SEATTLE, WA — September 25, 2026 — One week from today, The Great Debate 26’ will bring candidates, ballot initiatives and voters together for an afternoon of live political debate and community conversation at the Rainier Arts Center in Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood.

By Linda Lowry – Social in Seattle In Seattle, activity often turns into a powerful drive, most clearly seen at Base 2 Space, the annual climb up the Space Needle's 832 open-air steps. Each fall, thousands of Seattle residents put on their shoes and look upwards, preparing to climb one of the city's most iconic buildings in support of one of its most important organizations. The event has now become a key expression of civic pride, a combination of athletic determination, the

THE JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION'S TASTE AMERICA® Seattle WALK-AROUND TASTING

Sixth in a series at the intersection of values-based leadership, identity-centered growth, and the Seattle nonprofits doing the hardest work in our region. What if your values statement isn't the thing hanging in your lobby? What if it isn't the deck your marketing team built, or the six words your leadership team argued about for two days at the offsite? What if your real values statement is a spreadsheet? I'll go further. What if the most honest document your organization

By Linda Lowry -Social in Seattle September in Seattle is serving adventure, impact, and a whole lot of iconic city magic. Whether you’re chasing clues downtown, climbing an icon, stepping into old Hollywood glamour, or connecting with Seattle’s global community, this month is packed with experiences that feel uniquely Seattle. Many of you may know I love giving you the full scoop, I’ve added a few bonus events that aren’t featured in my KOMO Social in Seattle segment but ar

By Linda Lowry - Social in Seattle Seattle, mark your calendars- the Seattle Sports Commission is bringing Urban X back on Sunday, September 13, and this citywide scavenger hunt is about to turn downtown into the most fun, fastmoving social experience of the fall. Pioneer Square, the International District, and the Stadium District all become part of a giant adventure that blends creativity, teamwork, and that signature Seattle Sports Commission energy we all love. The morni

Rethinking Motherhood, work and leadership—challenging what we value and who gets credit for the expertise they bring to the paid workplace. GLORIA STEINEM DID NOT PASS HER TORCH—SHE SHARED THE LIGHT Gloria Steinem spent decades expanding what was possible for women—and using her own torch to light the way for others. My research on Motherhood and leadership stands in that light, continuing the work of feminism’s unfinished businesses: Motherhood. This week, as remembrances f

The new Seahawks menu is officially here, and during Taste of Lumen Field, I met a very special guest who helped bring the experience to life. While exploring the refreshed offerings, I connected with Janice Huff, mother of Seahawks Legend Orlando Huff, and she graciously shared her top three favorite dishes at Lumen Field. Her reactions were warm, funny, and full of that true Seahawks spirit that makes gameday feel like family. This year’s Taste of Lumen Field lineup deliv

Taste of Lumen Field showcased the bold, Seattle‑inspired dishes fans will enjoy throughout the new Seahawks season, crafted under the leadership of Executive Chef Peter Zimowski II. The refreshed lineup includes a teaser of the JSN Menu, featuring high‑energy dishes inspired by Jaxon Smith‑Njigba, along with a full suite of new signature stadium cocktails that bring Northwest flavor, elevated presentation, and gameday energy to every bar inside Lumen Field. The Seahawks cu

What Can Washington Cities Do to Support Local Businesses? Beyond tax breaks: Understanding the economic-development toolbox available to communities When communities talk about attracting, retaining and growing local businesses, the conversation often starts with a familiar question: What incentives does the government offer businesses? It’s a reasonable question—but it may be too narrow. Economic development is about much more than handing out grants or offering tax

A Course of Courage: How American Lake Veterans Golf Course Is Helping Veterans Heal Through Golf There are golf courses where people go to lower their handicap. And then there is American Lake Veterans Golf Course, where the game of golf can be part of something much bigger: healing, rehabilitation, camaraderie and finding a renewed sense of purpose. Located on the grounds of the VA Medical Center in Lakewood, the 18-hole course has become a remarkable resource for veter

Fifth in a series at the intersection of values-based leadership, identity-centered growth, and the Seattle nonprofits doing the hardest work in our region. What if the most expensive thing you carry into the office every morning isn't your title or your quota? What if it's the mask? What if the face you put on in the parking lot, the one that says everything is fine and you have it handled and you belong here without question, is quietly costing you the very thing you're try

What happens when you combine Oktoberfest spirit, local restaurants, craft drinks, classic arcade games and a little mystery? You get Prost! The OktoberCrawl™, the newest chapter in the Des Moines Crawl Series™, coming to the Marina District on Friday, September 18. Produced by Seattle Means Business in partnership with Friends of Des Moines Marina Steps, the OktoberCrawl is a progressive food-and-drink experience designed to get people out, exploring local businesses and e

From D-Day to Hollywood: What Mac Macdonald Taught Rotary About Service, Leadership and Showing Up What do Apocalypse Now, The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan and Boys in the Boat have to do with Rotary? As it turns out, quite a lot. When Mac Macdonald recently joined the Rotary Club of Des Moines-Normandy Park, he brought an unusual combination of history, leadership, volunteerism and Hollywood stories to the podium—and challenged Rotarians to think differently about what

Des Moines Marina Oktoberfest™ 2026 Brings Three Days of German-Inspired Fun to the Waterfront Fall is getting a distinctly German twist on the Des Moines waterfront as Des Moines Marina Oktoberfest™ 2026 returns to Quarterdeck for three days of live music, dancing, contests, family-friendly activities, German-inspired food and plenty of Oktoberfest spirit. The celebration begins Friday, September 18, with the inaugural Prost! The OktoberCrawl™, followed by a full weekend o

Written by: Waterland Blog The Rotary Club of Des Moines and Normandy Park will be presenting its 17th Annual Poverty Bay Blues & Brews Fest on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026 with an unforgettable lineup of world-class blues music, exceptional Northwest craft beers, and a mission that directly benefits local youth and community programs. A limited number of discounted Early Bird tickets are on sale here now! Set against the stunning backdrop of Puget Sound, Blues & Brews has become

Neighbors Helping Neighbors One bowl at a time... With many communities across our state experiencing a state of emergency due to wildfires, here at Duke's, we've been huddled up, trying to formulate some way to help. Our first thought was, "send clam chowder and sourdough bread!" because we've always believed that food is healing, food brings people together, and food is love. And who doesn't appreciate a hearty bowl of yummy, award-winning clam chowder? But we quickly r

Rick Rizzs: A Legacy of Voice, Heart, and Community By Linda Lowry – Social in Seattle In this special Social in Seattle feature, I had the joy of sitting down with Rick Rizzs, the legendary voice of the Seattle Mariners and a longtime champion of the Cystic Fibrosis community. Filmed at the Mariners’ annual Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament, our conversation explores Rick’s decades-long commitment to this cause, the more than $7 million raised through the event, and the fami

Fourth in a series at the intersection of values-based leadership, identity-centered growth, and the Seattle nonprofits doing the hardest work in our region.

 What if the sharpest leadership coaching I received all year came from a sixteen-year-old?

 Yesterday I spent the day with eleven students through the UNCF Portfolio Project's Leadership Academy, at the Douglass-Truth branch of the Seattle Public Library. Ten young women and one young man, and from the first minute th

By Linda Lowry-Social in Seattle Seattle Tech Week featured many events in the city, but one particular event stood out as a key moment for founders, operators, and investors: YPNexus's flagship "Building in Seattle" showcase, which was co-hosted with Plug and Play Seattle, FounderNexus, and Nitecapp. This event attracted between 400 and 500 registered guests, so the room was full of ambitious builders who had come there willing to make connections, gain knowledge, and celebr