Food & Drink

From closing a restaurant forever to ‘Top Chef’ — an extraordinary pandemic year in the life of Seattle’s Shota Nakajima

Chef Shota Nakajima opened a new bar called Taku just five days before the dining-in shutdown last March 15, and he’s had a hell of a year since then. Here’s the unbelievable story of the ups and downs of his COVID-19 life — so far. WATCH

A home for sale in the Queen Anne neighborhood on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. 215745
Real Estate

1 house, 45 offers: Homebuyers in Western Washington hard-pressed as supply remains scarce Updated

Across King, Snohomish, Pierce, Kitsap and Thurston counties, conditions have created a sellers’ market. At today’s pace of demand, it would take less than a month to sell the houses currently for sale. Updated

FILE – In this Nov. 13, 2019, file photo, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein speaks at a media availability during the Major League Baseball general managers annual meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz. Former Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox executive Theo Epstein has been hired by Major League Baseball as a consultant for on-field matters and will evaluate possible rule changes. Epstein will work with baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, the owners’ competition committee and analytics experts, MLB said Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
Larry Stone

The Mariners should go after Theo Epstein to clean up the mess they made

LO LIVING WORD FOUR SQUARE CHURCH 011511 Nearby Smith Tower rises in the background above the neon sign of the Union Gospel Mission in Pioneer Square. 0415470490
Project Homeless

Attorney’s lawsuit against Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission over anti-LGBTQ hiring policy will be reexamined, WA Supreme Court rules

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Vancouver Whitecaps’ Fredy Montero (12) reacts after a play against the Seattle Sounders during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, March 30, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Ben Nelms/The Canadian Press via AP) VCRX108 VCRX108
Sounders

Reunited: Sounders and forward Fredy Montero close deal to bring striker back to Seattle

Friday, January 29, 2021 Garbage is pushed, compacted finally covered with dirt to add another layer to what becomes a mountain of garbage at the Republic Landfill above the Columbia River in southern Washington. 216233
Local News

Giant landfill in tiny Washington hamlet turns trash to natural gas, as utilities fight for a future VIEW

Taylor Trammell hustles home from second base where he scored on the Sam Travis RBI single in the 4th. The Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners played to a 9-9 tie Thursday, March 2, 2021 in Spring Training baseball in Peoria, AZ. 216539
Mariners

You can add Taylor Trammell to the list of Mariners competing for a spot in left field

Editorial

State Senate should hit brakes on capital-gains bill

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Tuesday, March 2, 2021 Spencer Black, SDOT’s traffic marking lead lays down the crosswalk and signal stripes at NE 125th and 29th Ave. NE were a woman was killed two years ago. The Lake City Library is in the backround. 216498
Traffic Lab

SDOT installs crosswalk, traffic signals at Lake City intersection where pedestrian was killed

Angry pro-Trump protesters storm the grounds of the Governorís Mansion Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Olympia while Congress is delayed in certify the presidential election. 216061
Local Politics

Washington state's Democratic and GOP party chairs spar over elections, Trump

Health

Catholic leaders in Washington state, Idaho say to avoid Johnson & Johnson vaccine made with fetal cell lines if possible, but health experts disagree

The Seattle VA Medical Center is seen during the coronavirus outbreak, Thursday, March 26, 2020. 213470
Local News

Veterans of all ages can now get COVID-19 vaccines at Puget Sound VA clinics

Looking East from the Montlake Blvd overpass, Eastbound State Route 520 will be closed this weekend so crews can implement lane closures and create a new construction work zone. Eastbound SR 520 will be closed between Montlake Boulevard in Seattle and 92nd Avenue Northeast on the Eastside from Friday at 11 p.m. to Monday at 5 a.m. The SR 520 on- and off-ramps at Montlake Boulevard and 92nd Avenue Northeast will also be closed, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. Photographed Thursday, January 28, 2021. 216254
Traffic Lab

Highway 520 bridge closes in both directions this weekend

Politics

Capitol Police chief appeals for National Guard to stay VIEW Updated

Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to break the tie on a procedural vote as the Senate works on the Democrats’ $1.9 trillion COVID relief package, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) DCSA134 DCSA134
By slimmest of margins, Senate takes up $1.9T relief bill VIEW Updated
Angry pro-Trump protesters storm the grounds of the Governorís Mansion Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Olympia while Congress is delayed in certify the presidential election. 216061
Washington state's Democratic and GOP party chairs spar over elections, Trump
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett delivers 1st opinion
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Local News

Tuesday, March 2, 2021 Spencer Black, SDOT’s traffic marking lead lays down the crosswalk and signal stripes at NE 125th and 29th Ave. NE were a woman was killed two years ago. The Lake City Library is in the backround. 216498

SDOT installs crosswalk, traffic signals at Lake City intersection where pedestrian was killed

Featured Columnist

The humbling coronavirus has instead touched off a pandemic of preening

Education Lab

Washington state teachers, school employees move to head of the vaccine line — what’s next?

In North Carolina, a pandemic partnership between schools and scientists. What can Washington learn?

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As other school districts open, Seattle remains split on returning to classrooms

Business & Tech

A home for sale in the Queen Anne neighborhood on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020. 215745

1 house, 45 offers: Homebuyers in Western Washington hard-pressed as supply remains scarce

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Nation & World

Boston Marathon plan to hand out 70,000 medals roils runners

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Coronavirus

After visiting two classrooms at Phantom Lake Elementary School in Bellevue, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee listens to teachers and other school employees at a question and answer session Tuesday, March 2, 2021. 216536

Vaccine eligibility will expand in March, Inslee says — here's who will be next in line

Food & Drink

Shota Nakajima at Taku in Capitol Hill on Friday. Friday, May 29, 2020 213990

From closing a restaurant forever to ‘Top Chef’ — an extraordinary pandemic year in the life of Seattle’s Shota Nakajima WATCH

Pacific NW Magazine

A boat and trailer sit at the Lone Pine in-lieu fishing site as The Dalles Dam is pictured in the background on Dec. 29, 2020. No running water or electricity puts the community members at higher risk for COVID-19 due to the lack of proper sanitation. Credit: Andy Bao

COVID and squalor threaten tribal members living in once-abundant Indian fishing sites along Columbia River

Editorials & Opinion

7 ‘must dos’ for downtown Seattle’s recovery | Op-Ed

Featured Columnist

Here’s what Neera Tanden’s defeat says about ‘cancel culture’

Horsey Cartoon

Emboldened extremists roar

Sports

Josh Gordon joins the Seahawks lineup for the first time Monday against the 49ers. The Seattle Seahawks played the San Francisco 49ers in Monday Night Football November 11, 2019 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. 212080

Why the Seahawks released Josh Gordon even though he was set to be a free agent anyway

Featured Columnist

The Mariners should go after Theo Epstein to clean up the mess they made

Arts & Life

Artist Jacob Lawrence in 1958, with panels 26 and 27 from “Struggle: From the History of the American People” (1954-56). *SAM museum gave permission 775156924

Exhibit of iconic Jacob Lawrence series, reunited for first time since 1958, opens at Seattle Art Museum

‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ review: Andra Day dazzles as the jazz legend in uneven movie

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Photography

Rabbi Rafi Mollot, dressed as Haman, and Ari Hoffman, on the horse, dressed as Mordechai, pretend to ride through the streets of Shushan as Haman shouts, “This is what you do for somebody the king wants to honor!” In the story of Purim, the evil leader Haman is tricked into dressing Mordechai in the king’s robes. “One of the themes of the holiday is opposites,” said Hoffman, who said he finally gets to play the good guy in the story for a change. Congregants of Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath synagogue in the Seward Park neighborhood of Seattle celebrate Shushan Purim with candy and pony rides for children Sunday February 28, 2021. Purim is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the saving of their people from a threatened genocide at the hands of an ancient Persian leader, Haman. 216509
Photography

Purim celebrated in Seattle’s Seward Park neighborhood VIEW

Larger than life, a mural of the slain civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., looks out from the corner of East Madison Street at East Pike Street. It’s by artist Lawrence Genette and is part of the Capitol Hill Arts District. Dr. King was only 39-years-old when assassinated: April 4, 1968 in Memphis, He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. (Maybe a Black History Month ref) LO MLK Friday Feb 26, 2021 216505
Local News

Hero’s smile for Black History Month

Sgt. Darreld Sheppard (CQ) with the Summit Safety Patrol has to climb a berm of snow to get to his office Thursday morning. It was shoveled out later. Ref to more photos online More than 386-inches of snow have fallen this winter at Snoqualmie Pass according to the WSDOT website. and another 30-plus is expected this weekend. (Note: Ck numbers) LO Snow at Snoqualmie Pass Thursday Feb 25, 2021 216500
Local News

Snow — and more snow — on Snoqualmie Pass VIEW

Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021 Gene Moy, Army Veteran from 1941 to 1945 at 103-years-old is thought to be oldest living Chinese American Veteran. Today Moy received his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the Seattle VA Puget Sound Health Care Hospital. “I feel like a movie star” said Gene as cameras clicked away. 216465
Local News

Seattle veteran is ready for his close-up — and a 2nd COVID-19 vaccine WATCH