If you’re like us, you appreciate having New Year’s Eve options that don’t break the bank and that incorporate entertainment aside from simply guzzling so-so drinks in a chock-a-block bar. This holiday seems to carry loaded expectations for many, so we’ve come up with a few low-pressure ideas that promise to start off the next calendar year on a great musical note.
Treat your people right this holiday season
‘Tis that festive, twinkling season when hot toddies warm our bodies and the spirit of giving warms our souls. If you’re like us, you’re probably over presenting generic gifts that merely get the job done. That’s why we’ve gathered some unique, local treasures we think will make the perfect present for someone (or someones) you love.
Pop/rock quartet ALO has been deemed “more than a band…It’s a musical relationship”—and one that has propelled the band and its loyal fans for nearly two decades. The band’s currently on tour to support their new Brushfire Records (Jack Johnson) release of ‘Tangle Of Time’—a joyous collection of songs evoking their 70s-esque California cool sound and whimsical improv. Saturday, December 5, they bring their playful act to Fremont’s Nectar Lounge.
Mark your calendar for some rockin’ Moore music
If you’ve not yet seen Shakey Graves live, that’s something you’ll want to fix. We’d recommend you clear your schedule for this Sunday evening to catch the mesmerizing and enigmatic performer, who made a name for himself early on as Austin’s best one-man band. This weekend, his much buzzed-about Die Hard Tour—one that features him with a backing band—enlivens the stage at downtown’s Moore Theatre (with Tennis as the opener).
Are you so done with boring blocks of hotel rooms featuring four walls and a ceiling, stiff furniture and a characterless nearby lobby serving up mediocre coffee? Great news: Lodging in the Pacific Northwest has never been more varied—or more exciting. There’s awesome camping in our region, sure, but there’s also the newest craze of glamping.
With any luck, all of your drenched, wrung-out clothing has (finally!) dried since Saturday’s downpour, which came along with a surprise dose of lightning that temporarily brought the music to a halt. By this point in the weekend, we know the ropes of this year’s new ticket-bracelet system, we know to expect a strikingly young festival crowd, and we know to pack a raincoat/poncho just in case.
Before the season slips away—and we admit it’s suddenly sneakily picking up its gait—we’d like to add a few “musts” to your PNW playlist. From musical gatherings to tranquil getaways, these ideas might just add a bit more magic to your already rockin’ summer.
PRESS “REFRESH” AT SAN JUAN’S LAKEDALE RESORT
So many of us mean to unplug more often than we do, and sadly it often takes a setting so serene and a WiFi signal so blessedly weak to force us to do just that. Once we finally power down and tune in, we wonder what the heck took so long. Destinations like Lakedale Resort on beautiful San Juan Island prove the perfect spot to disconnect and reconnect, and the benefits remain long after the ferry docks back on the mainland.
Cool concerts, cocktails, Kurios & more
Sure, a recent heat wave and string of azure-skied days have filled Seattle’s trails and parks with hordes of eager sun worshippers. It’s been glorious. Yet we must remind ourselves of one undeniable fact: It’s only February; technically, summer’s still a long way off.
Feasting our way across some of BC’s hidden gems.
The challenge of visiting any island: Often, it takes work to get there. As a traveler, there’s not much
within one’s control; choppy seas and foggy skies can lead to schedule delays that can’t be contested.
S E A T T L E I T E 