Tygart Media

Author: Will Tygart

  • The Colby Club Is Downtown Everett’s Best Cocktail Bar — And It’s Been Right There on Colby Since 2023

    The Colby Club Is Downtown Everett’s Best Cocktail Bar — And It’s Been Right There on Colby Since 2023

    Quick Answer: The Colby Club (2823 Colby Ave, former downtown Starbucks) is a Prohibition-era cocktail speakeasy opened October 2023 by Karen Taylor and Robert Penrose. Classic cocktails, creative mocktails, small plates. Hours: Mon–Sat 4pm–midnight, Sun 4pm–10pm.

    Two Years In, The Colby Club Is Still Downtown Everett’s Best Cocktail Secret. Time to Stop Keeping It One.

    You know the feeling: you walk past a place a hundred times, don’t go in, finally do, and feel genuinely foolish for waiting. That’s The Colby Club at 2823 Colby Ave in downtown Everett — the former Starbucks location, which tells you absolutely nothing about what it became.

    In October 2023, Karen Taylor and Robert Penrose converted that coffee chain space into one of the most considered cocktail bars in the city. Robert renovated every corner of it himself — choosing dark wood, low lighting, and materials that communicate Prohibition-era without costuming it. Through the wide front windows, you can watch the activity on Colby Avenue and feel completely removed from it at the same time. The result is a room that makes you want to stay.

    Two years in, weekend evenings are reliably full. The bar fills without becoming a scene. The conversation stays at conversation volume. The cocktails are made correctly. If you haven’t been, this is your notice.

    Who’s Behind It

    Karen Taylor and Robert Penrose are married, which is either a great way to run a hospitality business or a very challenging one. In their case, it’s working. Before Everett, they spent four years operating Revival Lounge in downtown Mount Vernon — learning what it takes to run a craft cocktail bar in a smaller Washington city that doesn’t always expect one. That experience shows at The Colby Club. It doesn’t have the rough edges of a first venture.

    Karen developed several of the original house cocktails. Robert handled the physical renovation of the space. The division of labor produced something that works from both the inside and outside of the glass.

    The Cocktail Program: What to Drink

    The Colby Club does classic cocktails with proper technique and without pretension. Order an Old Fashioned and you get an Old Fashioned that tastes like an Old Fashioned — not a riff, not a reinvention, not a cocktail that requires a paragraph of explanation. Order from the house list and you’ll get something unexpected that still makes complete sense.

    The Flapper is the signature Karen Taylor original — her description is “sweet but balanced,” and that’s accurate. It’s the drink to start with if you haven’t been before. The Rhubarb Flip is built on gin and is the kind of cocktail that surprises people who didn’t expect to like a gin drink. Both are the sort of thing that tells you within one sip whether a bar knows what it’s doing. These do.

    The mocktail program — called the teetotaler menu — receives the same care and creativity as the full bar list. Mocktail menus are increasingly common; mocktail menus that actually taste good and make you feel like you got the same experience as everyone else at the table are still rarer than they should be. The Colby Club’s version earns its place on the menu. If you’re not drinking, you’re not missing out.

    Draft beers and wine round out the program for anyone who arrives with different preferences. The bar doesn’t force the cocktail on you. It just does cocktails best.

    The Food: Small Plates, Correctly Calibrated

    The food program is intentionally compact — small plates designed to accompany drinks, not replace dinner. The anchors are Beecher’s classic mac (around $16) and flatbread pizzas (roughly $13–14). Beecher’s Handmade Cheese is a Pacific Northwest institution, and the mac served warm here is exactly the kind of thing that makes you order a second cocktail without noticing you’ve done it. The flatbreads are solid. Prices may vary; check with the bar on current offerings.

    The food doesn’t overpromise. That’s the right call. If you want a full dinner, R Harn Thai a few blocks east on Hewitt will sort you out. Come to The Colby Club for drinks and let the small plates do what they’re designed to do.

    The Room: What the Renovation Built

    Rob Penrose renovated the former Starbucks space himself — hands-on, not hired-out. The low lighting is doing real work. The dark wood communicates without being theatrical. The seating is intimate without being cramped. There’s enough room that you can have a private conversation, not so much that the place feels like a performance space.

    The Colby Club doesn’t have a rooftop or a water view. It has a room that earns your attention through craft and atmosphere rather than setting. That’s a harder thing to pull off, and they’ve pulled it off.

    Where the Colby Club Fits in Everett’s Cocktail Scene

    Everett’s cocktail and bar scene has developed unevenly but meaningfully. The Muse Whiskey & Coffee at 615 Millwright Loop W on the waterfront does a whiskey-forward evening program inside a restored 1923 Weyerhaeuser building. Obsidian Beer Hall at 1420 Hewitt Ave does curated PNW beer in an elegant room. The Ten-01 Pub at 1001 Hewitt does a community bar in a 1907 building with train beers.

    The Colby Club fills a different niche: proper craft cocktails in a room that takes the atmosphere as seriously as the drinks, in the middle of downtown, open seven nights a week. If cocktails are the goal, The Colby Club is where you go. That’s been true for two years.

    What to Order

    The Flapper — Karen Taylor’s signature. Sweet but balanced. Start here on your first visit.

    Rhubarb Flip — Gin-based. Better than it sounds if you’re not a gin drinker.

    Any classic cocktail — Made correctly. That’s worth more than you’d think.

    Teetotaler mocktail — The real option if you’re driving or dry. Same care, different ingredient list.

    Beecher’s mac — Order it to share, or don’t share it. Both are defensible choices.

    The Logistics

    • Address: 2823 Colby Ave, Everett WA 98201 (former Starbucks location, downtown)
    • Hours: Monday–Saturday 4pm–midnight | Sunday 4pm–10pm
    • Instagram: @thecolbyclub
    • Walk-ins: Welcome; no reservation required
    • Parking: Street parking on Colby Ave; downtown garage on Colby walkable
    • Price range: $$ — craft cocktail pricing; small plates roughly $13–$16

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When did The Colby Club open?

    October 2023, in the former Starbucks space at 2823 Colby Ave in downtown Everett.

    Who owns The Colby Club?

    Karen Taylor and Robert Penrose, who are married. They also operate Revival Lounge in downtown Mount Vernon, WA.

    Does The Colby Club serve food?

    Yes — small plates. Beecher’s classic mac and flatbread pizzas are the main options. The food complements drinks rather than serving as a full dinner.

    What is The Flapper cocktail at The Colby Club?

    The Flapper is a signature cocktail created by owner Karen Taylor — described as sweet but balanced. It’s the recommended first drink for new visitors.

    Does The Colby Club have a mocktail menu?

    Yes — the “teetotaler” menu is a dedicated non-alcoholic cocktail list that receives the same craft attention as the full bar program.

    Is The Colby Club good for a date night?

    Yes. The intimate atmosphere, low lighting, and well-made cocktails make it a strong date night option in downtown Everett.

    What is the parking situation at The Colby Club?

    Street parking on Colby Avenue and the nearby downtown Everett parking garage on Colby, which is walkable to the bar.

    Is The Colby Club open on Sunday?

    Yes — Sunday 4pm–10pm. Open seven nights a week total.

  • The Independent Beer Bar Has Been Hewitt Avenue’s Best Craft Beer Institution for Nearly a Decade

    The Independent Beer Bar Has Been Hewitt Avenue’s Best Craft Beer Institution for Nearly a Decade

    Quick Answer: The Independent Beer Bar (1801 Hewitt Ave, corner of Rockefeller) is a curated craft beer bar with 16+ rotating taps and late-night Russian-style dumplings, open since Leap Day 2016. Hours: Mon–Sat 4pm–midnight, Sun 2:30pm–10pm. Dog-friendly, shuffleboard, no pretense.

    We’ve Been Sleeping on Hewitt’s Best Beer Bar for Ten Years. That Ends Now.

    There’s a corner on Hewitt and Rockefeller that has been doing craft beer right since February 29, 2016 — Leap Day — and somehow never quite entered the general conversation about where to drink in Everett. The Independent Beer Bar at 1801 Hewitt Ave is that corner. Jeff Sadighi and Doug Hall opened it because they wanted a bar they’d actually want to drink in. That’s the whole mission statement. Ten years later, they still tend the bar themselves most Friday nights.

    If you’ve walked past it, you’ve probably noticed the low-key exterior and figured there wasn’t much to it. You were wrong. There are 16+ rotating taps in there, a thoughtfully curated bottle list, a plate of dumplings that will make you stay longer than you planned, and a shuffleboard table. This is the neighborhood bar Hewitt Avenue should have been advertising louder.

    The Tap List: The One Job the Bar Has to Do Right

    Hall and Sadighi keep a simple formula on the taps: at least three IPAs always, plus a dark, a light, an amber, and enough rotation to reward regulars who come back every week. The list tilts local — Pacific Northwest craft breweries anchor it — with occasional appearances from national craft names like Firestone Walker and Sierra Nevada when the beer earns it.

    Sixteen taps in a room this size means you almost always find something you want. The Independent isn’t a taproom, which means it doesn’t pour only its own product — it pours the best thing available from whoever made it well. That’s a different value proposition from the Everett Brewery Trail’s six active stops, and it fills a different need. When you want variety over house pride, come here.

    The Dumplings: The Thing That Turns a Pint Into an Evening

    The Independent serves Russian dumplings — pelmeni-style, hand-made, available until late — and this is the thing that makes the bar worth talking about beyond the beer. The preparation was inspired by a late-night dumpling spot Hall and Sadighi loved in Bellingham: margarine, sour cream, curry powder, sriracha, and cilantro on top. That combination sounds like it shouldn’t work. It works perfectly.

    The recipe hasn’t changed since opening day. They’re right not to change it. Order them at 10pm with a dark beer and figure out the rest of your night from there. The dumplings solve the problem most bars don’t bother solving: what do you eat that doesn’t require leaving?

    The Vibe: Exactly What It Is, Nothing More

    The Independent doesn’t decorate for effect. There are a few TVs, a shuffleboard table, and a room that wants you to have a good time rather than a curated experience. Dogs are welcome as long as yours is friendly. Hall and Sadighi tend the bar personally on Friday nights — which tells you everything about how they think about the place. It’s theirs, and they’re in it.

    There’s also a wine list for when the non-beer-drinker shows up. The bar doesn’t make you feel weird about ordering wine at a beer bar. It just wants you to be comfortable and stay awhile.

    Context: Where the Independent Fits on Hewitt in 2026

    Hewitt Avenue’s food and drink corridor has developed significantly. The Ten-01 Pub opened in January 2025 at 1001 Hewitt in a 1907 building with $2 train beers. R Harn Thai is at 2011 Hewitt with khao soi that belongs in a conversation about the best noodle soup in the city. Obsidian Beer Hall at 1420 Hewitt does a curated PNW beer hall in the former Toggles space. The corridor is real now.

    The Independent Beer Bar helped build that corridor. It was there first, before the wave, doing the same thing it does now. The breweries and taprooms that have since opened — Middleton Brewing, Lazy Boy, Obsidian — exist in a city that’s been learning to drink craft beer for ten years. The Independent was part of that education from the beginning.

    What to Order

    Beer: Ask what’s local and rotating. Three IPAs are always on. If you’re not an IPA person, say so — they’ll point you somewhere good on the 16-tap list.

    Dumplings: Order them. Don’t overthink it.

    If you’re with a non-beer drinker: The wine list handles it without making anyone feel out of place.

    The Logistics

    • Address: 1801 Hewitt Ave, Everett WA 98201 — corner of Hewitt and Rockefeller
    • Hours: Monday–Saturday 4pm–midnight | Sunday 2:30pm–10pm
    • Phone: (425) 212-9517
    • Website: theindependentbeerbar.com
    • Dog-friendly: Yes, if your dog is friendly
    • Parking: Street parking on Hewitt and Rockefeller; downtown garage nearby
    • Price range: $ — craft beer pricing, dumplings are an affordable add-on

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does The Independent Beer Bar brew its own beer?

    No. It’s a curated beer bar, not a brewery — 16+ rotating taps from other producers. It’s a different model from a taproom and fills a different need.

    What food does The Independent Beer Bar serve?

    The main food item is Russian dumplings — pelmeni-style, served with margarine, sour cream, curry powder, sriracha, and cilantro — available until late. The bar welcomes outside food for more substantial meals.

    Is The Independent Beer Bar dog-friendly?

    Yes, dogs are welcome as long as they’re friendly.

    Who owns The Independent Beer Bar?

    Jeff Sadighi and Doug Hall opened the bar on February 29, 2016 and still run it today. They frequently tend the bar themselves on Friday nights.

    How long has The Independent Beer Bar been open?

    Since February 29, 2016 — nearly a decade. One of the longer-running independent craft beer bars in downtown Everett.

    Is it part of the Everett Brewery Trail?

    No — the trail covers production breweries. The Independent is a curated beer bar, which is a different (and equally valuable) category.

    What are the hours at The Independent Beer Bar?

    Monday through Saturday 4pm–midnight; Sunday 2:30pm–10pm.

    Is there shuffleboard at The Independent Beer Bar?

    Yes — a shuffleboard table is part of the bar setup.

  • Topgolf Isn’t Dead at Hub@Everett — But Brixton Capital’s Competing Plans Reveal the Uncertainty at Everett’s Biggest Mall Bet

    Q: Is Topgolf still coming to Hub@Everett?
    A: According to Brixton Capital, the mall’s owner, yes — Topgolf is still a possibility. But a pre-application permit filing from April 2026 showed self-storage and office space on the Topgolf footprint, contradicting that claim. The two positions are actively in conflict. A pre-application meeting with the city is scheduled for May 19, which may clarify the actual direction.

    Topgolf Isn’t Dead at Hub@Everett — But Brixton Capital’s Competing Plans Reveal the Uncertainty at Everett’s Biggest Mall Bet

    Less than a week after we reported that Brixton Capital appeared to be replacing the long-promised Topgolf facility with self-storage and office space, the mall’s owners are pushing back — publicly insisting Topgolf is still on the table.

    And that contradiction is itself the story.

    When Brixton Capital filed an April 2026 pre-application permit with the city of Everett, the site plan omitted Topgolf and showed an alternative use on the 68,000-square-foot, three-story footprint where the golf entertainment venue was supposed to go. The pre-app filing suggested the Topgolf pivot was real. But when HeraldNet asked Brixton Capital directly this week, the company’s response was clear: the permit filing was “just one option on the table,” and Topgolf “could still arrive in Everett in the future.”

    Topgolf’s own spokesperson declined to comment and referred questions back to Brixton Capital. Which tells you something.

    Why the Contradiction Matters

    When a company submits a pre-application permit to city planning staff showing a specific site plan — including new structures, uses, and parking configurations — that filing is not nothing. Pre-application meetings cost time and money. They represent a developer saying: here is a specific direction we are exploring seriously enough to bring to the city’s planning desk.

    What Brixton filed shows a self-storage facility and an office building on the Topgolf site. What Brixton is saying publicly is that Topgolf remains possible. Both of those things cannot be equally true at once. Either the permit filing reflects genuine contingency planning on a deal that isn’t closed, or the public statement is a way of managing expectations while the company pivots away from the headline tenant.

    We don’t know which. And neither does anyone else right now — including, arguably, Brixton Capital itself.

    The Background on Topgolf at The Hub

    The Topgolf saga at what is now Hub@Everett has been running for years. Mayor Cassie Franklin confirmed the Topgolf interest at a 2024 meeting. Plans firmed up through 2024. City staff formally approved building permits for the Topgolf facility in January 2025 — 68,000 square feet, three stories, a driving range, the full concept. Those permits were real.

    Then Topgolf entered a period of corporate restructuring. That’s the company-level explanation for why the Everett location has been on hold. Topgolf Callaway Brands, the parent company, has been working through financial restructuring that has affected expansion decisions across its portfolio. The approved Everett permits sat unused. And in the background, Brixton Capital started looking at alternatives — including the permit filing that shows up in April 2026 with self-storage and office where the golf bays were supposed to go.

    Brixton insists the May 19 pre-application meeting is about “one option” and that Topgolf is parallel-tracked. But a company that was confident in its anchor tenant doesn’t typically explore replacing that anchor in a city planning filing.

    What’s Actually Open and Working at The Hub

    It’s worth stepping back from the Topgolf question to note what HAS happened at Hub@Everett, because the coverage of the Topgolf limbo can obscure real progress on the rest of the site.

    The former Sears box — a massive anchor space that sat empty for years — now has Ulta Beauty and At Home as tenants. Both are open. The relocated Mall Station bus transit center opened in December 2025, a $2 million move that actually improved bus connectivity to the site. The outdoor pedestrian walkways that Brixton planned as part of the mall’s “outdoor lifestyle” redesign are in various stages of completion.

    The 11-acre site has more happening on it than the Topgolf uncertainty suggests. But the entertainment anchor question is real: without a destination draw that gets people to make a special trip, Hub@Everett risks becoming a transit point and errand destination rather than a place people plan to spend a Saturday afternoon.

    That’s what Topgolf was supposed to solve. Self-storage and an office building don’t solve it.

    The Development Implications for South Everett

    Hub@Everett’s outcome matters beyond the mall’s own 11 acres. The Twin Creeks neighborhood around the site, and south Everett broadly, has been watching the Hub redevelopment as a signal of whether the city’s south end is attracting serious investment. The tightest retail market in Puget Sound — Snohomish County’s 3.4% vacancy rate — suggests tenants are out there. The question is whether south Everett’s largest available footprint can attract the right ones.

    If Brixton proceeds with self-storage and office, the site becomes a different kind of anchor than what was promised. Self-storage generates rent without generating foot traffic. That matters for the surrounding retail environment — nearby tenants who counted on Topgolf drawing customers benefit less from a storage facility next door.

    The broader story of Everett’s physical transformation is one of ambitious redevelopment ideas meeting the reality of capital markets, corporate restructuring, and financing constraints. The Hub@Everett situation is a live example of that tension — the gap between what a city wants from a site and what a developer can actually finance.

    What to Watch on May 19

    The pre-application meeting scheduled for May 19 is a city planning process step, not a public hearing. It’s where city staff and the applicant talk through whether a proposed project is feasible under current zoning and code. The outcome won’t be a public vote — but it will likely generate documents that clarify what Brixton is actually proposing.

    If the May 19 meeting produces a site plan that includes Topgolf in some form, the public statement holds up. If the meeting proceeds with self-storage and office as the application, the permit filing tells the real story. Either way, the pre-app meeting is the next datable event in what has become one of Everett’s most watched development sagas.

    We’ll have the update when it’s public.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Topgolf and why does it matter for Hub@Everett?

    Topgolf is a golf entertainment venue chain that combines driving range technology with food, drink, and event space. A Topgolf would have been a major entertainment anchor for Hub@Everett — the kind of destination tenant that draws customers who stay for hours and generate spillover for adjacent businesses.

    Why did Topgolf stall at the Everett Mall?

    The most cited reason is corporate restructuring at Topgolf Callaway Brands, the parent company. Despite approved building permits from January 2025, the company has not broken ground. Corporate restructuring decisions can pause or cancel individual expansion locations.

    What is Brixton Capital planning to put there instead?

    A pre-application permit filing shows a self-storage facility and an office building on the Topgolf footprint. Brixton Capital says this is just one option being explored, not a confirmed decision.

    When is the next milestone for Hub@Everett?

    A pre-application meeting with city planning staff is scheduled for May 19, 2026. This is an internal city process step, not a public hearing, but the documents it generates will clarify what Brixton is actually proposing.

    What else is open at Hub@Everett right now?

    Ulta Beauty and At Home have both opened in the former Sears anchor space. The relocated Mall Station bus transit center opened in December 2025. Outdoor pedestrian walkway improvements are ongoing across the 11-acre site.

  • Sound Transit Plans to End Sounder North in 2033 — What a Rail Transit Gap Means for Everett’s Development Future

    Q: Is Sound Transit ending the Sounder North train from Everett to Seattle?
    A: Under a proposal released May 7-8, 2026, yes — the Sounder N Line would end in 2033 as part of a package to close Sound Transit’s $34.5 billion budget gap. The Sound Transit Board votes May 28. If approved, Everett commuters would have no direct rail to Seattle until Everett Link opens, currently projected for 2037 at the earliest.

    Sound Transit Plans to End Sounder North in 2033 — What a Rail Transit Gap Means for Everett’s Development Future

    Something that shapes how Everett grows, what rents downtown, and what office buildings can credibly pitch to tenants got a lot more uncertain this week: the commuter train connecting Everett to Seattle may stop running entirely in 2033.

    Under a proposal introduced by Sound Transit Board chair and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers — the same Somers whose “spine-first” approach will spare Everett Link Extension from cuts — the Sounder N Line would cease operations as part of a package to close Sound Transit’s $34.5 billion budget shortfall. The Sound Transit Board votes on the full plan May 28 at the Ruth Fisher Board Room in Tacoma.

    If approved, the math is stark: Sounder N ends 2033. Everett Link opens no earlier than 2037, and more likely 2038-2041. That’s a four-to-eight-year window where Everett’s connection to downtown Seattle goes from a 30-40 minute train ride to whatever a bus on I-5 can manage.

    We think this gap deserves more attention than it’s getting.

    What Sounder North Actually Is — and Who Uses It

    The Sounder N Line runs four trains per day in each direction between Everett Station and King Street Station in Seattle, with stops in Mukilteo and Edmonds along the way. It’s been running since 2003 and was always designed as a bridge service — something to hold commuters over until light rail could do the job more efficiently.

    The problem is that bridge lasted longer than anyone planned, and ridership never fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. As of April 2026, Sounder North carries roughly 565 rides per day. That’s across four trains. The math works out to about 70 passengers per train, on a service that costs Sound Transit significantly more per rider than any other line in the system.

    The Somers proposal is blunt about the calculus: when you’re $34.5 billion short, you don’t run a commuter train that 565 people a day use. You make hard choices. And Sound Transit’s position is that the Board can revisit the Sounder N decision if ridership meaningfully improves — but it won’t commit to that happening.

    The Transit Gap Is Real

    Here’s what makes this story specifically a Waterfront development story and not just a transit story: the gap in rail service lands squarely in the years when Everett’s biggest development bets are being placed.

    Millwright District Phase 2 — the 300-plus apartment homes and 120,000 square feet of Class-A office space being developed by LPC West on the Port’s 10-acre waterfront site — is being marketed as a connected, walkable, transit-adjacent workplace. That pitch works better with a train. It works less well when the nearest rail is a 20-30 minute bus ride to Lynnwood Link.

    The Waterfront Place commercial district — restaurants, hotels, marine businesses, two hotels, and the 266 apartments at Sawyer and Carling — has drawn Seattle-area visitors and employees partly because of that sense that Everett is part of the regional story. Rail connectivity is part of what makes that story credible to employers making lease decisions.

    The Everett Station District Alliance, which has spent years planning transit-oriented development around the future Everett Station light rail stop, operates on the assumption that the station will be active and desirable. A 4-8 year gap where the station is quiet changes the calculus on when to break ground and what to build.

    What’s Still Intact

    To be clear about what the Somers proposal does NOT do: it does not cut or delay the Everett Link Extension. That’s the crucial distinction. The light rail from Lynnwood to downtown Everett Station — all 16 miles of it — remains fully funded and on track. The May 28 vote is expected to confirm that the north-south spine gets built, all the way to Everett.

    That matters enormously for the long-term development story. What the ST3 plan fully funding Everett Link means is that developers, lenders, and employers planning 10-15 years out can bank on regional light rail connectivity. The uncertainty is only in the middle stretch — the years between Sounder’s end and Link’s opening.

    Sound Transit still holds negotiated rights with BNSF to run up to eight trains per day on the Sounder N corridor. Those rights have real value. Advocates are already asking whether ending the service prematurely forfeits leverage on that corridor — something the Board will likely hear about before May 28.

    The Bus Bridge That Would Fill the Gap

    The transit gap doesn’t mean no transit — it means slower transit. Community Transit’s express bus routes to Lynnwood Link will be the primary rail-adjacent option for Everett commuters after 2033. The Everett Transit and Community Transit merger announced in April 2026 is precisely the kind of service consolidation that should, in theory, strengthen bus frequency and reach in Snohomish County. Whether that merger’s integration timeline aligns with Sounder’s shutdown is a coordination question nobody has publicly answered yet.

    Mukilteo and Edmonds lose even more than Everett does. Both cities stop at the Sounder station but are not on the Everett Link Extension route. Once Sounder ends and Link opens, those communities have no direct rail connection at all — a point that’s likely to generate pushback from Mukilteo and Edmonds council members in the weeks before the May 28 vote.

    What We’re Watching

    The May 28 Sound Transit Board meeting is the most important transit vote for Everett since the ST3 package passed in 2016. The question isn’t whether Everett Link gets built — it does. The question is how the Board handles the years between, and whether ending Sounder North is the right tradeoff or a shortsighted cut that underserves a corridor during the exact years Everett is trying to grow.

    For the Snohomish County delegation to Sound Transit, this is the opening bid in a negotiation, not a final answer. The EASC DC Fly-In delegation that was in Washington this week was making the case for Everett infrastructure spending. Sounder North’s fate is now part of that same conversation.

    We’ll have the vote results here as they come out of the May 28 board meeting. In the meantime, if you commute on Sounder North and want to weigh in, Sound Transit is accepting written comment before the vote.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When would Sounder North service end in Everett?

    Under the current Somers proposal, the Sounder N Line would end in 2033. The Sound Transit Board must approve the plan at its May 28, 2026 meeting for the timeline to be confirmed.

    What rail service would replace Sounder North in Everett?

    Nothing immediately. Everett Link Extension is expected to open between 2037 and 2041. In the interim, Community Transit express buses connecting to Lynnwood Link would be the primary transit option to Seattle.

    Does this affect the Everett Link Extension?

    No. The Somers proposal explicitly preserves the full 16-mile Everett Link Extension, from Lynnwood to downtown Everett Station. The transit gap only applies to the Sounder commuter rail service, not to the future light rail line.

    How does ending Sounder North affect downtown Everett property values?

    Transit-adjacent properties historically benefit from rail access. A multi-year gap in rail service could moderate growth in areas marketed as transit-connected, particularly near Everett Station. The long-term Everett Link commitment supports the development case, but the near-term transit gap creates uncertainty for office tenants and housing developers.

    Can the Sounder North decision be reversed?

    Sound Transit’s board can revisit the decision if ridership meaningfully improves or new funding sources emerge. Sound Transit also retains negotiated rights to run up to eight trains per day on the BNSF corridor — those rights could have future value if circumstances change.

  • Port Angeles to Lake Crescent and the Elwha: Two Olympic Peninsula Classics Worth Your Spring Weekend

    Port Angeles to Lake Crescent and the Elwha: Two Olympic Peninsula Classics Worth Your Spring Weekend

    There’s a stretch of US Highway 101 west of Port Angeles that I consider one of the finest drives in the Pacific Northwest — maybe the country. Within twenty minutes of leaving downtown, the highway curves along the southern shore of Lake Crescent, and the views just don’t quit. This spring, two of the Olympic Peninsula’s most iconic natural destinations are ready for visitors, and they pair beautifully into a single unforgettable day: the Marymere Falls Trail at Lake Crescent, and the Elwha River Valley, where one of the most remarkable ecological restoration stories in American history is playing out in real time.

    Marymere Falls and the Magic of Lake Crescent

    Lake Crescent is the kind of place that makes you understand why Olympic National Park exists. The lake sits at the base of Pyramid Mountain and Storm King, deep and cold and impossibly clear. The water has a blue-green quality that shifts with the light and the weather — on overcast spring mornings it goes almost silver, and on sunny afternoons it turns the color of glacial ice. The lake is one of the deepest in Washington State, and because of that depth and its unique chemistry, it’s home to two subspecies of trout — the Beardslee and the Crescenti — found nowhere else on the planet.

    The Marymere Falls Trail begins at the Storm King Ranger Station area, where the highway touches the lake’s eastern shore. The hike is 1.8 miles round trip, classified as easy to moderate, and leads through a dense cathedral of old-growth Douglas fir, western red cedar, and big-leaf maple. The understory in May is lush and green, with ferns and oxalis covering the forest floor. In spring, the falls carry full snowmelt volume and are genuinely spectacular — the creek drops about 90 feet over a basalt cliff into a mossy grotto that stays cool even on the warmest afternoons.

    This is a popular trail on weekends, and parking at the Storm King area fills up quickly — especially on sunny days. Arriving by 9:30 in the morning is the best strategy. If you want true solitude, a weekday visit is hard to beat. Bring layered clothing no matter the forecast; the old-growth canopy can be surprisingly cool, and weather on the peninsula changes quickly. The trail has some rooty and rocky sections but is manageable for most hikers, including families with older children. There are no fees beyond the standard Olympic National Park entry pass.

    The Elwha River: Watching Nature Write Its Own Comeback Story

    About eight miles east of Lake Crescent, Olympic Hot Springs Road branches north off Highway 101 and winds into the Elwha River Valley — and this is where things get extraordinary. The Elwha Dam and the Glines Canyon Dam were both removed between 2011 and 2014, making it the largest dam removal project in US history at the time. More than a century of blocked fish passage opened back up almost overnight. The results have exceeded what many scientists predicted.

    Chinook, coho, pink, and sockeye salmon — along with steelhead trout — are now moving farther up the Elwha watershed than they have since the early 1900s. In spring the river is running clear and fast with snowmelt, and the salmon runs are active. You may see fish from the trail or the riverbanks, particularly in shallower sections near Madison Falls.

    Madison Falls is the perfect entry point for anyone who isn’t up for a long hike. The parking area is right off Olympic Hot Springs Road, and the falls are a 100-yard walk on a paved, ADA-accessible path — making this genuinely one of the easiest waterfall visits in any national park. The falls drop into a mossy canyon and are beautiful year-round, but spring snowmelt makes them roar. From the Madison Falls parking area, the Elwha River Trail continues north into the valley, and you can walk as far as you like before turning back.

    The riverbanks and former reservoir beds are visibly regenerating. Willows and cottonwoods are reclaiming the sediment flats, native grasses are spreading across what were once lake bottoms, and the whole valley has a quality of wild, active recovery that’s unlike anything else on the peninsula. For families, this combination — a short easy waterfall walk plus a flexible river trail — is essentially perfect. There’s no technical terrain, no serious elevation gain, and wildlife sightings including birds, Roosevelt elk, and salmon are genuinely common in the spring months.

    Plan Your Visit

    Both destinations are managed by Olympic National Park, and an NPS entry pass is required for both. For current road and facility conditions, call the Olympic National Park information line at 360-565-3131 or check nps.gov/olym before heading out. The Storm King Ranger Station at Lake Crescent is open seasonally; staff there can provide current trail conditions and recommendations.

    Getting there: From Port Angeles, take US-101 west. The Storm King trailhead for Marymere Falls is approximately 20 miles from downtown Port Angeles on the south shore of Lake Crescent. For the Elwha, turn north onto Olympic Hot Springs Road from US-101 approximately 8 miles west of Port Angeles — Madison Falls parking is about 2 miles up the road.

    These two stops make a natural half-day or full-day loop. Start with the Elwha and Madison Falls in the morning when parking is easy, then drive out to Lake Crescent for the Marymere Falls hike and a lakeside lunch. Either way, you’ll leave with a much better sense of what makes this corner of the Olympic Peninsula worth every mile of the drive.

  • Belfair Commute Briefing — Friday, May 8, 2026

    Ferry Update

    The Bremerton-Seattle route is running on schedule this Friday morning with no cancellations reported. Riders aboard M/V Chimacum should note that the vessel’s #1 elevator is currently out of service; the second elevator and wide staircases remain accessible. At Colman Dock (Seattle), elevators 1 and 2 remain out of service — Alaskan Way elevator #4 and the Pier 50 elevator are both available. ADA-dependent travelers should notify the ticket seller if you need car-deck elevator access.

    SR-3 / Gorst

    No daytime impacts on SR-3 between Belfair and Gorst this morning. The fish barrier removal project near Sunnyslope Road SW continues with nighttime-only work hours — the AM commute is clear. The major 16-day around-the-clock closure of SR-3 (scheduled for late spring/early summer 2026) has not yet started. No other WSDOT alerts are active for this corridor today.

    PSNS / Bangor Gates

    No public gate alerts or security posture changes reported for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard or Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. Trident Gate operates 24 hours; Trigger Gate hours are Monday–Friday 5:00 AM–7:30 PM. Normal access procedures in effect.

    Hood Canal Bridge — Heads Up Starting May 11

    New this week: SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge will begin overnight full closures (both directions, 10 PM to 5 AM) starting the evening of Monday, May 11, continuing through the morning of Thursday, May 28 (no closure Memorial Day). Contractor crews will replace shock absorbers on the bridge during those nights. No impact on today’s AM commute, but commuters who use the Hood Canal Bridge for late-evening or early-morning travel should plan alternate routes starting next week.

    Weather

    Cloudy through mid-morning in the Belfair/North Mason area, then gradual clearing. High near 65°F. Southwest winds 6–10 mph. No weather advisories or warnings in effect for Mason or Kitsap counties. Visibility is 10 miles as of 4:56 AM at Bremerton National Airport.

    Fuel Prices

    Belfair area fuel remains stable. Safeway is around $4.99/gal, with other stations ranging to $5.59/gal — still below the Washington state average of $5.76/gal.

    Briefing compiled 5:08 AM PDT, Friday, May 8, 2026. Safe travels, North Mason.

  • Lady Bulldogs Walk Off Bainbridge, Punch District Ticket — Bulldogs Sports Roundup, Week of May 8, 2026

    Spring playoff season is arriving in Belfair. North Mason’s Lady Bulldogs delivered the signature moment of the week on Friday, May 8 — a walk-off 6-5 win over Bainbridge Island to close out their home slate and punch their ticket to the postseason.

    Softball: Walk-Off Win Sends Lady Bulldogs to Districts

    The Lady Bulldogs ended their regular season on the best possible note, walking off at home with a 6-5 victory over Bainbridge Island on Friday afternoon in Belfair. The win capped a strong late-season push for North Mason, who entered the week at 10-7 (5-5 Olympic League) after sweeping Sequim and topping Bremerton in late April.

    North Mason will now compete in the 2A District 2/3 tournament at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey. Tournament brackets and game times will be posted on the WIAA website as seeding is finalized. The Lady Bulldogs are in the mix and playing their best ball of the season heading into the postseason.

    Baseball: Regular Season in the Books

    The Bulldogs baseball squad wrapped up their regular season schedule this week with three final contests. North Mason traveled to Bremerton to face Olympic on Tuesday, May 5, hosted Olympic again at home on Wednesday, May 6, and welcomed Klahowya for a non-conference game Thursday, May 7. The Bulldogs entered the week at 7-7 (4-6 Olympic League). District tournament seeding and bracket details will follow through the WIAA 2A District 2/3 portal.

    Track & Field: Riding League Momentum Into Districts

    Coming off a banner showing at the 2A Olympic League Championships — where Adrianna Tupolo won the discus, Adrianne Tupolo took the long jump, and Samantha Neil claimed the pole vault — the Bulldogs track program turns its attention toward district-level competition. The squad also placed 8th out of 30 girls teams at the 66th Shelton Invitational. Watch the North Mason athletics schedule for upcoming district qualifying dates.

    Across the Bridge

    A couple of Highclimbers programs wrapped up this week. The Shelton baseball team honored their seniors in style with an 8-0 shutout of Black Hills on May 5 at Highclimber Field, but saw their season end with a 2-1 loss to Mark Morris in the 2A District IV tournament on May 8. The Shelton boys soccer team closed their home schedule on senior night with a 1-0 win over Black Hills on May 6 before their season came to a close as well. Congratulations to all the Highclimbers seniors on strong careers.

    Looking Ahead

    The biggest date on the calendar: the Lady Bulldogs head to districts next week at the Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey. Baseball district brackets are also imminent. Over at Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Track Night in America returns on May 19 — and the marquee MotoAmerica Superbikes event is set for June 26-28.

    Related Coverage from the Belfair Bugle

  • The Operator Who Reads the Dashboard Out Loud

    The Operator Who Reads the Dashboard Out Loud

    Last refreshed: May 15, 2026

    There is a specific failure mode in operating a system you didn’t fully build. The operator looks at the dashboard. The operator recognizes the numbers. The operator does not internalize what the numbers mean.

    Most operators using AI systems at scale are doing this. The dashboard is full. The metrics are present. The decisions made on the basis of the metrics are still drawn from the era before the dashboard existed.

    The reading vs. the seeing

    Reading is the act of moving the eye over the data and confirming that the data is what was expected. Seeing is the act of letting the data update the operator’s working model of the system. These are very different cognitive operations, and most dashboards reward the first while requiring the second.

    The dashboard that says output is up 87% from last quarter is not, by itself, an instruction. It is a question. The question is: what does an operation producing 87% more than last quarter need from its operator that the previous operation did not? That question is rarely on the dashboard. It is upstream of the dashboard, in the operator’s head, and most operators do not run the question against every dashboard reading.

    The defense that looks like attention

    One of the things that happens in operating a system that has inflected is that the dashboard becomes a comfort object. The operator checks it more frequently. The numbers continue to be good. The frequent checking feels like attention to the system. It is not. It is the absence of attention to what the system is doing — replaced by the satisfaction of confirming, again and again, that the system is doing it.

    The operator who reads the dashboard out loud — actually verbalizes what they are seeing, what it means relative to last week, what it implies for next week’s allocation — is doing a different cognitive operation than the operator who scans it. The verbalization forces the model to update. The scan does not.

    Why this matters more in 2026 than it did before

    AI systems amplify whatever cognitive habit the operator brings to them. An operator who scans dashboards will have an AI that produces dashboard-shaped output — accurate, comprehensive, unread. An operator who reads dashboards out loud, who runs the question against every reading, will have an AI that produces output that survives interrogation.

    The infrastructure of attention is built upstream of the system. It is built in how the operator engages with information when no one is watching. Whatever that habit is, the AI will compound it. The dashboard that reads itself is not coming. The operator who reads the dashboard is the one whose system pays back.

  • Moving to Valley View-Sylvan Crest in Everett: What New Residents Need to Know About the Fastest-Moving Market in South Everett

    If you are relocating to Everett and Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge is on your list, here is what you need to know before you submit an offer: the housing market moves fast, the neighborhood is intentionally isolated, and the views are real. This is the honest guide for people considering moving to Valley View in 2026.

    The Market Reality: You Need to Be Ready to Move Quickly

    Valley View homes sell in an average of 12 days. The national average is approximately 55 days. If you are relocating from out of state or even from across the Puget Sound, that timeline means you cannot afford a three-week decision process once the right home appears.

    The median sale price in Valley View is approximately $675,000. That positions it in Everett’s upper-mid tier — more expensive than Casino Road or parts of southeast Everett along SE Everett Mall Way, but accessible compared to Rucker Hill or the most premium downtown-adjacent Everett properties. At $675,000, Valley View competes directly with comparable suburban neighborhoods in Lynnwood, Bothell, and Shoreline — but with views those neighborhoods typically cannot match.

    Practical relocation advice: if you are serious about Valley View, get pre-approved before you start touring, identify your non-negotiables upfront (views vs. square footage vs. flat lot vs. cul-de-sac position), and be ready to make an offer within 24–48 hours of finding the right home. Working with an agent who has active Valley View relationships is a meaningful advantage in a 12-day market.

    What You Are Actually Getting

    Valley View is a plateau community of approximately 680 residents — small enough to feel like a neighborhood, large enough to have an active neighborhood association. Streets are curved and quiet, many end in cul-de-sacs, and the topography means some homes have direct sightlines to the Cascade Mountains while others look out over the Snohomish Valley.

    There is one road in: 75th Street Southeast over an Interstate 5 overpass. That single access point creates the neighborhood’s defining character — no cut-through traffic, no commuter shortcuts, no delivery trucks using Valley View as a bypass. Everyone who enters is a resident or their guest. For families with children, this matters.

    Housing stock is predominantly single-family homes, with some multi-family options. The neighborhood is well-kept — it consistently ranks as one of the tidier residential areas in south Everett in city neighborhood assessments.

    The Tradeoffs: What Valley View Is Not

    Valley View has no walkable retail. No coffee shop, no grocery, no restaurant inside the neighborhood boundary. Everyday errands require a drive. The nearest major shopping corridor is SE Everett Mall Way, approximately 1–2 miles from the neighborhood via 75th Street and Highway 99.

    There are no bus stops within Valley View. If you do not drive, this neighborhood is not practical. The nearest transit stop is less than a mile away on Broadway, but that walk crosses the I-5 overpass — exposed, especially in winter. Everett Station (Sounder, Amtrak, regional buses) is about 4 miles away and requires a car to reach from Valley View.

    Compared to Seattle, Bellevue, or Tacoma: Valley View offers more land and more quiet for less money, but with more car dependency than urban neighborhoods in those cities. Compared to Snohomish County alternatives like Bothell or Mill Creek: Valley View is closer to downtown Everett’s emerging scene, closer to Boeing’s Paine Field campus, and has better Cascade views than most comparable price-tier options.

    Schools

    Valley View falls within the Everett Public Schools district, led by Dr. Ian Saltzman, who has served as superintendent for seven years. The district recorded one of Washington State’s strongest graduation rates in recent years and earned regional recognition for its academic progress. Specific schools serving Valley View families include elementary options in the south Everett attendance zones — check everettsd.org for current boundary maps, as attendance zones are updated periodically.

    Commute Context

    For Boeing Paine Field workers: Valley View is approximately 5 miles south of the Paine Field campus. Via I-5 North, the commute is 10–15 minutes under normal conditions — one of the shorter commute distances of any Everett neighborhood relative to Paine Field. This makes Valley View a legitimate consideration for aerospace workers who want to maximize neighborhood quality within a 15-minute radius of the factory.

    For Seattle commuters: Downtown Seattle is approximately 26 miles south via I-5. The Sounder commuter train from Everett Station (4 miles from Valley View) reaches King Street Station in under an hour. The park-and-ride at Everett Station gives Valley View residents a functional transit commute to Seattle — as long as they account for the car trip to the station.

    Frequently Asked Questions: Moving to Valley View in Everett

    Related Exploring Everett coverage: Casino Road South Everett Complete Guide | Moving to Everett 2026 Complete Guide | Boys & Girls Club Snohomish County Guide

  • Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge: Everett’s Complete 2026 Neighborhood Guide — The Hilltop Community With One Road In

    Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge is Everett’s most self-contained neighborhood — a hilltop plateau in southeast Everett with approximately 680 residents, one road in, panoramic Cascade Mountain views, and a housing market that moves faster than almost anywhere else in the city. Here is the complete neighborhood guide.

    One Road In: The Feature That Defines Valley View

    The City of Everett officially designates Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge as a single neighborhood because that’s how residents experience it: one continuous, well-kept plateau community in the southeast corner of the city, roughly five miles from downtown Everett.

    The defining fact about Valley View is its access. There is one road in: 75th Street Southeast, over an Interstate 5 overpass. The highway that most Puget Sound drivers barely notice is, for Valley View, the defining boundary. Nobody passes through Valley View on the way to somewhere else. Everyone who is there chose to be there.

    That single-access geography shapes everything about the neighborhood: the quiet, the tight-knit character, the lack of cut-through traffic, and the unusually strong sense of community identity for a neighborhood of its size. The plateau is roughly triangular, defined on two sides by natural terrain and on the third by I-5.

    Housing: Fastest-Moving Market in South Everett

    Valley View has one of the fastest-moving housing markets in southeast Everett. Homes sell in an average of 12 days — well below the national average of approximately 55 days and significantly faster than many other Everett neighborhoods. The median sale price is approximately $675,000.

    The housing stock is predominantly single-family homes, with some multi-family apartments and duplexes. Streets are curved, many have cul-de-sacs, and the plateau’s topography means homes on the eastern side have sightlines that open to the Cascade Mountains while others face the Snohomish Valley below.

    Because demand consistently exceeds inventory in Valley View, buyers who want to purchase here face competitive offers. The 12-day average market time is not a floor — it’s driven by repeat buyers who know what they want and submit quickly when it appears.

    The Views: What Valley View Is Actually Named For

    The name is literal. From the higher elevations of the plateau, Valley View offers panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains to the east and the Snohomish Valley below. On clear days — which are common from late April through October — the views include the full spine of the central Cascades, including peaks above Everett’s eastern watershed.

    This is not an incidental amenity. For residents who chose Valley View specifically, the views are the primary differentiator from any other south Everett neighborhood. The combination of Cascade views, quiet streets, and community isolation is what sustains demand and keeps the 12-day market time consistent even when the broader Everett market softens.

    Community Life and Neighborhood Character

    Valley View residents meet monthly — on the third Tuesday of each month at the South Precinct Police Station, 7:00 PM, with no meetings in July, August, or December. The neighborhood association structure reflects the community’s engagement: a neighborhood this small and this geographically bounded tends to develop strong local identity.

    The City of Everett’s official neighborhood page for Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge is at everettwa.gov/559. Civic representation falls under Everett’s District 2 (Council Vice President Paula Rhyne and at-large seat).

    Transportation: The I-5 Tradeoff

    Valley View has no bus stops within the neighborhood. The nearest transit stop is less than a mile away via 75th Street to a Broadway connection. Everett Station — with Sounder commuter rail, Amtrak, regional bus lines, and a park-and-ride lot — is approximately 4 miles from the neighborhood.

    For car commuters, I-5 is the immediate corridor. Downtown Seattle is approximately 26 miles south. Paine Field (Boeing’s main campus) is approximately 5 miles north. Downtown Everett is roughly 5 miles northwest. The access to I-5 is Valley View’s transit advantage: the same highway that creates the neighborhood’s boundary is also its fastest on-ramp to the regional network.

    The lack of bus service within the neighborhood means Valley View is effectively a car-dependent community. Residents who rely on transit for daily commuting should account for the 15-minute walk (or short drive) to a bus stop as a regular feature of their schedule.

    What Valley View Is Not

    Valley View is not a neighborhood for people who want walkable urban amenities close by. There are no restaurants, coffee shops, or retail inside the neighborhood. The nearest grocery options are along Broadway or SE Everett Mall Way. The quiet and the views come with a tradeoff: everyday errands require a car trip out.

    This is not a criticism — it’s a clarification for anyone researching Valley View as a relocation option. The neighborhood’s character is specifically suburban, specifically quiet, and specifically removed from the day-to-day commercial activity of Everett’s busier corridors. That is the point.

    Frequently Asked Questions: Valley View-Sylvan Crest-Larimer Ridge in Everett

    Related Exploring Everett coverage: Casino Road South Everett Complete Guide | Moving to Everett 2026 Complete Guide | Boys & Girls Club Snohomish County Guide