Arts, Design & Culture

Seattle is one of the cultural hubs in the Pacific Northwest, home to dozens of museums devoted to a wide range of media and subjects. Here, we share our favorite Seattle museums. Seattle Art MuseumThe Seattle Art Museum comprises three major facilities: its main location downtown, the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park, and […]

Sitting atop a 456-foot hill, Queen Anne offers some of the best views of the Space Needle, Mount Rainier, and Elliott Bay. It’s also one of the city’s main hubs for the arts—as it’s home to the Seattle Opera, Children’s Theater, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet. Spend an afternoon strolling Queen Anne’s residential neighborhoods and […]

Founded on April 4, 1975, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Microsoft has grown to be an $86.8 billion company with nearly 130,000 employees worldwide. After moving headquarters to Bellevue, Washington in 1979, its innovation and massive growth became a driving force of technology and development throughout the Seattle area. By […]

For over a century, Nordstrom has been one of the major players in American style. But how did a local shoe store grow to become a coast-to-coast arbiter of taste? Here’s the history of Nordstrom’s rise. In 1887, John W. Nordstrom immigrated to the United States from Sweden. Settling in the Pacific Northwest, he purchased […]

Holiday shopping in Seattle can be a great way to familiarize yourself with the city and its seemingly endless arts and crafts community. Check out one of these five independent boutiques so that you’re shopping local and picking up one-of-a-kind gifts—perfect for your one-of-a-kind friends. Momo Located in the Chinatown-International district, Momo is a hodgepodge […]

A longtime photography curator shares his story. Wandering the halls of Hotel Theodore, you’ll notice that there are dozens of rare, historic photographs and artifacts throughout our downtown Seattle hotel. That’s thanks to our partnership with Seattle’s Museum of History and Industry, which helped curate our collection. One of the key players of that partnership […]

What to see at the Boeing tour in Seattle. Just 25 miles north of Seattle, you can visit Boeing’s Future of Flight Aviation Center. Watch 747s, 777s, and 787 Dreamliners come to life, and learn all about the technology, materials, and humans behind them. Extend your tour with a visit to one of the campus’s […]

Where to get cultural in the Emerald City. As the cultural hub of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is a center for creatives and a constantly innovative arts scene. Get a glimpse of it all at these Seattle museums and galleries. Seattle Art Museum So you missed Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrors—what now? Head over to the […]

Founded in 1869, Seattle has spent the last 150 years compiling an astounding list of inventions. Here we break down ten of the most impressive Seattle “firsts,” innovations large or small that have changed the world. Evaporated milk (1899)Local businessman Elbridge Stuart developed evaporated milk as a sanitary and longer-lasting alternative to fresh milk. His […]

Usually hunting for a perfect souvenir is a daunting, seemingly insurmountable task. Not so in Portland, where Sticks & Stones Jewelry—a Dossier Co-Conspirator—crafts modern, bold designs that make a great keepsake from your time in the Pacific Northwest. The brand centers around using reclaimed exotic woods, elk antler sheds, fine metals, seashells and gemstones to […]

In addition to coffee, rose gardens and rain, Portland is known for its diverse local music scene. From techno and hip hop, to jazz and big-name artists, there’s music to be found every night of the week. While you’re out and about after happy hour, check out some of the best music venues around town. […]

Portland has twelve bridges spanning the Willamette River, and two crossing the Columbia River. It’s this infrastructure, which dates back to 1908, that’s earned our city the nickname, “Bridgetown.” Portland’s bridges are also some of the best places to take in views of the rivers, and of the gorgeous downtown skyline. Check out some of […]