Seattle-based Friends of the Columbia City Theater and Dreaming In Color Entertainment is hosting The 10 Million Rays of Light Benefit Concert this Saturday, January 9, 2016 at the historic Columbia City Theater. Doors open at 7:00pm, concert starts at 8:00pm, and the event is 21+. Tickets are $15 and benefits Solight Design’s 10 Million Rays of Light™ Campaign, a 501©(3) nonprofit project whose social and environmental mission is to distribute solar-powered lights, including SolarPuffs, to third world and underdeveloped regions such as Nepal, Haiti, Greece and Syria. 

Awesome winter beers to try before they vanish like our daylight hours!

Having holiday withdrawals? Have no fear, you can still get fantastic holiday and winter seasonal beers all over the Sound at your local tap house, bottle shop, or brew pub. If you happened to miss this year’s Winter Beer Festival and the plethora of sensational winter beers that were on tap, take a look at the list of selections we sampled below.

Bell + Whete welcomes Jenny Izaguirre (ease-uh-ghee-ray) as their new Executive Chef.

Jenny is replacing Stew Navarre, who will be focusing on sister restaurant Local 360, with occasional collaborations at Bell + Whete. On top of being a talented chef, Jenny has a dynamic, warm personality and a fierce passion for food. She hails from Honduras and is a CIA graduate with nearly 10 years under her belt at various Four Seasons properties around the country. She speaks fluent Spanish, English and basic French and Turkish. We had the pleasure to hang out with Jenny and try some of her dishes last week.

The Elders are coming for a two-week run just in time for post-holiday fun!

Book of Mormon

If you’re easily amused by crude humor and aren’t afraid of a few little light hearted cracks at the expense of the latter day saints, do NOT miss the Book of Mormon, coming to Seattle’s Paramount Theater for a two week stretch after the holidays December 29 – January 10th. South Park writers Trey Parker and Matt Stone have teamed up with Disney’s Frozen composer Robert Lopez to create the epic hilarity that is this entertaining Broadway musical. I accidentally missed this record

AFTERNOON TEA | YEAR-ROUND

The Heathman’s year-round English-inspired Afternoon Tea is offered Thursday through Sunday from 12:00 – 4:00 pm in the cozy, well-appointed hotel lobby. The magical experience offers guests a chance to relax by the fire while enjoying an intimate conversation. Executive Chef Brian Scheehser and Pastry Chef Jacquelynn Beckman have added a few new seasonal bites paired with their loose leaf brewed teas, which accompany Trellis Restaurant’s house made menu. 

Seattleite is pleased to welcome Vincent Stokes as a guest contributor. He is an avid world traveler and outdoor enthusiast.

Traveling is all about the experience. For many people, food is on the very top of that list. But if you are traveling somewhere new on a budget, this is where things can get tricky. If it’s first time to this destination, you might have no idea what you’re getting into with that tasty and chic food cart across the street. Not only might it taste bad, it could be downright dangerous. Nobody wants to have their dream vacation ruined by getting sick! 

Shows that welcome 2016: Music to our ears.

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. 

Shiro’s new place is open and it’s better than ever.

It’s 4:43 pm on a Wednesday and there are already nine people lined up outside of Sushi Kashiba. The rain decided to take a break, but it’s dark and cold and there’s another 17 minutes to wait. Promptly at 5:00 pm, the hostess opens the door and we patiently wait as each party in front of us asks for the sushi bar. We’re nervous; will there be any sushi bar seats for us? If no, should we wait until the next seating or should we come back another day? Luckily, we snagged the last two sushi bar seats.

5 fun things to do while visiting Victoria this winter.

Victoria, BC is known for being a popular summer destination and it’s positively wonderful and festive during the winter months too. The holiday cheer is abound. We rode the Victoria Clipper, the most luxurious ferry we’ve ever been on with comfy reclining seats, tasty snacks, and alcohol. Upon arriving two hours and 45-minutes later, we experienced a lovely weekend of relaxation and escape from the big city.

Scroll down to the bottom for your chance to win a pair of round trip tickets on the Victoria Clipper. Winner will be announced on Monday, December 28! 

Is dog clothing really necessary?

In this edition of Dog Days, we seek the answer to the common question, ‘Is dog clothing really necessary?’ Having a small dog, I buy clothing to keep her warm on walks outside during the cold winter months. When my husband first met my dog he asked, “Is the pink, puffy jacket really necessary?” The answer is yes! Minus the pink and puffy, many dogs need to be bundled up during Seattle’s cold weather.