Raegan Ballard-Gennrich 7/4/26 Raegan Ballard-Gennrich 7/4/26

Mike Barnet of Brmrtn Blk Mkt Creates Hub of Black Community

I had the pleasure of attending an event called Brmrtn Blk Mkt (Bremerton Black Market). It took place in Downtown Bremerton’s Quincy Square and per the website was “an open-air market celebration in Quincy Square of Black-led businesses, food vendors, doubledutch performances and live entertainment!” This free market allowed me to engage with and support my cultural community and I left, purchase-laden, feeling invigorated and refilled.

Parker Dean 6/23/26 Parker Dean 6/23/26

Museum of Illusions Tickles Brains of All Ages

The Museum of Illusions has been open in Seattle for just around two years now, and each visit promises something unique, engaging, and absolutely mind blowing. During my visit to the MOI, I experienced a tilted room, a room with endless mirrors, and got a few silly snapshots that played with perspective.

Parker Dean 5/13/26 Parker Dean 5/13/26

Waterfront Gems Worth Showing Off

Seattle is a city of hidden gems, with little mysteries and curiosities littered all over. Although my days of being a tourist are behind me, I still find myself wandering around the usual haunts—Pike Place, the Space Needle, and every stop along the Light Rail. But, today, I’ll be sharing ten of my favorite secret(ish) spots along the waterfront, in no particular order.

Zach Youngs 5/12/26 Zach Youngs 5/12/26

Sound Cinema: SIFF Downtown (Cinerama)

Before the brilliance of IMAX or the new immersive theater gimmicks of today, there was Cinerama. The technique was to use three synchronized projectors to run a film on a staggeringly large, curved, widescreen. It was a way to mimic how the human eye sees. The format began in 1952 and quickly spread in the 1960s. Seattle obtained its own Cinerama theater in 1963. Though, soon after, the format fell out of fashion and the suburban multiplexes kept people closer to home and away from these one-screen wonders. Seattle's theater languished and was ready to close for good when Microsoft co-founder and all around pop culture philanthropist Paul Allen saved and revamped our Cinerama.

Gray Harrison 4/27/26 Gray Harrison 4/27/26

Cadence Video Poetry Fest Inspires Interdependence with Blended Media

It was a warm and springlike day in Capitol Hill, but not even the good weather could deter the creative community from showing up for the Cadence Video Poetry Festival, which has been running yearly in Seattle during National Poetry Month since 2018. This was Day 3 of in-person screenings, and the event, titled proof that we were here, was about to begin.

Calista Robbins 3/31/26 Calista Robbins 3/31/26

Artistic Freedom to Object Given Space at Flinch/Punch

These spaces—these great halls of reflection—are necessities in our communities, especially in times of war, oppression, and authoritarianism. Annex Theatre, Seattle’s oldest fringe theater, saw this need growing as tensions rose amidst the 2016 election. So they developed a resistance program called Flinch/Punch.

Gray Harrison 3/24/26 Gray Harrison 3/24/26

Mudlark Oddities Communes with Curious Minds and Spirits

Mudlark Oddities sits nestled on a side street in the Ravenna neighborhood. To enter, you descend an unassuming staircase, then pop into a shop with narrow, cozy aisles and a seemingly never-ending collection of beautifully macabre things to look at. I’ve never stayed less than an hour in the place. In keeping with the name, which dates back to 1800s London and refers to people who scavenge riverbeds for valuable objects, the shop holds many gems in its keep and has fostered a dedicated community around it.

Zach Youngs 3/12/26 Zach Youngs 3/12/26

ECCC Wrapped: Mixed Bag of Community Joy, Grumbles, Nerdisms

There were still plenty of comics professionals signing, sketching, chatting, and being cornered by fans who did not realize that their 20-minute theory on Aquaman's ability to communicate with sea life as part of a broader metaphor for climate change was not appropriate when other people waited patiently behind them. Yet, Artist Alley felt like a small piece rather than the centerpiece it had been in years prior.

Zach Youngs 3/10/26 Zach Youngs 3/10/26

Sound Cinema: Historic Admiral Theater

I happened to be in Pier 4, but even amid the modern seating, state-of-the-art sound, and digital projection, there was still a piece of the old theater in the partial mural on the auditorium wall. It was a bit haunting, like looking at something that was not supposed to exist anymore. It kept catching my eye as I sank into the comfy seat with ample leg room.

Zach Youngs 3/7/26 Zach Youngs 3/7/26

Ben Mauro Dives into Future’s Past with ‘Huxley: The Oracle’

I had the pleasure of chatting with writer and artist Ben Mauro who has his own booth on level 2 of the Summit Building at Emerald City Comic Con. We spoke about Ben's career as a video game and film artist as well as his graphic novel Huxley. He is at the convention with the prequel chapter in the Huxley saga—Huxley: The Oracle.

Parker Dean 2/26/26 Parker Dean 2/26/26

Emerald City Comic Con Returns with Sparks of its Former Glory

Finish up your cosplay and grab your favorite comic books—Emerald City Comic Con is back! ECCC is a time-honored (and super nerdy) Seattle tradition, held at the Seattle Convention Center on March 5-8 this year. Attendees will be preparing for four days of panels, screenings, fan meetups, cosplay contests, after-dark partying, and perusing the wares of Artist Alley, where local artists come together to hang out, create, and sell fun products.

Parker Dean 2/20/26 Parker Dean 2/20/26

Trans* Talk: SweeThe4rTs Art Show

On February 13, Common Objects opened its doors for SweeThe4rts, a T4T art show and market, created by the Trans community, for the Trans community to share art centered on the relationships between Trans folks.

Calista Robbins 2/7/26 Calista Robbins 2/7/26

Teatro ZinZanni Lowers Final Curtain in Seattle

A spiegeltent crafted of wood, canvas, and velvet, adorned with stained glass, vast mirrors, and regal chandeliers overtook an empty lot on Mercer Street. An arching sign marked the threshold of the new world of Teatro ZinZanni, welcoming guests to their first show, Love Chaos and Dinner, which featured a unique cast of acrobats, clowns, and various other talents. What was meant to be an 11-week run sprouted roots and secured ZinZanni as Seattle’s staple circus destination for nearly three decades.

Mary Adner 1/27/26 Mary Adner 1/27/26

Letter from the Editor

Friends and Comrades,

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Resistance. What it means, what it looks like, and how it sticks. What is its staying power? What keeps it going?

Izzy Christman 1/23/26 Izzy Christman 1/23/26

COVID-Cautious? Safely Enjoy Community with These Events

While it may often seem like the entire world has moved on from the threat of COVID-19, there are always pockets of community support and care to be found! Seattle is home to not only long-standing masked events like Queer Fight Night and Disabled List Comedy Festival, but also to brave one-offs; businesses are reaching out and asking, “Is there any interest in this?” Let’s let them know that the answer is a resounding yes! Even as the world grows more and more perilous, we must endeavor to continue to make safe spaces for all.

Vera McLaughlin 1/2/26 Vera McLaughlin 1/2/26

Queer Up-and-Comer Alise Garcia Chats Lezztalkaboutit’s Accessible Events

Back in November, I had the privilege of covering the Performative Femme Contest hosted by Alise Garcia of Lezztalkaboutit. It was a stunning display of Queer community. Recently, Alise and I met up for coffee to discuss the purpose of Lezztalkaboutit and what she has in store for the future. We also discussed the importance of community and what it takes to build one.

Vera McLaughlin 11/26/25 Vera McLaughlin 11/26/25

Studio 18 Supports Emerging Artists with Shared Delusions

Their exhibit opened to the public for a one-day event on Saturday, November 15 at Studio 18 Artist Collective. “This is a very historically [sic] arts building. They used to throw raves here in the ‘90s, early 2000s,” Reinhardt stated. The building is tucked beside train tracks underneath busy roadways—empty and bustling all at once. At the top of a thin staircase was the gallery opening, alive with visitors and music.

Vera McLaughlin 11/18/25 Vera McLaughlin 11/18/25

Greenwood Artists Fight Fascism with Flair and Community Support

Corey Skullcrusher, an artist with the Waiting Room, appeared in full aristocratic flamboyance to accompany their “monstrosity.” From dress to wig to bloody neck, Skullcrusher embodied beheaded nobility. The presence of such elegance brought forward a message of resistance. Skullcrusher explained that the guillotine was historically the most humane way to oust those who were abusing power. While the golden cardboard guillotine may be a bit campy and cheeky, “it’s very specifically a message.”

Nicole Bearden 9/29/25 Nicole Bearden 9/29/25

Pepper Pepper on Pink’s Power: Queerness, Movement, and Magic

Walking into Pepper Pepper a.k.a. Kaj-Anne Pepper’s show Pink Moment: Collections at Seattle Central’s M. Rosetta Hunter Gallery feels transcendent. Predominantly a new media show with video, sound, and some photography, Pink Moment is an exploration of “pink as queer energy, movement, and magic.” Viewing the work, the color pink takes on an ethereal effect as the motion of Pepper Pepper—acting as both subject and performer—reveals a dynamic, prismatic quality that is dreamlike and hypnotizing.

Parker Dean 9/15/25 Parker Dean 9/15/25

Fossil & Stone Spotlights Natural Worlds in the Heart of Downtown

Just a quick walk from the Westlake Lightrail Station, and a few blocks inland from the bustling Pike Place Market, Fossil & Stone Fine Art Gallery stands still and quiet amongst the normal chaos of downtown Seattle. It is a gallery that one might walk past day in and day out, never quite noticing the inspiring and beautiful art within.

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Friends and Comrades,

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Resistance. What it means, what it looks like, and how it sticks. What is its staying power? What keeps it going?