Photos: Seattle's Inaugural Banana Bunch meets up in Capitol Hill

The inaugural Seattle Banana Bunch meetup took place last night at the Unicorn in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle.

The greatest story never told hits the Seattle stage

A world premiere over at ACT Theatre will hit home for anyone who has ever been inspired by a great teacher. It's called Alex & Aris, and Refined caught up with the talented cast.It's an interesting time in history because it actually happened, but not a l

RUFFined Spotlight: Tucker the Mini Aussie Pup

Movers & Shakers: 6 Degrees of Seattle Music Guru, Matt Ashworth

Forget Kevin Bacon. It’s PR expert and music scene guru Matt Ashworth who’s got six degrees on everyone in Seattle. As co-founder of the volunteer-run online music and culture magazine NadaMucho.com and General Manager and Senior Vice President at WE Commu

Documenting Love: Jennie & Jessie's story

Photographer/blogger/genius Alexandra Celia has devoted her career to documenting love in its purest and most original form - which you'll see in her photos. Every now and then she will share her work with couples: their love story, their commitment, their

Dive In: Here are Seattle's 5 Best Swim Spots

Slap on your swim trunks and bikinis y'all, it's that time of year. Seattle is a wonderland if you're looking to catch some rays and get your swim on. Bust out your breaststroke at the five following spots perfect for making that big splash.Green LakePerha

Good job Seattle: City recycling rate nearing 60 percent

SEATTLE-- Seattle is doing its best to remain one of the top recycling cities in the nation.For the 13th consecutive year, the city's recycling rate has improved -- now up to 58.8 percent as of 2016, according to Seattle Public Utilities. It's an increase

Bachelorette Recap: Time to take Rachel home to meet mom & dad

Okay, I think we can all agree that the hometown episode is by far the best episode of every Bachelorette/Bachelor season. I think people like it so much because it makes everyone realize maybe their family is normal (well, more normal than a lot of others

The dating app that will help you find your 'Everything Bagel'

He’s cute.Aw, cute dog too.He has a PhD from Yale?And runs marathons?He can do a handstand?Is this guy even real?Is that even his dog?!Dating apps like Tinder have certainly made it possible, in theory, to meet someone you like, but in practice there’s a l

3 cocktails at Bachelor Casting Call that will totally impress your friends

The Bachelor Casting Call is coming to Pacific Place on July 20th and Seattle Refined has teamed up with some of the center’s top restaurants to offer show hopefuls a little liquid courage.Gordon Biersch will throw the ultimate Bachelor Party at 3:00 pm on

It's official: Washington state has the best summers (DUH)

Obviously this is no shock to us. And we should also be clear that the ranking here was not #1 on the Best Summers list, but actually #50 on the Most Miserable Summers list. Same difference.  According to an article by Thrillist, Washington was named the l

Which Game of Thrones house does Seattle love most?

PSA: GAME OF THRONES COMES BACK THIS WEEKEND.Usually I dread Sunday nights as the thought of Monday looms over my head, BUT - there is nothing like a Sunday night when a fresh season of Game of Thrones is airing on HBO.In order to prepare, we need to ask o

Photos: Crazy mechanical floats rule at annual Seafair Milk Carton Derby

The annual Seafair Milk Carton Derby is here! Since 1972, this quirky celebration of creativity and boatmanship features nearly 100 colorful milk carton boats of all shapes and design.

The Milk Carton Derby boat NOT to miss!

The Lucerne Seafair Milk Carton Derby presented by Safeway Albertsons is Saturday, July 15 at Green Lake in Seattle. We're excited to a be a media partner in this colorful event that's been around since 1972.  Basically a bunch of people build boats with m

New programs at Seattle Opera engage young performers

Every summer and fall, kids interested in singing, dancing and stage performance can enjoy several opportunities offered by Seattle Opera. Explore programming below and give your children a chance to hone their stage skills at an internationally acclaimed

The Weekend Report: What's Cookin'

Welcome to the Weekend Report - where we tell you what's up in Seattle this weekend, the things you definitely don't want to miss. Why should we have all the fun at these events? Most of the things we are previewing here, we will be at - so if you see us s

Photos: 30 Lamborghinis gather in Seattle before epic 5-day road trip

Photos: This summer, look for these pretty painted pianos in parks near you

Piano in the Parks is a public art and event series that uses music to get people out to discover parks, connect with people and have a little bit of fun while doing it. This year will feature 11 pianos decorated by local artists.

Next Level Alert: You can rent a floating hot tub on Lake Union

I've heard rumors that swimming in Lake Union has an unspoken ~swim at your own risk~ kind of rule associated with it, but what if you want to still be on the water? And let's be honest, not all of us are lucky enough to have a boat. But, as long as you ha

Listen to these Pipes! Pipe Organ that is…

From weddings to carnivals to baseball games, pipe organs can be the soundtrack to the best parts of your life! But how do they work?It's much, much more complicated than the innocent pipes you see on the outside of the organs.People don’t realize how much

Artist of the Week: Jenna Howell

Seattle might be notorious for niche coffee shops and scenic waterways, but locals know it's also home to an array of people who love to create. This city is chock-full of artists who we love to feature weekly on Seattle Refined! If you have a local artist

17 perfect gifts for the techie in your life

Or, you know - anyone.

WHEEL! OF! FORTUNE! Auditions come to Seattle

The Wheel of Fortune Wheelmobile made its way through the Emerald Queen Casino recently and CRAZY doesn't even begin to describe it! People went nuts and we haven't laughed that hard in a long time.In case you didn't know,  the Wheelmobile is a 36-foot Win

MoPop shows fans a never-before-seen side of David Bowie

Sex, drugs and rock n' roll! There's a new exhibit peeling back the layers and exposing a side of David Bowie never seen before. David Bowie practically invented the term glam rock during the glitter years of the early 1970s. With his gender bending person

There can only be one winner in Seattle's 'Game of Chefs' challenge

The Chefs are coming.We're joining Dine Around Seattle and Seattle Made to hosting the first ever Game of Chefs event, where local chefs face off to create the tastiest and most creative dishes! On the evening of Wednesday, July 27th, Carolyn Ferguson of B

Party with a purpose – THEORY shindig supports science in the city

You might have already heard that THEORY: Festival 2017 promises to be one of the hottest events of the summer. What you might not know is that buying a ticket supports so many impactful initiatives in the Seattle community.

RUFFined Spotlight: Monroe the Poodle Mix

Documenting Love: Ross & Spencer's Wedding

I flew on a WWII Bomber, and it's an experience I'll never forget

It’s easy to get frustrated by traffic, bad coffee and slow internet speeds - but a recent experience at the Museum of Flight in Seattle reinforced my feelings of how lucky we are to live in 2017, instead of 1944.A squadron of World War II airplanes recent

Book Club Review: Here's what we thought of 'Anything Is Possible'

Our June book club pick, Anything Is Possible by Elizabeth Strout - was short little read about a small town packed full of secrets.  We had the chance to talk with Strout herself about the book, and how part of it was kind of accidentally written as she w

Seattleites can get to any of these five campgrounds on a single tank of gas

When Seattle is your starting point, you have tons of nearby camping destinations and if you drive a Honda Accord, you can get to them on less than a single tank of gas. Because of the roomy interior in the Accord, you’ll also be able to fit all of the gea

Read the winning poem in our Chris Cornell tribute essay contest

A couple weeks ago, we partnered with Prose - an online collection of poetry and the written word - to put a call out to all those who were feeling emotional after a loss of Soundgarden/Audioslave's lead vocalist Chris Cornell. We asked them to submit thei

Bachelorette Week 6: And then there were four...

Guys can I start this thing off with a quick confession? Yes? Ok, great. I haven't really been feeling this season. I was having this conversation with a few girlfriends this weekend, and we all seemed to be on the same page. We absolutely adore Rachel and

Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor is a married man

Bam Bam Kam is a Married Man!Big congrats go out to Hawks' safety Kam Chancellor, who married his fiancée Tiffany Luce in a beautiful ceremony at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes over the weekend.The couple got engaged last November, after that huge

Girls Night Out: When you wanna relax & chill

It’s the perpetual question: “What should we do tonight?!”  Sometimes there is so much to do in this city, it can be overwhelming to actually make a decision. Especially when you've set aside time to hang out with your friends, you want it to be good! No o

Movers & Shakers: Zoe Rain is so much more than Macklemore's tour photographer

Welcome to Movers & Shakers; a monthly column where we look deep into PNW life for people who are making moves, doing big things, and who are just - in general - being rad. Seattle is full of multi-talented and multi-faceted people, many at the intersectio

Wine enthusiasts + animal lovers, rejoice! “Tasting Flight” is your ultimate summer soireé

Is there anything nicer than picnicking with friends on a summer evening and sipping local wine while melodious songs float through the air? There is: doing all of these things and then petting an adorable pig.

Jay-Z is bringing 4:44 Tour to Key Arena!

Jay-Z just released his latest album, 4:44, and is bringing his tour to Seattle on December 13th, 2017!Beyonce's counterpart just released his album which is said to acknowledge the cheating accusations by Beyonce's 2016 album, Lemonade. Ooooh, it just kee

Vote Now for the Final 3 #SoNorthwest Awards!

We asked, you answered! Over the last couple weeks we've been asking for your nominations for our FIRST edition of the #SoNorthwest Awards! We wanted to know the best of FIVE SUMMER SPECIFIC categories, and you answered! We got hundreds of votes, and just

Your life with a cell phone and Washington’s new law

As Washington prepares to implement a stricter distracted driving law, are you asking yourself OMG, HOW AM I GOING TO LIVE WITHOUT MY SMARTPHONE WHEN DRIVING!?! If so, you may have an unhealthy relationship with your device. On some level, many of us do.On

Win tickets to see Gladys Knight, the Empress of Soul

Bow down everyone!The O'Jays and Gladys Knight are stopping by the Pacific Northwest on Thursday, July 20th for a concert to end all concerts!The icons will be playing at the Tulalip Amphitheater at the Tulalip Resort Casino as part of their annual concert

Photos: A proposal and bubble flash mob in one? We were there!

A very courageus gentleman proposed to his girlfriend prior to a bubble flash mob braking out at Westlake Park on Saturday. Why? Because who doesn't love bubbles?

Photos: Goatalympics? You have to be kid-ding me

The annual Goat Olympics came to the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in support of the New Moon Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary. Goats

Photos: We went to the Evergreen Miniature Horse Spectacular

Miniature horse trainers, professionals, and enthusiasts made their way out to the 12th Miniature Horse Show, put on the by Evergreen Miniature Horse Club, at the Washington Horseman Tacoma Unit #1 in Spanaway.

If you like opera, this deal will make you want to yell “BRAVO!”

For younger Seattleites who enjoy live performance, Seattle Opera’s BRAVO! club deserves a round of applause. Here’s why:1. CommunityJoining BRAVO! gives you a chance to connect with other young professionals between the ages of 21 and 39 in the Seattle ar

Ryan Lewis selling $7.45m home with hilarious video feat. Allen Stone

Just another reason to love Macklemore's producer, Ryan Lewis who has mad skills AND a wicked sense of humor!Lewis, who just got hitched to his high school sweetheart, has put his beautiful $7.45m Magnolia-area home on the market and produced a HILARIOUS v

Photos: Mariners 'Bark at the Park' is the doggone cutest

The Seattle Mariners 'Bark in the Park' is here again! In case you missed this one, the next dog-friendly game will be September 5.

Artist of the Week: Ian Chen

Seattle might be notorious for niche coffee shops and scenic waterways, but locals know it's also home to an array of people who love to create. This city is chock-full of artists and today marks the first weekly artist feature on Seattle Refined! If you h

The Weekend Report: What's Cookin'

Welcome to the Weekend Report - where we tell you what's up in Seattle this weekend, the things you definitely don't want to miss. Why should we have all the fun at these events? Most of the things we are previewing here, we will be at - so if you see us s

RUFFined Spotlight: Coco the Corgi

Guess the WA town that's a finalist in a "Nicest Places in America" list

...And no, we don't mean a nice place to live.The contest, done by Reader's Digest and Nextdoor, set out to find out where the nicest people live in America. Where are all the nice humans at?! According to their calculations - South Whidbey Island is a fin

5 apps to get a hot summer bod (sans gym)

I think it’s safe to say we are now officially into summer season…breaking out the shorts and swim suit can often be the cause of a slight panic given we’ve been hiding under sweaters and leggings for far too long. If you’ve been trying to work on your bik

Congrats! Grammy-Award winning producer Ryan Lewis is a married man

Grammy Award-winning producer and Spokane native Ryan Lewis officially married his long-time girlfriend, Jackie Ganger on Saturday, July 1, 2017. The couple met when they were 15 years old, and after years of dating - Lewis proposed in December of 2015.The

Photos: Meet Nicole Renard, our new Miss Washington!

The Miss Washington pageant finally comes to a close after two long days of judging at the Highline Performing Arts Center. The winner of the Miss Washington is the recipient of a $10,000 scholarship.

Photos: Meow! Cat lovers swarm Cal Anderson for First Caturday (=^.^=)

A large group of cat lovers swarmed Cal Anderson Park for First Caturday - a day dedicated to getting together outside, hanging, and talking all things cat.

Photos: A Red Panda celebrates the Fourth (+ more baby giraffe)

Everyone say HI CARSON!

July Book Club Pick: 'The Widow Nash'

*New to Refined Reads? Sign up here!This month University Book Store has chosen a good one for us - we'll all be reading Jamie Harrison's book, The Widow Nash. It is New York, 1904, and Dulcy Remfrey, despite an idiosyncratic, traveling childhood, faces th

A sneak peek at Seattle Opera's new digs

It's no secret the team here on Refined loves everything on stage in the Emerald City. And our sponsor, Seattle Opera is no exception. Right now, it's preparing for its production of Madame Butterfly. But in the meantime, there are big things happening bac

You could be the first fan to join the Sounders FC team

Here in Seattle, we're passionate about our sports teams. But when it comes to the Sounders FC, we have to say, their fans are some of the most dedicated we've seen in the country. And for the first time, fans can literally join the team.Since I've joined

Photos: Seattle's tallest baby is 10 days old, already over 6 feet

A giant standup bunny comic? Duh - it's 'The Gong Show'!

It's.... The Gong Show!And if you haven't checked out this new ABC reboot, you're in for a weird and wonderful treat.The Gong Show features an insane host, hilarious judges and bizarre reject acts too strange for shows like America's Got Talent, and Seattl

Photos: SAM's new exhibit might be the coolest thing we've seen all year

Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors is finally open to the public Friday, June 30, and it is a trip!

#SoNorthwest Awards: Where is the Best Place to find a Summer Fling?

Welcome to our first iteration of the #SoNorthwest Awards! Even though we are literally in the business of everything PNW-related, it doesn’t mean we can come close to knowing all our beautiful region has to offer. In fact, so many of our stories focus on

Brand new $74 million Pike Place MarketFront is now open to public

One of the things we love about Seattle is it's always changing and evolving. Pike Place Market just expanded for the first time in 40 years. The public market is the heart of the city, and a perfect example of how  Seattle is embracing its historic past a

The Weekend Report: What's Cookin'

Welcome to the Weekend Report - where we tell you what's up in Seattle this weekend, the things you definitely don't want to miss. Why should we have all the fun at these events? Most of the things we are previewing here, we will be at - so if you see us s

July’s Best Sales: How to Make the Most of Them

Should your credit/debit card cool off during the hot days of July? Absolutely not! A frugal shopper’s work is never done. July is heating up with great deals you can shop in addition to the traditional back-to-school sales. Check out the best savings this

Happy Fourth of July! Here's where to celebrate

Happy Independence Day, America! Let Freedom ring, baby. Yes, we know - it's kinda lame that the Fourth falls on a Tuesday this year, but don't let that stop you! This is a day meant to be celebrated. Here's our guide to living your best life on the Fourth

Photos: We pre-funked the heck out of the Seattle Reign game

Artist of the Week: Ben Andrews

Seattle might be notorious for niche coffee shops and scenic waterways, but locals know it's also home to an array of people who love to create. This city is chock-full of artists and today marks the first weekly artist feature on Seattle Refined! If you h

#SoNorthwest Awards: Where is the Best Cool Treat on a Hot Day?

Welcome to our first iteration of the #SoNorthwest Awards! Even though we are literally in the business of everything PNW-related, it doesn’t mean we can come close to knowing all our beautiful region has to offer. In fact, so many of our stories focus on

5 reasons THEORY: Festival is guaranteed to be the most spectacular party of the summer

Are you sick of the same old same old? Do you spend your Friday nights dancing halfheartedly to the same songs in the same clubs, sipping your regular drink and wondering if this is as good as it gets?Stop your perfunctory grooving right now! We’ve got the

RUFFined Spotlight: Finn the Pekingese

Documenting Love: Karen & David's Waterfront Wedding

Photos: Seven-year-old cancer survivor gets to be superhero for a day

Mason Nettleton was diagnosed with kidney cancer at age four, and bravely adopted a superhero attitude, often dressing as Spider-Man or Captain America. On Tuesday, his family was treated out as Mason served Seattle as a Superhero for the Day.

Bachelorette Week 5: Welcome to The Kenny and Lee Show

This week, a dramatic two-night special! Each season Chris Harrison utters these words at least once, and each year Bachelor Nation sighs in dejection. There goes another four hours of of life, we think. Because, of course, not watching just isn't an optio

#SoNorthwest Awards: Where is the Best Summer Day Escape?

Welcome to our first iteration of the #SoNorthwest Awards! Even though we are literally in the business of everything PNW-related, it doesn’t mean we can come close to knowing all our beautiful region has to offer. In fact, so many of our stories focus on

Dog Whisperer takes on the case of the complicated corgi

We know you all love your dogs as if they're your children. And, we here at Refined want to help you and your pooch live your best lives. But, we know even the best dog has its quirks. That's where Seattle's dog whisperer comes in. Today, she's on a missio

#SoNorthwest Awards: Where is the Best Summer Cocktail?

Welcome to our first iteration of the #SoNorthwest Awards! Even though we are literally in the business of everything PNW-related, it doesn’t mean we can come close to knowing all our beautiful region has to offer. In fact, so many of our stories focus on

Photos: Zoo's baby giraffe ventures outside for the first time

#SoNorthwest Awards: What's the Best Restaurant Outdoor Space?

Welcome to our first iteration of the #SoNorthwest Awards! Even though we are literally in the business of everything PNW-related, it doesn’t mean we can come close to knowing all our beautiful region has to offer. In fact, so many of our stories focus on

Photos: This Doggie Drag Contest was a highlight of Pride 2017

Seattle Humane partnered with PrideFest to put on a Doggie Drag Show to raise funds for Pet Project, an offshoot of the Pet Food Bank, which provides services to more than 200 pets belonging to low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS or cancer.

Photos: Proud Pooches! Seattle's dogs celebrate 2017 Pride

Pride Pups!

Photos: Thousands attend 2017 Seattle Pride Parade

Thousands flocked to Seattle to celebrate and attend the 43rd annual Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 25, 2017.

Photos: Party in the Park with Sir-Mix-A-Lot!

To celebrate the Olympic Sculpture Park’s 10th anniversary, Party in the Park threw an awesome party with guest performers Sir-Mix-A-Lot, Grace Love, and DJing by KEXP’s Michele Myers!

The 10 Most Insane Floaties of the Summer

Paddles Up! Here are the absolute best places to kayak around Seattle

In an area surrounded by water, there is no better way to take in the beauty of the Seattle region than by kayak. The perspective afforded by kayaking through the natural wonder of this region can not be surpassed. If the warmer weather has you ready to ge

Here’s what was going on in the Pacific Northwest 100 years ago

A population of 300,000.A newly-won Stanley Cup.The opening of the infamous Ballard Locks.The establishment of airline empire Boeing.Recognize this place? It’s the Emerald City of yesteryear.Today’s up-and-coming tech city looked a little different in 1917

Photos: Athletes compete in Pro Beach Volleyball Open on Lake Sammamish

The Weekend Report: What's Cookin'

Welcome to the Weekend Report - where we tell you what's up in Seattle this weekend, the things you definitely don't want to miss. Why should we have all the fun at these events? Most of the things we are previewing here, we will be at - so if you see us s

Artist of the Week: Nick Spiker

Seattle might be notorious for niche coffee shops and scenic waterways, but locals know it's also home to an array of people who love to create. This city is chock-full of artists and today marks the first weekly artist feature on Seattle Refined! If you h

Pre-funk the June 28th Seattle Reign game with us!

Take out your phone.Pull up the weather app.Unless something has drastically changed since we wrote this post, the forecast just literally gets sunnier and sunnier! We don't want to jinx it, but could summer finally be here? Fingers crossed.To celebrate, w

It Was the Dogs’ Days of Summer at the Fremont Fair

Just Right by Purina celebrated the unique personality of every pup at the annual summer kick-off. This past weekend at the Fremont Fair, thousands of dogs and their families stopped by to visit Just Right by Purina and left with one-of-a-kind GIFs and car

Good brews or good gaming? Why choose!

Life is full of tough decisions, but deciding to visit Angel of the Winds Casino Resort isn’t one of them. Because this boutique casino resort has its very own brewing operation on site, you can spend the night gaming and enjoying some stellar local microb

Documenting Love: Maiko & Andrew's Roche Harbor Wedding

A bird, a plane, a flying ficus! Giant tree is loaded into new Amazon Spheres

Like many transplants - Rubi recently traveled thousands of miles to come live in the Emerald City.  She spent over a week making the trip from her home in Somis, CA to her new digs in Seattle - specifically the South Lake Union neighborhood. It's a tough

Come to the Cabaret!

Most of the Refined staff lives by the adage that life is a Cabernet! But we're also willing to acknowledge that it life can also be a cabaret - especially when the timeless show responsible for that famous lyric is playing at Seattle's Paramount Theatre.J