Don't be intimidated by triathlons. You can easily become a triathlete, regardless of prior…read moreexperience! GOOD NEWS The Danskin race itself is fun. It's all women and great for any skill level, age, ability, or size. It's empowering! It's exciting, especially because of its size! And they give great medals and shirts and other swag! BAD NEWS Danskin fills up quickly, often on the first day of registration, which is in February. If you do get in, there will be about 5500 women racing with you. It's crowded. Last year's expo (my first) was a long mess. Allow lots of time to register on the day before the race. If you don't get in, don't worry. The Trek Tri is the same route and also women-only, run by the women who used to run Danskin; it's better anyway and not as full. It's commercial--you will be innundated with advertising for Danskin everyime you turn around. And they love to promote straight, pink femininity. Sometimes it feels like women's triathlon organizers and those who market to us are trying to compensate for the fact that we're athletic by dressing us in pink flowers. Yuck. TIPS Find a good training program online or in book and follow it. Check out some of the great workshops offered by the Lunachix (all money goes to charity). http://www.seattletrilunachix.com/ Get out and swim in a lake, ride a bike, run outside. And ask other people for tips--you don't have to be an expert or have lots of fancy stuff to do a tri. Most of all, have fun!

When my BFF told me she was signing up for the Danskin Triathlon, I was confused. A triathlon?…read moreAren't you a smoker? And don't you need to be in awesome shape to participate in a triathlon? Answers: yup, yup, and nope. The Danskin Triathlon is open to all women, regardless of age, weight, and disability. Throughout the training process and actual triathlon, coaches are always on-site to encourage, support and cheer the participants. My BFF quit smoking and wore a patch through most of the training. Today, as I got up at 5:45 so I could make it to her start time of 7:52, I watched a triathlete swim, bike and run with nary a nicotine patch. The energy present at the triathlon was incredible. Woman after woman crossed the finish line to the sounds of cheers and excited friends and family members. Greeting her at the finish line and giving her a big congratulatory hug almost brought me to tears.

Food trucks for days, stands and even more food! If you're a big foodie, want to sample awesome…read morelocal eats or just hungry then you've found yourself in the right place. Finding parking will probably take forever to find unless you come early or Uber over here. The lines get long fast so if you come anytime after 12, it might be too late (unless you don't mind waiting of course). The Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade line and a couple desserts trucks were the longest, gotta be that summer heat. So good if you're lucky to try it tho! Oh and there's a beer garden if you're just tryna chill out. Tacos = amazing! Sandwiches = amazing! Poke = amazing! Raclette = amazing! Mangonada = amazing! Basically everything I ate at the food festival was bomb! Come hungry, leave with a food coma and maybe a couple extra pounds.

The Seattle Street Food Festival is possibly the best street food gathering in the greater Seattle…read morearea. We were there from 3:30 to 5:30pm. The lines were mostly reasonable being in the middle of the day. There is a map set up in the intersections. Even though there are only 4 blocks of space, there are PLENTY to choose from. For reasons unknown, Block 1 is the most packed, side-by-side, with food tracks. Coincidentally, I also think this block easily had the best food. Based on the crowded foot traffic, others agreed. The organizers need to spread things out better considering there are space in the other blocks. For the food, we chose: 12 Spice or Indonesian Rendang The mushroom topping over turmeric rice was AMAZING!! For such a seemingly simple dish, the flavor is absolutely incredible. Highly recommend. Cost is $8 Alaska Weathervane Scallops We chose two options - mushroom sauce over rice pilaf and over coleslaw, their salad. They also have a taco option. Rice pilaf is the better option by far. Their coleslaw is not remotely refined enough. The scallops are amazing, though! The entrées at $14 are very reasonable. Taco Bahia We had the Nellie - Grilled Salmon tacos at $14. You can request grilled instead of fried. Definitely a better, healthier option. Took pictures but didn't buy Character Cotton Candy - a bunny! Many people paid $8 for the Instagram photo. I just asked to take the picture. LOL

Why settle for black and white when you can live colorfully? The Color Run has always been a…read morefavorite of my friends and I - who doesn't like getting messy on purpose? ;) 2017 marked my third year participating in this popular 5K. The course has been the same each year, taking runners down Fourth Ave and then back to the Seattle Center. A family friendly fun run, The Color Run attracts participants of all ages - my favorite is actually seeing all the families out and about on the course. :) The premise of the run is simple. As participants are going through the course, they'll pass through different color stations where they are covered with either paint powder or foam/liquid. Be sure to bring a pair of sunglasses or you WILL get powder in your eyes! While we've generally had a positive time at the Color Run, my friends and I have noticed that quality has slowly started slipping. :( There weren't any (or maybe fewer?) event photographers, booths, etc. this year. The clincher was the "Self-Apply" paint station this year - I mean, really, Color Run? Fun, festive and silly, I would say that the Color Run is a great 5K though if you're just starting out or looking for a low-pressure event. Feel like you didn't get enough paint along the course? Definitely stick around for the after-run party where they pass around packets of colored powder. Happy running! :)

This event is definitely not worth the money. The quality has gone way downhill over the years…read more There were only two coloring stations for the entire run and the delay was 50 minutes inside the corral. The post run party was also a disappointment. I would definitely not run again next year.

I ran this one before 2020 so I can't speak for later years. But I can say it was pretty fun. It…read moretook place around the Museum of Flight on a hot summer day. Use sunblock and shorts. I had to pour water on my head because of the heat. Friendly people throughout the race. 5k was a day before and marathon next one. I was expecting a little more of a celebration afterwards though. The Expo was great. Bigger than Hot Chocolate's good old years. I found many interesting things and vendors. Take your time. It took the day before in the theater or event spot in the Seahawks Stadium. There was a line before it was opened. It was worth it.

This is a pretty nice race. I've run a lot of Rock N Roll races (Nashville was my favorite) but…read morethis was okay. Registration was easy but looking up your bib on line was way harder with this race than with others. Need to work on that user interface. The expo was fairly large but they didn't have vendors selling Gu, which is the brand of goo I use when running. That's the first expo I've ever been to where I can't find some! Getting to the start of the race was pretty easy. From the monorail it wasn't well marked and there weren't a lot of volunteers around directing people but by following the crowd I was able to get to my corral. Start was well organized and smooth. Once the race started, it was okay. The course is narrow in some places, only one car lane wide and that caused some bottlenecks. Additionally, some of the water stations didn't have any water or volunteers left by the time I got there (I was running slower than normal). There was not much crowd support along the course and the hills were obscene! Oh my gosh, that one short, steep hill at mile 9.5 almost killed my friend. Also, I ran the half and counted only four musical acts, one of which was a DJ. Most Rock N Roll races do better with the music. Finish line was fairly well managed, but again, not much signage or direction to family reunion area. Race day was beautiful so I can't complain too much. Other races are better organized and have more course support (and fewer hills) but I am not holding that against the Seattle race. Overall, it was pretty fun.

Late review. Went to Pax Prime 2023 after attending Pax East a number of times so I was quite…read moreinterested in the West coast version and after many years not going. Breaking up the events into buildings in the surrounding area was a bit confusing, even with the map and the event staff giving direction. Pax East everything is under one roof, so this took some getting used to. The check in process was very organized and impressive, hats off and thanks to the staff who process a few thousand people, some of whom I know volunteer. Went to panel, played some games in free play and of course hit the main floor to try out some up and coming AAA games as well some indie games. Bought and picked up some swag, you know, the usual at these conventions. After years of not going, it was nice get back into it and would definitely consider going again next year. If you're into games even in a small capacity, get a day pass and have some fun!

Dang, did I pick an unideal time to finally put in a review for this annual gaming convention I've…read moreonly been going to since 2017, because I would have had a lot more good things to say about it. Now it sounds like I'm gonna be comparing everything from past years, which is inevitable to do especially among me and my peers who've come here longer than I have. To start off, this review is for 2026 from September 4-7, and I only went Friday and Monday this year due to Bumbershoot on Saturday and Sunday. As with every PAX I go to, panels and events are the least of my interests; most of my thoughts go for the logistics, vendors, and already in-your-face games that are set out in front of everyone at both the Arch and Summit buildings where the convention is split between. The general layout for this year's PAX was the same as last years; the Expo hall is all in the Arch building, and includes many vendors showcasing indie games and art. The Summit building has tabletop games, BYOC setups, game-related merch and tons of auditoriums and rooms with many different events with set times for each. I don't follow most events though I did get to do drag bingo, hear a master pianist play game music (like the end credits for Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64), and spend a ridiculous amount of time playing Groove Coaster at the arcades set up by 100 Yen Life or gamecenter. The map included in the event brochure did not have any layout information on booths for the Summit building, and legends were hard to read for the more detailed maps for the Arch building and all its floors. Gaming wise, the biggest games I got to play were Among Us Story: On Guard, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 and Hello Kitty Party Land. Other releases like Stranger Than Heaven, Persona 4 Revival and Castlevania had long, capped lines that were impossible to get to given how easily time constraints form when a convention has so many things going on at once. Even worse is the lack of strong phone signal in the Arch building, and slightly better but still hindered signal in the Summit building, though that's a very common sentiment for the Seattle Convention Center during any large convention like this one. Compared to other years, this convention is a huge step up from its iteration when we all just recovered from the pandemic, but a massive population downgrade from last year's. I could feel that while walking around, and it feels mostly due to the lack of really large and hyped up games to look forward to, especially from Nintendo which was notably absent this year except for the booth showcasing the new mobile game Pikmin Bloom. I always have to question every year whether I'm gonna come back to PAX, and I have skipped some years as a result. That same thought still holds today as of this writing, and I've only noticed a downhill trend year after year. At this point, I only go for the company I go with, not the events or thrills that this convention promises but hasn't been delivering consistently.

Seattle Center Winterfest is a "can't miss" during the holiday season, especially if you have kids…read more Kick off your holiday season at this annual wintertime celebration. The annual event, held the day after Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, will include lots of free and affordable, activities and entertainment for the whole family. See a miniature Winter Train and Village inside the Amory (and get a chance to work the controls!), visit the Winterfest Ice Rink, see ice sculpting demonstrations and live performances on the weekends. What a fun place to get in the holiday spirits. It's definitely a fun outing to check out.

5 stars all the way for this Seattle hometown tradition! I've been going to Winterfest since I was…read morelittle and the school took us for holiday field trips! It's changed a bit over the years but the same feeling of celebration and just plain holiday joy still permeate the festival. Located in and around the renamed Centerhouse (now called the Armory in memorial to its earlier days) at Seattle Center - Winterfest is easy to get to and has lots of parking options. Food options: everything in the Armory building food court. Entertainment options: lots of music and dance groups through out the festival. There is a main stage inside and a schedule published online. Mainly a mix of students and cultural heritage groups. There is a big ice skating rink outside and an ice sculpting contest. Lots of beautiful decorations, giant Christmas trees all around, holiday lights and stars speckled bunting hanging from the ceiling. Though the big draw for us every year are the trains! There is a huge winter village setup in the middle of the building with several model trains. My favorite this year was the carousel - such a pretty piece in the winter village! They were having electrical issues on the day we went so the trains weren't running temporarily. But the village was still lit up and animated otherwise. Lots of fun and pretty to look at. No doubt hours and hours of hard work go into this train village- amazing! Winterfest is open to all and free! Great community event that we love going to every year!

A really fun 10 or 15K walk/race/run happened this morning from and around Gasworks Park. A few…read morehundred hardy, helahty friendly people picke dup their packets, checked their things if needed and headed out on a brisk earlyish morning run/walk. Prizes! Zico water samples, food and strawberry shortcake! Lots of volunteers and friendly faces.

If you are looking for a free holiday event to do in downtown Seattle this is worth checking out…read more It's inside, warm and dry. I would not come here solely for this event, but I would add it on to something you are already doing in Seattle. If you come on Sunday you might be able to score free street parking, but this is challenging. There is a Starbucks inside, places to sit and a bathroom. I have seen much bigger and impressive displays in other cities, but I am certain people worked hard to make these happen. We waited in a long line, but it was a good chance to visit and socialize with our group. You do stand the whole time so beware for those that this is difficult for. When you finally get to the entrance there were some people passing out free candy canes. This year there are only a few houses, but 2 of them are fantastic and photo worthy. The theme is this year is "Toy Shop Time Machine". It supports Breakthrough T1D. You can certainly take your time looking at the gingerbread houses and take photos and videos, but the actual time needed to walk thru is very small, its the line waiting that takes forever.

While the gingerbread creations are amazing, and awe-inspiring, the lines can be long. Too long for…read morethe quick visit, to be honest. But the young employees handing out mini candy canes are kind and full of smiles.

I can't wait for this, personally!…read more This will be the biggest and best year yet for the Festival. A massive amount of interesting art, four hours each night of live performances, and a kick-ass afterparty each night that goes to 4:00 am. For $20 (advance) or $25 (door) for all of the above, it's hard to beat this kind of value for your entertainment dollar. Plus, the Festival offers the best people watching of the year. Seriously. - Clayton Hibbert - Artistic Director, Seattle Erotic Art Festival

Hey, this thing was fun! Even if we went on the Sunday,…read morewhich is the free, low-rent version of the other two days, The Seattle Erotic Art Festival had a lot of stuff to look at. So many weiners! oh my. Plus, it inspired a lot of hot making out between me and my lady. Hooray!

By far, "the greatest setting in college football"! Wear your purple and come early to tailgate or…read morehop a boat to sailgate . Inside the stadium, you'll find classic stadium eats, conveniently located beverage and snack kiosks and a plethora of husky merch purchase options . The main store is on the first floor of the main concourse and there's a number of gear kiosks along the way! Cashless stadium so plan accordingly.

Great college stadium with stunning views of the lake. This stadium is known for its high decibel…read morecrowd noise. This is due to the design of the roof effectively trapping the noise. This stadium features a U-shaped design and located right on the shores of Lake Washington. We've attended numerous Husky games have always had a great time. Staff members are cheerful and friendly. Concession stand prices are astronomical, which is to be expected. They do have a solid selection beverages and food. Tailgating and sailgating are time honored tradition at Husky stadium given the promixity to Lake Washington. Getting to the games is now easier with the light rail stop directly outside the stadium. Both Metro and Sound Transit have bus routes near the stadium. The most common strategy is to drive and park near or on University Avenue and walk through the UW campus. This stadium is convenient and a ton of fun.