July 2011

Island Dining: Meals Worth Traveling For

Island Dining: Meals Worth Traveling For

Restaurants from Orcas Island to Bainbridge Island offer delicious destination-worthy dining.

You might’ve noticed: Our islands have been getting quite a bit of national attention. In January, The New York Times called the San Juan Islands one of the top travel destinations of the year, and it’s not just because of the slower pace and the sparkling waters: There’s destination-worthy dining on nearly every one of…

Golden Beetle Could Be Better

Golden Beetle Could Be Better

Maria Hines' much-anticipated new Ballard restaurant fails to impress.

Maria Hines’ Northwest cuisine–focused Tilth was only the second Oregon Tilth–certified organic restaurant in the country when it opened in 2006.  Within a year, the New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni called it one of the 10 best new restaurants in the country, and Hines has since been named the James Beard Best Chef…

Explore Seattle’s Urban Architectural Ruins

Explore Seattle’s Urban Architectural Ruins

Eight relics of Seattle’s past are hidden in plain sight.

In this town, we spend a lot of time fretting (and arguing and voting) about what the Seattle of the future will look like. Meanwhile, physical evidence of our city’s forgotten past looms all around us. The Underground Tour is an obvious example, but while historically fascinating, it’s perhaps not where you want to be…

Specs Appeal

Specs Appeal

In a city where funky eyewear is paramount, punch up your look in spectacles that scream Seattle st

Clockwise from top Left: Funk Royal Optics mustard yellow round retro-style frames with teal inlay, $399, from the Pulp Lab  pop-up shop at Deli (Downtown, 1307 1st Ave.; 206.682.2446; deliseattle.com; also available at pulplab.com); Theo “Thundra” purple titanium rectangular frames, made in Belgium, $412, Market Optical (Multiple locations including Pike Place Market, 1906 Pike Place,…

Lost and Found: Seattle's Hidden History

Lost and Found: Seattle’s Hidden History

Our fearless editorial director gives you the inside scoop on our July issue.

Like migratory birds making a stop on their way to warmer climes, flocks of visitors crowd the sidewalks of Pioneer Square this time of year, waiting their turn to step into the belly of Seattle on the Underground Tour and explore the cavernous, below-sea-level depths where relics of our city’s past lie. Touristy as it…

Cool the Kiddies Off at One of These Nifty Local Spraygrounds

Cool the Kiddies Off at One of These Nifty Local Spraygrounds

Also in this month's Parental Guidance report: Pinata classes and a thrifty stylin' smocks.

WATERWAYSOur sunny summer days are precious—and so are the moments we spend cooling off from the heat. Sure, you can hit a lake or a pool, but why not mix it up? Consider these five “spraygrounds” for an afternoon of free fun. North Lynnwood Neighborhood ParkLynnwood, 18510 44th Ave. Wci.lynnwood.wa.us/parksLiquid assets: A submarine, a whale…

The Play’s the Thing for Seattle Shakespeare’s George Mount

The Play’s the Thing for Seattle Shakespeare’s George Mount

The local actor and director dishes on the best way to watch Shakespeare in the park.

NAME: George Mount OCCUPATION: Actor and founding artistic director of Wooden O Theatre FAVORITE ROLE: “Hamlet. It really is the single character that taught me the most about my craft.” FAVORITE PLAY TO PERFORM: A Comedy of Errors. “Because it’s just so damn silly.” PARK MUST-BRINGS: A picnic and a blanket or a low-backed chair.SCHEDULE:…

Sample Spirits from Seattle's New Distilleries

Sample Spirits from Seattle’s New Distilleries

A new law has created a boom in spirited establishments.

The recent boom in Seattle booze distillers comes thanks to the Washington State Craft Distillery Law (passed in 2008), which allows local liquor producers to offer on-site tasting and bottle sales, à la wineries—provided that at least 51 percent of the liquor ingredients are grown in state. Accordingly, a slew of recently opened distilleries now…

Urban Craft Uprising Comes to Seattle Center July 9 - 10

Urban Craft Uprising Comes to Seattle Center July 9 – 10

More than 100 artists disply their unique handmade wares.

Etsy experts unite at Urban Craft Uprising, the Northwest’s bodacious indie-craft-aganza. The event features more than 100 artists—many from Seattle—selling unique wares, such as Crystalyn Kae’s vegan handbags, Matthew Porter’s mischievous monkey prints and plush treats by Devout Dolls and Schmancy. 7/9–7/10. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Free. Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, 305 Harrison St.; 206.684.7200; urbancraftuprising.com….

Charming New B&B Says "No" to Doilies

Charming New B&B Says “No” to Doilies

Scary-doll factor is zero at Phinney Ridge's 9 Cranes.

If you’ve spent any time in bed-and-breakfasts, you know that the predominant décor philosophy relies heavily on creepy antique dolls, and mandates that no surface is complete without a doily. But at the new 9 Cranes Inn, the proprietor feels your pain. In response, innkeeper Shelley Goulding has curated her space with a simple, eclectic…

The UW's Medical Herb Garden is in Full Bloom

The UW’s Medical Herb Garden is in Full Bloom

The strolling's good (but touching is bad!) at this century-old garden.

Originally planted by the University of Washington School of Pharmacy in 1911, the Medicinal Herb Garden has survived budget cuts and campus expansion, as well as a post–World War II shift in national preference from herbal to synthetic medicines. Now maintained by the UW Department of Biology, under the care of curator and gardener Keith…

Playwright Yussef El Guindi Brings a Singular Voice to Local Theater

Playwright Yussef El Guindi Brings a Singular Voice to Local Theater

El Guindi’s plays challenge stereotypes about Arab Americans

Believe it or not, we have the weather to thank for luring acclaimed playwright Yussef El Guindi to Seattle. In the early 1990s, El Guindi was a playwright-in-residence and lecturer at Duke University. As his term was coming to an end, he wanted to move to a city with a strong theater scene—beyond the obvious…