Rob Smith
Sea-Tac drops in latest J.D. Power survey
Airport rankings fall from last year
A friend who recently flew out of Sea-Tac International Airport told tales of long lines, unhappy fellow passengers, and an unfortunate bag mix-up. He literally had to buy a new suit for a business meeting once he reached his destination. I heard a similar story from another friend whose family flew internationally on vacation this…
What a (Pickleball) Racket
Seattle pickleball fans, rejoice. New courts open.
I love pickleball. My mother-in-law plays five times a week. A work colleague has a court in his backyard. My neighbor even gave up tennis for the sport, which was founded in Washington state decades ago. Now, Seattle is serving up more options for the sport’s growing legion of fans. Two permanent, bright purple pickleball…
The Twisted Tales of Seattle
New ‘tourism’ book highlights bizarre, infamous, and obscure historical sites
You’ll never hear Seattle tourism officials bring this up, but, like it or not, Ted Bundy is part of the fabric of this region. So is the Green River Killer, the suicides of musicians Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley, the murder of Gits singer Mia Zapata, and the ship pilot who crashed into a West…
Editor’s Note: A Loan and Scared
Young professional deals with overwhelming student debt
Nat Rubio-Licht sat at a desk the day the Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s student debt relief plan and stifled the urge to scream. Rubio-Licht, a young journalist with two bylines in this education-themed issue of Seattle magazine (“Higher-Ed Dread,” (page 106), and “Where Innovation Meets Education,” (page 88) owes the United States government…
Yes to the Dress
Bellevue Collection takes fear out of fashion
The Bellevue Collection will unveil its fall fashion collection at its 17th annual fashion event Sept. 8 and 9. “We hope to inspire our guests to be fearless in showing their own style,” says Jennifer Leavitt, vice president of marketing for The Bellevue Collection. The two-day event — dubbed “Fashion Week” — features trend reports,…
Big Mario’s Reopens Northlake After Seven-Month Closure
Big Mario’s reopens venerable pizza spot in time for Husky opener
The Northlake Tavern & Pizza House lives on. Big Mario’s has reopened the popular destination near the University of Washington campus as Big Mario’s Northlake Tavern. The 65-year-old pizza joint closed in January after the previous owner retired. Big Mario’s said at the time that the closure would last only two months, but the full-blown…
Cream of the Crop
Nutpods founder Madeline Haydon named to INC's Female Founders list
Madeline Haydon founded nutpods out of frustration. Ten years later, she finds herself on Inc.’s prestigious Female Founders list. Haydon was pregnant and on vacation at Lake Tahoe when she couldn’t find any dairy-free creamer options at a diner. She decided then and there that she wanted to launch a company. She spent the next…
Back Page: History Repeats
Seattle Police Chief cited "accessibility of guns" as the reason for record violence in 1968
Much as it is now, gun control and street violence were controversial topics back in 1968. Seattle magazine tackled the subject head on with a series of articles exploring violence across the city. One article notes that Seattle’s reputation as an “outpost of placidity in a country of growing turmoil” was a “delusion.” “Every category…
Embracing AI
Washington residents gravitate toward artificial intelligence
Perhaps you’re caught up in the craze to generate AI supervillain images of all 50 states. Maybe you’re using AI to showcase the outdoor beauty of Washington state. If so, you’re not alone. State residents are using AI at such a robust pace that Washington ranks No. 3 in the United States in a study…
A City by Design
Seattle Design Festival seeks to create equitable, thriving communities
THE LARGEST DESIGN FESTIVAL in the Pacific Northwest is right around the corner, and organizers are asking residents to weigh in on Seattle’s future self. The Seattle Design Festival, which began in 2011, runs from Aug. 19-24. It features interactive cultural events across the city with an overarching theme of “Curiosity.” Festival organizers anticipate that…
Proof that Seattle’s Expensive
A modest night out is more than $200, and that's with a fast-food meal
If you’re planning a night out, it’s going to cost you. Seattle is among the most expensive cities for a drink, meal, and budget hotel stay, with an average cost of $210.61 — and that’s for a fast-food dinner rather than fine dining. Price-monitoring website PriceListo analyzed the cost of a median budget hotel, cab…
The Magicians of Memory
Could Alzheimer's be cured here? Maybe, right now, that's not the point
For Joel Loiacono, it’s personal. His mother died of Alzheimer’s disease. His father-in-law and several aunts and uncles battled dementia. As regional director for Eastern Washington and North Idaho of the Washington state chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Loiacono has spent the past 26 years working to reduce risk, promote early detection, and offer resources…