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Good morning, Seattle! In today’s edition: Best Day Ever initiative, Rainier Beach Skatepark construction, the Travel & Adventure Show with Rick Steves, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Strengthen civic belonging together: Best Day Ever, a new Seattle initiative celebrating neighborhood culture and connection, is accepting proposals from local groups now. The RFP closes Jan 29, with events beginning in March — see how and when to apply.
Community-backed skatepark effort: Construction on the new Rainier Beach Skatepark begins this month at Rainier Beach Playfield, bringing street and transition features for all ages, and a ribbon-cutting is expected in fall 2026 — learn about funding and timeline.
Who’s covered and when: Minimum wage in unincorporated King County increased to $20.82 on Jan. 1, affecting workers and employers, with a phase-in for smaller businesses and differences from state and Seattle — see how it affects you.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
A museum without walls: Price Sculpture Forest on Whidbey Island offers a free, 16-acre outdoor art walk through old growth trees. Expect over a half mile of trails, a self-guided tour, and a free daily augmented reality exhibit by national artists. Donations help preserve the forest near Coupeville. Get all the details.
Hands-on science escape: Rain or shine, Pacific Science Center makes curiosity easy this week, with planetarium shows, an immersive Spiders: From Fear to Fascination exhibit, evening laser vibes, and occasional IMAX epics beneath the arches. A low-stress Seattle reset in one spot.
Burrito night, solved. When cravings hit, Gorditos Healthy Mexican Food serves the legendary Baby Burrito and gloriously saucy wet burritos, with lard-free beans, grilled meats, and fresh tomato salsas, plus plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. A Seattle standby since 1994, consider it your midweek comfort plan.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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🍿 Movie Night to Support the 3rd-5th Grade Field Trip @ Louisa Boren STEM K-8 | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Need an easy win with the kids, and an excuse for snacks? Come watch Sing, toss in a $5-10 donation for entry and snacks, and help send the 3rd to 5th graders to the Seattle Symphony. Not a drop-off, so yes, you’re singing along too.
🔥 Live Glassblowing Demonstration with Mikey Cozza @ Seattle Glassblowing Studio | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Artwalk night in Belltown means a live glassblowing show, with Mikey Cozza coaxing color, texture, and form out of molten glass like it owes him money. It is mesmerizing, calming, and slightly dangerous, which is to say, perfect for people who have favorite grout colors.
🚢 Chantey Sing @ Virginia V | Friday (1/9) at 7:00 PM – Climb aboard the Virginia V for a rousing chantey sing, where you can lead a tune or just belt the chorus, or Zoom in from home with slippers, tea, and sea legs optional. It’s monthly, locations rotate, so join the email list for updates.
✈ Travel & Adventure Show @ Seattle Convention Center | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – Skip doomscrolling and plan a real escape at the Seattle Travel & Adventure Show, with thousands of trip ideas and humans who know stuff. Rick Steves, Pauline Frommer, and Peter Greenberg talk while local pros tailor itineraries. Two days only, and your PTO is begging.
✏ Charcoal Sketching: Light & Shadow Mastery @ Western Ave near Olympic Sculpture Park | Saturday (1/10) at 10:00 AM – If your idea of drama is good lighting, this charcoal workshop is your stage. Learn to wrangle highlights, core shadows, reflected light, and cast shadows across spheres, drapery, and shiny objects with structured shading drills, and leave with real value control, not just smudgy fingers.
🤝 January Backyard Barter @ Northgate Branch – The Seattle Public Library | Sunday (1/11) at 11:00 AM – January calls for clearing out the craft bin and the coop. Bring handmade goods, garden extras, foraged finds, or a skill like knife sharpening or a quick massage, then chat a bit, then swap. No cash, just trades, think Craigslist with eye contact.
👚 January Clothing Swap @ Ravenna Refills | Sunday (1/11) at 12:00 PM – Ready to give your closet a January reset without spending a dime? Ravenna Refills hosts a free, come-and-go clothing swap for adults only, bring up to five clean pieces, take home new-to-you finds, clothes only, and leave feeling satisfyingly sustainable, pleasantly surprised, and slightly lighter.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Seattle report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 44°F – Low: 40°F – Precip: 72%
Rain and snow showers likely before 4pm, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. South wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 49°F – Low: 38°F – Precip: 26%
A chance of rain before 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
This house is wild
In the heart of Eastlake, half a block from Lake Union, this home overlooks Fourth of July fireworks and lake activity. Sunsets frame the Space Needle and mountains. Downtown, UW, and SLU are minutes away with freeway access. Despite the central address, the setting feels surprisingly private.
The home was about 90 percent rebuilt in 2006, with new paint and carpet. Outdoor spaces span decks, terraces, and a garden. The primary suite has an ensuite bath and walk in closet. It and the adjoining den open to the covered patio. An attached two car garage plus rare extra off street parking stand out.
Take a peek inside →
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