"Books are my religion, so Elliott Bay Book Company is like a cathedral to me. It’s a beautiful, two-story place with natural light streaming through the skylights. It’s right in Capitol Hill, which is the heart of Seattle’s cultural community. I'm always inspired the moment I walk in there. They have an amazing poetry section that I especially love. I never leave without a new book and a new idea."

"Prairie Underground is a women-run label that makes really thoughtful, organic clothing. The shop is by appointment, so you have to plan ahead to go. The clothing is really beautiful, classic, and is really made to last. I love their jeans."

“The Central District, Seattle’s historically Black neighborhood, has gone from ~80% Black residents to less than 10% due to gentrification. Wa Na Wari was started in 2019 to create and hold space for Black art and belonging; they have events, community kitchen nights with free meals, gallery exhibitions, and a community garden. The building is a literal house—Black-owned for five generations—and they take drop-in visits from Friday to Sunday for people to experience their work."

"Easy Street Records is definitely a trek, but it’s super worth it. It’s a fantastic record store that sells both vinyl and CDs. They also do in-store performances. It’s such a gem. It's really close to Alki Beach, so you can pop over to one of Seattle’s true beaches after you’re done looking at records."

"Seattle has so many famous and beautiful places to look at the water, but Seward Park is this beautiful, big hidden gem right on Lake Washington. It's an amazing place to take a walk or to sit and have a picnic. It’s such a great way to catch a vibe of South Seattle."

"The Station is absolutely my hands-down favorite coffee shop in the world. To me, it holds the spirit of Seattle’s organizing community, and it always provides space for anything from late-night DJ sets to free book exchanges to mutual aid organizing. They are such a leader and a hub in our community, and the coffee is absolutely delicious. Their Mocha Mexicano is just divine, and their sandwiches are great too. If Luis or Leona are there, tell them I sent you!"

"Pho is the unofficial-official food of Seattle. Everyone in Seattle eats pho because it pairs perfectly with the rain! My favorite bowl of pho is from Ba Bar; it’s called the Pho Hanoi, and it comes with a savory doughnut. It’s delicious. I will go by myself and eat at the bar. It’s really great for lunch, but also for dinner; they have great cocktails, and it’s just a total vibe. It’s a must for me when I'm in Seattle."

"Hood Famous Cafe + Bar is a really special place for me. It's in the International District, a vibrant neighborhood of intersecting cultures and histories. They are really famous for their ube cheesecake, have amazing cocktails, and oh my god their food is so good. I love the sandwiches, like the eggplant omelette with banana ketchup on pan de sal bread. It’s a must for sure, and I just threw my album release party here!”

"KEXP is the local indie radio station in Seattle, but it’s known around the world for being a major curator of independent artists, and they’ve shown me a lot of love over the years. The cool thing about their new studio, near the Space Needle, is that you can actually show up and watch the DJs spinning on air. There’s a great coffee shop and record store, Light in The Attic Records, there as well, so it's fun to go and see DJs spinning, get a cup of coffee, and shop for vinyl."

"The Crocodile is an iconic venue where all of the grunge artists used to play back in the day: Pearl Jam, Nirvana.... They had to move unfortunately, because Seattle is gentrification hell, but they reopened and have a few new venues now. Seattle’s live music scene is incredible, and this is one of the many venues I’ve played at that I love. It’s very eclectic music-wise: You can catch a pop show, hip-hop show, a rock show, anywhere from intimate to blown out, a lot of different vibes."

"Communion is in Seattle’s Central District, which has changed dramatically due to gentrification and the shifting nature of the city. Communion is one of the few spots in the Central District that continues to be Black-owned. They call their cuisine 'Seattle soul food'; it's truly unique food, and the place gets really lively for brunch and late night. In a city that can feel unrecognizable, it’s a new place that holds down the history and culture of Seattle from erasure."

“My girl Melissa Miranda started Musang as a pop-up, and mobilized her kitchen to feed those in need during the pandemic. She is an incredible chef focused on Filipino cuisine—and recognized by James Beard—and this restaurant feels like coming home for an outrageously delicious meal. Try the kare kare and the pancit. The cocktails are bananas good!”

“If you have a sweet tooth and love coffee, this is a can’t-miss spot. Their Vietnamese coffee drinks are caffeinated dessert fantasies, with cheese foam and ube drizzle galore. I squee with delight every time I treat myself to Coffeeholic!”