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City Cast Seattle

Ashley Smith

The World Cup has come and gone and it gave many of us a new lens on the city, like seeing Seattle through someone else's eyes. This is also the time of year that a LOT of people are visiting from out of town and it got us thinking about the unofficial rules to the city. The stuff you only know, if you know. Plus, we figured this might come in handy to all the transplants (Hi Liam!) moving to our city and trying to fit in.

🌧️ Know the difference between when it’s raining and when it’s RAINING

👖 Dressing casually is always acceptable

❄️ Really settle in if it’s going to snow - the city 

Watch out for the hills, they’re surprisingly steep

♻️ Learn how to recycle and compost or prepare to be judged

🗣️ We love to complain and we do it often

🍺 Go to the hole in the wall spot - support local to become a local

🚫 Stop adding an “s” at the end of things: Pike Place, Nordstrom, etc

🐦‍⬛ Don’t make enemies of the crow population

☂️ Umbrellas are traditionally for tourists only… invest in a good rain jacket

🚗 Don’t leave anything visible in your car

🛑 Don’t jaywalk - wait for the signal

☀️ Try not to leave the city during the summer, Seattle summers cannot be beat and wherever you’re going will not compare

There’s gotta be more, right? What did we miss? Send us your essential rules for living in Seattle and we'll add them to our list! Oh and if any of these look familiar, you may have seen our Audience Development Manager, Ben Keenan, sharing his own list 

What to do and what not to do for anyone who just moved to our city

Our Essential Rules for Living in Seattle

Seattle Guides

City Cast Seattle Staff

The sun? Out. The blackberries? Ripe. The spiders? Booked and busy. It must be August! This is the month we wait all year for (allegedly) and there’s so much to do. Let’s get into it.

We've been talking about this a lot on the 

 and all the issues related to it, but in case you forgot, election day is coming up on Tuesday. Your ballot for the primary election needs to be postmarked and in the mail on or by election day, so if you're procrastinating on voting, make sure to use a drop box to ensure your vote counts. All ballots are due by 8 p.m. on August 4!

The primary election narrows the pool of candidates ahead of the general election in the fall, when voters make their final choices. Washington's primary system advances the top two vote-getters to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

This year's Proposition 1 asks for a seven-year, $480 million levy to fund about a third of the Seattle Public Library’s operating budget. This measure covers the basic cost of keeping libraries open. The cost to property owners would be an increase of 23 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, averaging about $193 a year. Cities like Seattle rely on property tax levies to cover budget shortfalls. SPL has used this approach before, with voters approving levies in 2012 and 2019.

To read up on who’s running and everything else you might need to know about elections in King County, 

 It’s outdoor concert season! Capitol Hill Block Party is August 7 through 9. If you wanna go to one or all three days of the festival, you can get your tickets at 

. If you’re looking for other live music to check out, the four venues that have great lineups this month are Marymoor Park, Remlinger Farms, Woodland Park Zoo, and Chateau Ste Michelle.

August is the prime time to go to one of the 

 because it’ll be lovely out and the sun won’t set until late. Everyone will be wearing cool outfits. It's fun for people watching. And a lot of the galleries that wouldn't otherwise be open are open to the public during that time!

Fun fact about berry season in the Pacific Northwest – all compound berries, like blackberries or raspberries, are edible here and pretty easy to find. This also includes salmonberries, thimbleberries, and huckleberries. 

 They're all coming into season right now. If you aren’t brave enough to pick them from your neighbor’s yard, you can always visit 

 are this weekend! And on August 5, the Mariners are hosting 

 Seattle thing of all time. If you do go see a baseball game this month, be sure to eat a Seattle dog and please remember to wear sunscreen!

 is coming to Seattle on August 11 and August 12 for a two-day pop-up exhibition and print sale at the 

 at Seattle Convention Center for all of my fellow yarn nerds. And August 15 is the first preseason Seahawks game at Lumen Field!

 The Seattle Trans and Non-Binary Choral Ensemble are hosting 

. It's a free event on August 30 at Common Objects.

What to do, where to eat, where to shop, and more ways to spend the month of August in Seattle

Your Guide to Seattle in August

Ballots are out for the August primary! Here’s the when, how, and where to help you navigate the voting process ✅

Election Day! You must put your ballot in a drop box by 8 p.m.

The primary election narrows the pool of candidates and ballot measures ahead of the general election in the fall, when voters make their final choices. Washington's primary system advances the top two vote-getters to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

 is up to date, especially if you’ve moved in the last year.

King County should have mailed you a voters pamphlet, but if yours got lost, 

. Many of our local publications put out endorsements and voting guides for their readers as well:

If you like friendly voting reminders via email or text, sign up for King County’s 

You can vote and return your ballot as soon as you receive it! Returning your ballot early allows time to correct any issues that might pop up and it saves you time from waiting in line at a ballot box on the night of the election.

There are three official ways to return your ballot:

By mail (Your ballot must be postmarked by Election Day)

Know where your ballot is every step of the way with 

Washington votes by mail in every election. If you want to know how it works, 

 has an illustration you can follow, along with answers to all of your questions.

You can request a replacement, print one out, or vote in person. 

Listen to Jane, producer Sam, and contributor Brett Hamil discuss our upcoming primary on the podcast-

Here’s the when, how, and where to help you navigate the voting process in King County

Your Guide to the August Primary

Sam J Leeds

“Am I dreaming? Or did a group of IKEA designers take LSD with Salvador Dalí?” So begins Margo Vansynghel’s Seattle Times review of the art installation for which 

 is probably best known: STÖR. The warehouse-meets-installation gave viewers a familiar format to browse local artist creations which all happened to also be for sale. An innovative solution to invite viewers in and ask them to support local artists through accessible patronage. Beyond STÖR, Carter also served as the Director of the lost-but-not-forgotten Museum of Museums until it closed in 2023.

Carter has a distinctly Seattle appreciation for the unexpected. As she writes about herself “born with a prominent port-wine stain birthmark on her left cheek, Mary Anne Carter has a lifelong attraction to the odd, unusual, discarded, and other.” Her work has been shown all over Seattle (and beyond) at places like AMcE Gallery, J. Rinehart, The Bellevue Art Museum, Museum of Museums, The Factory, King Street Station, The Columbia Tower, Vermillion, and more. She brings a much-needed playfulness and humor that cuts through even the gloomiest months, so it only made sense to get her take on Seattle.

 I spend 80% of my time in a neighborhood many people just pass through and it is my absolute favorite neighborhood in Seattle. It remains industrial and I love the specificity of it, especially as an artist. You can get any color paint you need from at least 5 paint stores; 

 remains one of the only sources for fabric and sewing notions in the city; 

 has excellent customer service and unbeatable prices; and 

 has the city’s best selection of used building materials and architectural salvage. After collecting the supplies you need for any project, you can put it off for another day with a trip to 

, which has everything you need in a bar including a patio.

I’m not a huge breakfast person, let alone American breakfast, so when I’m looking for food before lunch, I generally put in a hurried search for “Pho open now” and saddle up to the closest spot for a steaming bowl. There are a handful of places open as early as 8, and many by 10.

, a delicious Thai restaurant in the CID with outstanding soup, noodles, and sides and the kindest staff.

, also located in the CID, for hot pot with friends. It’s fun, communal, and their sauce bar is the best $2.95 you’ll spend.

If three meals of noodles isn’t your thing, 

 is a great source for seafood. If four meals of noodles is more your thing, 

 in Capitol Hill offers excellent hand pulled Chinese noodles.

: It’s sunny, relaxed, and I’m bound to run into a friend or two while I’m there.

One Seattle Person (Dead or Alive) To Spend a Day With:

He was a mentor of mine deeply embedded in the Seattle art and music communities and taught me everything I know about working with glass. He passed away last summer and I have a zillion of really practical questions for him, like “where did that glass mold go?!” and “what happens if I do this?” but I also mourn that he won’t get to see the progress I’ve continued to make in his absence. He was also a fantastic cook and host, so we’d inevitably end the day with a dinner party with many living legends which almost makes this a “making a wish for more wishes” answer. But truly, he was an incredible connector and supporter of people and I miss his friendship, advice, and encouragement to try new things creatively.

 is the oldest art walk in the country, but only one of many that occur throughout the city. Nearly every neighborhood has one and they are a great opportunity to view a wide variety of art and venues all at once. For those interested in local art but unsure where to start, it’s the best way to see what is really happening in our city and you will likely meet many artists along the way.

Parks, mountains, lake swimming, sweeping views, and sunsets: Everytime I want to have a full meltdown over the cost of living in this city, I take stock of the priceless nature that surrounds us. You don’t even have to be a hiking enthusiast to enjoy it. There are so many beaches, parks, views, and wildlife right here in the heart of the city. 

 is my go to for wanting to feel outside of a city without leaving it; Lake Union and Lake Washington are excellent for a quick dip or afternoon at the beach; and the ferry system is a great way to get somewhere or just spend time on a boat.

I’ve never been the type of person that can list a single inspiration or easily rattle off a superlative. I have a lot of Seattle heroes and also believe very much in the “it takes a village” sentiment. As an artist, I feel deep gratitude for every person who has played a role, large or small, in the continued effort to grow and nourish our local arts community. I think art is a necessary and vibrant part of any city’s ecosystem and the change that both Seattle and the art world at large has undergone in the last decade would be enough to justify anyone giving up.

Yet, people continue to push through and try new things and create opportunities for artists. I don’t think there is a single solution for any problem and it is inspiring to see people working together and in parallel to create more stability and opportunities for artists. Many of these people are artists themselves, but you don’t need to be an artist to get involved and make a difference. Show up to shows, buy art when you can, share artists’ work that you admire, let them occupy the building you have sitting vacant, and encourage your friends to do the same.

 actually rules: Take time to walk through the whole thing as you will discover a lot more than just the most iconic touchstones. It’s home to a wild spread of local businesses where you can purchase real local art, food, and many things in between. If you’re on the hunt for art, don’t miss 

, which shows both local and national contemporary artists and has originals as well as a robust print selection for sale. For a quick bite, 

 serves tasty dim sum to go. For seafood in a space that feels true to Old Seattle, visit 

. It’s unfussy in the best way and you can still get a caviar martini.

This is a tough one, as I don’t often see great representations of Seattle now, but I think 

provides a nice view into 90’s Seattle and a tribute to landmarks and venues lost as well as those that remain.

Local artist and former director of the Museum of Museums, Mary Anne Carter answers our questions about her favorite restaurants and hidden gems, what Seattle does best, who her local hero is, and much more. 

Artist Mary Anne Carter’s Guide To The City

Seattle According To: Mary Anne Carter

It’s the 1st of July, happy Blink 182 Day AKA the 182nd day of the year. This month, the days are as long as they’re gonna be, we’re at the peak of Seattle Summer™️, and we’ve got our curated recommendations for the month right here for ya.

 the weekend of the 10th. SIFF, in the later half of July, is starting a series called 

. They're showing movies like Austin Powers, Atomic Blonde, Golden Eye, Manchurian Candidate, etc. It’s just a very cool and fun series!

 on the 5th at Emerald City Comedy Club. 

 is also on the 5th, you can ride to nine different Costcos and eat a hot dog at each one! 

 (Seattle to Portland) is on the 11th and it’ll be my first year riding my bike all 200+ miles.

 is having their closing reception in Pioneer Square on the 2nd. Then, on the 7th, it’ll be your last chance to see their newest mosaic. While you’re there go check out their collaboration with the 

, which was a historic gay disco, and is now an art project highlighting the LGBTQ+ legacy of Pioneer Square. And then on the 25th, 

a group runway show on decommissioned railroad tracks

 on Lake Union for the 4th. The World Cup's gotten me into soccer and now I kind of want more of it even when the World Cup is over. Luckily there’s gonna be a 

 game on the 16th! And for my fellow Swifties, 

Ashley recommends driving to the North Cascades:

 I could not recommend more going up to the North Cascades. It's a two-hour drive to the National Park, and you have to go to Diablo or Ross Lake, probably both. Bring a paddleboard and brave the chilly, turquoise waters. It’s worth it!

Liam says take a ferry to Whidbey Island: 

As we've talked about before, I love a ferry. Love getting on a boat, love having a little snack and a little drink while you're going from one port to another. And I've done the Whidbey Island one-day trip and it’s great.

Sam thinks you should hop on the train to Portland:

 Go to King Street Station and take the train to Portland. While you’re waiting for the train check out the ARTS Gallery. The train ride itself is lovely: bring a book, go to the dining car and get a coffee, maybe play some cards. I'll leave what to do in Portland up to our friends at City Cast Portland.

My little day trip that I would recommend is the Teanaway. I feel like it is an underloved area to go hiking. It's just slightly further in terms of driving than going anywhere along the I-90 corridor directly, but if you get off after the pass, it's a really beautiful area to go hiking, and it's a lot less crowded than most of the I-90 hikes.

Seafair was created before we had any of the things that people think of as the big Seattle tourist draws. The World's Fair hadn't happened yet, so we didn't have the Space Needle or Seattle Center. People in Seattle were looking for a way to bring tourists post-World War II. And they came up with the idea of Seafair.

We have our friends at City Cast Twin Cities to thank for Seafair actually! The organizers were inspired by the St. Paul Winter Carnival and they offered its director, Walter Van Camp, a position to run the Seattle festival. In March 1950, they started planning for an August event, and it involved everything from a 25-mile bicycle race around Lake Sammamish to a boat parade on Lake Washington. There was a police pistol contest, a steamboat race on Elliott Bay, a husband-calling contest at Seward Park, and this operetta called The Desert Song at Volunteer Park that was attended by 10,000 people!

The thing that I thought was the coolest in learning about all of this was the Aqua Follies: synchronized swimming, dancing, gymnastics, and acrobatics at Green Lake. They built a theater to seat 5,200 people on the shore of Green Lake in 9 weeks! They finished it four days before Seafair was supposed to start. And somehow had zero cost overruns according to HistoryLink. Should we start a petition to start doing cool stuff at Green Lake again?!

If you think the Blue Angels are bad in terms of noise and pollution, wait until you hear about the original penultimate day of the festival. They would tow an old wooden ship from Lake Union and anchor it in Elliott Bay, and they would put smoke bombs and fireworks and explosives and a bunch of fuel oil in the belly of the ship. King Neptune's flags flew from the ship's mast and six life-like dummies, the crew, were on deck. The Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society would get on, set the ship on fire, get off, and let it explode. After the fireworks went off, the flames would be put out and the ship would be towed out even further (by Alki) and sunk. This happened until the 1960s when there were, quote, "No more ships left to burn." If you want to read more about Seafair history check out this incredible 

Want more? Listen to our July Guide episode of the podcast!

What to do, where to eat, where to shop, and more ways to spend the month of July in Seattle

Your Guide to Seattle in July

Can you believe another month has passed? At least we’re that much closer to summer. Speaking of which, we’ve got tips today for a variety of ways to spend the gradually warming-month: on a hike, at a restaurant, learning about Seattle’s gay history, or even spending an afternoon in the dark watching a bleak movie. Read on for what our team thinks you should do this month!

June might just be the best time of the year to hit up Seattle’s extensive farmers market scene - decent weather, smaller crowds than the summer, and they’re all actually open (looking at you, 

, who didn’t open until the end of May…). But better than the farmers markets, alone? The 

 at the farmers markets. Here are some of our favorites you should try on your next visit:

 (open year round, Sundays 9am-2pm): Ignore the length of the line for quesadillas at the Patty Pan Cooperative stand. The food is worth the wait!

(May 28-October 8, Thursdays 3-7:30pm): Queen Anne's roster has 75 farms and business participating this year, but I'm most excited about trying Kathmandu Momocha, which is Nepalese Cuisine, and Tolu Modern Fijian Cuisine.

(June 6-November 21, Saturdays 10am-3pm): The SLU Farmers Market is completely renewed starting June 6. I can’t wait to try some of the meat and potatoes brought by Olsen Farms, or beautiful seasonal fruit from A.C.M.A Mission Orchard - one of the first fully organic orchard farms in Washington!

(open year round, Sundays 11am-3pm; June-September, Tuesdays 3-7pm): If you’re craving just a really good pastry or bread product, Kaffeklatsch is the answer. They’re a family-owned German bakery and every treat feels like my grandma made it.

(May 16-October 17, Saturdays 10am-2pm): I’ve been eating all the cookie flavors from Cookies with Tiffany since the pandemic days, and I’d say they’re partly to blame for my constant late-night snacking.

(May 15-October 30, Fridays 3-7pm): Formerly the Madrona Farmers Market, the CDFM has a pre-made hummus, chips, and dips spot - The Mediterranean - I’ve been wanting to try, since I need to find new add-ons for my weekly boy dinners.

June is Pride Month, and there’s no shortage of great events around town. Here are a few of my picks:

I’ve sung the praises of TUSH many times on this show and we recently published 

a guide to Seattle through the eyes of TUSH’s illustrious host Betty Wetter

, but for all you queers out there (and straights with good taste who tip well), 

, one of the oldest lesbian bars in the country, during their 

You’ve heard of the Seattle Underground, but did you know that Pioneer Square was the original gayborhood? 

 hosts a Queer Underground History tour Sundays at 1pm. Learn about the queer underground dance clubs, corrupt cops and why the queer community moved to Capitol Hill. I learned so much!

Friends of Denny Blaine is hosting a gathering for 

 If your fiber arts activities feel better in the nude, go find your people!

 start until July here, but we almost always get a string of beautiful days in June. If you’re looking to get outside — or if you have summer visitors you want to impress — here are a few of my favorite things to do:

We’re lucky to have gorgeous public parks that make you feel like you’re deep in the woods while still being only a 15 minute walk from a great restaurant or bar you can hit up after! My favorites are 

Take public transit to the Issaquah Alps:

 started running in May, and does all the driving for you out to hikes along I-90! There are stops downtown, and in Capitol Hill, Judkins Park, Mt Baker, and Bellevue. There are two lines that take you to local classics: one to Mount Si, and another to Margaret’s Way. If you have access to a car and are looking to get out further, use the Washington Trails Association’s 

 to plan your next adventure — it lets you search by mileage, elevation, accessibility, and more.

For a chill ride, the Burke Gilman offers 20 miles of relatively flat, protected trail that takes you past a plethora of great restaurants, breweries and parks to stop at. It also connects up north to the Sammamish River Trail, so if you’re looking for a longer ride, take the trails all the way to Woodinville’s wineries (my fav is Chateau St. Michelle) for a glass of Washington wine! My other go-to loops are 

. Or if you’re feeling really spicy….

! If you’re looking to get out on two wheels, I’m hosting 

 that hits up 10 Taco Bells in the Puget Sound.

Here’s a thing about me, Seattle: I love depressing movies. I don’t mean sad, I mean earth-shatteringly bleak films about the darkest parts of our humanity. I think, weirdly, they make me feel better and lighter. Which is why I’m so excited that this year, our friends at the 

 are participating in the global film festival Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair. What started in LA a few years ago has grown to 

 across the country and world. There’s a bunch of really good (soul-crushing) options, but here are a few of my favorite bummer movies the Beacon is programming in Seattle. Suffice it to say, viewer discretion advised for all of these films!

 Austria’s Michael Haneke is one of movie’s great provocateurs, and he arguably got his reputation from this sadistic, funny, and mean movie about how we are implicated by the violence we enjoy on screen. An incredible movie! Haneke is one of the great living filmmakers in my opinion.

 I saw this film far too young after checking it out of the library and it really shook me to my core. Elim Klimov’s anti-war masterwork was so brutal even in script form that it took seven years for Soviet censors to approve the script.

 The move that made Danish nihilist and firebrand Lars Von Trier an international name, this (Washington set!) melodrama about a woman (Bjork, who quit acting after this film) going blind once made a friend hit me after we saw it together (I had suggested it). Also, it’s an old-school Hollywood musical!

Another film with a PNW connection, Gus Van Sant’s Oregon-set school shooting drama won the main prize at the Cannes Film Festival and is a masterclass in dread-inducing long takes. I once saw this on a date (not recommended, but worth seeing)!

 Maybe the absolute OG of bleak cinema, Pier Paolo Pasolini took a story by the Marquis de Sade and set it in Italy in 1944. Absolutely not for the faint of heart, as I understand it. I have never seen this one, and I already have my ticket for one of the screenings. I can’t wait.

Looking for more stuff to do in June? Listen to our June Guide episode of the podcast!

What to do, where to eat, where to shop, and more ways to spend the month of June in Seattle

Your Guide to Seattle in June

Liam Billingham

 where several tectonic plates, like the Explorer, Juan de Fuca and Gorda, all vie for space beneath the North American plate. As a result, there have been earthquakes in the area’s history (the 1700 Cascadia earthquake) which sent a tsunami all the way to Japan. There are also other earthquakes that have occurred in 1949, 1965, and in 2001, the Nisqually earthquake.

The Nisqually Earthquake, as well as a major windstorm in West Seattle, is what inspired local Seattleites like Cindi Barker, one of the the original founders of 

, to get Seattleites together to organize and be prepared in case of an emergency. Listen to Cindi on the podcast or read on to get some tips.

 is a pre-determined location where neighbors and community members are likely to gather to begin exchanging information and resources among themselves without outside assistance from city services.

. The image below will lead you to their map with one click. If your area doesn’t have a location, 

How can I prepare myself and my loved-ones for an emergency?

We live in a no-notice country. Meaning we won’t have any warning for a disaster or an earthquake. If one occurs, stores won’t be open. This means make sure you have:

Have power back-ups for any thing that needs power (charge portable cell phone chargers) or any medical equipment

Pick a spot to meet up in case of an emergency (a community emergency hub is a good idea)

If you have more tips for emergency preparedness, 

How To Prepare for a Local Emergency

At the start of the TUSH Pride 2025 show the multi-hypenate host and creator 

 read aloud from a book about Seattle’s first gay-owned cabaret. The description of the role the 1940s Pioneer Square cabaret played in the community easily transfers to Betty’s own monthly drag and variety show at the 

 in Beacon Hill: “giving queers the pride and energy to invent protective and affirmative institutions in a hostile society.”

Betty has big visions for TUSH. She told me over email “we are building TUSH into a sustainable arts organization over the next year as well. This will include fundraising for higher artist fees, more free access to our programs, and eventually opening our own community space within the next 10 years.” As Seattle’s arts community has been rocked by rising costs, gentrification and (frankly) more factors than this sentence can account for, reading Betty’s vision paints hope for a future full of those aforementioned “protective and affirmative institutions.” So, with that in mind, Betty shares a slice of Seattle through her own eyes.

 – Grab a pre-roll and a friend and get yourself to Collide-o-Scope. This found footage fantasy is the perfect Monday night experience. It feels like someone found all of the best corners of the internet and put them into the silliest 2 hours ever.

First, we’re waiting in a ridiculous line for the pancake of the day at 

 in Columbia City. Text me when our table is ready. If it’s nice out, let’s go get a burger on the 

 (it’s about the experience not the quality). Then we’re whipping out Trivial Pursuit at 

and sipping on libations served in bathtubs or shark heads or whatever they’ve dreamed up this season.

 has the best crew in town. Always putting a smile on my face. If I want a cozy spot to read, I am actually gonna get my cold brew to go and sit in the park.

Local drag performer Betty Wetter answers our questions about her favorite restaurants and hidden gems, what Seattle does best, who her local hero is, and much more. 

Seattle Guides

Our Essential Rules for Living in Seattle

Your Guide to Seattle in August

Your Guide to the August Primary

Latest articles

Seattle According To: Mary Anne Carter

Your Guide to Seattle in July

Your Guide to Seattle in June

How To Prepare for a Local Emergency

Seattle According To: Betty Wetter

Your Guide to Seattle in May

Your Guide to Seattle in April