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Seattle Culture

The Pulse: Too Nice to Work

An elk who knows he's hot and a vending machine that understands us

By Sarah Stackhouse April 18, 2025

Sail Bainbridge16-101
Photo courtesy of Sail Bainbridge

It’s been offensively nice outside this week. We’re all acting like the past six months of rain never happened and won’t happen again. I love it. I had a colleague once tell me, “No one works past 3 p.m. on Fridays in the Northwest when the weather’s nice.” I’ll be observing that sacred tradition today.

Here’s what’s happening around town…

This elk named Huckleberry at Woodland Park Zoo just dropped his antlers like a boss and is strutting into spring fully buzzed.

Seattle Pride is in a budget crunch.

Ballet dancers are weaving through the Cascadia Art Museum later this month. Art is the best.  

Loved seeing this local artist in the New York Times, refusing to be anyone’s inspiration porn.

There’s a vending machine in Ballard that gives you cake.

Great Blue Herons are nesting near the Ballard Locks and the chicks are coming.

This wine shop is spotlighting underrepresented winemakers, and hosting tastings too.

KEXP dropped a live performance that’ll knock your socks off.

Adding to cart.

These photos are so pretty: Seattle waking up from the dark.

Netflix is setting up shop downtown.

Local authors getting their due in this Visit Seattle list.

Thanks tariffs.

Are we still freaking out about that tsunami risk? Probably yes.

The Pitt, the ethics of AI, and a local neurosurgeon — fascinating read.

Also, we published this disco-inspired wedding story. What a night to remember. 

Reader Comment of the Week:

On our story The Changing Face of First and Pike:

A social media post by @321fotobooth describes being amazed at the cleanliness of an alleyway downtown, joking that it looks Too Nice to Work—easily the cleanest they’ve ever seen!.

If an alley can get its act together, there’s hope for us all.

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