Seeking: How to survive SAD season

my top 3 tips

Nov 16, 2023

First up - thank you so much for filling out those polls! It is truly so helpful to get feedback and find out if you’re picking up what I’m putting down, so please keep it coming.

I was in Arizona this past weekend exploring the Grand Canyon and witnessing the world’s largest Wurlitzer pipe organ (if you’re in Phoenix, you must go to Organ Stop Pizza). Unfortunately, I’m now experiencing the post-vacation blues PLUS the usual seasonal despair that happens after DST. So this week’s topic is inspired by that feeling 🙃

This week I’ve combined local gems + what’s on my radar. Hope you enjoy!

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

Like many a Seattleite, I haven’t always thrived during the colder months. Especially since I’m not a skier / snowboarder. But I’ve been working hard to change that over the past few years and have come up with three things that never fail to make me feel at least a little bit better (in addition to taking vitamin D and trying to take a trip in Jan/Feb).

This is not an exhaustive list, so I’d love to hear in the comments what you do to bolster yourself when the sun sets at an ungodly hour

#1. Submerge yourself in water

Yes, if you have a tub you can draw yourself a bath at home, but it is important to leave the house during the wintertime. I wish we had more of a bath culture here in Seattle, but we do have a few cool places where you can take a dip.

The view from the cabins at the SLU location of Float Seattle

💎 Local gems

Banya 5 | SLU | Last winter I took an extended lunch break and met a friend for their early bird special ($40 for 2 hrs on Weds/Thurs before 3pm). It’s not a huge space so I imagine it gets pretty crowded during peak times, but if you go for early bird it should be okay. FYI this place is coed and you wear a swimsuit!
Q Sauna & Spa | Lynwood | I took myself here for my birthday one year and had a blast visiting the 8 (!) different saunas and pools. Looks like they have some Groupon deals going on right now too. For this one, the saunas are coed and you get to wear a little matching set, but the pools are gender separated and you go nude.
Float Seattle | Various locations | I used to go to a float spa in SLU that had cabins instead of pods and it looks like this company recently acquired it. I’ve never done the pods, but I feel like the cabins are a good entry point to floating since you don’t feel as confined!

Obsessed with this mural | @theladiesroom206

👀 On my radar:

The Ladies Room | Greenwood | I haven’t been to this one yet, but it’s in the former Ladywell’s space and I’ve heard great things about it (+ the vibe is really cute). FYI - Wednesdays are for all genders and also $10 off.
D4 Season | Shoreline | I saw this video on TikTok and now I really want to try their viral head spa treatment.
Lake Union Hot Tub Boats & Hot Tub Boats | Lake Union | This has to be one of the best group activities you can do during the winter.
We Sweat, CitySweats, & The Sauna Hut | Various locations | Okay this one is water adjacent, but I’ve always wanted to try out one of these little sauna sweat boxes. I like that some of them are big enough that you can bring a friend and sweat it out together. Plus, We Sweat has a cold plunge you can add on for “contrast therapy.”

#2. Get out in nature

A few years ago when my SAD was extra bad, my boyfriend would regularly make me crush leaves and crumble dirt in my hands to feel alive again. Highly recommend trying that on your daily walks, or checking out these spots.

💎 Local gems

WA State Park Cabins - Wallace Falls | Gold Bar | During the summer these cabins are all booked up, but they are very available during fall/winter. We left after work on a Thursday and had a cozy night in the cabin before hiking Wallace Falls in the pouring rain the next morning. A few notes: you need to bring your own bedding + pillows, the bathroom is 50 ft away, and there is nothing to cook with, but there IS heat and electricity. We ate dinner in town and brought an electric kettle to have oatmeal + coffee in the morning. Did I mention it’s only $61/night, pet-friendly, and 1.5 hrs away?
Interrorem Cabin | Brinnon | This one takes a little more advance planning since weekends are usually booked out, but it’s worth it! The cabin was built in 1907, has a futon + a bunk bed, and uses propane to fuel the lights, stove, and heater. It’s similar to Wallace Falls in that you’ll have to pack in quite a few things, but it’s big enough to go with some friends and feel like you’re fully off the grid. It costs $50/night and there’s a nearby waterfall hike that you can do during the day.

The pros bring their telescopes for others to peek through | SAS

👀 On my radar

Stargazing with the SAS | Various locations | After attending ranger-led stargazing sessions every night at the Grand Canyon, I’m now fully hooked. There has to be some benefit to darkness starting at 5pm right?? Obviously, it’s a little tougher to stargaze in the city, but the Seattle Astronomical Society organizes monthly public stargaze parties in Covington and Paramount Park. My research also says that Snoqualmie Point Park in my hometown is a good place to do some viewing. Consider my next date night planned.

#3. Be with people

This is the winter cure that is so necessary, but easy to forget about when you’re comfy on the couch. I’d recommend using this newsletter to pick 1 event to go to every week (don’t forget to invite a friend!). But if you don’t have it in you to meet new people / go to an event, I’d try eating at a popular restaurant, working from a café, or attending a Silent Book Club or Silent Reading Party.

Harvesting willow at the Beacon Food Forest

💎 Local gems

Dance Church | Various locations | I’ve written about Dance Church before, but needed to plug it again because it is one of the easiest and most immediate ways to get endorphins flowing.
Volunteering at Beacon Food Forest | Beacon Hill | This also checks #2, which makes it supercharged. This Saturday is the monthly work party (it’s always on the 3rd Saturday of the month) and you get to show up and be put to work tending to various parts of the garden. If you’re not near Beacon Hill, here is a list of other gardens that take volunteers.

The Seattle Hot Girl Walk calendar | @seattlehotgirlwalk

👀 On my radar

Seattle Hot Girl Walk | Various locations | I recently found out about this group and I think it’s brilliant. They meet up at various parks around the city every weekend to melt the Seattle freeze one walk at a time. Their next walk is this Sunday at Seward Park.

🏆 Honorable mentions:

Find a hobby
Play indoor pickleball

Pier 62 Fire Pit | Thursday, 11/16 | Downtown | Free
Uptown Art Walk + Makers Market | Thursday, 11/16 | Uptown | Free
Volunteer Park Conservatory Holiday Open House | Friday, 11/17 | Capitol Hill | Free
Cabins & Hideouts with Lauri Porra | Friday, 11/17 | Downtown | $40
Legendary Children | Friday, 11/17 | Downtown | Free
University District Art Walk | Friday, 11/17 | University District | Free
The Moth StorySLAM | Friday, 11/17 | Fremont | $15
Free Friday Night Comedy Show | Friday, 11/17 | Greenwood | Free
Trailhead Trot Happy Fun Run | Saturday, 11/18 | Fremont | Free
Tacky Turkey Sweater 5k | Saturday, 11/18 | Green Lake | $21.50
Winter Fest Market | Saturday, 11/18 | Rainier Beach | Free
Gobble Up Food Festival | Saturday, 11/18 | Magnuson | Free
Board Games & Booze | Saturday, 11/18 | Capitol Hill | Free
Columbia City Night Market | Saturday, 11/18 | Columbia City | Free
Julefest | 11/18 - 11/19 | Ballard | $10
Date Your Book | Sunday, 11/19 | North Lake Union | Free

What’s next:

11/17 - 1/1 | The Woods is turning their location into a Christmas Dive Bar for the holidays (cocktails look cheaper than Miracle on 2nd!).
12/2 - 12/3 | The Phinney Neighborhood Association is hosting a Winter Festival & Crafts Fair with over 120 hand-picked makers.
12/8 - 12/10 | There will be a free ice skating rink (with free skates provided) AND a holiday market hosted in Occidental Square.
12/9 | West Seattle is hosting a variety of events during its “Hometown Holidays,” but the standout is the GLOWS Festival on the 9th.
1/24 - 2/24 | Tickets just went on sale for the Book of Will at Taproot Theater in Columbia City! Seeking Seattle reader Katt will be stage managing it.

🚨 ICYMI

Spice Waala is opening up a third location in Columbia City. SIFF Cinema Downtown (formerly known as Cinerama) is opening back up on 12/14. For those staying local, Everout put together a Thanksgiving food guide. A new nonalcoholic bottle shop has opened up on Phinney Ridge.