Civics and Culture

Trying to Touch Something

  Nathan Vass is a photographer/filmmaker who drives for Metro. Learn more at nathanvass.com.   There are times when I can't tell if it's the world opening...

The New Normal

  This guy's smiling, let me tell you. I thought I smiled a lot. He walks up at Pine southbound, first stop on the 7,...

Blue and Red, Like I Don’t See What the Big Deal Is

"You got one more comin'!" I look in the right mirror, and it's true, there's a streak of red of blue, running for me at...

A Unique Map Series for Seattle

If you're into maps and data as much as we are, you'll probably love this new series of maps made by the National Trust for...

The Joy of Tough Choices

"You keepin' me smilin' with that deep sexy voice o' yours," says a gravelly ball of waning energy on the 358. She's over forty,...

Mister Tony

"Tony!!!" "Hey hey, how's it goin'?" "The man of the hour! Good to see you, my friend. How's it been today?" Tony is the vet mentioned here,...

In Praise of the Swing and Grave

I'm riding home from Sea-Tac with a dear friend of mine. The last train headed for downtown has already left for the night, and...

Why Do We Write About Cities?

When we write about cities, sometimes we do best when we take the metrics away.   In 2011, amid a visit to San Francisco and just...