Ben McBee

1 week ago | seattlemag.com | Ben McBee

Summer on the Puget Sound is filled with certainties, like extra daylight for outdoor adventures or telling your friends “oh, I’ve always wanted to go to that” — the week after that happened. This year, it’s time to drop that all too common refrain and check out our favorite summer festivals in Seattle and beyond before the season runs out.

2 weeks ago | seattlemag.com | Ben McBee

Some would say Seattle’s food scene is at its best when the impact stretches beyond the immediate benefits of nourishment and taste. That’s certainly the case at Cherry Street Farm, where Hip Hop is Green founder Keith Tuckets uses a shipping container hydroponic farm to help feed Seattle families, with future plans to educate kids about climate justice, sustainability, and vegan cooking.

2 weeks ago | pdxtoday.6amcity.com | Ben McBee

The Portland Rose Festival is a tradition that blossoms like no other, rooted in the city since 1907. On Friday, May 23, it returns for more than two weeks, bringing Stumptown “All Together Now!” for some fun. Take a moment to stop and smell these events. Photo via Portland Rose Festival/Patrick F. Smith Opening Night | Friday, May 23 | 5-10 p.m.CityFair’s rollicking rides and carnival games get up and running and bloom go the fireworks (at 9:45 p.m.).

2 weeks ago | seattlemag.com | Ben McBee

The food scene in Seattle is fast-paced, and in the age of instant gratification the attention often shines on what’s fresh. But everyone has that favorite diamond in the rough, where the menu has been phenomenal for decades and the service feels like home, even though the appearance could use a little polish. That’s where the “Backing Historic Small Restaurants” (BHSR) grant program comes in.

3 weeks ago | seattlemet.com | Ben McBee

You breathe in the warm smell of wood and exhale slowly, swirling the steam that’s working hard to extract the stress from your body. On the surface, you are the picture of relaxation, gazing through a wide window into dark, tranquil waters. How does that sauna? This isn’t a daydream or a social media video posted to entice your envy. Check your bank account — there’s no sign of a recently purchased plane ticket to Scandinavia.