Seeking: local gifts & Swedish pancakes
+ a peek at the vision of Seeking Seattle
Hope everyone had a nice long weekend! We’re back to our usual structure this week, which is needed because a LOT is going on in December.
But before I dive into that, I wanted to share a little about how the vision of this newsletter is shaping up for me since I’m not sure I’ve communicated much about it!
Nothing in this newsletter is or ever will be sponsored/comped. As this newsletter grows, I’ve received offers to try certain things or places for free – with the hopes of being shared here. As a recovering people pleaser, this kind of arrangement does not work for me if I’m trying to share honest and authentic recommendations. Plus, I’m not an influencer (or have any aspirations to be one)! If I want to try something, it’ll be with my own $$.
This newsletter will eventually be reader-supported. Related to #1, I have plans to provide readers with the option of paying for this newsletter and supporting this work so I can keep investing in it (big thank you to those who have already pledged support!). Some content might be gated or created just for paying subscribers in the future, but there will always be plenty of free stuff you can access and I’ll comp subscriptions for anyone who needs it.
This newsletter is meant to include more voices than my own. I’m just one person in this little big city and there are so many people doing cool things. My role as seeker is to find them and get them to share all their secrets with you! So bear with me while I pull this together – an interview or local feature series will be coming in early 2024 (lmk if you’d like to be featured or know someone who should be!)
If you have any questions about the above or your own hopes and dreams for what you’d like to see in your inbox every week, just reply to this email 💌
💎 Local Gems
Animal Portraits by Michelle Lassaline | Online + various locations
If I were to create a Seattle gift guide, a personalized animal portrait by Michelle Lassaline would be top of the list. I stumbled across Michelle and her work at a farmer’s market on Vashon in 2019 and immediately bought a portrait for myself and as a gift for my sister. You can easily order a portrait by mail, but you can also find Michelle at various local markets. In fact, this Friday she will be doing free portraits at the Giving Marketplace from 10am - 2pm. If you get a portrait done, please share a picture of it with me!
Sfingiday | Fremont
Another gifting rec, when I lived more north this was always my favorite spot to find unique gifts (especially for the people who have everything). It’s like going to an artisan market that’s in the same place year-round! My favorite items are usually from the apothecary, the local art section, or the ceramics.
Pancake Breakfast at The Swedish Club | Westlake
I used to live right next to The Swedish Club on Dexter and loved going to this monthly pancake breakfast, especially during the winter months. For $14.33, you get three Swedish pancakes with lingonberries and whipped cream, a slice or two of ham, and your choice of juice, milk, or bottomless coffee. This month’s breakfast is happening this Sunday if you need some brunch plans. Sometimes they also have live music and you’ll get to see sweet older Swedes dancing together.
👀 On my radar
Raúl de Nieves exhibition at Henry Art Gallery | If experiencing this exhibit isn’t a cure for SAD, idk what is. The installation is called A window to the see, a spirit star chiming in the wind of wonder… and is described as “a portal to an alternative world, inspired by the power and possibility of wonder and imagination in daily life.” It’s sticking around until August 2024, so you have plenty of time to see it – but you can take advantage of free entry today since it’s the first Thursday of the month! Otherwise, entry is donation-based.
Charlie’s Queer Books + Baila Bar | I was doing some boots-on-the-ground research (aka working from Fremont Coffee Company) and saw these two new spots right across the street from each other. Charlie’s is a colorfully-painted queer book + gift store and Baila Bar is the newest iteration of the drunken dance spot once known as Ballroom. I will likely never set foot in there again as I am over 30, but I was delighted to see it reincarnated into a Peruvian nightclub.
FamilyFriend | Since it’s on my walk route, I’ve been closely watching the space previously occupied by By Tae since they abruptly closed up shop this summer (😭). Even though there’s no website or much of a social media presence yet, FamilyFriend seems to be open for business in Beacon Hill! It looks like it’ll have a similar vibe to By Tae with grilled meats, simple drinks, and a cozy space. As soon as I can figure out when it’s open, I’ll check it out and report back.
📆 This weekend’s events
The Room Screening | Thursday, 11/30 | Central District | $12 (BYO compostable spoons)
Weekly Pinball Tournament | Friday, 12/1 | Fremont | $5
Star Clash - Celestial Improv | Friday, 12/1 | Fremont | $15
The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition | Friday, 12/1 | Downtown | Free
Giving Marketplace | 12/1 - 12/2 | South Lake Union | Free
The Electric Cookie Run | Saturday, 12/2 | Green Lake | $52-62
Date Your Book at Tivoli | Saturday, 12/2 | Fremont | Free
Forest Bathing in Volunteer Park | Saturday, 12/2 | Capitol Hill | Free (there is also free admission to the Conservatory)
Winter Festival & Crafts Fair | 12/2 - 12/3 | Phinney Ridge | $6
Winter Craft Uprising Winter Show | 12/2 - 12/3 | Uptown | Free
Swedish Pancake Breakfast | Sunday, 12/3 | Westlake | Free
South End Record Show | Sunday, 12/3 | Beacon Hill | Free
Burnt Toast Live Podcast Recording | Sunday, 12/3 | Downtown | $5-25
What’s next:
12/9 - 12/10 | This is a big holiday weekend! Green Lake will be hosting its Pathway of Lights and West Seattle will have its GLOWS event on Saturday, free ice skating at Occidental Square and the Winter Renegade Craft Fair are happening all weekend (best holiday market I’ve been to), and on Sunday you can get cozy at Holiday Tea in the Fireside Room.
12/15 - 12/17 | There are two holiday markets you can stop by this weekend to pick up any last-minute gifts: the Trollstice Holiday Market Pop-Up (usually a great vintage selection) on Saturday or the Native Art Markets happening all weekend.
12/19 | Despite being a new initiate of the cult of Las Culturistas, I think I have to support Matt Rogers at the Seattle stop of his Have You Heard of Christmas tour.
12/21 - 12/24 | A holiday tradition at this point, the Jinx & DeLa Holiday Show is coming back to Seattle for 4 dates at the Moore Theater. Tickets are already in low stock, so grab one soon if you plan on going.
🚨 ICYMI
A postnatal hotel is coming to Seattle in 2024. Someone crowdsourced the best local hot chocolate spots on Reddit. Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé opens on Friday in local theaters. The Stranger released a Keep Warm guide. Did you know that you can find the biggest holiday light display in Marysville?
🧰️ Seattle Toolkit
A few of my favorite resources to stay tuned in to what’s happening around the city:
What Do - Seattle’s aggregated event list
Everout - Events & things to do
SEAToday - Daily Seattle newsletter
The Nudge Seattle - Text-based event planner
The Intentionalist - Discover + support local small businesses
Your turn!
What are you seeking this week? What do you already have planned? Share it with us in the comments ⬇️
Oh my, that Raúl de Nieves exhibit looks incredible! I've not been to The Henry yet (or many of the museums in town), but I see an solo date there happening soon!