SAMI KNOWLES
26 | Eastlake
Hometown: Kent, WA
Occupation: Stylist at Stan Parente Salon (as of November 2016, Sami has moved to Winslow Salon in Kirkland downtown).

Hometown: Kent, WA
Occupation: Stylist at Stan Parente Salon (as of November 2016, Sami has moved to Winslow Salon in Kirkland downtown).
charity: water, the nonprofit with the singular mission to bring clean and safe drinking water to the 663 million people who lack access to life’s most basic need. One of the most impactful stories to come from charity: water’s 10 years of fighting the global water crisis is the incredible story of Seattle local Rachel Beckwith, who launched a charity: water birthday campaign for her ninth birthday. She came just short of reaching her fundraising goal and a few months later, died tragically in a car accident. Her friends and family remembered her giving spirit and began

For the first time in 40 years, our beloved Pike Place Market is growing with the “MarketFront,” which should be ready for the public in spring 2017 The Market-centric expansion will reclaim an underutilized surface parking lot on Western Avenue, and create a dynamic public plaza with views of Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains, table space for farmers, craftspeople and artisan purveyors, retail space, low-income housing, a neighborhood center and parking.
Mother’s Day is a little less than three weeks away so it’s time to start planning what you’re going to do for the irreplaceable special lady in your life. There are definitely gifts you can get her (gift guide coming soon), brunches, and dinners to take her to, but how about spending some quality time with mom? If she’s in the Seattle area, here are some fun ideas she might love.
Seattle is booming. Census data shows that Seattle is one of the fastest growing major American cities with a high concentration of young adults. Millennials make up 1/3 of our population. What will Seattle look like if we don’t value community engagement and volunteerism in this time of growth? How do we get millennials involved in building a thriving community of actively engaged individuals? This is where Seattle Works comes in.
Come celebrate women’s right to choose with a cavalcade of chocolate! Every year, the Puget Sound region’s best chocolatiers and bakers create delicious confections for NARAL Pro-Choice Washington supporters to sample, while a panel of celebrity judges including Stranger restaurant critic Angela Garbes, KEXP DJ Riz Rollins, and Seattle Times columnist Nicole Brodeur choose the best of the best in local chocolates, pastries, and baked goods.
We are excited to announce a new Culture Dose column subset, “Local Heroes,” to showcase do-gooders in the Seattle area and their work within our community. Our first column features Nathan and Emma Welch, who founded Rites of Passage as a way to continue their shared commitment to community advocacy, giving back and local outreach. They’ve thoughtfully designed expedition-based wilderness therapy programs for adolescents ages 11-17 and adults ages 18-30+ who struggle with such emotional and behavioral concerns as ODD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, mood disorders and substance abuse. “A boot camp alternative,” they explain, “…our programs are therapeutic, not punitive.”
The World is Fun (TWIF) is a Seattle based nonprofit organization with a mission to get Seattleites involved in their community. Working in partnership with over 70 Seattle based nonprofit organizations, TWIF engages the community in volunteering and giving back in a fun and social way. This local social club is 100% volunteer-run and has given back $1 million in Volunteer Service Value to the Seattle area. We recently had the chance to interview the fabulous lady who started TWIF in 2009, Amy Faulkner.
When Seattle city life starts feeling a little stuffy, you know it’s time to plan a weekend away from all the noise. If you’re itching to get outdoors and in need of a little change in scenery, catch a short ferry ride over to a little slice of serenity better known as Vashon Island. After 20 minutes, you’ll be docked and ready for a slow-paced weekend with all the hype of island life. Check out our suggestions below for a weekend getaway to relaxation station.