Seattle Culture

Publisher's Note: Can Our Architecture Make Us Better?

Publisher’s Note: Can Our Architecture Make Us Better?

Seattle's built environment reveals a lot about the city

With this issue’s focus on iconic Seattle architecture, we continue to drive awareness of the fact that Seattle is a world-class city, even if we ourselves may not know it yet. It’s been said that architecture stands as a representation of how we see ourselves, of how we see the world. At its most practical,…

Most Influential, Business: Maritza Lopez

Most Influential, Business: Maritza Lopez

Entrepreneur uses her experience to aid others

Maritza Lopez is one of Seattle’s 25 most influential people reshaping our region. #mostinfluential   What began as a kind gesture to share her knowledge of cosmetology has blossomed into a flourishing business for Maritza Lopez. Along the way, Lopez has mentored dozens of young women in need of guidance and career opportunities in the midst…

Most Influential, Arts: Bernie Griffin

Most Influential, Arts: Bernie Griffin

The arts executive left Seattle several times. She couldn’t stay away.

Bernie Griffin is one of Seattle’s 25 most influential people reshaping our region. #mostinfluential   Every time 5th Avenue Theatre Managing Director Bernie Griffin pursued her professional ambitions around the country, she always returned to Seattle for an encore performance. The nonprofit arts executive will make one final curtain call at the end of the current…

Meet Samantha Holloway, the latest woman sports executive changing the game in Seattle

Meet Samantha Holloway, the latest woman sports executive changing the game in Seattle

It’s now been a year since Holloway became co-owner of the Seattle Kraken

Truth + Media — the creative media business of NBA Hall of Fame Coach George Karl — and Seattle magazine have entered into a strategic partnership. Truth + Media’s Iconic Sonics production is the leading content source for stories and discussion about the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics, who began play in 1967 and remained in Seattle…

Most Influential, Equity: Travonna Thompson-Wiley

Most Influential, Equity: Travonna Thompson-Wiley

Difficult childhood shapes activist's social justice focus

Travonna Thompson-Wiley is one of Seattle’s 25 most influential people reshaping our region. #mostinfluential   Family matters. It certainly does to Seattle activist Travonna Thompson-Wiley. She is the oldest of six on her mother’s side and one of 10 children on her father’s. Yet, she insists her family is much larger.  “I don’t define family as…

Most Influential, Business: Ryan Metzger

Most Influential, Business: Ryan Metzger

Recycling company Ridwell began as a family affair

Ryan Metzger is one of Seattle’s 25 most influential people reshaping our region. #mostinfluential     Ridwell began as a father/son project in 2018 when would-be founder Ryan Metzger and 6-year-old son Owen recycled and reused everyday household products. Ever the entrepreneur, the elder Metzger urged young Owen to gather reusables and recyclables from neighbors.  The…

Sonics Legends Discuss Club's Possible Return

Sonics Legends Discuss Club’s Possible Return

Former Sonics and ESPN broadcaster recall the influence the club had across the city

Truth + Media — the creative media business of NBA Hall of Fame Coach George Karl — and Seattle magazine have entered into a strategic partnership. Truth + Media’s Iconic Sonics production is the leading content source for stories and discussion about the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics, who began play in 1967 and remained in Seattle…

Most Influential, Business: James Wong

Most Influential, Business: James Wong

Prolific developer wants ‘to do more good for the community’

James Wong is one of Seattle’s 25 most influential people reshaping our region. #mostinfluential   James Wong grew up across the street from Beacon Hill Elementary School with blue-collar parents. His father was a cook at iconic Chinatown International District restaurants Ocean City and House of Hong. His mother was a seamstress.  Instead of simply crossing…

Real Society: FareStart's Shining Stars

Real Society: FareStart’s Shining Stars

FareStart stands out for its comprehensive support for those in need.

Image caption: Clockwise from upper left: FareStart Production Kitchen Trainer Eric Klein; auctioneer Fred Northrup; volunteers, from left, Christina Woelz, Pam Powers and Amy Hall; volunteer Cynthia Tran, left, and unidentified attendee. Photography by Grant Hindsley. “Real Society” is a regular installment to create space for those who are quietly doing the good work to…

Most Influential, Food & Drink: Emily Kim and Heather Hodge

Most Influential, Food & Drink: Emily Kim and Heather Hodge

Using their dessert-making skills for the greater social good

Emily Kim and Heather Hodge are among Seattle’s 25 most influential people reshaping our region. #mostinfluential   When Emily Kim and Heather Hodge, founders of the Pastry Project, went out for drinks one evening in 2019, starting a business together was the last thing on their minds. The two women, who both worked for Molly Moon’s…

Fave Five: Scents, Wine, Food, Fashion

Fave Five: Scents, Wine, Food, Fashion

Explore all the city has to offer

1 STIR YOUR SENSES with a visit to Parfumerie Nasreen, where you’ll find a garden of carefully chosen fragrances inviting your nose to explore. Overwhelmed? Ask Nasreen to help you navigate her extensive selection. She’s a fragrance authority with a long-lived passion for helping people find their own scent or something special for that someone…

Most Influential, Business: Ebony Welborn and Savannah Smith

Most Influential, Business: Ebony Welborn and Savannah Smith

They saw that few in the maritime sector looked like them. They're out to change that.

Ebony Welborn and Savannah Smith are among Seattle’s 25 most influential people reshaping our region. #mostinfluential   A fascination with the ocean brought Ebony Welborn and Savannah Smith together. A mission to create BIPOC representation in the maritime industry keeps them going. Welborn and Smith are the cofounders of Seattle-based Sea Potential LLC, a company they…

Most Influential, Education: Kate Starbird

Most Influential, Education: Kate Starbird

Kate Starbird spends her career studying and combating falsehoods

Kate Starbird is one of Seattle’s 25 most influential people reshaping our region. #mostinfluential   Kate Starbird sometimes wishes her research focused on happier topics. If she didn’t spend her days devoted to tracking disinformation [false information deliberately spread to deceive people], she wouldn’t witness attempts to unravel democratic elections. She and her colleagues at the…

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