant enough to greet visitors.” Armada Design & Build, Inc.,armadabuild.com
Picnic Point Bluff
Whole House/Rebuild, More than $500,000
Back in 1956, this home was originally built as a summer vacation cabin in Edmonds. Yep, the now-bustling waterfront town used to be a premier vacation spot. When it was time to make this cabin livable full-time, the family enlisted Blox Construction in Everett to knock down walls, reconfigure rooms, and make it current and functional. “To stay within budget, the extra-large deck was kept, but minimized, to allow for natural lighting for the basement and a private master bedroom deck,” according to the design statement. “The kitchen, living area, and dining space now open to uninterrupted views of the Puget Sound and Olympics.” Blox Construction, Inc.,bloxconstruction.com
Leschi Historical Renovation
Whole House/Rebuild, $300,000 to $500,000
This home near the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle may have been built in 1891, but it is probably more energy-efficient than some new homes on the market today, thanks to a thoughtful (and stunning) remodel. The home “embodies the spirit of Seattle both then and now. This major remodel is a stunning example of a well-crafted home incorporating green building features such as radiant heat, an on-demand tankless water heater, energy-efficient windows, recycled materials, along with no VOC paints,” according to the design statement. “The open and flexible floor plan is warmer and significantly more livable, all while consuming significantly less energy than before.” LimeLite Development, limelitedevelopment.com
Sand Point Waterfront Retreat
Partial House/Addition, More than $250,000
The team planned for almost a year before it took on this 1937 waterfront home in Seattle (last renovated in 2004) and updated it to fabulousness — because everyone wanted to get it perfect. “Renovating a waterfront house is all about enhancing lifestyle and views, and this home is a perfect example of both,” according to the design statement. “Today the walk up to the entrance and through the front door is welcomed by warmth, well-appointed spaces, and attention to detail in every nook and cranny.” Nip Tuck Remodeling,niptuckremodel.com
Wine Time
Partial House/Addition, Less than $100,000
A whole room dedicated to your favorite reds, whites, and friends — that’s something to toast. “The dream of an incredible wine cellar prompted a reframed, reinsulated, resided, and reroofed space to meet the stringent requirements for the perfect cellar temperature and moisture,” according to the design statement. “A self-contained cooling unit and venting to the exterior ensures the perfect temperature for 2,287 bottles of wine.” Sockeye Homes, sockeyehomes.com
Queen Anne House Remodel
Partial House/Addition, $100,000 to $250,000
If this Seattle home could talk, it would have so many stories to tell. “This 1905 Queen Anne home has been many things — grocery store, pharmacy, and rooming house, to name a few,” according to the design statement. “An earlier remodel converted it back to single-family. The goals this time were an open kitchen, guest bedroom and bath, mudroom entry, accessible storage, and living and dining room beautification.” Potter Construction, potterconstruction.com
Built for Fun
Basement Remodeling Project
What if the coolest hangout in town were your own basement? This 1914 basement was refinished and includes a bar, pool table, plenty of seating, and even a kegerator. “What used to be a forgotten part of this historical home has quickly become the most popular hangout in the house,” according to the design statement. “It has been transformed into an entertaining space with a rustic, Pioneer Square bar vibe, complete with industrial feel. Refinished aspects serve as a reminder of the home’s history.” Sockeye Homes, sockeyehomes.com
Design Excellence
Fit for Family
Interior design, Less than $125,000
It was time to update this home and say goodbye to the 1980s. The homeowners wanted their family room and kitchen to flow better, and they wanted to be able to watch TV while they eat. “Additional requirements included temperature-controlled wine storage, increased vertical kitchen storage, and an updated fireplace feature wall,” according to the design statement. “The result is a shimmery, quiet, welcoming area that is both comfortable and durable. Pops of color in paint, fabric, and art provide visual richness, and two pieces were found for the art wall. The clients are proud to parade friends through!” Kirsten Conner Interior Design, kirstenconner.com
Sleek in Seattle
Details/Finishes/Trades
This kitchen is sleek, simple, and shiny. “The homeowners wanted to push the contemporary limits of this kitchen with a high-gloss, flat-panel Euro design. Enter custom cabinetry,” the design statement said. The new island is situated to maximize the kitchen space. “The sink was conveniently placed at the end of the island for ease of access.” Vision Woodworks, Inc., visioncabinetry.com
Dreamy Carport
More than $40,000
When you have a hot car, you need a place to park it. “To house his Corvette Stingray, and improve his quality of life into retirement, this homeowner worked with the crew to design and remodel his attached carport into a beautiful new covered entry and storage,” according to the design statement. “Incredible craftsmanship, fine details, and great talent went into creating this transformation.” The materials used match the style of the home for a seamless addition. Irons Brothers Construction, ironsbc.com
Waterfront Kitchen Remodel
More than $140,000
During the remodel, this kitchen tripled in size, taking advantage of the Lake Washington view. “The outcome is jaw-dropping,” according to the design statement. “The remodeled kitchen now draws a visitor seamlessly from one state-of-the-art appliance to the next, circling the large island, and brushing past high-end cabinetry with custom matching panels for the refrigerator and dishwasher. The enchanting new kitchen and breathtaking views across Lake Washington make this a fully realized project.” Pathway Design & Construction, pathwaydc.com
Breath of Fresh Air
$90,000 to $140,000
This kitchen is made for family life. There is a large island for the kids to pull up a chair and do their homework. “From cramped and dated to open concept, this project features a kitchen and dining room made for entertaining and taking advantage of the beautiful lake view,” according to the design statement. “The clean, open appearance of the new white cabinets pairs with the backsplash. The open floor plan makes daily living easier for the entire family.” Potter Construction, potterconstruction.com
A Wine Connoisseur’s Kitchen
$50,000 to $90,000
This homeowner loves sharing wine with friends and family and wanted to create a space for that. “A new layout affords more elbow room in the range area for cooking, while warm oak hardwood floors paired with maple Shaker cabinetry help keep the room bright. The island is fitted with a wine cooler and wrapped in weathered wood,” according to the design statement. They also blended rustic with contemporary — notice the warm wood on the kitchen island and how it balances out the cool stainless-steel appliances. Palmer Residential, palmerresidential.com
Kitchen Refreshed
Less than $50,000
When you are working with a tight budget, it is best to work with what you have and improve from there. “Due to budget constraints on this Seattle project, the existing footprint was utilized as much as possible. A counter-depth refrigerator, microwave drawer, professional-grade range with a chimney-style hood vent, and dishwasher were the primary monetary investments,” according to the design statement. “Cabinet storage was maximized by adding two Lazy Susan trays and several large storage drawers, in addition to ceiling-extended upper cabinets.” Sockeye Homes, sockeyehomes.com
Open and Accessible
Universal Design
Universal design centers on accessibility, and this newly designed space not only looks beautiful but also is making life more comfortable for the entire family. “The mother of this home desired universal features to help care for her physically challenged son, who uses a quadriplegic wheelchair,” the design statement said. “A 285-square-foot addition includes a spacious shower room with entrance from the bedroom, where a true wet-room easily accommodates his wheelchair. ADA features and grab bars throughout add stability and security. A privacy window and sliding glass door bring in natural light, the latter also helping with exterior access.” Sockeye Homes, sockeyehomes.com
Garden Studio
Architecture
When the homeowners wanted to create a space for guests, the team had to get creative. “The only option to gain guest accommodation and keep a deck was to dig down and create a garden apartment with a roof deck,” the design statement said. “The result is a 312-square-foot, sun-filled guest apartment with a kitchenette, bathroom, and stunning polished concrete floor.” Alexandra Immel Design, alexandraimmeldesign.com
Green Remodeling Project
Winning in Westwood
This remodel was about making space for a growing family on a budget, and it had to be done in an environmentally friendly way. “The goal for this green project was to transform a typical Seattle War Box home into one that is intriguing, yet approachable with modern, super-functional design for an expanding family,” according to the design statement. “(They) had an eye on making choices to increase efficiency, comfort, and a healthy indoor environment … their two-story addition showcases a hybrid of simple and complex sustainable building solutions, suitable for projects of all sizes.” Mighty House Construction, mightyhouseconstruction.com
Bath Excellence
Masculine and Modern
$35,000 to $55,000
This entire bathroom was renovated to create space for a walk-in shower with a frameless enclosure. Pebble tiles, oil-rubbed fixtures, and floating bamboo cabinetry all come together harmoniously. “Old World charm becomes New World luxury with the remodel of this main bathroom in Rainier Vista,” according to the design statement. “The clients — artists themselves — worked with the design team to plan a masculine, modernized space.” Irons Brothers Construction, ironsbc.com
Sammamish Spa Retreat
$55,000 to $75,000
Don’t you feel more relaxed just looking at this bathroom? It has a jetted Jacuzzi tub, a large walk-in shower, and double vanities with lots of storage for fluffy towels, and fancy soap. “Every inch of the room has purpose and has been thoughtfully planned to meet the clients’ wishes. The footprint changed dramatically, and square footage was added,” the design statement said. “The clients now have a beautiful suite that flows naturally with the home and provides the retreat they had envisioned.” Nip Tuck Remodeling, niptuckremodel.com
Master Bath with a View
More than $75,000
Um, check out that view! This remodel was centered on maximizing it. The homeowners added a new, dual-control shower, soaking tub, and a glass surround. The room is bright and open. “Moved to a new location, the vanity now features two stylish sinks and faucets, separated by a large floating medicine chest,” the design statement said. “Fashionable, custom cabinets dramatically lit from underneath, a contemporary glass tile backsplash, and designer light fixtures complement the tasteful theme.” Shirey Handyman Service/Shirey Construction, shireyhandyman.com
Budget-Friendly Beauty
Less than $35,000
Simple yet elegant, this bathroom was once awkward. The team removed some walls and made way for a spacious tub and shower combo, with Venetian marble tile. “It (provided) the aesthetic of natural stone without the maintenance — or the price-tag. Budget-friendly floor tile and baseboards, and a coordinating mosaic shower tile provide an appealing color palette that blends with the stocking gray quartz countertop,” according to the design statement. “A standard-size furniture style vanity with crystal-cut acrylic knobs provides a traditional feel and open towel storage.” Sockeye Homes, sockeyehomes.com
Splash, Spin, and Eat at These Theme Parks
Soak up as much sun as possible while it is shining
By 425 staff | June 27, 2017 | Courtesy of 425magazine.com
ummer in the Northwest equals soaking up as much sun as possible while it is shining. And it also is the time when the area theme parks are spinning us ’round and ’round, wave pools are packed, and ice cream is being consumed by the gallons. Here are some of our favorite area attractions.
Wild Waves & Enchanted Village
It’s a water park on one side, and an amusement park on the other. Plan to spend the whole day at this Federal Way gem. Little kids will enjoy Hook’s Lagoon, a water area with small slides and some splashing. Daredevils will find plenty of water slides to get the butterflies going. However, we could float along the Lazy River all day long. On the ride side, there are several roller coasters to get the heart pumping, and plenty of kiddie rides for those littles. Since you’ve burned all the calories, don’t forget to refuel with an elephant ear.
Silverwood Theme Park and Boulder Beach
Silverwood Theme Park is worth the drive to Idaho — whether you are a thrill-seeker or a kid just getting into rides and slides, there is something for everyone. Travel Channel highlighted the “Aftershock” as the best top-hanging coaster. It reaches 65 mph, and has a 177-foot drop. It goes forward and backward. Intense!
OK. Sometimes the sun isn’t shining, or you need a respite. Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound to the rescue. This indoor waterpark is open year-round, and you won’t have to worry about sunburns when you swim, slide, and splash. If you want to head outside, there’s a neat ropes course!
Slidewaters Lake Chelan Waterpark
Any Eastsider who has made their way to vacation at Lake Chelan has probably visited Slidewaters. The theme park is consistently named in TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice awards.
U-pick fields, rides, and ice cream. This is like an old-fashioned country fair in Carnation, and it’s open every day during the summer through Sept. 4, when it switches to the fall schedule. There’s a train!
Healthy Bonez Beverage Company Opens in Kirkland
Photos by Collin Greenleaf.
By Julie Arnan | June 27, 2017 | Courtesy of 425magazine.com
Based on the premise that everyone could use more plant-based foods in their diet, husband-wife duo Collin and Shandy Greenleaf opened Healthy Bonez Beverage Company, serving raw cold-pressed juices, dairy-free smoothies, and açaí bowls topped with house-made gluten-free granola. They started with a food truck, which you may have seen parked outside Market Street Grill on Kirkland’s Market Street. But they recently put on the parking brake and opened a brick-and-mortar storefront in Totem Lake at the corner of 124th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 124th Street. It’s tucked behind the driving school and Ken Zaburo Sushi restaurant, but drive around to the back for an HB Beverage fix.
“We want to provide a wellness opportunity people can get behind by eliminating preconceived ideas about what ‘healthy’ tastes like.”
Healthy Bonez Beverage Company’s Beast Mode Bowl
“We want to provide a wellness opportunity people can get behind by eliminating preconceived ideas about what ‘healthy’ tastes like,” said Collin.
Originally from the Big Island, Shandy worked for years behind a bar as a first-rate mixologist. Her beverage skills now include blending cold-pressed juices for optimal flavor. A juice press works differently from a centrifugal juicer and leaves crucial enzymes intact, meaning a longer nutritional shelf life. Some customers stock up with a six-pack for the week. Others just grab one or two for the road. The juices have nothing added: no sugar, no coloring, and no junk. Flavors include activated charcoal apple lemonade — it may be black in color, but it’s bright and fresh on the palate; a seasonal watermelon-lime; spicy beet with ginger, apple, lemon, and lime; and a slew of other refreshing options. A 16-ounce juice costs between $6 and $7, or get set for a week with 64-ounces at $26 to $30.
“We are hell-bent on seeing Kirkland become a destination location for food and drink,” said Collin.
What You Need To Know About The DUIE Act
By Joanna Kresge | June 28, 2017 | Courtesy of 425magazine.com
THANKS TO A PIECE OF LEGISLATURE SLATED TO GO INTO EFFECT JULY 23, MOTORISTS SOON CAN BE TICKETED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE WHILE COMPLETELY SOBER
Operating a motor vehicle while using an electronic device led to more than 3,400 U.S. deaths in 2015. Moreover, of the more than 22,300 drivers observed by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, 71 percent were found to be engaged with their phones while operating their vehicles. These shocking statistics likely are the reason the state Senate approved the Driving under the Influence of Electronics (DUIE) Act by a vote of 39 to 10 back in April of this year.
Here are some things you need to know about the DUIE Act:
“Personal electronic devices” are defined as a cell phone, tablet, laptop, two-way messaging device, or electronic game. However, two-way radios, citizens band radios, or amateur radio equipment are not included in this classification.
Drivers using a personal electronic device while operating a motor vehicle will be guilty of a traffic infraction and will be required to pay a fine of approximately $136. This fine will be doubled for subsequent infractions that occur in the five years following the first.
Use of one of these devices isn’t just limited to talking on a phone. You can be fined for holding a phone or other device with either or both hands. Moreover, motorists cannot use their hand or finger “to compose, send, read, view, access, browse, transmit, save, or retrieve email, text messages, instant messages, photographs, or other electronic data,” even when a phone is mounted on the dash or placed in the driver’s lap. Also, it should go without saying, but using a device to watch a video also is a pretty obvious no-no under this law.
Touching or picking up a phone at a stop light or while stuck in unmoving traffic (we’re looking at you, I-405) will not be permitted. In order to utilize a device while behind the wheel, drivers must be pulled over and parked out of the flow of traffic.
Using a device for actions a driver may see as a necessary function of their journey — such as changing their Spotify station or setting a new destination on their GPS — will not dissuade police offers from issuing a citation.
The good news is, motorists who already utilize Bluetooth technology to make and receive calls and talk to text services are golden as long as they can avoid physically touching their device.
Unlike previous legislation, this new law requires cell phone violations be reported to insurance companies and likely will affect car insurance rates for ticketed drivers.
For more information, view the Senate bill here.
Fourth of July 2017: Your guide to fireworks, parades and more in the Seattle area
Originally published June 27, 2017 at 9:12 am Updated June 27, 2017 at 10:36 am
Fourth of July fireworks over Lake Union on Monday, July 4, 2016. (Sophia Nahli Allison / The Seattle Times)
Independence Day is Tuesday, July 4, 2017, and many events are planned to mark the holiday. Here's where you can celebrate.
By Madeline McKenzie - Seattle Times staff - Courtesy of Seattletimes.com
Independence Day is almost here. And there are plenty of events planned around the region. There will be parking restrictions and closed streets near many events. Alcohol is forbidden at parks, though some festivals offer beer gardens. Personal fireworks aren’t permitted and most events don’t allow pets.
All events take place Tuesday, July 4, 2017 (unless otherwise noted):
Seafair Summer 4th
Food vendors, exhibits, entertainment, beer and beverage gardens, entertainment, All-American Games with contests for all ages, noon-11 p.m. fireworks show, 10:20 p.m., Tuesday, Gas Works Park, 2101 N. Northlake Way, Seattle; food vendors, beer and beverage gardens, views of fireworks show, 4-11 p.m. Tuesday, Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle; free general admission, reserved seating available at both venues; all bags searched on entry, prohibited items include all weapons, sparklers and other fireworks, laser lights and pointers, pets, skateboards, glass containers, alcohol, footballs, Frisbees and other projectiles (seafair.com/events/2017/seafair-summer-4th).
Fourth of July Naturalization Ceremony
Swearing in of 500 new U.S. citizens from more than 80 countries; Navy Band Northwest performance, 11 a.m.; formal program with presentation of the colors, performances by Native-American storytellers and musicians, Total Experience Gospel Choir, and the Children of Nations, noon Tuesday, Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center, Seattle (206-684-7200 or seattlecenter.com/naturalization).
Bellevue Family 4th
Family Fun Zone activities, 2-9 p.m. Tuesday; food vendors, 2-10p.m.; Main Stage entertainment starts 3:45 p.m., Independence Day Performance by Bellevue Youth Symphony, 9:25 p.m. through the fireworks show at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 N.E. Fourth St., Bellevue; no pets, personal barbecues, alcohol orpersonal fireworks allowed; free parking after 6 p.m. at the Bellevue Collection, several streets in the area closed, mostly starting at 9 p.m. (bellevuedowntown.com/events/family-4th/overview).
Kirkland 4th of July Celebration
Children’s decorating for parade event, 10 a.m., Marina Park Pavilion; children’s walking parade, 11:30 a.m., downtown “With Liberty and Justice for All”parade, noon, Market and Central; food vendors, 1-10:30 p.m., Music in the Park, 5 p.m.; fireworks, 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, Marina Park, 25 Lake Shore Plaza, Kirkland (celebratekirkland.org/eventschedule.htm).
Burien Independence Day Parade
Marching bands, floats, Seafair pirates, 3 p.m. Tuesday, on Southwest 153rd between Ambaum Blvd. and Fourth Avenue Southwest, to Second Avenue Southwest to Southwest152nd Street, on Fourth Avenue Southwest around Town Square, Burien (206-433-2882 or discoverburien.org).
Fireworks Over Des Moines
Kids’ carnival, food vendors, noon; beer and wine garden, live music, 5 p.m., $10 admission for beer garden; fireworks, 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, Des Moines Marina, 22307 Dock St., Des Moines; prohibited items includepersonal fireworks, barbecues, bicycles, skateboards, alcohol, pets (destinationdesmoines.org/fireworks-over-des-moines).
Renton’s Fabulous 4th of July
Entertainment, free kid’s activities, food vendors, fireworks show, noon-10 p.m. Tuesday, Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, 1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N., Renton; park opens 7 a.m., parking limited; no personal fireworks, alcohol, pets, tents, drones (425-430-6514 or rentonwa.gov/4thofjuly).
Family 4th at the Fort
Inflatable bouncers, slides, entertainment stage, food vendors, fireworks display, 4-10 p.m. Tuesday, Fort Dent Park, 6800 Fort Dent Way, Tukwila; parking limited (tukwilawa.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/community-events/family-4th-at-the-fort).
4th Celebration at the Lake
Food vendors, activities, 6 p.m.; live music, 8 p.m.; fireworks display, 10 p.m. Tuesday, Lake Boren Park, Southeast 84th Avenue and Coal Creek Parkway Southeast, Newcastle (425-649-4444 or newcastlewa.gov).
Fourth on the Plateau
Music, skatepark, playground, vendors, kids’ activities, spray park, 6 p.m.; fireworks, 10 p.m. Tuesday, Sammamish Commons Park, 801 228th Ave. S.E., Sammamish (sammamish.us).
An Edmonds Kind of Fourth
Beat Bracket 5K and Baby Brackett 1K walk/run, costume contest, 10 a.m.; children’s parade, 11:30 a.m., main parade, noon; food vendors, entertainment, 6 p.m.; fireworks 10 p.m. Tuesday, Civic Stadium, Sixth Avenue and Bell Street, Edmonds (edmondswa.com/events/fourth-of-july.html).
Bothell 4th of July Freedom Festival
Pancake breakfast, 8-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Downtown Firehouse, 10726 Beardslee Blvd.; children’s parade, 11:15 a.m., grand parade, noon, Main Street and 104th Avenue Northeast, Bothell (bothellwa.gov/269/4th-of-July-Event).
Kent Fourth of July Splash
Music, food vendors, noon-10:30 p.m.; games, family activities, noon-5 p.m.; fireworks finale, 10 p.m. Tuesday, Lake Meridian Park, 14800 S.E. 272nd St., Kent; disabled parking only on-site, free parking and shuttle buses from Kent Fire Station #75, Kentwood High School, Mattson Middle School (253-856-5050 or kentwa.gov/residents/parks-recreation-and-community-services/events/fourth-of-july-splash).
Auburn 4th of July Festival
Kids’ bike parade, entertainment on two stages, inflatable rides, climbing wall, trampolines, petting zoo, pony carousel, bingo, car show, craft vendors, book sale, food vendors, spray park, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Les Gove Park, 11th Street and Auburn Way South, Auburn; free admission, $5/wristband for unlimited activities (253-931-3043 or www.auburnwa.gov/things_to_do/community/4th_festival_s_p207.htm?EventMode=View&EventOccurrence=0).
Federal Way Red, White and Blues Festival
Entertainment, games, arts and crafts, fireworks, 3-11 p.m. Tuesday, Celebration Park, 1095 S. 324th St., Federal Way; limited on-site parking (visitfw.org/schedule/events-calendar/federal-ways-red-white-and-blues-festival/2017-07-04).
Everett Colors of Freedom Festival
Parade, 11 a.m. along Colby and Wetmore Avenues, between Wall and 26th; festival with kids’ activities, food fair, beer garden, live music, fireworks, 11 a.m.-10:20 p.m. Tuesday, Legion Park, 145 Alverson Blvd., Everett; no on-site parking; view 10:20 p.m. Thunder on the Bay fireworks from Legion Park, Grand Avenue Park and Everett Marina District (everettwa.gov/790/Fourth-of-July).
Grand Old Fourth, Bainbridge
Pancake breakfast, 7-11 a.m.; street fair with arts, crafts and food vendors, live music, photo exhibit, Kids’ Zone games, pony rides, activities, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday; Classic, Antique and Special Interest Car Show, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; beer and wine garden, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., downtown Bainbridge; parade, 1 p.m. along Madison Avenue and Winslow Way; fireworks at dusk over Eagle Harbor (grandold4th.com/).
Carnation 4th of July Celebration
Pancake breakfast, 8-11 a.m.; 5K Run for the Pies, 8:30 a.m.; kiddie parade, 10:30 a.m., Grand Parade, 11 a.m, Main Street; vendors, kids’ activities, car show, downtown Carnation; music, 12:30-10 p.m.; beer garden, 1-10:30 p.m.; fireworks display at dusk, Tuesday, Tolt MacDonald Park, Northeast 40th Street and Tolt Avenue, Carnation (carnation4th.org).
Meeker Mansion 4th of July Family Games & Concert
Family Social and Puyallup Community Band Concert, family games on the lawn, 2 p.m.; holiday concert, 3 p.m., bring lawn chair or blanket; snacks available, 2 p.m. Tuesday, Meeker Mansion, 312 Spring St., Puyallup(253-848-1770 or meekermansion.org).
Tacoma Freedom Fair
Air Show, food vendors, exhibits, rides, fireworks show over Puget Sound, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Marine Park, 3931 Ruston Way, Tacoma; admission by donation (253-507-9357 or freedomfair.com).
Arlington Frontier Days/Fourth of July
Beer and wine garden and food concessions, noon-9 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Haller Park; Tuesday events: pancake breakfast, 7-11a.m.; Pedal, Paddle, Puff Triathlon, 8a.m., Haller Park; 5K run, 10 a.m.; Kiwanis auctions, 9 and 10:30 a.m., Haller Park; kiddies parade, 4:30 p.m., grand parade, 5 p.m., Olympic Ave.; food concessions, 7:30-9:30 p.m., fireworks, 9 p.m., Quake Park, Arlington (http://arlingtonwa.gov)
Madeline McKenzie
Seattle Magazine's Inaugural Beer Awards
Winners show it pays to think small as Washington’s beer scene goes big.
BY: KENDALL JONES | FROM THE PRINT EDITION | JULY 2017
Image Credit: Jake Martinez Icicle Brewing Company’s Crosscut Pilsner is a standout.
It is remarkable to think about, almost unimaginable. Washington now boasts more than 300 breweries, more than 50 of which are packed within Seattle city limits. Our local brewers are flexing their creative muscle and challenging our palates to accept new flavors, introducing us to things like sour beers, barrel-aged beers and other imaginative concoctions. While doing so, they also continue to hone their skills when it comes to brewing the styles of beer we already love. For our inaugural Beer Awards, we go back to the basics, honoring some of the most celebrated styles of beer made in Washington state and available around the Puget Sound region, presenting you only with beers that are regularly available year around. We also conducted a Readers' Choice poll, and you can find the results here. Join us for a glass of the winning brews, and you’ll find that these classic styles—pilsner, amber, saison, porter and IPA—have never tasted better.
BEST BEER WINNERS
Best Pilsner
Pilsner is a traditional light-bodied and refreshing European style of beer with a crisp and clean flavor. Those familiar name-brand beers advertised during football games are all pilsners, but none of them are as tasty as the ones our local brewers produce.
Crosscut Pilsner
Icicle Brewing Company
5 percent alcohol by volume
This super-refreshing pilsner is like a brand-new $100 bill: crisp, clean and begging to be consumed. It pours sparkling clear and golden, with a thin white head that smells slightly hoppy and a wee bit bready. Head brewer Dean Priebe created a beer that refreshes the palate with a tactful combination of subtle flavors: just a bit of honey, corn and straw, then the tiniest hint of herbal hop spiciness provides a little pop of bitterness on the finish. Available in bottles at select bottle shops and always on tap at the brewery, where you can get growlers to go.
Pairs with: Use this snappy, bright beer to wash down fresh oysters on the half shell.
Brewery and Taproom (all ages): Leavenworth, 935 Front St.
Best Pilsner Finalists:
253 Pilsner, 7 Seas Brewing (Gig Harbor)
Bohemian Pilsner, Sound Brewery (Poulsbo)
Polaris Pilsner, Chainline Brewing Company (Kirkland)
Pre Flight Pilsner, Airways Brewing (Kent)
Photograph by Angela Ciccu. Silver city brewery’s ridgetop red, winner of best amber/red ale
Best Amber/Red Ale
The name is directly related to the beer’s color. Whether you call it amber or red, it’s more sweet than bitter and usually features a rich caramel character.
Ridgetop Red
Silver City Brewery
6 percent alcohol by volume
Saying you like this Bremerton-brewed beer is akin to saying you enjoy vacationing in Hawaii. Who doesn’t? This beer, crafted by brewmaster Don Spencer, won medals at national beer competitions, so it’s no surprise we liked it. Exceptionally well balanced, this red has a subtle bready aroma that gives way to a soft and smooth, caramel-like sweetness complemented by a short-lived but sharp bitterness. Available in bottles and cans wherever good beer is sold and on tap at both Silver City Brewery locations, where you can get growlers to go.
Pairs with: Another simple classic, like a cheeseburger and fries.
Brewery and Taproom (21 +): Bremerton, 206 Katy Penman Ave.
Restaurant and Ale House (all ages): Silverdale, 2799 NW Myhre Road
Best Amber/Red Ale Finalists:
Amber’s Hot Friend, Skookum Brewery (Arlington)
Funky Red Patina, Hellbent Brewing Company (Seattle)
Immersion Amber, Two Beers Brewing (Seattle)
Planktonic Red, Jellyfish Brewing Company (Seattle)
Spin Cycle Red, No-Li Brewhouse (Spokane)
hotograph by Chustine Minoda. Best Saison: Holy Mountain Brewing’s The Seer
Best Saison
A traditional Belgian style of beer that was originally brewed seasonally for summertime consumption, saison (the French word for season) has become a popular year-round style in America. Pale in color, cloudy in complexion, it has a flavor that is often a bit fruity and even spicy.
The Seer
Holy Mountain Brewing
5.1 percent alcohol by volume
Colin Lenfesty, the head brewer and a cofounder of Holy Mountain Brewing, created a beautiful beer that pours a hazy yellow, with a tight white head. The aroma is a bewitching combination of barnyard funk and herbal perfume that draws the glass irresistibly to your lips. The flavor is like a Jackson Pollock painting: You aren’t sure what it is, but you like it. You might taste lavender, then Chardonnay and tart lemons, along with the foudre (a large, oak, barrel-like vessel) in which the beer is aged for four months. Find The Seer on tap at the brewery’s tasting room in Interbay, where the beer is available in bottles, but not growlers. Occasionally, you might also find bottles at bottle shops around town.
Pairs with: A garden-fresh salad dressed with a bright, citrus dressing.
Brewery and Taproom (21 +): Interbay, 1421 Elliott Ave. W
Best Saison Finalists:
Litha, Propolis Brewing (Port Townsend)
Mo’s Saison, Atwood Ales (Blaine)
Witchfinder, Holy Mountain Brewing (Seattle)
Photograph by Angela Ciccu. Best Porter: Global Mutt Baltic Porter from Bellingham’s Wander Brewing
Best Porter
Porter is a traditional style of English beer, beloved for centuries. Though porters come in shades from dark brown to pitch black and balance mild sweetness with hoppy bitterness, they are surprisingly refreshing and light on the palate, given their formidable appearance.
Global Mutt Baltic Porter
Wander Brewing
7.0 percent alcohol by volume
The light brown head that rests atop this pitch-black beer from Bellingham releases an unmistakable coffee-like aroma. In this one, head brewer and brewery co-owner Chad Kuehl presents flavors that are robust but dry, with notes of dark chocolate, coffee and roasted, almost burnt malt. True to its name, Global Mutt presents a mélange of flavors stemming from the use of globally sourced ingredients: fair-trade cacao nibs from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, coffee from Brazil and specialty grains from Europe. Available in bottles at bottle shops and occasionally on tap at beer-focused bars, or visit the brewery in Bellingham to get your growler filled.
Pairs with: Continue the worldwide vibe by serving it for dessert with a traditional Italian biscotti, and don’t be afraid to dunk.
Brewery and Taproom (all ages): Bellingham, 1807 Dean Ave.
Best Porter Finalists:
P-51 Porter, Wingman Brewers (Tacoma)
Panther Lake Porter, Silver City Brewery (Bremerton)
Profanity Hill Porter, Schooner Exact Brewing (Seattle)
Robust Porter, Reuben’s Brews (Seattle)
Photograph by Chustine Minoda. Best IPA: Jumbo Juice IPA from Kent-based Airways Brewing
Best IPA
The hoppiest of all beer styles, today’s IPA are often described with adjectives like fruity, piney, citrusy and tropical, all flavors imparted by the hops. Hands down, it’s the most popular style of craft beer in America.
Jumbo Juice IPA
Airways Brewing
6 percent alcohol by volume
This Kent-brewed beer is big on fruity flavors, with not so subtle hints of orange and tropical fruit, which are actually provided by the use of copious amounts of citrus-forward hops. It pours a slightly hazy yellow, and you might think someone spiked your beer with OJ, but Alex Dittmar, the head brewer and owner, doesn’t want you to be fooled—it’s all beer. Unlike traditional IPA, it is light on bitterness, which makes it immensely quaffable, even for people who usually don’t like IPA. This draft-only brew can be found on tap at both Airways Brewing locations in Kent, where you can get growlers to go, and occasionally at beer-focused bars around the area.
Pairs with: The citrus notes will complement and amplify the spiciness of four-star pad thai, adding more depth of flavor to an already intense dish.
Brewery and Taproom (21 +): Kent, 8611 S 212th St.
Beer and Bistro (all-ages brewpub): Kent, 320 W Harrison St.
Best IPA Finalists:
Bodhizafa IPA, Georgetown Brewing Company (Seattle)
Crikey IPA, Reuben’s Brews (Seattle)
Positron IPA, Seapine Brewing Company (Seattle)
Topcutter IPA, Bale Breaker Brewing Company (Yakima)
TASTING PANEL
Gary Sink owner of West Seattle’s Beveridge Place Pub West Seattle,
Marley Rall owner of The Brewmaster’s Bakery and Taproom Renton,
Karrie Stewart co-owner of TeKu Tavern South Lake Union,
Morgan Herzog owner of The Beer Junction West Seattle,
Brian Walczyk chef at Brave Horse Tavern South Lake Union,
Brian Dalbey beer buyer, Tom Douglas Restaurants
Beer Awards Methodology
Seattle magazine’s beer authority and beer awards manager Kendall Jones breaks down how we determined the winners:
For Seattle magazine’s inaugural beer awards, we decided to focus on five of the most common and most beloved styles of beer: pilsner, amber, saison, porter and IPA. The shelves in the beer aisle are crowded these days, so we thought we’d do all of the heavy lifting for you, sampling dozens and dozens of beers so you don’t have to. (You’re welcome.) We included only Washington-brewed beers that are regularly available, because telling you how good a beer is if you can’t drink it would be mean.
To shape our final list of nominated beers for tasting, Jones, who tastes hundreds of Washington beers each year, relied on his own experience and also sought opinions of other industry professionals who do the same.
We also considered beers you can find around the Puget Sound area that caught the attention of beer judges at national and regional beer-tasting competitions.
We then culled the list of beers to a reasonable size for tasting (five or six finalists per category). Jones assembled a tasting panel composed of beer experts: bottle shop owners, bar owners and beer buyers. We also included a chef from a beer-focused restaurant. Since Jones knew which beers made the list, he was recused from the tasting. On March 7, the group tasted the beers blindly, not knowing what beers they were drinking as they scored them on appearance, aroma, flavor and overall impression. The highest-scoring beer in each category is the winner.
Check out our Readers' Choice winners here.
Washington’s 21 Best Beaches
Sunbathing, swimming, hiking, kite-flying...we found the state’s 21 best stretches of sand for all of it.
By Allison Williams 7/20/2016 at 1:28pm Published in the August 2016 issue of Seattle Met
Alki Beach Bathhouse in 1936.
IMAGE: SEATTLE MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES
1. Alki Beach
Seattle began here (or at least the modern incarnation) when the Denny Party landed in West Seattle in 1851. Though its Coney Island–style amusement park was removed in the 1910s, Alki remains a prime hangout spot, with volleyball nets, a Statue of Liberty replica, and a historic bathhouse. Pretty much everyone cruises slowly down Alki Avenue past the beach, showing off a cool ride—or just looking for parking. seattle.gov/parks/-parkspaces/alki.htm
Sand 101: There’s a rumor going around that Alki is a fake beach, that the sand was trucked in instead of washed ashore the natural way. Not really; only some of it was imported, years ago, as a top dressing layer. Today Seattle’s parks department washes the existing grains with a mechanical sifter, but it generates so much dust that it only comes out once a week during the summer season.
2. Denny Blaine Park
The beach is nicknamed Dykiki for its popularity among the city’s lesbian scene, but this tiny piece of Lake Washington waterfront, along with Howell Park just to the south, usually hosts more men than women. And by more, we mean more—both are unofficial nude hangouts, thoughtfully tucked between waterfront mansions. For more pocket waterfront parks, check a city-made map of public-access street ends.
3. Madison Park Beach
On a sunny summer weekend, is anyone on the sloping grass above Madison Park’s miniscule line of sand obeying the city’s no-booze park rules? Maybe the toddlers padding toward the tiny waves caused by Lake Washington motorboats and the lifeguards who oversee the roped-off swim zone. But certainly not the shrieking scenesters on inflatable rafts or most of the chatty locals without the time or inclination to find solitude. seattle.gov/parks/parkspaces/-madison.htm
Jetty Island Park
IMAGE: PORT OF EVERETT
4. Jetty Island Park
Not one of those hard-to-reach islands that eat up half a day in ferry line waits, Everett’s offshore isle is a free 10-minute boat ride away, and the man-made island is little more than two miles of beach. Even the bathrooms are offshore, floating in Possession Sound. portofeverett.com/recreation
5. Cama Beach
The beach is all about boats on Camano Island, where the parking lot to its most popular sound-front space is uphill and out of sight. The Center for Wooden Boats and its classic craft are center stage by the water, surrounded by cedar cabins that resemble an upscale sleepaway camp. The center rents boats and holds weekend toy-boatbuilding workshops, and a super rocky shoreline makes seafaring the preferred method of arrival and departure. parks.state.wa.us/483/cama-beach
Sand 101: When there’s a steep incline at water level—like in much of Puget Sound, including Camano Island’s Cama Beach—large pieces of rock and shell pile up while smaller particles are light enough to wash away.
6. Seabrook
The middle stretch of Olympic coast is a lot of nothing, nothing, trees, nothing—and then, suddenly, pleasantville. Built as a vacation community in 2005, Seabrook looks like a New England hamlet that sprung up on a mossy bluff overlooking the Pacific. In season, the town offers a few quaint shops, an indoor pool, and wood-shingled rental cottages. seabrookwa.com
7. Point Roberts
Strict adherence to a nineteenth-century treaty gave the tip of this Canadian peninsula to the U.S. (these five square miles are south of the 49th parallel), and its four beaches, mostly rocky, are less popular with visitors than the cheap gas and American mailing addresses. Still, Maple Beach on the east side lets you country hop with impunity past a plaque that denotes the national border. pointrobertstourism.com
IMAGE: LOREN L. MASSETH
8. Point No Point
The Kitsap Peninsula’s lighthouse corner is known to history as the place where several tribes signed their land away in a treaty, but that’s not how it gets the name; it’s just not a very sharp point. The U.S. Lighthouse Society is headquartered in the 1879 light station, the oldest ship saver on the sound, and vacationers can rent half of the lighthouse keeper’s quarters. pnplighthouse.com
9. Fort Worden
The sand stretches on Port Townsend’s historic military fort form a sharp angle at a lighthouse, but the concrete batteries—the fortifications built to protect the Victorian city and the rest of Puget Sound in the early twentieth century—are the real adult playground. If the spooky tunnels that burrow beneath the beach bluffs aren’t haunted, local ghosts should be ashamed of themselves. fortworden.org
IMAGE: COURTESY FORT WORDEN
10. Hobuck Beach
Snag a Makah recreation permit at the local museum or gas station; state park passes don’t work on this Indian reservation, and beachfront cabins at Hobuck Beach Resort beg a longer stay. Search the long beach’s south end, far from the surfers, for a hidden trail that ducks over a headland to a smaller expanse of tide pools. makah.com/activities/beaches/hobuck
11. Rialto Beach
Rock columns just offshore form sea stacks, or tiny islands that hold little more than a few scraggly trees up top and basking sea lions at their base. Hole-in-the-Wall, a natural sea arch carved into a headland on this national park stretch, is about two miles north of Rialto’s parking lot and an open gateway only at low tide. South of Rialto, the Quileute Oceanside Resort abuts La Push’s boringly named First Beach. nps.gov/olym
12. Ruby Beach
For all its glorious remote beaches, the Olympic National Park manages to offer a few jewels close to the parking lot. The wide sands of Ruby Beach are only a quarter mile from Highway 101, and at Kalaloch, to the south, there are only a few feet between pavement and dunes. Look up for bald eagles and down for on-leash dogs—it’s one of the only places in the park they’re permitted. nps.gov/olym
Ruby Beach
IMAGE: NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM
13. Semiahmoo
The resort’s two golf courses are up on the Blaine mainland—and you can play the links with a soccer ball on select evenings—but the hotel, spa, and eateries sit on a beachy spit that spikes so far into the sound that it practically kisses the U.S. border. Guests counter cold Canadian winds by gathering around s’mores bonfires at dusk. semiahmoo.com
14. Copalis Beach
The Pacific Ocean beach is a Washington state highway for stretches south of this mid-peninsula spot—keep it to 25 miles per hour—but Copalis is more. It’s the only FAA-designated beach airport in the country; pilots aim for the darker, wet sand when landing and try to avoid the driftwood. Otherwise it’s a quiet waterfront bordered to the north by Iron Springs Resort, some of the poshest rental cabins on the coast. ironspringsresort.com
Westhaven State Park at Half Moon Bay
IMAGE: LINDLEY ASHLINE
Sand 101: The beach at Half Moon Bay was formed by the construction of a jetty in the early 1900s that caused the shore to erode away into a crescent. The Army Corps of Engineers has to fill the area with dredged material after storms since it washes away so fast. The jetty also blocks the seasonal drift of sand north and south along the coast.
17. Tokeland
In a hotel that’s exactly as old as Washington state—127 years—there are plenty of antiques and rooms with flowered wallpaper, plus a hiding place behind the fireplace where smugglers concealed undocumented workers. The Victorian-era farmhouse overlooks the calm, kelp-filled shore of Willapa Bay, and it’s one of the only commercial establishments in a sleepy residential waterfront community. tokelandhotel.com
Sand 101: Gravel beaches are the most common kind in Puget Sound, but they can also be spotted on the coast (like on Tokeland’s Willapa Bay side). Though they suck for playing volleyball, the small-stone beaches tend to support more marine animals, since they provide hiding spots from predators. Crabs love ’em, and harbor seals feed along mixed gravel beaches.
IMAGE: COURTESY TOKELAND INN
18. Long Beach
A painted archway says this 28-miler is the longest beach in the world, and while that might not be exactly true—Brazil’s Praia do Cassino holds that title—the flat, wide sands of the peninsula taper off to the horizon in both directions, pounded by Pacific waves that are almost always too wild and too cold for swimming. It has the state’s best boardwalk, and the 8.5-mile Discovery Bike Trail winds among sand dunes and public artwork and the reassembled bones of a beached whale. funbeach.com
Sand 101: The big mud flats of Willapa Bay bring clay and silt to the sand mix, making for a soft, fine blanket on Long Beach. It’s pale because it has higher concentrations of quartz than the beaches near river mouths.
Long Beach
IMAGE: CA ECCLES
19. Leadbetter Point State Park
Much of the Long Beach peninsula tip is reserved for snowy plover restoration, but trails wind toward beaches with silk-soft sand (and unlike the rest of Long Beach, there are no cars turning doughnuts here). The park stretches from the Pacific to Willapa Bay’s famed oyster beds. parks.state.wa.us/537/leadbetter-point
20. Seaview
On a coast better known for hand-caught razor clams and bins of saltwater taffy than fine dining, the Depot restaurant is a welcome diversion. About
a dozen tables crowd the old Clamshell Railroad station, where chef-owner Michael Lalewicz panfries local oysters and piles Willapa Bay clams and wild razor clams into a well-balanced chowder. depotrestaurantdining.com
21. Cape Disappointment
When Lewis and Clark first saw the Pacific Ocean in 1805, did they immediately start building beach forts out of driftwood? Probably. It feels like everyone who’s visited since has done so at this pocket-size version of Waikiki Beach. As idyllic as the cove and black river sand are, the name comes not from paradise comparisons but the death of a Hawaiian sailor nearby. parks.state.wa.us/486/cape-disappointment
Sand 101: The black grains on Waikiki Beach are from the black basalt that washed down the Columbia River fairly recently; the sand color will change seasonally, getting blacker during the high runoff in spring.
Cape Disappointment
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK/VIEWFINDER
Seattle Summer Outdoor Movie Guide 2017
Bust out the lawn chairs and curl up with a blanket for some cinema under the stars.
By Liz Weber 6/9/2017 at 11:10am | Courtesy of Seattlemet.com
Moviegoers at Marymoor Park reach peak #summervibes.
IMAGE: ERINN J. HALE
This year’s slate of alfresco cinema in Seattle (and the surrounding area) has a little something for everyone: family-friendly nights with Finding Dory, Moana, and Beauty and the Beast, cult classics like The Big Lebowski and Shaun of the Dead, and whole lot of Star Wars: Rogue One screenings. Like, a lot. So lay out a blanket, fill the cooler with snacks, and wonder why you ever thought it was a good idea to watch movies indoors.
*Denotes free screenings.
June 24 Star Wars: Rogue One (25th Anniversary special, free screening)
July 1 Shaun of the Dead
July 8 The Wedding Singer
July 15 The 5th Element
July 22 The Big Lebowski (Dude Fest, 21+)
July 29 La La Land
Aug 5 The Dark Knight
July 14 Dirty Dancing
July 21 Ghostbusters (2016)
Aug 4 Moana
Aug 11 La La Land
Aug 18 Star Wars: Rogue One
Aug 25 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
July 5 Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them
July 12 La La Land
July 19 Moana
July 26 Hidden Figures
Aug 2 Sing
Aug 8 Ghostbusters (1984)
Aug 16 Finding Dory
Aug 23 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Movies at the Mural (Seattle Center)*
July 29 The Princess Bride
Aug 5 La La Land
Aug 12 Hidden Figures
Aug 19 Clue
Aug 26 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Three Dollar Bill Cinema: Parental Advisory? (Cal Anderson Park)*
Aug 11 Beetlejuice
Aug 18 But I’m A Cheerleader
Aug 25 Juno
Seattle Outdoor Movies at Magnuson Park
July 6 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
July 13 Moana
July 20 Hidden Figures
July 27 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Aug 3 La La Land
Aug 10 The Lego Batman Movie
Aug 17 Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them
Aug 24 The Princess Bride
Moonlight Cinema at Redhook Brewery (Woodinville)
July 13 Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
July 20 Moana
July 27 Shaun of the Dead
Aug 3 What We Do In The Shadows
Aug 10 Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them
Aug 17 Logan
Aug 24 Star Wars: Rogue One
Aug 31 Lego Batman
July 22 Star Wars: Rogue One
July 29 The LEGO Batman Movie
Aug 5 Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them
Aug 12 Finding Dory
Aug 19 Queen of Katwe
Aug 26 Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Crossroads Movies in the Park (Bellevue)*
Aug 3 Finding Dory
Aug 10 Zootopia
Aug 17 Pete’s Dragon
Aug 24 Moana
Downtown Movies in the Park (Bellevue)*
July 11 Sing
July 18 Storks
July 25 The Angry Birds Movie
Aug 1 Monster Trucks
Aug 8 The LEGO Batman Movie
Aug 15 The Secret Life of Pets
Aug 22 Middle School
Aug 29 The Sandlot
Carillon Point Outdoor Movie Nights (Kirkland)
July 8 Raiders of the Lost Ark
July 22 Finding Dory
Aug 5 Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them
Aug 19 Star Wars: Rogue One
Auburn’s Summer Sounds and Cinema*
July 28 Sing
Aug 4 Moana
Aug 11 Star Wars: The Force Awakens
LeMay Car Museum’s Drive-In Movie Series*
July 8 Raiders of the Lost Ark
July 22 Ghostbusters
Aug 11 Moana
Aug 26 Star Wars: Rogue One
Movies at the Marina (Shilshole Bay Marina)*
July 21 Captain Ron
Aug 11 The Secret Life of Pets
Aug 21 Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
Bite of Seattle (Seattle Center)*
July 21 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Aug 4 Moana
Aug 11 E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Aug 18 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Aug 25 Star Wars: Rogue One
Pickford Film Center’s Rooftop Cinema (Bellingham)
July 22 The Last Waltz
Aug 5 Little Miss Sunshine
Aug 19 West Side Story
Fairhaven Outdoor Cinema (Bellingham)
June 24 Ghostbusters (1984)
July 1 Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them
July 8 Hidden Figures
July 15 Moana
July 22 Star Wars: Rogue One
Where to Dine Out This Father’s Day Weekend
Caution: descriptions of hunger-inducing dry-aged cote de boeuf, fresh oysters, and whiskey pairings ahead.
By Amber Wright 6/14/2017 at 8:30am | Courtesy of Seattlemet.com
Enjoy a steak and eggs special at Ray’s Boathouse while you contemplate whether or not the perfect view enhances the taste of brunch.
IMAGE: RAY’S BOATHOUSE
Three-course meal chalk full of options: seared king salmon with morel mushrooms, a prime hanger steak with black truffle potato gnocchi, or a pork tenderloin with smoky apple sauce. Plus, every dish comes with the perfect Pike Brewing pint to accompany it. Dad can also take home a complimentary growler of Pike Brewing’s Hive Five Honey Ale. $55
This cafe is serving up a three-course meal of classic dad dishes: pot roast with mashed potatoes, asparagus, and pan gravy, and a brownie sundae with vanilla bean ice cream, strawberry compote, and walnuts for dessert. Reservations required. $45
Get ready for this mouthful: a dry-aged, bone-in, one-kilo cote de boeuf roasted in a wood-fired oven, basted with butter and herbs, and served with fried sunchokes, roasted vegetables, glace de viande, plus two beef marrow bones. This meaty meal comes with a pour of Bainbridge Island whiskey straight from the top shelf. $100
Serving up all you can eat Big Red’s IPA baby back ribs served with beans, cole slaw, and fries, Ram ensures dads will be stuffed. And if not, they brew a lot of beer that should help out on that front. $27
A massive 12-ounce ribeye steak with caramelized shallot mashed potatoes, roasted red onions, horseradish, and olive aioli might just be what Dad is dreaming of; add a glass of Horse Heaven Hills red wine or Willet Pot Still Reserve Bourbon and he’s set for a solid REM cycle. But if bloody marys and mimosas are more his speed, Dunbar Room also runs a Jazz Brunch from 10–2 (a la carte pricing). $32, $12 optional drink pairing
Melissa Miranda, one of Seattle Met’s Next Hot Chefs, is back at Bar del Corso with her Filipino popup, Musang. This brunch will honor her father, the so nicknamed Musang, who will also in the kitchen alongside Miranda, showing off his skills for this family-centered event. $50
This waterfront restaurant is adding a steak and eggs to their brunch menu special for Father’s Day. Dad can enjoy applewood grilled sirloin, two scrambled eggs, arugula, sweet peppers, balsamic syrup, and Old Bay breakfast potatoes all while he takes in the view. $35
Come Friday, June 16, this getaway on Hood Canal will have a BattleBrook saison beer dinner with dishes made by executive chef Josh Delgado. Sunday, June 18 brings a menu of noshes ranging from bacon mac-and-cheese to cedar plank–grilled Columbia River steelhead salmon. $80 for Friday, $49 for Sunday brunch (kids 10 and under eat for $16)
Get a taste of Brazil by way of trained gaucho chefs who swiftly carve up 16 different cuts of grilled meats alongside seasonal salads, soups, and fresh vegetables. Meat proffered tableside? Sounds like a dad—and family—favorite. $50
Talk about treating dad: Order one meal and he gets one on the house. Their regular menu includes fresh oysters, a chef’s cioppino, and a grilled bistro steak served with housemade chimichurri, fried potatoes and grilled roma tomatoes.
Beer counts as a meal, right? Father’s Day weekend at Marymoor Park is Dad’s chance to try some of the 500 different beers from 130 different Washington breweries. But maybe visit the food trucks in between tastings, too. $30
Sneak Peek the W Bellevue Hotel
By Lauren Foster | June 1, 2017 | Courtesy of 425magazine.com
he highly anticipated W Bellevue hotel at the Bellevue Collection will open to the public June 15. The snazzy rooms and contemporary decor are a shift from other more traditional hotels in the area. Interior designers drew inspiration from Northwest lake houses, Seattle rock legends, and pop art to make the interior of the hotel something new that speaks to the area’s legacy.
The hotel will celebrate for a week before it officially opens its doors. Check below for a full list of events.
Monday, June 5 – Friday, June 9
KISS FM with Bender & Molly daily on-air giveaway of 1-night stay at W Bellevue.
Saturday, June 10
Colorful W Bellevue stencils will line the streets of downtown Bellevue leading people to the new hotel.
Sunday, June 11
Oversized games including Jenga and Connect 4 will be in the Fountain Court area outside of Macy’s for passersby to play with.
Monday, June 12
SoulCycle and W Bellevue will host an event with a live DJ and opportunities for the community to join in on the class.
Tuesday, June 13
Pressed Juicery and W Bellevue “Pay It Forward” campaign.
Wednesday, June 14
Crosswalk fashion show debuting the new W Hotels talent wardrobe throughout downtown Bellevue.
Thursday, June 15
W Bellevue ribbon cutting ceremony with an electric W spin to it with Kemper Freeman Jr.
All photos courtesy W Bellevue
The Top Things to See or Do in Seattle: June 2017
Game on at the Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show, catch three Pacific Northwest Ballet premieres, and spend some time alone with Chastity Belt.
By Seth Sommerfeld 5/31/2017 at 1:34pm Published in the June 2017 issue of Seattle Met
IMAGE: COURTESY JOSHUA JENSEN-NAGLE
VISUAL ART
Joshua Jensen-Nagle
June 1–24 Nothing screams summer like a sunny beach, and Toronto photographer Joshua Jensen-Nagle has figured out how to capture their inherent nostalgic warmth. As he shifts perspectives from a beachgoer’s gaze to soaring bird’s-eye views of sandy shorelines, the multitude of swimsuits, umbrellas, and beach towels become tiny flickers of exuberant life in colorful dreamscapes. With Endless Summer, Jensen-Nagle looks to capture the blissful spirit of his youthful summers spent on the Jersey shore. Foster/White Gallery,
SPECIAL EVENTS
Seattle PrideFest
June 25 Drawing more than 150,000 attendees a year, Seattle PrideFest serves as the country’s largest free Pride event. Following the Pride Parade’s march from downtown, the LGBTQ community and its supporters invade Seattle Center for a day of celebration, music, performances, and rallying around a united vision of inclusiveness. Seattle Center, pridefest.org
IMAGE: COURTESY CONNER LYONS
CONCERT
Chastity Belt
June 1 Chastity Belt further secures its spot as the soundtrack for being relatively young, discouraged, and aimless in Seattle with the release of I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone. This time around, the group employs a slightly murkier tonal palette for its midtempo rock tunes about hating work, waking up at weird hours, checking your phone too much, and feeling obliged to make the scene just because of the comfort in routine. Julia Shapiro’s vocals still sound detached, but moments of emotional yearning cut through the apathy. The Crocodile, thecrocodile.com
DANCE
Pictures at an Exhibition
June 2–11 Pacific Northwest Ballet winds down its season with three works that have never graced its stage. Alexei Ratmansky’s titular Pictures at an Exhibition offers a kinetic art gallery of eclectic dance references. PNB artistic director Peter Boal stages Jerome Robbins’s Opus 19/The Dreamer, which he danced in his New York City Ballet farewell. George Balanchine’s La Source rounds out the bill. McCaw Hall, pnb.org
IMAGE: MATT LIEF ANDERSON
COMEDY
Michael Che
“They don’t tell you black lives don’t matter. They hit you with that slick #!$&, ‘Well all lives matter.’ ... That would be like if your wife came up to you and was like, ‘Do you love me?’ And you were like, ‘Baby, I love everybody.’ ” —Michael Che
June 23 The cohost of Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” brings his standup and social commentary to Seattle. Neptune Theatre, stgpresents.org
SPECIAL EVENTS
Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show
June 9–11 With hundreds of new and vintage games—plus tournaments, industry speakers, and more—the annual Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show provides gamers with a utopian weekend (and a value at $20–$30 per day with free play). Tacoma Convention Center, nwpinballshow.com
Cabaret comes to life at the Paramount.
IMAGE: COURTESY JOAN MARCUS
THEATER
Cabaret
June 13–25 More than 50 years after its Broadway debut, the exuberant and tragic musical Cabaret still packs an emotional punch. Set in 1931 Berlin during the rise of the Nazis, the story of lively late-night action at the Kit Kat Klub and the budding romance between cabaret performer Sally Bowles and writer Cliff Bradshaw can never escape the impending historical doom that grows closer with each passing musical number. Paramount Theatre, stgpresents.org
VISUAL ART
Falling in Love. Again.
June 1–July 21 For their new exhibit, Kenyan-German artist couple Mwangi Hutter drew inspiration from art that predates the written tradition—the type with figures burnt into walls with fire. They created a dozen large paintings with bodies presented in stark black-and-white tones. Each form-focused piece captures moments of quiet intimacy—from sensual embraces to sitting in contemplation—as the blurs of paint drip across the canvas. Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, marianeibrahim.com
15 Amazing Northwest Cabin Destinations
Bungalows, chalets, yurts...escape the Seattle bustle for a few nights in these cozy dwellings.
By Allison Williams 5/15/2017 at 7:00am Published in the June 2017 issue of Seattle Met
Romantic Retreat on the Columbia Gorge
The four-poster beds at Carson Ridge Luxury Cabins are handmade from thick logs, and the jetted tub is set in a pile of stones—picture Paul Bunyan on his honeymoon. Rentals face the brushy, flower-filled meadows of the Columbia River Gorge and come with a heavy breakfast like creme brulee french toast. The couple-minded 10-cabin property welcomes pets but not kids. carsonridgecabins.com
The cabins at Carson Ridge.
IMAGE: COURTESY CARSON RIDGE LUXURY CABINS / JIM MOTES PHOTOGRAPHY
Remote Recreation in the Central Cascades
Over the river and through the woods? That, plus up a few big hills and ridges from the parking lot on the highway. Nine A-frames and cozy Alpine Lakes High Camp cabins sit among the private forests east of Stevens Pass, beloved among backcountry skiers who crave seclusion and untouched powder. The summer season offers empty hiking trails, a shared lodge, wee cabins, and a wood-fired hot tub. Never heard of it? Until recently, the high camp was named for nearby Scottish Lakes. scottishlakes.com
Hiking near Alpine Lakes High Camp.
IMAGE: COURTESY MARK GRIFFITH
Tiny Living in Olympia
Bayside Bungalow owner Brittany Yunker is something of a tiny house evangelist, and she rents her diminutive Olympia-area cabin to show off the delights of living with low square footage. Though the interior is small, there’s a sleeping loft, seating for four, and a six-foot-three-inch kitchen ceiling. Her own fruit trees and a fire circle sit just outside, while the quiet trails of Tolmie State Park next door lead to the rocky beach at the bottom of Puget Sound. baysidebungalow.com
Tiny house Bayside Bungalow
Legendary Village on Hood Canal
First came the darling, shingled-roof huts of Robin Hood Village Resort in 1934, built on the hook end of Hood Canal. Then Disney hired the builder to construct the sets of Errol Flynn’s The Adventures of Robin Hood, which looked awfully similar, and the whimsical resort got its name. Circled across the road from a kayak beach on the canal, only two of the 16 cottages are original, but all are a cozy fairy tale size. robinhoodvillageresort.com
Desert Yurts on the Gorge
Why are there almost no lodging options on one of the most stunning stretches of the cliffed Columbia River Gorge? Fortunately there’s Cave B Inn, a collection of a lodge, stand-alone houses on the gorge cliffs, and yurts. The latter have bathrooms and queen-size beds, a marked step up from the camping at the Gorge Amphitheater next door (though the high desert topography mutes the music). cavebinn.com
The desert yurts at Cave B Inn (also pictured at night at the top of the page).
IMAGE: COURTESY JEROME TSO
Harborside Comfort in the San Juans
There isn’t much difference between the waterfront and the waterview cabins at Snug Harbor Resort, on the western, quieter side of San Juan Island; both are mere steps from Mitchell Bay’s quiet marina. The 20-cabin resort provides free crab pots during the crabbing season, and the common fire pits are ideal for cooking the day’s catch. Though the whales and other wildlife are the region’s biggest draw, the wood-sided buildings have giant windows, so being trapped by a Salish Sea storm won’t cause cabin fever. snugresort.com
IMAGE: COURTESY SNUG HARBOR RESORTS
Chill Central on Orcas Island
When The Big Lebowski’s the Dude dreams of a perfect vacation, it probably looks something like Orcas Island’s Doe Bay Resort, a waterfront collective of full-service cabins, yurts, and clothing-optional soaking pools on a deck that hangs over an actual babbling brook. Live music enlivens the local-minded restaurant dishing oysters and garden-grown veggies. doebay.com
Beauty Sleep in Leavenworth
Beds are tucked into all sorts of interesting places at Leavenworth’s Sleeping Lady Resort, like into alcoves, up on lofts, or in bunk beds. While many rooms are hotel style, in clusters of small buildings, two are stand-alone cabins on Woodpecker Hill: an eight-person mini lodge called the Rookery and a romantic hut. Exempt from nearby Leavenworth’s Bavarian theme, the resort is a sprawl of red roofs, a soaking pool, an organic garden, and a grotto bar. sleepinglady.com
Sleeping Lady Resort’s soaking pools and Rookery.
Trailer Chic in the Methow
It’s called the herd, but don’t fear a stampede—it’s just what owners call the six Rolling Huts that sit atop trailer bases in a sunny Methow meadow. The ultramodern steel boxes boast modular furniture, bearskin rugs, and Wi-Fi, though the canvas tent village located through the trees evokes a more old-fashioned form of camping. The huts, striking with their angled panel roofs and yellow doors, were designed by Seattle architect Tom Kundig (see more of his cabins here). rollinghuts.com
The herd at Rolling Huts.
Cedar Suites at Mount Rainier
Between the stone fireplaces and log furniture, the deluxe cabins at Wellspring Spa embody the classic Northwest aesthetic. Other abodes on the wooded property take a Zen approach, with stone garden statues and mini waterfalls, and one supersized cabin can sleep 14. The spa, cedar saunas, and hot tubs combat the chill of the Rainier-adjacent woodlands. wellspringspa.com
Cabins at Wellspring Spa near Mount Rainier.
IMAGE: COURTESY WELLSPRING SPA
Petite Refuges in Wine Country
In 2015, a Columbia River winery south of the Tri-Cities constructed two tiny houses as part of an HGTV show; the Alexandria Nicole Tiny Houses have since grown to four vineyard abodes on the Destiny Ridge property. One wears a dramatic twisting roof, but the Jet Black Tiny House clearly takes the cake with its interior wine tap pouring Alexandria Nicole syrah. anctinyhouses.com
The tiny houses of Alexandria Nicole Winery.
Hobbit Heaven Above Chelan
Enjoy all the round-door, sod-roof charm of Hobbiton without the bother of that one ring to rule them all. But you don’t have to be a J. R. R. Tolkien fan to embrace the Hobbit House built by a Boise-area dreamer, though renters must endure a 100-yard uphill hike and halfling (i.e., small) accommodations. With Columbia River views from the porthole windows, it turns the Chelan area into a convincing Middle Earth. airbnb.com/rooms/8794484
Inside and around the Hobbit House near Chelan.
IMAGE: COURTESY CHRIS TACK
Oceanfront Expanse on the Olympic Peninsula
The empty stretch of Copalis Beach at Iron Springs Resort is more than strollworthy; it’s littered with razor clams below, and airplanes land atop the state’s only beach runway. Though the resort dates back to the 1940s, the cabins are updated—and especially welcoming to dogs, who get their photos posted in the general store. ironspringsresort.com
Quaint Cottages on Discovery Bay
The Chevy Chase Beach Cabins have nothing to do with that town in Maryland or the guy from Fletch; born Saint’s Rest 120 years ago on a homestead outside Port Townsend, the name changed around 1923, and the seven surviving boxy cottages date to the 1930s. Situated between the waters of the northern Olympic Peninsula and the Discovery Bay Golf Club, the homestead offers private access to the beaches that sit below its bluffs. chevychasebeachcabins.com
A room with a view and sunset at Chevy Chase resort.
IMAGE: COURTESY JB PHOTOGRAPHY
Floating Cabin in Eastern Washington
No skipper experience required to rent a houseboat at Lake Roosevelt Adventures; it comes with a temporary Washington State Boaters Card and a quick steering lesson. The climate along Lake Roosevelt—a 150-mile section of the Columbia River—is dry and hot during summer months, hence the boat-side slide. lakerooseveltadventures.com
Overlooking Lake Roosevelt Adventures houseboats.
Northwest Dining Destinations
By Julie Arnan | May 26, 2017 | Courtesy of 425magazine.com
Tusk in Portland. Photo by Benji Wagner
uckle up, and strap on your bib. It’s time to explore the Pacific Northwest, taste buds first. Even if you’re a recent transplant to the upper left, no doubt you’ve already discovered what a mouth-watering place it is to call home. Take a ride with us to some of the region’s top dining destinations — from places in small towns, to big cities, to solitary hidden gems. We give you permission to plan an entire road trip dedicated to the pursuit of foodie bliss-dom.
WALLA WALLA
Winemakers love to describe their wine as “food-friendly,” and in Walla Walla, there are ample ways to test that statement, thanks to a growing collection of great restaurants. Everyone in town will tell you to go to Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen, an intimate dining room (reservations strongly recommended) serving Spanish- and Italian-inspired plates of gorgeous locally grown produce and proteins. An order of the sweet, succulent beef cheeks (aka meat candy) is an absolute must.
Beef Cheeks at Saffron. Photo by: Colby D. Kuschatka
Newer to the dining scene, Passatempo Taverna has a lively atmosphere and quirky modern décor. A project between Seattle pasta guru chef Michael Easton and legendary cocktail genius Jim German, the restaurant is a complete reboot of the former Pastime Café that previously occupied the location. Order a pasta dish, of course, but don’t overlook the bistecca like I did. After a bite from a friendly neighbor, I was convinced to order that big hunk of juicy, herb-crusted beef on my next visit.
Walla Walla has a casual dress code no matter where you dine, but if yoga pants are your tuxedo, head to the nation’s best gas-station eatery. Andrae’s Kitchen, located in the Cenex Convenience Store, beckons with a smoky call. Chef Andrae Bopp’s custom-built smoker works overtime out back, while staff prepares everything else in-house from the beignets on Sunday morning, to the sandwich rolls, house-cured salmon, and pickled vegetables. Once a landscaper, Bopp earned top marks at the French Culinary Institute in New York City, interning at restaurants like the Michelin three-star Le Bernadin. He brings the flavor whether you’re grabbing tacos for lunch or soaking up last night’s “wine tasting” with some voodoo fries.
PUGET SOUND: PENINSULA & ISLANDS
A spa, wooded trails, a manicured lawn opening up to the shimmering waters of Hood Canal, and freshly harvested shore-to-table seafood make for the perfect weekend getaway at Alderbrook Resort. Chef Josh Delgado (formerly at Barking Frog in Woodinville) utilizes local seafood and property-grown items like mushrooms, maple buds, berries, and greens to produce a menu designed around “place.”
When island hopping through the San Juans, break open the piggy bank for a reservation at The Willows Inn on Lummi Island. Chef Blaine Wetzel’s multicourse tasting menu treats guests to the cream of the local crop. Shellfish, vegetables, herbs, even the wheat in the bread, are grown on-island, and Wetzel’s ingenuity at preparing them satiates more than just the creative appetite.
Oysters at Alderbrook Resort. Photo courtesy Alderbrook Resort and Spa
VANCOUVER, B.C.
The new cool kid in town is Italian-leaning Osteria Savio Volpe where the menu is made with “groceries gathered in nearby lakes, oceans, farms, and fields.” Dishes are simply prepared but full of flavor, like the warm bath of anchovy-garlic bagna cauda; handmade tortelli pasta with dandelion, ricotta, and marjoram; fire-grilled half chicken with grilled lemons and rosemary. A favorite for more than 30 years, Le Crocodile steers guests through classic French cuisine guided by the deft hand of Chef Michel Jacob. If the extensive menu is too daunting, simply opt for the Chef’s Tasting Menu, and sit back to enjoy the evening.
Vancouver is a hub for Asian cuisine; here’s a rundown of some of the city’s best options. For Japanese cuisine and sushi, try Tojo’s or Miku. Dynasty is the standard-bearer for Chinese food, though Kirin offers a great menu and a lovely high-end setting downtown. Those looking for dim sum should head to Sun Sui Wah. The city is practically swimming in ramen from Santouka to Kintaro and Motomachi. For a chicken broth-only ramen, try Marutama, where lines are usually the shortest. Located in Chinatown but serving Cascadian cuisine, Juniper also has a great bar specializing in gin-based cocktails.
Sun Sui Wah. Photo: ©2015 City Foodsters, Creative Commons
HOOD RIVER, OREGON
The scenic Columbia Gorge boasts a diverse climate traveling from rainforests in the west to arid desert in the east. At Celilo Restaurant, the town’s top farm-to-table eatery, located in the heart of downtown, Chef Ben Stenn’s commitment to sourcing both locally and organically pays off with amazing results. Down on the waterfront, Solstice Wood Fired Café delivers scorch-crusted pizzas topped with local goodies like pears, blue cheese, and caramelized onions or cherries, chorizo, and goat cheese. One block over, Pfriem pulls pints of its award-winning beers served alongside some truly elevated pub fare — sofrito-seared shrimp, creamy spaetzle, house-smoked pastrami burgers, shaved collard green salads. Head to Pine Street Kitchen for house-made pastas, pizzas, and fire-roasted vegetable dishes like the whole-roasted cauliflower with za’atar-spiced yogurt, tahini dressing, parsley oil, pomegranate seeds, and toasted pistachios.
Pine Street Market
Photo by: Benji Wagner
PORTLAND, OREGON
The biggest challenge when dining in Portland is deciding where to eat. Some well-established favorites, including Beast, Le Pigeon, and Pok Pok, are still on the radar for a good reason — the food is consistently fantastic and crave-able (looking at you, Ike’s Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings ala Pok Pok).
For a condensed version of the Portland food scene, head to Pine Street Market downtown. Instead of a food-cart pod, these restaurant vendors have collected under one roof with a common dining area. Follow up a steaming bowl of Marukin Ramen Tonkotsu Red — spicy pork-bone broth with spinach, mushrooms, leeks, pork, and soft-boiled egg — with a sweet treat from Wiz Bang Bar, the soft-serve outpost of Salt and Straw.
At La Moule, rattling bowls of mussels are served seven ways. A side of crispy pommes frites and a sugar-dusted Belgian liege waffle complete the Parisian-style experience. Younger sibling of the elegant, high-end Le Pigeon, Little Bird also delivers French-inspired cuisine in its narrow dining room downtown. Whet your appetite with a roasted marrow bone or a foie gras torchon, and by all means order the seared duck breast with black garlic, blood orange marmalade, and sesame.
Tusk is a study in the unexpected — a light delicate interior, a giant black-and-white photo of Keith Richards floating “Jesus-style” above the bar, pink menus. At first glance, the cuisine appears Middle Eastern — feta with za’atar, rose petals, impossibly thin flax seed crackers; a whole section devoted to hummus and bread; lamb and beef skewers; pistachio, fennel. But executive chef Sam Smith likes to color outside of the lines when highlighting the best local produce available. Fish sauce sneaks into a pomelo-orange salad; sweet Delicata squash and crunchy Asian pear are finished with chilies and brown butter sauce. My advice is to order the Eastern Maid cocktail, jump on “The Magic Carpet Ride” ($50pp), and let the kitchen navigate your night through its tasty playground.
Tusk. Photo by AJ Meeker
CANNON BEACH, OREGON
Obviously, seafood is king at restaurants on the Oregon Coast. Head to the Wayfarer, located right on the beach, with both indoor and outdoor seating plus a perfect view of Haystack Rock. Try the filler-free Dungeness crab cakes with shrimp mousse and lemon herb aioli for the quintessential Northwest bite. Kids under 10 eat free for guests staying at the Surfsand Resort. Ecola Seafood Restaurant is both a fish market and a restaurant. Everything on the menu is wild-caught and simply must be paired with a side of smoked mussels. Celebrate something special with a meal at The Stephanie Inn Dining Room. If you can’t make it for dinner, stop by for a fabulous smoked-salmon scramble the next morning. For a more casual night, bring the kids to one of the coast’s newest breweries, Public Coast Brewing. A pet-friendly patio sweetens the deal. Great beers go swell with a juicy burger or fish tacos.
Wayfarer. Photo by Judiaann Woo
LOCAL GEMS
Chef Thierry Rautureau’s signature hat isn’t the only thing that’s recognizable about this French expat. At Luc in the Madison Valley neighborhood, he delivers the best of the best — miraculously puffed potato soufflé that will have you swearing off fries forever; silky chicken liver mousse topped with a glistening sheet of seasonally flavored gelée to spread across baguette slices; tender trout almandine scattered with toasted almonds and perfectly pan-seared vegetables; creamy comforting cassoulet with duck confit, pork sausage, and white beans.
At Eden Hill on Queen Anne, Chef Maximillian Petty has been shortlisted for numerous prestigious awards like the James Beard Rising Star Chef of the Year two years running. His approach to food is intensely creative; his methods both classic and experimental. While some may argue that foie gras needs no improvement, his method of pickling this divine substance will have you wondering why no one else has thought to try it before. Ingredients are seasonal and locally sourced, unless he deems the quality subpar. Try a Puget Sound delicacy: geoduck with steamed leek, butter-poached wild ginger root, lime, and house-cultured buttermilk steeped in lemon thyme. Finish the meal with a round of Lick The Bowl — foie gras cake batter spreads like caramel over olive-oil cakes with strawberries to cut the richness and sprinkles (because SPRINKLES!).
Marmite. Photo by: Aljohn Gaviola
When Chef Bruce Naftaly closed Le Gourmand in 2012, Seattle was deprived of a local legend whom some call the father of the farm-to-table movement in the Puget Sound region. Chef Naftaly’s deep grasp of French stock preparation is so elemental to his cooking, he named his newest project Marmite (mar MEET), the French term for stockpot. He coaxes more flavors into his soups than seems possible. Rich roasted Jerusalem artichoke, spinach, and cardoon with walnut pistou are served with a side of mesquite-flour sourdough bread baked next door at Amandine Bakeshop, run by Bruce’s other half, Sara. During lunch, the menu contains several sandwich and salad options; the dinner menu shows off Chef Naftaly’s flair for beautiful French cooking — blintzes filled with Kurt’s Farmhouse cheese and chive butter sauce, house-made pate, coq au vin with olives, Cipollini onions, and potato puree, duxelles-stuffed rabbit saddle wrapped in bacon with a dried plum sauce. Pair your meal with a selection from the excellently curated wine list. And don’t forget to pick up a box of the best macarons this side of Paris at Amandine for the ride home.
Net Zero Homes Come to Kirkland
By Shelby Rowe Moyer | May 26, 2017 | Courtesy of 425magazine.com
Photos by Tucker English
Many Eastsiders are doing their part to reduce their environmental impact — taking public transit to work, buying locally sourced food — but what about buying a home? Dwell Development, a Seattle-based builder, made sustainable and modern homes its signature and recently completed another round of five-star Built Green homes in Kirkland.
The three most recent Kirkland homes — one single-family home and two townhomes — are net-zero-ready, meaning the homes can offset all of their energy output, said Dwell Development owner Anthony Maschmedt.
The company rededicated its mission of offering low-impact homes after receiving national recognition in 2016 for its Emerald Star project in Seattle, and being named the grand winner in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Housing Innovation Awards. So this year, Dwell is building net-zero homes exclusively.
The Kirkland homes were built with solar-ready rooftops, which is the final step in making them net zero, he said, but even without that feature, the homes use 60 to 70 percent less energy than standard-built homes. High-impact insulation, triple pane windows, and state-of-the-art ventilation regulate the temperature inside the homes.
Conserving water also is a major focus. On average, 8,000 gallons of water is preserved each year by using WaterSense fixtures and toilets that use 80 percent less water.
But a big piece of the homes’ design starts with the building process. The houses are always located within walkable distance of downtown where the residents can buy groceries or hop on public transit. Buyers interested in Dwell Development homes are drawn to the all-encompassing sustainable lifestyle, he said.
Homeowners are doing their homework, and it’s one of the reasons why Dwell Development grew 300 percent during the economic downturn while other homebuilders were ready to shutter their business, he said.
Also, they never build the same house twice. Each home is distinct with a mix of rustic features and modern design, and is constructed with as many salvaged and local materials as possible.
“The siding and materials that we chose are all sustainable,” Maschmedt said of the Kirkland homes. “(The homes) are reclaimed modern. The barn wood and metal are recycled from old barns in the valley. We get 100-year-old barn wood and salvage it so the material can live on. We use this yin and yang of old and new. It’s a really cool dialogue between old materials and new. We bring old materials from Montana, and when buyers ask, ‘What’s the story on the wood floor?’ we can tell them the story about it. It also lowers the carbon footprint.”
Dwell Development started taking on projects in Kirkland a few years ago. It’s built roughly 160 sustainable homes in Seattle, and about 10 in Kirkland. Expanding to the Eastside was a natural move for the company, Maschmedt said. Dwell is constantly scouting new locations, but it has to be the right fit.
“I think Kirkland is kind of unique as far as Eastside communities are concerned,” Maschmedt said. “It has the most in common with Seattle. … Kirkland is kind of a hometown, boat-marina community that aligns itself with Seattle,” he said. “We felt comfortable with Kirkland and the growth of Kirkland. It’s kind of an up-and-coming place to put our homes.”
Once homes are ready, they rarely hit the market. Many are sold in the early phases of construction to people who’ve been following Dwell Development’s work.
The single-family home sold for $1.5 million, and the two townhomes sold for $1.25 million within a couple days of being listed.
Woodinville Winery Expands CSA Program
By Shelby Rowe Moyer | May 18, 2017 | Courtesy of 425magazine.com
Photo courtesy Matthews Winery and Farm
An eight-acre field of grass that was in need of constant mowing has been transformed into the idyllic Matthews Farm, just steps outside of the Matthews Winery in Woodinville, and is the host for the winery’s growing farm-share program.
The Otis family, owners of Matthews Winery and Farm, planted the first seeds for the farm a couple years ago as a way to expand the offerings of the winery. Woodinville has become a popular Pacific Northwest wine destination, but its history is also steeped in agriculture throughout the Woodinville Valley. Opening a small-scale farm seemed like the perfect way to pay homage to Woodinville’s past, and could bring further traffic to the winery, said part-owner Bryan Otis. So, they hired Alex Meizlish to oversee the farm, and it’s been wildly successful.
Matthews Winery and Farm CSA boxes come loaded with fresh produce, wine, artisan bread, cheese, eggs, and more. Photo courtesy Matthews Winery and Farm.
Matthews Winery and Farm CSA boxes come loaded with fresh produce, wine, artisan bread, cheese, eggs, and more. Photo courtesy Matthews Winery and Farm.
Last year, 13 members picked up their 20-week Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes, curated with unique vegetables, freshly-cut blooms, honey, custom bread and cheese, eggs and a bottle of highly-acclaimed Matthews wine. This year, they’ve expanded to 30 members who can subscribe for $1,750 annually and start picking up their boxes in late June.
The scores within the CSA box are about as fresh as it gets, Otis said. All of the non-produce items — bread, cheese, eggs, ect. — are sourced within five to 20 miles of the winery and the produce is often picked 24 hours before pick-up. Sometimes it’s gathered the morning of. They’ve also expanded the flowers grown on the farm this year. They purchased nearly 200 Dahlia tubers, also known as bulbs, which could produce thousands of the vibrant flowers.
Boutique-type produce from the farm, such as purple broccoli, is also sold to restaurants on the Eastside and Seattle, and is translated into beautiful dinners prepared by celebrated chefs at the Matthews Winery. The farm-to-table dinners are open to wine club members with tickets available to the public as well.
“The original thought was that when people think about their great wine experiences, they’re thought of around food,” Otis said. “Food is part of that. The Matthews brand has been around for a while, but we’ve sort of seen a renaissance with the amount of quality we’ve been able to get into the bottle. And while we’ve been focusing on how we can enhance the quality inside of the bottle, we were also thinking about what we can do to enhance the quality outside the bottle.”
The tasting room at Matthews Winery and Farm. Photo courtesy Matthews Winery and Farm.
The tasting room at Matthews Winery and Farm. Photo courtesy Matthews Winery and Farm.
In the coming years, they have room to grow the CSA membership, but that will depend on the support of the community. Anyone who can’t join the CSA still can enjoy the farm while visiting the winery.
“People can come out and have a Sauvignon Blanc and a glass of Claret and walk around the farm and enjoy the afternoon,” Otis said.
Have questions about the CSA program? Visit Matthews Farm Share online for details about the program and how to sign up. While you’re there, peruse their quarterly wine club.
Local Cities Ranked Among Healthiest In Country
By Shelby Rowe Moyer | May 18, 2017 | Courtesy of 425magazine.com
The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area recently was recognized as one of the healthiest areas in the country, and even made gains from last year on the annual American College of Sports Medicine American Fitness Index.
With an overall score of 72.2, the three-city area earned its fourth-place ranking based on data points that include exercise, mental health, transportation and recreational space.
Among a long list of areas of excellence, the cities were commended for having a high percentage of farmers markets, parkland, residents who are physically active, physical education classes for youth, public transportation or people biking to work, and a lower percentage of people with diabetes.
Areas we could improve on include mental health, a higher percentage of people with asthma or were diagnosed with a stroke, and more swimming pools and basketball hoops per capita.
Nationally, there were some positive healthy shifts from the year before. The index noted a 16 percent increase in those who met the recommendations for aerobic and strength exercise in the last 30 days, and a 10.5 percent drop in those diagnosed with angina or coronary heart disease. Small gains were also made in walkability scores, the percentage of people who live within a 10-minute walk to a park, total park expenditures per capita and an increase in the number of recreation centers per 20,000 residents.
Unfortunately, there were also more deaths related to diabetes, a reduction in the percent of residents biking or walking to work, a decrease in the percentage of individuals eating the recommended servings of fruit, and a lower percentage of tennis courts per 10,000 residents.
According to the AFI’s 10-year outlook on national health, there’s a higher percentage of obesity, and those diagnosed with asthma and diabetes increased.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Compared to 10 years ago, smoking rates have declined, deaths associated with diabetes went down as did the number of people diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases, and there are more farmers markets for people to enjoy.
“As the American Fit Index celebrates its 10th year, it’s a great opportunity to celebrate the efforts of communities and their leaders who have effectively used the data to make measurable changes that are helping improve the health and wellness of their residents,” said Daryl Edmonds, Amerigroup Washington president in a press release. “While the improvements we are seeing are worth celebrating, we know there is still more that can be done. Amerigroup is proud of our foundation’s work and collaboration with ACSM to offer science and evidence for communities to create a culture of healthy lifestyles.”
Top Five AFI Rankings:
- Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomingto, MN-WI
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-WV
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- San Jose-Sunyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Bottom Five AFI Rankings:
- Birmingham-Hoover, AL
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
For more information on city-by-city data, view the full AFI Report.
Rosé All Day
By Julie Arnan | May 22, 2017 | Courtesy of 425magazine.com
Illustrations by Julie Arnan
The sun is out. Finally! That means rosé season has arrived. Finally! And since the national rosé craze shows no signs of slowing, I’m here to help with PNW picks. Think zesty, juicy, racy.
Lauren Ashton Rosé 2016
(Columbia Valley; $21)
Grenache with a healthy dose of Counoise and Mourvèdre, this slightly effervescent rosé will make you salivate with strawberry, raspberry, and citrus.
Matthews Rosé 2016
(Columbia Valley; $25)
This wine is the Matthews’ first foray into the world of rosé and a lovely start it is – winemaker Aryn Morell sourced 100% Grenache, fermenting in stainless steel for a crisp, dry wine redolent with pink grapefruit and strawberries. Be quick! They only made 125 cases and half are already out the door.
Patterson Cellars Rosé 2016
(Columbia Valley; $20)
A departure from southern Rhône varietals, winemaker John Patterson has blended Tempranillo and Sangiovese for a full-bodied rosé more reminiscent of pear and apple than the usual strawberry/watermelon profile. Honestly, Patterson is the real deal – there are no misses from Patterson Cellars.
Julia’s Dazzle Rosé 2016
(Horse Heaven Hills; $20)
Vibrant and racy, Julia’s Dazzle definitely does exactly that. Wine nerds will appreciate that, like the Reuilly region of France’s Loire Valley, this is a rosé of Pinot Gris (bonus points if you knew it was a red grape) – strawberry accompanied by ripe cantaloupe without much spicy component. Pure fruit in a glass.
Stoller Family Estate Rosé 2016
(Dundee Hills; $25)
This 100% Pinot Noir rosé exhibits tangy red grapefruit and citrus notes with tropical fruit on the palate and plenty of acidity. Winemaker Melissa Burr has your summer season handled.
DeLille Cellars Rosé 2016
(Columbia Valley; $32)
Just released, the 2016 rosé features nearly equal parts of Grenache and Mourvèdre with a touch of Cinsault for a fragrant, juicy rendition of North America’s summer libation. Apricot and strawberries vie for dominance with a perfumed finish.