Seeking: a guide to NYE 🎆

+ the day after

As promised, this week I’m sharing a NYE guide! Next week I’ll be sending a shortened newsletter earlier in the week with some events/activities for over the holidays, but then I’ll be taking a holiday break myself until I’m back in your inboxes on January 4th.

I have some fun topics planned for 2024, but I also hope to get your input with a short survey in the next newsletter.

P.S. Since this newsletter is a little long, don’t forget to expand it if it gets cut off!

I love Seattle, but I think it kind of blows in the NYE department. This was honestly a pretty difficult guide to put together! I’ve done every kind of NYE – the big blowout party, the bar crawl, the boat on Lake Union, the house party, the fireworks, the cabin getaway with friends… And the low-key ones have always been my favorites (although tbh the pressure cooker of NYE renders them all kind of meh).

But I’ll level with you – I still don’t have a clue what I’m doing for NYE yet. For the past two years we’ve hung out with another couple and made a big, beautiful dinner and played games until midnight. Nothing too crazy! I’d be more than happy to do it again.

I’ve also started to become more interested in how I spend New Year’s Day as a way to set the tone for my year, so I’ll be providing ideas for both.

Either way, it’s just an arbitrary day, and it doesn’t really matter does it? 🙃 You can always skip it and celebrate Lunar New Year or Nowruz instead.

This is a topic that would really benefit from some reader participation, so if you’ve got fun, cool plans that you want to share or a ritual you love to do every year, please drop it in the comments!

1. Get out of town

If I wasn’t trying to save $$ for our trip to Japan, then I would definitely be booking a cabin somewhere. Lucky for you, there are still lots of cool options available – including some WA State Park cabins!

When looking for Airbnbs, there are a few things I’m always thinking about: what’s the seating situation? Are there enough comfortable spots to lounge for everyone in the group? Is there a hot tub?? If not, are there other cozy elements that make up for it? What’s the kitchen situation – do I need to bring pre-made food or can we cook there?

The below spots have taken these questions into account and the price per night I’ve shared is inclusive of all fees.

these are the C Loop cabins in Ike Kinswa park

State Park Cabins

*Reference my SAD guide for details on this kind of cabin

• 1-5 people (but best for 1-3) | Ike Kinswa State Park | Silver Creek | $60.39/night, two night min | The C Loop ones are located on a LAKE and look so dreamy.

• 1-5 people (but best for 1-3) | Camano Island State Park | Camano Island | $83.10/night, two night min | Surrounded by forest with easy access to the water.

corresponds to the list below in clockwise order

Airbnbs

• 1-2 people | Getaway Skagit Valley | Mt. Vernon | $205/night | Cozy tiny home with a fire pit and a picture window right by the bed that looks out into the woods. Minimal kitchen setup

• 1-2 people | Vashon Island Beach Cottage | Vashon Island | $179/night | Located right next to the ferry with a patio view of the sound and free access to kayaks

• 2-4 people | Mt Rainier Cabin | Ashford | $345/night | This feels like a risk because there are no reviews yet, but it looks very luxe and is pretty affordable for a 2 bedroom/2 bath with a hot tub

• 4 people | Cozy Beach House | Camano Island | $439/night | Not the most aesthetic choice, but it has beautiful views, decent seating, beach/kayak access, and a hot tub

• 4-6 people | Koi Story Cabin | Maple Valley | $410/night | Lakefront with a beautiful glass atrium dining room + fireplace. Includes access to kayaks and bikes

• 4-8 people | Historic 10-Acre Vashon Farm Retreat | Vashon Island | $534/night | Lots of comfy seating plus a hot tub and a big dining room table for a NYE feast

the lineup for Artist’s Home NYE bash

2. Go to an event near your house

The only thing that could get me to brave a public event on NYE is if it was walking distance from my house or easily accessible by public transportation.

Here’s a few that look intriguing, organized by neighborhood:

• Ballard | Artist Home New Year's Eve | $45 | If you love live music, this would be fun since it has a stacked lineup of local artists like Naked Giants & Smokey Brights.

• Capitol Hill | Century Ballroom’s NYE Party | $30-155 | The higher ticket options include dinner, but for $50 you can get access to the salsa room starting at 9:30pm which starts off with a lesson

• Downtown | Xtreme Theatresports New Year's Eve Party | $50 | I went to my first improv by this group over the summer and it was impressive. A nontraditional way to spend NYE, I would grab dinner downtown and then hop on the light rail home after

• Uptown | Moulin Rouge! New Year’s Eve Sing-along | $14 | This is happening a little earlier in the evening at 6pm, so you could get dinner before/after and stick around for the fireworks or go home and get in BED.

3. Complete a ritual

A few years ago a friend led us through a burning ritual to let go of the old year and usher in the new. We cut human shapes out of paper bags and wrote what we wanted to release from the past year on one side with what we wanted to invite in on the other before feeding them into the fire. It was simple, but meaningful.

If you want to burn things with other people, you could join the Burning Boat Festival in Des Moines. Or create your own ritual and make it a new tradition!

4. Go out to dinner

There are lots of restaurants that are hosting fancy multi-course meals (see these guides from The Infatuation and Seattle Met), but there are plenty that are NOT and still taking reservations. You can browse the lists on OpenTable and Tock, but some standouts to me would be Umi Sake House, White Swan Public House to be near the water (and maybe see fireworks??), or The Doctor’s Office for bespoke cocktails.

5. Go to bed early

I know it’s lame, but this sounds better and better every year. Especially because it means you can wake up well rested on…

• If you’re feeling brave, you can join the Polar Bear Plunge at Matthews Beach Park.

• I’m more likely to do the contrast therapy (sauna + cold plunge) at We Sweat in West Seattle.

• If you’re a sports fan, the Kraken is playing in the Winter Classic at T-Mobile Park.

• January 1st is a Discover Pass free day and you can join in on ranger-led First Day Hikes in 40+ parks.

📆 This weekend’s events

• Capitol Hill Art Walk | Thursday, 12/14 | Capitol Hill | Free

• West Seattle Art Walk | Thursday, 12/14 | West Seattle | Free

• 3rd Annual Holly Jolly Holiday Show | Thursday, 12/14 | Capitol Hill | $20

• Gene Kelly: The Legacy | Friday, 12/15 | Downtown | $35

• DIGGIN DIRT w/ The Whags | Friday, 12/15 | Fremont | $17 (I saw The Whags over the summer and they’re a fun Americana funk group!)

• Bonfire + Christmas Ship Viewing | Friday, 12/15 | Madrona | Free

• Taste of Winter at Lucky Envelope | Saturday, 12/16 | Ballard | Free

• Third Saturday Work Party | Saturday, 12/16 | Beacon Hill | Free

• A Bonsai Solstice | Saturday, 12/16 | Federal Way | $12 suggested donation

• Winter Solstice Tea Sit | Saturday, 12/16 | C-ID| $40

• Donation Yoga | Saturday, 12/16 | Belltown | By donation

• Columbia City Night Market | Saturday, 12/16 | Columbia City | Free

• A Cello and Storytelling duo for the Winter Solstice | Sunday, 12/17 | Downtown | $18

Multi-day:

• Winter Beer Fest | 12/15 - 12/16 | Magnuson | $45

• Elf Screening | 12/15 - 12/17 | Capitol Hill | $12

• Native Arts Market | 12/15 - 12/17 | Discovery Park | Free

• Sugar Plum Gary | 12/15 - 12/24 | Capitol Hill | $15-50 sliding scale

• Holiday Hullabaloo at Club Comedy | 12/16 - 12/17 | Capitol Hill | $20

🚨 ICYMI

Denny Blaine Park is saved! End of an era: Rancho Bravo has closed. Experimental low-waste retail store The Naked Grocer has also closed. If you’re a runner, The Urbanist published a guide to transit-oriented running in Seattle.

🧰️ Seattle Toolkit

A few of my favorite resources to stay tuned in to what’s happening around the city:

1. What Do - Seattle’s aggregated event list

2. Everout - Events & things to do

3. SEAToday - Daily Seattle newsletter

4. The Nudge Seattle - Text-based event planner

5. The Intentionalist - Discover + support local small businesses

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Your turn!

What are you seeking this week? What do you already have planned? Share it with us in the comments ⬇️