Lisa Jaffe

A Muslim, two Jews and an atheist walk into a Chinese restaurant on Christmas. This is not the start of a joke, but a story from my own life that I sometimes think about sharing at a storytelling event. I never have. I’m a little shy to stand up in front of a crowd. But if I ever find the courage, I have a lot of options.
There are dozens of storytelling events to be found around Puget Sound, ranging from quick and casual to competitive and timed. It's a great way to use your voice without th...

Some people are just hard to buy for. They have quirky taste. They won’t say what they want. They’re my husband.
My secret is a couple of quirky shops that have a little of everything, nothing bog-standard, and a variety of price points. I’m also a sucker for a good craft fair – the more niche, the better. I get to support independent artists AND find my sister-in-law something she'll love.
Armed with this list, you, too, can become a gifting hero.
South Seattle & Downtown
One of my favorite ...

If you have visitors this holiday season, you might be looking for ways to keep them busy and entertained – especially if they are return guests who have seen Pike Place Market and the Space Needle, the 'Frasier' view at Kerry Park, or already watched the salmon jump at Ballard Locks.
Or maybe they haven't seen those things, but you've been so many times, you ache for something different. We have you covered.
Here are 10 excursion ideas to offer everyone a new perspective of Puget Sound and o...

Every new year, my husband chooses something weird to do for his diet. One year, he gave up sugar. One year, he ate greens with every meal. I usually tag along for the ride. This year? Veganuary.
The first couple weeks, it’s been easy to find recipes to try. I don’t really miss the meat or dairy. But date nights are hard.
Remember the marshmallow test? Decades ago, psychologists put little kids in a room with a marshmallow. They told them if they didn’t eat it while the testers were gone, the...

People are living longer than they did a century ago. Now, after retirement at age 65, it can mean 20 years or more of living yet to come.
How you prepare for all of that extra time matters. If you plan on an active retirement with travel, are worried about having enough to cover assisted living or nursing home care, or you just want to leave something to your children and grandchildren, it’s important to take certain important steps before you stop the daily grind of work.
We asked PNW finan...

At the age of about 90, Nettie London started complaining to her assisted living facility about the quantity of garlic put in just about every food served. It was, she was told, because a lot of seniors lose some of their sense of taste as they age, and making food more flavorful made it more likely they would get their required nutrition. She just happened to be one of the lucky ones. Not that she felt that way at the time.
While many understand that hearing and vision loss come with age, no...

As we age, things often slow down a bit. Joints stiffen, and it can take longer to get going. Illness and injury — and treatments for them — can lead to a decline in mobility, leading to less overall movement. It’s a negative feedback loop, says Dr. Tali Ness-Cohn, a certified mobility specialist and doctor of occupational therapy.
Walking longer distances and up and down stairs becomes more daunting and dangerous, she says. Getting in and out of the shower can be fraught.
“We kind of take fo...

Jack Miller, the owner of Husky Deli, may like his job more than any other person on earth. For the duration of our 40-minute interview, he had a look on his face akin to a kid who got everything he wanted for Christmas.
Aside from a year at the University of Washington, he's spent his whole adult life (and about half his childhood) working at the deli, which was founded by his grandfather, Herman Miller, in 1932. It’s such a good time, that he has no interest in leaving it behind, at least n...

When Jessica Cantlin and Leah Steen opened Spectrum Fine Art in Seattle's Madrona neighborhood in 2023, they weren’t just opening a gallery—they were flipping the script on how the art world typically works.
“We wanted to work more collaboratively with artists, both new and established,” says Cantlin. And they meant it. While most galleries operate on a standard 50/50 commission split, Spectrum does things differently. “I never thought that was fair. We give them 60 percent.”
Spectrum also of...

I have opinions about what makes for a real bagel, a good bagel. My former spouse said I was Orthodox verging on Chasidic in my opinions. The Yiddish word frum is more accurate – a devotion that exceeds bare requirements. Yeah, that tracks.
It's not my fault. I saw this documentary, "Hot Bagels" that came out of the Brooklyn Public Library in the '70s, and it formed the basis of the Bagel Commandments. In it, bagel makers who've been at it for decades take lumps of dough, roll them, connect t...

Question: Where can senior citizens and young adults compete on an even playing field? And even make new friends along the way?
Answer: In Bellevue!
Specifically, during Tuesday Trivia Night at Evergreen Point Bistro, inside luxury retirement community The Watermark at Bellevue. Unquestionably, it's a great time for all!
A server at the bistro first suggested it. He used to work for The Watermark in San Diego, which had a successful intergenerational trivia event. The Watermark at Bellevue op...

We've all experienced the lunch debate where a group of friends can't decide where to go. This one wants a late breakfast, that one a noodle bowl and you just want a great burger and fries. The genius of Young's Restaurant, a nearly 40-year staple of White Center, is that you can get any of those things.
Well, it's part of the genius — the other part is Janice Young. On a recent early afternoon, she greeted nearly every customer by name, stopping by tables to catch up on family news. It's lik...

Winter can be slow at Seattle’s Tilth Alliance, a farm and garden resource organization. In January, the hotline rang maybe 10 times a day. But by the time February is over, the calls come thick and fast, says educator Gavin Tiemeyer, as people consider where to plant their tomatoes or whether there is any sense in trying to grow watermelon in Issaquah.
But now, when the soil is too cool for planting just about anything, there are still things that you can do to get ready for the upcoming gro...

If you're looking to breathe new life into your garden while supporting the ecosystem, it's time to plant for pollinators.
From bees and butterflies to hummingbirds and beetles, pollinators are essential to both wild and cultivated landscapes — and they need our help. Habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change are among the threats to our all-important pollinators.
One way to help starts right in your garden. And city dwellers, don't fret. You don't need a massive yard to make a difference....

Rainier Beach residents were saddened last year when Amy O'Connell closed the doors of Beach Bakery after six years. But a short three months later, sweets were again available in the Rainier Avenue S. strip mall at King Donuts, a fixture in the south end for decades, which had pulled up stakes from its iconic blue building and moved seven blocks north to the vacant bakery.
Owner Hong Chhuor and his husband, Razz Hass, opted to move after deciding to shutter the hot food and laundromat compon...