Rob Smith
Essentials: Staying Power
Airbnb hosts here rake in a significant amount of money
Airbnb hosts across Washington state earned on average $16,700 last year, almost 20% more than the national average. Top-earning counties are King, Pierce, Clallam, Chelan, and Whatcom. Hosts in the U.S. earned a total of $22 billion last year. Data from Airbnb also find that nearly two-thirds of hosts use the supplemental income to cover…
Editor’s Note: The Story Continues
Julie Lewis has found a new outlet to advocate women's health care equity and access
If there’s anything Julie Lewis wants you to know, it’s this: She’s doing just fine. She has a new book out. And she’s “Still Positive.” Lewis, a 39-year survivor of AIDS and mother to Grammy Award-winning music producer Ryan Lewis, just released a book, Still Positive, with co-author Jenny Koenig. It’s a riveting memoir about…
Stoup to Buy Optimism Brewing
The planned sale allows Stoup to expand with a Capitol Hill location
Two-well known Seattle breweries are joining forces. Ballard’s Stoup Brewing has signed a deal to acquire Optimism Brewing. The acquisition will allow Stoup to open a location at Optimism’s spacious, 16,000-square-foot Capitol Hill space in August. Husband-and-wife team Lara Zahaba and Brad Benson, along with Robyn Schumacher, opened Stoup in 2013 as a cornerstone of…
Essentials: Grape Expectations at Woodinville’s DeLille Cellars
DeLille Cellars nabs an impressive list of awards
One of the region’s most popular wineries is wrapping up its 30th anniversary with a slew of notable awards. Woodinville’s DeLille Cellars — winner of Seattle magazine’s Readers Choice award for best wine tasting — recently received five top 100 accolades. Bordeaux-style blends Chaleur Estate landed at No. 48 on Jeb Dunnuck’s Top 100 and…
Back page: Things have changed in Seattle. Or not.
Seattle is grappling with the same issues half a century later
Nobody would argue that it’s very different today than it was in 1969. Or is it? In June of that year, Seattle magazine tackled several issues facing the city, including transportation, the racial divide, rapid growth, city politics, the environment and neighborhood revitalization. Sure, some of the finer points are different, but the broader debate…
Canada’s T&T Supermarket to Open First U.S. Location in Bellevue
It will become the largest Asian supermarket in the state
The largest Asian supermarket chain in Canada will open in Bellevue next year. T&T Supermarket, which just celebrated 30 years in business, operates 33 locations across Canada. Company executives say they chose the Seattle area for their first U.S. store because of the region’s robust foodie culture. When it opens in summer 2024 in the…
Essentials: Washington’s obsession with movies
Tinsel Town North
Washington residents love movies. Horror flicks in particular. Online casino guide Japan-101 analyzed search volume data for multiple phrases, terms and queries related to movies and movie genres, concluding that “Washington is one of the states most obsessed with movies.” Perhaps it’s no accident that horror movies ranked No. 1. Numerous popular horror movies have…
Essentials: The Meat of the Matter at Baekjeong Lynnwood
Baekjeong Lynnwood eyes rapid expansion across Seattle
Things have gone so well for popular Korean barbecue restaurant Baekjeong Lynnwood since its opening last fall that owner Michael Chon is planning several more in the Seattle area. The Los Angeles-based chain opened its first West Coast location outside Southern California to much fanfare last September. Two-hour wait times were common. While that’s died…
Essentials: Seattle’s Queer/Pride Fest Returns
Standalone three-day festival begins June 23
Tickets are on sale for the Pacific Northwest’s largest 21 and over music and arts Pride Festival. The Queer/Pride Festival, held from June 23-25 in the heart of the Capitol Hill neighborhood, features national and local artists, musicians, drag queens and burlesque dancers. Tier 1 tickets sold out quickly, but single-day tickets are still available….
Essentials: Hot Girl Walk Thaws Seattle Freeze
Weekend walkers come together for friendship, community
What began as a way for Courtney Byers to meet some friends in a city known for the “Seattle Freeze” has blossomed into a full-on army. Byers, a women’s strength coach and birth doula who recently moved to the area, created the Seattle chapter of Hot Girl Walk last August. Two women showed up. Nine…
Editor’s Note: Spirit of the Sonics
Basketball-crazy Seattle awaits the NBA’s return
Back in the ’90s, I rented an apartment near Seattle Center. My buddy — a longtime SuperSonics season ticket-holder — took me to dozens of games at the old KeyArena in exchange for a convenient parking spot at my complex (which, sadly, like many things from that time period, is now gone). Those early-to-mid…
Stride Pride: Washington’s exercise culture
THE STATE OF THE RUN IS ALIVE AND WELL
Washington is a naturally beautiful state. It’s safe. Its air quality is comparatively topnotch. That makes it one of the best states to go running, according to a report by exercise and nutrition company Fitness Voit, which ranks it No. 5. The report notes that Washington hosts only two major marathons, but makes up for…