Category: The Seattle Times

Happy new year from Seattle!

Out for a walk at Ballard Locks and saw this tree dotted with nests and comorants. It was technically a color image, but of a black tree and black birds against a grey sky. Here you can see that distinctive Batman pose.

Trekked up to Bothell for Evergreen Christmas Lights, 6-9 p.m. every night through Christmas Eve. Impressive light show, cookies, train, photo station, snowfall — all free. Keener’s Christmas is a beacon of Christmas joy you can spot from a mile away. Every square inch of this home, on the border between Bothell and Woodinville, is…

The Edgewater Hotel’s Six Seven restaurant (because it’s on Pier 67).

Garden d’Lights ranks high in terms of value and fun. It’s in its 30th year at the Bellevue Botanical Garden. Some of the other holiday events feel very commercial, like they’re constantly hitting you over the head for more money (AHEM ENCHANT), but the vibe at Garden d’Lights is very low key and charming. The…

It’s not Christmas without a visit to Swansons, which turned 100 this year! A big birthday for a small business in our young city.

Fog, colored lights, ethereal music… Hear me out, what if they played something with a beat, so middle-aged moms could relive their clubbing days? (While their kids die of shame.) Do Astra Lumina once, you won’t regret it. But save a little money by parking on the street, which is easy in West Seattle, instead…

Phew! My last story for 2024, in today’s Seattle Times. This one was such a joy to write, one I’ve been researching for the past decade! 6 fun itineraries around holiday lights, link here. Made the cover of the weekend section, and got an A1 tease! iykyk

These pictures are from Thanksgiving, but Santa is BACK at Pike Place this Saturday, Dec. 14. Free Santa photos 10-3. If you spend $50 at the market, you also get a cute Pike Place shopping basket and a roll of Pike Place tissue paper. Happy shopping! The line was long, so we cheated and took…

No cons here, just pros! The theme of the 30th annual gingerbread village at the Sheraton Grand Seattle is iconic destinations. Four cities featured: Agra, London, Sydney and Paris. Runs through Jan. 1, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It gets busier the closer you get to…