Category: Exploring Everett

Everett, Washington is in the middle of something big. A $1 billion waterfront transformation. A Boeing workforce that built the world’s largest commercial jets. A port city with a downtown that’s finally catching up to its potential. A Navy presence at Naval Station Everett. A comedy and arts scene punching above its weight. And neighborhoods — Riverside, Silver Lake, Downtown, Bayside — each with their own identity and story.

Exploring Everett is Tygart Media’s hyperlocal coverage vertical for Snohomish County’s largest city. We cover the waterfront redevelopment, Boeing and Paine Field, city hall, the food and arts scene, real estate, neighborhoods, and everything in between — written for people who live here, work here, or are paying attention to what’s coming.

Coverage categories include: Everett News, Waterfront Development, Boeing & Aerospace, Business, Arts & Culture, Food & Drink, Real Estate, Neighborhoods, Government, Schools, Public Safety, Events, and Outdoors.

Exploring Everett content is also published at exploringeverett.com.

  • AquaSox Home Opener Was Rough, But Here’s Why the 2026 Season Is Still Worth Getting Excited About

    Quick Answer: The Everett AquaSox opened their 2026 home schedule on April 7 with a tough 17-2 loss to the Tri-City Dust Devils. Don’t panic — this is the defending Northwest League champion team with five top-30 Mariners prospects, and one rough night doesn’t define a long season.

    Look, nobody said defending a championship was going to be easy. The Everett AquaSox opened their 2026 home schedule Tuesday night at Everett Memorial Stadium and ran into a buzzsaw — dropping their home opener to the Tri-City Dust Devils 17-2 in front of 1,414 fans. It was ugly. It was not representative of what this team is capable of. And if you’re an AquaSox fan, you already know: one game in April does not a season make.

    Here’s what actually matters as the AquaSox settle into their first homestand of 2026.

    What Happened Opening Night

    The numbers were rough. Tri-City jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, extended it to 10-0 through three, and kept piling on. By the time the night was over, the Dust Devils had put up 17 runs against an AquaSox pitching staff that just didn’t have it on Tuesday.

    For Everett, the highlights were few but real. Josh Caron grounded a triple down the left-field line in the fourth inning — a reminder of the kind of contact hitters the AquaSox have on this roster. Luke Stevenson drove in the first AquaSox run with a sacrifice fly. And in the bottom of the eighth, Jonny Farmelo launched a 381-foot solo home run to make it 17-2.

    It’s a box score you’d rather forget. But before you write off this team, let’s talk about what they’re actually working with.

    The 2026 AquaSox Roster Is Stacked With Mariners Prospects

    The Everett AquaSox roster for 2026 is legitimately exciting for anyone who follows the Mariners’ farm system. This is a team built to compete — 22 returners from the 2025 Northwest League Championship squad, plus five of the Mariners’ Top-30 prospects and eight newcomers.

    Here’s who to watch this summer at Everett Memorial Stadium:

    Jonny Farmelo — Outfielder, Mariners No. 6 Prospect

    Farmelo is the name everyone in the Mariners system is talking about. A left-handed hitter with real power (that 381-foot blast on Opening Night was no fluke), he’s back in Everett for his second taste of High-A baseball after battling through an ACL tear in 2024 and a stress reaction in his ribs in 2025. In 29 games last year, he hit .230 with 13 extra-base hits and 16 RBIs. If he stays healthy in 2026, expect those numbers to look a lot better over a full season. He has the tools to move quickly through the system.

    Felnin Celesten — Shortstop, Mariners No. 7 Prospect

    Celesten is one of the most intriguing prospects in the entire Mariners organization — a switch-hitter at shortstop with serious upside. He got a brief taste of High-A last August (11 games), and now he’s back for a full season. The switch-hitting ability alone makes him valuable; add the defensive profile at short and you’ve got a guy who could be a key piece of Seattle’s future middle infield. Watch him closely in this homestand.

    Luke Stevenson — Catcher, Top-10 Prospect

    Stevenson drove in the AquaSox’s first run of the home season on Tuesday. He’s a catching prospect in the Mariners’ top 10 — a position where Seattle is actively building for the future. Behind the plate and at the dish, Stevenson is someone to follow all season long.

    Carlos Jimenez — Outfielder, Mariners No. 21 Prospect

    The 21st-ranked prospect in Seattle’s system, Jimenez adds another outfield bat to an already deep lineup. He’s one of the newcomers joining the returning championship core, and he’s coming in with something to prove.

    Lucas Kelly — Right-Handed Pitcher, Mariners No. 29 Prospect

    The Mariners need pitching depth like every organization does, and Kelly is one of the arms to watch this summer. On a night like Opening Night when the staff struggled, it’s easy to be critical — but over a full season, seeing how prospects like Kelly develop is exactly why you watch High-A baseball.

    22 Champions Are Back — And That Matters

    This isn’t a retooling project. Twenty-two players who won the 2025 Northwest League Championship are back in Everett uniforms this season. That’s continuity, that’s chemistry, and that’s a roster that already knows what it takes to win in the Northwest League.

    Defending champions in minor league baseball always carry a target on their back — opposing teams game-plan for them, and there’s added pressure every night. One blowout in a six-game series at home doesn’t change who this team is.

    For context: the AquaSox went 3-3 in their opening road series in Spokane before returning home. They picked up their first win of 2026 with a 3-2 victory over the Spokane Indians, powered by home runs from Josh Caron, Carter Dorighi, and Jonny Farmelo. The pitching showed its depth in that game, with Evan Truitt going 4.2 innings and Christian Little adding two shutout frames with five strikeouts.

    These guys can play ball.

    The 2026 Home Schedule: What’s Coming Up

    The AquaSox play Tri-City again through Sunday, April 12, at Everett Memorial Stadium. After that, they’ll continue the home schedule through the summer. Everett Memorial Stadium remains one of the best places in the Pacific Northwest to watch live baseball — affordable tickets, a great atmosphere, and now a roster loaded with legitimate Mariners prospects worth tracking for years to come.

    Tickets and the full schedule are available at milb.com/everett.

    Tuesday was one bad night. The season is 132 games long. Come out to the ballpark and watch what this group can do when everything clicks — because with this much prospect talent, it’s going to be a fun summer in Everett.

    Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 AquaSox

    What was the AquaSox’s opening night result in 2026?

    The Everett AquaSox lost to the Tri-City Dust Devils 17-2 at Everett Memorial Stadium on April 7, 2026, in front of 1,414 fans. It was a tough start to the home season.

    Who are the top prospects on the 2026 AquaSox roster?

    The AquaSox have five Mariners Top-30 prospects: outfielder Jonny Farmelo (No. 6), shortstop Felnin Celesten (No. 7), catcher Luke Stevenson (top-10), outfielder Carlos Jimenez (No. 21), and pitcher Lucas Kelly (No. 29).

    How many returning players are on the 2026 AquaSox from the championship team?

    22 players from the 2025 Northwest League Championship squad are back on the 2026 AquaSox roster, along with 8 newcomers, for a total of 30 players.

    What league do the AquaSox play in?

    The Everett AquaSox compete in the Northwest League as the Seattle Mariners’ High-A affiliate in Minor League Baseball.

    How can I buy AquaSox tickets?

    Tickets are available at milb.com/everett. The AquaSox play at Everett Memorial Stadium Field in Everett, WA.

    When is the 2026 AquaSox home opener series?

    The AquaSox’s first home series runs April 7-12 against the Tri-City Dust Devils at Everett Memorial Stadium.

  • Silvertips Enter Round 2 as WHL’s Hottest Team: Get to Angel of the Winds Arena This Friday

    Quick Answer: The Everett Silvertips swept the Portland Winterhawks 4-0 in Round 1 of the 2026 WHL Playoffs, outscoring them 25-5. They now face the Kelowna Rockets in Round 2, with Games 1 and 2 at Angel of the Winds Arena on Friday, April 10, and Saturday, April 11.

    The Everett Silvertips swept the Portland Winterhawks out of the playoffs like they weren’t even there. Twenty-five goals. Four games. Zero losses. Now, the best team in the Western Hockey League all season is heading into Round 2 of the 2026 WHL Playoffs — and the party starts right here at Angel of the Winds Arena this Friday night.

    If you haven’t been paying attention to this Silvertips squad all year, now is the time to start. This is a team playing playoff hockey at a different level than everyone else.

    The First Round Was a Statement

    Let’s recap what the Silvertips just did to Portland, because it deserves a moment.

    Game 1: 8-1. Eight goals. They didn’t ease into the playoffs — they detonated.

    Game 2: 4-1. Four unanswered goals after falling behind.

    Game 3: 7-0. Seven different skaters scored. A shutout. A statement.

    Game 4: Down 2-0 in Portland, they scored six unanswered to win 6-3. Forward Zackary Shantz finished with a three-point night (1G, 2A) to seal the comeback.

    Final tally: 25 goals for, 5 against in a four-game sweep. The Silvertips outscored Portland by twenty goals. That’s not a series — that’s a message to the rest of the Western Conference. This was the Silvertips’ first playoff series sweep since 2016 — and fittingly, it was also against the Winterhawks back then.

    What Makes the 2026 Silvertips So Dangerous

    The Silvertips entered the postseason as the regular season’s top team — winners of the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s best record-holder — and the third-highest scoring team in the league. They’ve got a balanced attack that makes them nearly impossible to key on.

    Matias Vanhanen and Julius Miettinen have been the offensive engines in the playoffs so far, combining for 13 points (7 goals) through four games. Both players carried their strong regular-season form right into the postseason without missing a beat.

    Carter Bear is the name to watch in this series. Against Kelowna in the regular season, Bear was flat-out dominant — 8 points on 5 goals and 3 assists in just four games. If that production carries over, the Rockets are going to have a very hard time containing him.

    The Silvertips don’t just have one line. Seven different goal-scorers in Game 3 tells you everything you need to know about how this team is built.

    The Opponent: Kelowna Rockets Bring Playoff Motivation

    The Kelowna Rockets are not a team to sleep on. They swept the Kamloops Blazers in Round 1 and they’ll be playing with extra motivation as the host of the 2026 Memorial Cup. For Kelowna, every game this spring is a warmup for the biggest junior hockey tournament on the continent being played in their own building.

    The Rockets’ top weapons are Vojtec Cihar and Tij Iginla, who combined for 11 goals and 20 points in the first round against Kamloops. Both players got hot at exactly the right time.

    But here’s the thing: the Silvertips dominated Kelowna during the regular season. Everett went 4-0 against the Rockets in their regular-season matchups. Kelowna knows they’re facing an uphill battle — their own local press is acknowledging as much.

    2026 WHL Playoffs Round 2 Schedule: Silvertips vs. Rockets

    This is your window to be part of something special in person. The series opens in Everett with back-to-back home games:

    • Game 1 — Friday, April 10 at Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett
    • Game 2 — Saturday, April 11 at Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett
    • Game 3 — Tuesday, April 14 at Prospera Place, Kelowna
    • Game 4 — Wednesday, April 15 at Prospera Place, Kelowna
    • Game 5 (if needed) — Friday, April 17
    • Game 6 (if needed) — Sunday, April 19
    • Game 7 (if needed) — Tuesday, April 21

    Angel of the Winds Arena playoff hockey is some of the best live sports entertainment in the Pacific Northwest. The building gets loud, the energy is real, and the Silvertips have given their fans every reason to pack the house this weekend. Tickets are available at everettsilvertips.com and through the Angel of the Winds Arena box office.

    Why This Run Feels Different

    Being the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy winner means you had the best record in the WHL all season. That’s not luck — that’s consistency across 68 regular-season games. And then to open the playoffs by outscoring your opponent 25-5 in a sweep? That’s dominance.

    The Silvertips have the offensive depth to grind teams down, the defensive structure to protect leads, and the playoff experience to handle adversity. That 6-3 comeback in Game 4 at Portland — down 2-0 on the road — is the mentality of a team that believes it’s going to win.

    Kelowna has the motivation of the Memorial Cup and two dangerous forwards who can change games. This should be a quality second round. But right now, the Silvertips are the hottest team in the WHL, and they’re playing their next two games at home.

    Get to the arena Friday night.

    Frequently Asked Questions About the Silvertips 2026 Playoff Run

    When do the Silvertips play next in the 2026 WHL Playoffs?

    Game 1 of the second round against the Kelowna Rockets is Friday, April 10, at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, WA. Game 2 follows on Saturday, April 11, at the same venue.

    How did the Silvertips do in Round 1 of the 2026 WHL Playoffs?

    The Silvertips swept the Portland Winterhawks 4-0, winning 8-1, 4-1, 7-0, and 6-3. They scored 25 goals while allowing only 5 across the series.

    Who are the Silvertips’ key players to watch in Round 2?

    Matias Vanhanen and Julius Miettinen lead the offense with 6 points each in the playoffs. Carter Bear had 8 points (5G, 3A) against Kelowna in the regular season and is a major threat in this series.

    Who are the Kelowna Rockets and why are they dangerous?

    Kelowna is the 2026 Memorial Cup host and swept Kamloops in Round 1. Their key forwards Vojtec Cihar and Tij Iginla combined for 11 goals in the first round. They’re motivated and battle-tested.

    What is the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy?

    The Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy is awarded to the WHL team with the best regular-season record. The Silvertips won it for the 2025-26 season, making them the No. 1 overall seed in the WHL Playoffs.

    Where can I buy Everett Silvertips playoff tickets?

    Tickets are available at everettsilvertips.com (Playoff Ticket Central section) and through the Angel of the Winds Arena box office at angelofthewindsarena.com, or by calling 1-425-322-2600.

  • Naval Station Everett’s Fight for Its Future After the Frigate Program Collapse

    Q: What happened to the frigates coming to Naval Station Everett?
    A: The Navy cancelled the Constellation-class frigate program in November 2025 after years of cost overruns and construction delays, ending a plan to homeport 12 new ships in Everett. Local leaders are now fighting to ensure the base secures a role in whatever comes next.

    Naval Station Everett’s Fight for Its Future After the Frigate Program Collapse

    For years, Naval Station Everett had a clearly defined destiny: become the Pacific homeport for 12 brand-new Constellation-class guided-missile frigates, transforming the base into one of the most significant surface combatant hubs on the West Coast. The frigates would bring thousands of additional sailors and their families to Snohomish County, generate billions in economic activity, and cement Everett’s identity as a Navy town well into the 21st century.

    Then, on November 25, 2025, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan posted a message on social media: the Constellation-class frigate program was over.

    The cancellation sent shockwaves through the Everett community — and set off a scramble that’s still playing out today.

    What Happened to the Constellation-Class Frigates

    The Constellation-class frigate program, designated FFG-62, was supposed to be the Navy’s answer to a capability gap in its surface fleet: a capable, affordable, medium-sized warship that could be produced faster and cheaper than the larger DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Congress funded the program starting in 2020, and in 2021 the Navy selected Naval Station Everett as the future homeport for all 12 ships.

    The problems began almost immediately. Construction of the lead ship, USS Constellation (FFG-62), began at Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s shipyard in Wisconsin — but the program struggled from the start to complete its functional design. Without design stability, construction stalled. By May 2024, the Government Accountability Office found that the first ship was running approximately three years behind its original schedule, with delivery pushed to at least April 2029 instead of the originally planned July 2026.

    Costs climbed alongside the delays. The lead ship had gained nearly 759 tons of additional weight compared to original specifications, and the price tag ballooned. Secretary Phelan’s blunt assessment: “The Constellation-class frigate was canceled because, candidly, it didn’t make sense anymore to build it. It was 80 percent of the cost of a destroyer and 60 percent of the capability.”

    Construction on the first two ships — USS Constellation (FFG-62) and one follow-on hull — will continue to completion. But homeporting decisions for those ships have not been made, and may not be made until much closer to their eventual commissioning dates. The remaining ships on order have been cancelled entirely.

    What It Means for Everett

    Naval Station Everett currently employs approximately 6,000 military personnel and 500 civilian workers, making it one of Snohomish County’s largest employers. The base’s economic footprint touches everything from local housing markets to small businesses that cater to military families.

    The frigate program had been expected to dramatically expand that footprint. New personnel would have created demand for thousands of additional housing units, strained and eventually grown local schools, and generated ripple effects throughout the regional economy. The Navy had already secured $19 million from Congress to build 88 new family-style military homes at the Navy Support Complex in Smokey Point — 11 miles north of the main base in Marysville — specifically to prepare for the incoming frigate crews and their families. That construction was anticipated to begin in early 2026.

    With the program cancelled, the region now faces a more uncertain equation. The housing investment may still proceed, but the population surge that justified it is on hold. And the question of what Naval Station Everett’s long-term mission will look like — with or without new frigates — is very much unanswered.

    Everett Leaders Push Back

    The response from Snohomish County’s political and economic leadership has been forceful, if not always optimistic.

    Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA), whose district includes Naval Station Everett and who has spent years advocating for the base on Capitol Hill, called the cancellation “disheartening” but immediately redirected his focus toward the future. In an interview in December 2025, Larsen said Naval Station Everett is “uniquely situated” to receive whatever next-generation frigates the Navy ultimately develops — pointing to the same geographic, logistical, and strategic advantages that originally made Everett the Navy’s choice for the Constellation-class ships.

    Larsen has since been pressing defense officials to ensure that Everett is at the front of the line when homeporting decisions are made for the Navy’s new FF(X) program — the replacement frigate concept based on the Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutter. Congress has already appropriated $242 million in long-lead funding for the first FF(X) ships, and the program is moving forward, though no homeporting decisions have been announced.

    On the local advocacy front, the Economic Alliance Snohomish County has re-activated its Military Affairs Committee — a group that had previously gone dormant — specifically to serve as what organizers called “a coordinated regional voice that understands both the national security implications and the local economic impacts” of decisions affecting the base. Representatives from the Port of Everett, the City of Everett, Snohomish County government, and the Economic Alliance have all been making trips to Washington, D.C., to make the case for Naval Station Everett’s continued relevance.

    The FF(X) Program: Everett’s Next Best Hope

    The Navy’s replacement frigate concept, officially called FF(X), represents a significant philosophical shift from the Constellation-class approach. Rather than designing an entirely new ship from scratch — the approach that led to the Constellation’s cost and timeline disasters — the FF(X) will be based on an existing, proven design: the Coast Guard’s 418-foot Legend-class National Security Cutter, built by Huntington Ingalls Industries.

    The theory is straightforward: use a design that’s already been built, add naval combat systems, and avoid the years of engineering uncertainty that plagued the Constellation program. The FF(X) program was announced in December 2025, with Huntington Ingalls Industries named as the builder.

    No homeporting decisions have been made. The first FF(X) ships won’t be ready for years. But the Navy’s shift to a more producible design gives Everett advocates something concrete to fight for — and a program that at least has a realistic path to completion.

    What the Base Means to This Community

    Beyond the economics and the politics, it’s worth pausing to remember what Naval Station Everett actually is: a community. Roughly 6,000 service members and their families live, work, and raise children in Snohomish County. They fill the bleachers at high school football games. They shop at local businesses. Their spouses navigate the particular challenges of military life — frequent moves, long deployments, career uncertainty — often far from extended family.

    The Everett Vet Center, located at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, provides confidential counseling and support for veterans, service members, and their families. The Snohomish County Veterans’ Assistance Program serves as a single portal for veterans seeking help with emergency financial assistance, employment, and benefits navigation. These aren’t abstract institutions — they’re the connective tissue of a military community that has made its home here.

    Whatever happens with frigates and fleet allocations in the years ahead, that community isn’t going anywhere. The men and women of Naval Station Everett serve with distinction. Their families carry significant burdens with quiet strength. And the people of Everett have, by and large, embraced them as neighbors.

    That relationship is worth fighting for — which is exactly what Everett’s leaders say they intend to do.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Naval Station Everett at risk of closing?

    There are no current indications of closure. The base remains active with approximately 6,000 military personnel and 500 civilian employees. While the cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate program is a setback, local and congressional leaders are actively advocating for the base to receive future naval assets.

    What happened to the 12 frigates that were supposed to come to Everett?

    The Constellation-class frigate program was cancelled by the Secretary of the Navy in November 2025 due to construction delays and cost overruns. Only the first two ships (FFG-62 and FFG-63) will be completed; the remaining 10 planned ships have been cancelled.

    Will Everett still get new ships?

    It’s possible but not confirmed. The Navy has launched a new FF(X) frigate program based on the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter design. No homeporting decisions have been made, but Rep. Rick Larsen and other local leaders are advocating for Naval Station Everett to be a priority homeport.

    What is the FF(X) frigate?

    The FF(X) is the Navy’s next-generation small surface combatant, intended to replace the cancelled Constellation-class. It will be built by Huntington Ingalls Industries and based on the Legend-class National Security Cutter design. Congress approved $242 million in long-lead funding for the program in early 2026.

    What military housing is being built near Naval Station Everett?

    Congress approved $19 million to construct 88 new family-style military homes at the Navy Support Complex in Smokey Point (Marysville), originally intended to house families of incoming frigate crews. The status of that construction in light of the frigate cancellation has not been formally announced.

    How does Naval Station Everett affect the local economy?

    The base employs approximately 6,000 military personnel and 500 civilian workers, making it one of Snohomish County’s largest employers. Military families’ spending, housing needs, and community engagement generate significant economic activity throughout the region.

    What is the Economic Alliance Snohomish County doing about the frigate cancellation?

    The Economic Alliance has reactivated its Military Affairs Committee to advocate for the base at the federal level, coordinating with the Port of Everett, City of Everett, and Snohomish County to present a unified regional voice in Washington, D.C.

  • Boeing 777X Production Flight Targeting April from Paine Field: What It Means for Everett

    A Milestone Years in the Making

    What is the Boeing 777X first production flight? Boeing is targeting April 2026 for the first flight of a production-configured 777-9 aircraft from Paine Field in Everett, Washington. This milestone — the first time a delivery-standard 777X will take to the air — is a required step in the FAA certification process for the world’s largest twin-engine passenger jet.

    After more than six years of delays, billions in development charges, and enough setbacks to fill a book, Boeing’s 777X program is approaching a moment the aviation world has been waiting for: the first flight of an actual production aircraft.

    Boeing is targeting April 2026 for that flight, which will originate from Paine Field in Everett — the same airfield where generations of Boeing widebody jets have taken their first steps into the sky. The aircraft is a 777-9 variant, destined for launch customer Lufthansa, and it has been undergoing fuel system checks and engine testing at Boeing’s fuel docks on the Paine Field flight line.

    For Everett, this is more than an aviation industry milestone. It’s a reminder of why this city, this campus, and this workforce matter to global aviation.

    What Makes This Flight Different

    Boeing has been flying 777X test aircraft for years. The first 777X flight happened in January 2020, and the company has accumulated thousands of hours of test flight data with a fleet of prototype aircraft. But those earlier jets were built specifically for testing — modified from production-standard in various ways to support the certification process.

    This April flight would be different. The aircraft scheduled to take off from Paine Field is a production-configured 777-9 — built to the same specification as jets that would eventually carry passengers. Regulators require this step. The FAA must see a delivery-standard aircraft fly before it can grant Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) for production jets, which would then allow FAA pilots to enter the cockpit for the final stages of certification flying.

    In simple terms: all the test flying done up to this point has been prologue. The April flight is where the certification clock really starts ticking on a production 777X.

    The 777X: What It Is

    The 777-9 is the larger of two planned 777X variants (the smaller 777-8 will follow later). It is, by most measures, the most capable large twin-engine passenger jet ever designed.

    The aircraft spans 71.8 meters in wingspan — but its distinctive folding wingtips retract to 64.8 meters for gate compatibility at airports not built for a jet this size. It is powered by the GE9X engine, currently the world’s largest commercial turbofan. A typical 777-9 configuration seats around 426 passengers in a two-class layout, though airline configurations will vary.

    Airlines including Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific have been waiting on 777X orders. The aircraft has more than 540 firm orders — a backlog that represents hundreds of billions of dollars in potential revenue for Boeing, if and when the program achieves certification and delivery.

    The Road That Got Here

    Honesty requires acknowledging how difficult the path to this April moment has been. The 777X was originally projected to enter service in 2020. It is now expected to reach airlines no earlier than 2027 — a seven-year slip from initial projections.

    The delays have accumulated from multiple directions. A GE9X engine blade issue discovered during early testing required design changes and grounding of the test fleet. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the aviation market so severely that Boeing and airlines briefly discussed delaying the program voluntarily. The global 737 MAX crisis — stemming from two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 — consumed enormous company and regulatory bandwidth, slowing every program Boeing was running. And then came the 2024 IAM machinists’ strike, which idled the Everett factory for weeks during a critical phase.

    The program has generated more than $15 billion in development charges, making it one of the most expensive commercial aircraft development programs in history.

    Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has been characteristically candid about where the program stands. “The mountain of work is still there,” he acknowledged in recent months, noting that the company is “falling behind on certification.” Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has publicly confirmed that his airline does not expect 777X delivery until Q1 2027 at the earliest.

    What April Means — And What It Doesn’t

    A successful April production flight would not mean the 777X is certified. It would not mean deliveries are imminent. What it would mean is that Boeing has cleared one of the final procedural hurdles required before the FAA can assign its pilots to conduct the certification test flights that form the basis of a type certificate.

    If the flight goes well, Boeing expects the FAA to grant TIA for production-configured aircraft by the second half of 2026. That would enable a final certification push — additional flight hours, systems testing, and the formal regulatory review — that Boeing hopes concludes before the end of 2026. Delivery to Lufthansa, pending airline readiness and the logistics of preparing the first handover aircraft, would then follow in early 2027.

    There is also a GE Aerospace engine matter in the background — a potential component issue that was flagged recently. Boeing and GE have both indicated they do not expect it to affect the 2027 delivery timeline, but it is worth monitoring.

    Paine Field: Where History Gets Made

    The choice of location — Paine Field — is not incidental. Boeing’s Everett factory has a runway complex capable of handling the world’s heaviest commercial aircraft, and it is where virtually every Boeing widebody has made its first flight. The 747’s inaugural flight departed from here in 1969. The 777’s first flight was here in 1994. The 787’s first flight lifted off from Paine Field in 2009.

    The 777X’s production first flight will add another chapter to that history. For Everett residents who have grown up watching enormous jets bank over the Cascade foothills on their way back around for landing, April could bring one of those days worth watching the sky.

    The Everett Workforce Behind the 777X

    The production 777-9 sitting at Boeing’s Paine Field fuel docks didn’t assemble itself. It was built by the machinists, engineers, quality inspectors, and support workers who make up the Everett campus workforce — members of IAM District 751 and SPEEA, the engineers’ union, along with thousands of non-union Boeing employees.

    The 777X has been a complex program for the Everett workforce, not only because of the jet’s technical ambitions but because of the uncertainty that prolonged delays create for workers and their families. Every month of slip means months more of holding pattern — not knowing when hiring will accelerate, when overtime will be available, when the program’s full production rhythm will arrive.

    A successful April production flight doesn’t resolve that uncertainty overnight. But it is a real step toward the moment when the 777X transitions from an aspirational program to a delivering one — and when the Everett factory’s newest and most capable jet becomes part of the daily rhythm of this city’s most defining industry.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When will the Boeing 777X first production flight happen?
    Boeing is targeting April 2026 for the first flight of a production-configured 777-9 from Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The exact date has not been publicly announced.

    What is the difference between this flight and earlier 777X test flights?
    Previous 777X flights used prototype aircraft built specifically for testing. This April flight involves a production-standard 777-9 — built to the same specification as jets intended for airline delivery. Regulators require this step before FAA pilots can join the cockpit for final certification flights.

    Who is the launch customer for the 777X?
    Lufthansa is the 777X launch customer. The German airline’s CEO has confirmed they do not expect delivery until Q1 2027 at the earliest.

    When will the 777X be certified and enter service?
    Boeing expects FAA certification in late 2026 and first deliveries to airlines in early 2027, pending a successful production flight and completion of remaining certification test flying.

    Why has the 777X been delayed so many times?
    The program has faced compounding challenges: a GE9X engine blade issue, COVID-19 market disruption, the diversion of Boeing resources to address the 737 MAX crisis, and the 2024 machinists’ strike. Development charges have exceeded $15 billion.

    Where is the 777X built?
    The 777X is assembled at Boeing’s Everett factory — the world’s largest building by volume — adjacent to Paine Field in Everett, Washington. It employs thousands of Snohomish County workers.

    How many 777X orders does Boeing have?
    Boeing has more than 540 firm orders for the 777X from airlines including Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific.

  • Boeing’s North Line Is Coming to Everett: Inside the Workforce Preparing to Build 737 MAXs This Summer

    A New Era of Manufacturing Takes Shape in Everett

    What is Boeing’s North Line? The North Line is Boeing’s fourth 737 MAX assembly line, being built inside the Everett factory — the first time 737s have ever been assembled in Everett. It is scheduled to begin low-rate initial production in summer 2026, eventually adding capacity toward a rate of more than 47 aircraft per month.

    Something significant is taking shape on the north end of Boeing’s massive Everett campus. Among the widebody jets that have long defined this facility — the 747s, 767s, 777s, and the towering 777X — a new kind of production work is beginning. For the first time in the history of the world’s largest building by volume, workers are preparing to assemble 737 MAX narrowbody jets.

    Boeing’s “North Line” — a fourth 737 MAX assembly line being stood up inside the Everett factory — is targeting a midsummer 2026 launch, and April has brought the clearest picture yet of how that effort is progressing. Production leader Jennifer Boland-Masterson described the approach plainly: “We know how to do it… but we need to warm up our muscles. You don’t start with a marathon.”

    Why Everett? Why Now?

    The short answer is capacity. Boeing’s existing three 737 MAX lines all run out of its Renton, Washington facility — a plant that has been the sole home of 737 production since the original 737 first flew in 1967. As Boeing pushes to reach and eventually surpass a production rate of 47 aircraft per month, Renton alone cannot absorb the volume. The Everett campus, home to the widebody programs, has the physical space, the skilled workforce, and the infrastructure to take on the load.

    The longer answer involves Boeing’s recovery from one of the most turbulent stretches in its history. The 2024 IAM machinists’ strike — which idled production for nearly seven weeks — and ongoing FAA production rate caps have forced the company to rebuild methodically. The North Line isn’t just about adding jets off the end of an assembly process; it’s about demonstrating to regulators, customers, and the public that Boeing can scale quality manufacturing safely.

    The People Making It Happen

    The North Line workforce is being built from three sources: newly hired employees, experienced workers transferring from Renton, and veterans already on the Everett campus.

    Among the first hired are Jaden Myers and Alondra Ponce, who joined the program in late 2025. Myers captured the weight of the moment: “Opening a new production line is something special. So, we have to do it right.” Ponce noted the quality of the onboarding experience: “Training was so positive and refreshing… My managers and the coaches were always there.”

    New hires begin with 12 weeks of foundational training — much of it conducted in Renton, where they work alongside experienced mechanics on active 737 production before transitioning to Everett. The approach is intentional: Boeing wants North Line workers absorbing muscle memory from people who have built thousands of these planes, not just learning from manuals.

    The program also leans on institutional knowledge already inside Everett. John V., a nearly 40-year Boeing veteran who spent years in a quality coaching role, is among those transitioning to support the North Line. “This will be my first time working on the 737 program,” he said. “But we are doing the training right.”

    What the North Line Will Build

    The line will be capable of assembling all 737 MAX variants — the MAX 8, MAX 9, and MAX 10 — though it will begin with a low-rate initial production (LRIP) phase that prioritizes quality checks over throughput. Boeing is also introducing the 737 Wing Transport Tool to the Everett operation, a piece of tooling that ferries partially completed wings from suppliers into the final assembly process — replicating how the Renton line works, now inside the Everett footprint.

    Once the LRIP phase is complete and the line is integrated into Boeing’s overall 737 MAX production flow, the North Line will add meaningful capacity toward the company’s stated rate targets. Boeing has set 47 jets per month across all 737 lines as a near-term milestone, with longer-term ambitions reaching 63 aircraft per month when all four lines are running at full tempo. The 47/month target — once forecast for 2026 — has been pushed to 2027, a timeline that reflects both the deliberate ramp pace and ongoing FAA oversight requirements.

    What It Means for Everett

    Boeing’s Everett campus already employs more than 30,000 people, making it the single largest employer in Snohomish County and one of the most consequential job centers in the state of Washington. The North Line adds to that count — but the significance runs deeper than headcount.

    For decades, Everett’s Boeing identity has been synonymous with widebody jets: the enormous 747, the freighter-capable 767, the long-range 777, and now the 777X. The addition of 737 narrowbody production shifts Everett’s manufacturing profile. It means more job classifications, more union-represented roles under the IAM District 751 contract, and a broader base of production activity that makes the campus less vulnerable to any single program’s fluctuations.

    For the workers being hired into the program today — many of them Snohomish County residents who will drive to the Paine Field campus rather than commute to Renton — the North Line represents exactly what Everett has needed: new manufacturing jobs, on the doorstep, inside one of the most iconic industrial facilities in the world.

    The Bigger Picture

    Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg toured the North Line earlier this month, a visible signal of executive attention on a program that carries considerable symbolic weight. The company is in a recovery phase — rebuilding production quality, restoring regulator confidence, and delivering on commitments to customers who have been waiting on aircraft orders for years. The North Line must go well.

    Boland-Masterson’s marathon analogy holds. Boeing isn’t sprinting out of the gate in Everett. The LRIP phase will likely last several months before the line transitions to standard production flow. Every airplane that rolls off the North Line in its early phase will be inspected rigorously, and the rate will climb only when quality data supports it.

    That measured approach may test the patience of airlines — Ryanair, Alaska Airlines, and others with large MAX backlogs — but it’s the right call for a program that can’t afford another quality headline. Everett’s North Line team knows that. The new hires know it. The veterans who’ve spent careers here know it.

    “You don’t start with a marathon.” In Everett this summer, Boeing is lacing up its shoes.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Boeing building on the North Line in Everett?
    The North Line will produce 737 MAX narrowbody jets — all variants (MAX 8, MAX 9, and MAX 10) — marking the first time 737s have been assembled at the Everett factory.

    When will the North Line start production?
    Boeing is targeting midsummer 2026 for the beginning of low-rate initial production on the North Line.

    Why is Boeing adding a 737 production line in Everett?
    Boeing needs additional production capacity to reach and sustain 737 MAX rates above 47 aircraft per month. The Renton facility, which currently builds all 737s, cannot absorb that volume alone. Everett has the space, workforce, and infrastructure to support expansion.

    How many workers will the North Line employ?
    Boeing is hiring hundreds of workers for the North Line, drawing from new hires, existing Renton employees transferring to Everett, and experienced Everett campus workers adding 737 responsibilities.

    How are North Line workers being trained?
    New employees complete 12 weeks of foundational training, including hands-on time in Renton working alongside experienced 737 mechanics, before transitioning to the Everett North Line.

    What is the FAA’s role in the North Line ramp-up?
    The FAA has production rate oversight authority over Boeing’s 737 operations. The North Line will begin in a low-rate initial production (LRIP) phase with additional quality checks before being integrated into Boeing’s standard production flow — a process that requires FAA alignment.

    Does the North Line affect Boeing’s Everett widebody programs?
    The 737 program operates in a separate section of the Everett factory and does not directly impact widebody assembly (767, 777, 777X). Boeing has described the campus footprint as having capacity to accommodate both narrowbody and widebody work simultaneously.

  • The Everett Brewery Guide: Scuttlebutt, At Large, and Where the Locals Actually Drink

    Q: Where are the best breweries in Everett, WA?

    A: Everett’s brewery scene is anchored by three distinct experiences: Scuttlebutt Brewing (1205 Craftsman Way, Sun–Thu 11AM–9PM, Fri–Sat 11AM–10PM), the city’s full-service brewpub institution since the ’90s; At Large Brewing (2730 W. Marine View Drive, Wed–Thu 3–9PM, Fri–Sat 2–10PM, Sun 2–8PM), the waterfront taproom with the best beer garden view in Snohomish County; and Sound to Summit Brewing, the Snohomish-adjacent operation that’s pulling Everett drinkers east. Here’s how to do all three in one Saturday.

    The Everett Brewery Scene: Your Locals’ Guide to the Best Taprooms in Town

    Everett doesn’t get enough credit for its beer scene. We’re not going to pretend it’s Bellingham or the South Sound — Everett doesn’t have a Structures Brewing or a Chuckanut — but what we do have is a tight, legitimate craft beer community built on a few really good operations, distinct from each other, each worth your time for different reasons.

    If you’re new here, or just new to Everett’s beer scene, here’s the honest local’s guide: where to go, what to drink, and what each place is actually good at.

    Scuttlebutt Brewing: The Institution

    Scuttlebutt Brewing at 1205 Craftsman Way, Everett, WA 98201 has been part of the city’s identity since the 1990s, and it shows — in the best way. This is a full-service brewpub: sit-down restaurant, full menu, hand-crafted ales, and a house-made root beer that’s legitimately one of the best in the state for people who don’t drink.

    Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11 AM–9 PM | Friday–Saturday 11 AM–10 PM
    Phone: (425) 257-9316

    The food at Scuttlebutt is better than it needs to be for a brewery. Beer-battered fish and chips, homemade clam chowder, fish tacos, burgers, sandwiches — and then from 4 PM on, a real dinner menu with steaks, prime rib, chicken, and salmon. The Cajun shrimp linguine gets ordered constantly and for good reason. There’s a dedicated gluten-free menu, which matters for a certain percentage of the people you’re going to drag here.

    The beer program at Scuttlebutt is the kind of consistent that gets dismissed as “safe” by the hop-forward IPA obsessives but is actually just good craft brewing. They know their audience — Everett families, waterfront visitors, regulars who’ve been coming since Clinton was president — and they brew for it without apologizing. The ales are clean, the seasonals are worth watching for, and the Big Dumper lager (their Cal Raleigh-collab Mariners beer) sold out its release party last summer for good reason: it’s approachable, crushable, and perfectly timed for baseball season.

    Best for: Family dinner, out-of-town guests you need to impress without intimidating, first dates, anyone who needs a full meal with their beer.
    Parking: Lot on-site, generally easy.
    Price: $$ — Food $12–$28, pints $6–$8.

    At Large Brewing: The Taproom With the View

    At Large Brewing at 2730 W. Marine View Drive, Everett, WA 98201 is doing something different from Scuttlebutt, and it’s not trying to compete. This is a taproom — 15 rotating taps of At Large beer, growler fills, limited can releases — set on Marine View Drive with an outdoor patio that has arguably the best casual-beer-drinking view in Snohomish County. Sunset over the Sound. Fire pits for when the temperature drops. A beer garden that’s dog-friendly and family-friendly in the way that actually means kids and dogs are welcome, not just technically tolerated.

    Hours: Wednesday–Thursday 3–9 PM | Friday 2–10 PM | Saturday 2–10 PM | Sunday 2–8 PM
    Phone: (425) 324-0039
    Closed Monday and Tuesday.

    The beer program at At Large leans into variety: Passion Fruit Kettle Sour, Mango Fruited Blonde Ale, Chocolate Raspberry Stout. These are not timid beers. They’re rotating, experimental, and the kind of thing that makes a taproom worth coming back to because what’s on tap this week is genuinely different from last week. If you want something straightforward and easy-drinking, they’ll have it. If you want the fruit sour or the barrel-aged experiment, they probably have that too.

    Food situation: At Large doesn’t have a kitchen, but food trucks rotate through regularly. Check their Instagram before you go — @atlargebrewing — so you know what’s parked outside that day. They also allow outside food, which means this is the place people show up with takeout from elsewhere and nobody judges you for it. Activities on-site include foosball, air hockey, and basketball. The vibe is neighborhood hangout, not craft beer tourism stop.

    Best for: Lazy Saturday afternoons, dog owners, people who want to try a bunch of different styles, anyone who cares about sitting outside with a view.
    Parking: Street parking and nearby lot, easy on weekdays, manageable on weekends.
    Price: $ — Pints $6–$8, growler fills available.

    Sound to Summit Brewing: The Wildcard Worth the Drive

    Sound to Summit Brewing operates out of Snohomish but pulls a significant Everett crowd — and if you’re doing a proper brewery crawl day, it belongs on the route. The brewery has earned its reputation on the strength of technical brewing and a taproom that feels genuinely like a community gathering space rather than a brand experience. It’s the kind of place where the regulars know each other and the bartender knows their usual. Worth adding to any Everett-adjacent brewery day.

    Check sound2summit.com for current hours and tap list before heading out — they rotate frequently and the tap list changes constantly.

    How to Do the Everett Brewery Day Right

    Here’s a Saturday itinerary that works:

    • 2 PM: Start at At Large Brewing when they open. Grab the patio, try a couple of taps, let the dog run around. Order from whatever food truck is there.
    • 4:30 PM: Head to Scuttlebutt for an early dinner. Their full dinner menu starts at 4 PM and the kitchen is busy by 5:30, so getting there in that window means faster service. Order the Cajun shrimp linguine or the fish and chips.
    • After dinner: If you’re still going, head to Scuttlebutt’s taproom or, if you’re making a longer day of it and don’t mind the short drive, Sound to Summit in Snohomish for a nightcap beer.

    Designated driver makes this significantly more fun for everyone else in the group. The drive between At Large and Scuttlebutt is less than 10 minutes. The whole crawl is doable without a car if you’re disciplined about pacing, but Everett’s beer geography doesn’t lend itself to walking — you’re going to want transportation.

    The Verdict

    Everett’s brewery scene is worth your Saturday. Scuttlebutt is the institution you take everyone to; At Large is the hidden gem you keep to yourself until enough people beg you to share it. Sound to Summit extends the day if you’ve got the energy. None of these are famous outside the region, and that’s exactly what makes them ours. Go drink good beer. Support local.

    Quick Reference: Everett Breweries

    • Scuttlebutt Brewing — 1205 Craftsman Way, Everett | (425) 257-9316 | Sun–Thu 11AM–9PM, Fri–Sat 11AM–10PM | Full brewpub, family-friendly, gluten-free menu | scuttlebuttbrewing.com
    • At Large Brewing — 2730 W. Marine View Drive, Everett | (425) 324-0039 | Wed–Thu 3–9PM, Fri–Sat 2–10PM, Sun 2–8PM | Taproom only, dog-friendly, food trucks rotate | atlargebrewing.com
    • Sound to Summit Brewing — Snohomish (Everett-adjacent) | Rotating hours — check sound2summit.com | Community taproom, great for adding to a crawl

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What breweries are in Everett, WA?

    Everett’s main breweries are Scuttlebutt Brewing (1205 Craftsman Way), At Large Brewing (2730 W. Marine View Drive), and Scuttlebutt’s second taproom location on Cedar Street. Sound to Summit Brewing in nearby Snohomish is also popular with Everett locals and worth adding to a brewery crawl day.

    What are Scuttlebutt Brewing’s hours?

    Scuttlebutt Brewing at 1205 Craftsman Way is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM. Phone: (425) 257-9316.

    What are At Large Brewing’s hours?

    At Large Brewing is open Wednesday and Thursday from 3–9 PM, Friday from 2–10 PM, Saturday from 2–10 PM, and Sunday from 2–8 PM. They are closed Monday and Tuesday. Phone: (425) 324-0039.

    Is At Large Brewing dog-friendly?

    Yes. At Large Brewing has a dog-friendly beer garden and outdoor patio at their 2730 W. Marine View Drive location in Everett. Food trucks rotate through, so check their Instagram @atlargebrewing before you visit to see what’s serving that day.

    Does Scuttlebutt Brewing have food?

    Yes — Scuttlebutt is a full brewpub with a complete restaurant menu. Lunch items include fish and chips, fish tacos, burgers, and sandwiches. From 4 PM, a dinner menu adds steaks, prime rib, chicken, and salmon dishes. They also have a dedicated gluten-free menu and house-made root beer for non-drinkers.

    What’s the best beer at Scuttlebutt?

    Scuttlebutt’s core lineup of hand-crafted ales is their bread and butter. Seasonal releases are worth watching for, and their Big Dumper lager — a collaboration with Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh — was a summer 2025 hit. Their house-made root beer is one of the best in the state if you’re not drinking alcohol.

  • The Net Shed Fish Market & Kitchen: Three Months In, It’s Worth the Hype

    Q: Is The Net Shed Fish Market and Kitchen at the Port of Everett worth visiting?

    A: Yes — The Net Shed opened December 16, 2025 at 1500 Seiner Drive on Restaurant Row at the Port of Everett. Three months in, it’s delivering on the promise: fresh wild-caught seafood, smart preparations, and a concept that’s genuinely different from anything else on the Everett waterfront. The miso-glazed sablefish is exceptional.

    The Net Shed Fish Market & Kitchen: Three Months In, It’s Worth the Hype

    When The Net Shed Fish Market and Kitchen opened on December 16, 2025, the Port of Everett made a real statement: this isn’t another casual waterfront bar with a fried fish basket as an afterthought. This is a proper fish market concept — the kind where you can buy fresh catch to cook at home or eat something genuinely excellent on the spot. Three months in, we can tell you it’s landing as intended.

    Everett has always had a waterfront. It has always had boats. It has always had the Port — one of the largest public marinas on the West Coast, 2,300 slips, the whole thing. What it hasn’t had, until now, is a place that connects that fishing heritage directly to your plate in a serious way. The Net Shed does that.

    Where It Is

    The Net Shed is located at 1500 Seiner Dr, Everett, WA 98201 — Restaurant Row at Waterfront Place, Fisherman’s Harbor. It’s next door to Rustic Cork Wine Bar, which, honestly, is excellent strategic positioning: you can pick up a bottle next door and pair it with whatever’s fresh from the market case. Parking is free at the Waterfront Place lot. Hours are Monday through Saturday 11 AM–8 PM, Sunday 11 AM–7 PM.

    The Concept: Fish Market Meets Kitchen

    This is the thing that sets The Net Shed apart from every other seafood spot in Snohomish County: it’s two things at once. Walk in and you’re in a fish market — there’s a case with fresh, seasonal seafood sourced through the Port of Everett. You can buy fish to take home and cook yourself. But you can also sit down and eat, ordering from a kitchen that’s treating the same product with real technique.

    That dual concept could feel gimmicky. It doesn’t. It feels exactly right for a port town that has watched its fishing identity get papered over by suburban development for the last two decades. The Net Shed is a reclamation.

    What to Order

    Let’s start with the obvious: the fish and chips. Made with premium wild-caught Alaskan cod, properly battered, not the frozen-and-fried approximation you’ve been served at lesser establishments. This is the benchmark. If a place can’t do fish and chips right and they’re on the Everett waterfront, they don’t deserve to be there. The Net Shed’s version passes.

    But the miso-glazed sablefish is what we’d order on a second visit — and a third. Sablefish (black cod to most of us) is one of the great underappreciated Pacific Northwest fish: buttery, rich, forgiving to cook, spectacular when done with intention. The miso glaze here is restrained and smart. It complements the fish rather than covering it up. Order this.

    The pan-seared scallops in brown butter are showing up on tables around us every time we’ve been in, and for good reason. The Maine lobster rolls are a flex — not typical PNW fare, but The Net Shed is making the case that the market-fresh concept can reach beyond regional tradition when the execution is there.

    Beyond the headline items: clam chowder (get a cup before your entrée), poke bowls, one-pot steamers of shrimp, clams, or mussels, and chowder-style loaded fries that are exactly what they sound like. The seafood rice bowls are also worth noting for a lighter option that doesn’t feel like an afterthought.

    Price Range

    You’re paying for quality here. The lobster roll is going to run you more than a fast-casual fish basket, as it should. Expect entrées in the $18–$32 range depending on what you’re ordering. The fish and chips is at the accessible end of the menu; the sablefish and scallops are toward the top. For a proper sit-down seafood meal on the Everett waterfront, the pricing is fair — you’re not being gouged for the view.

    Three Months In: What’s Working

    Grand openings are always a gamble. New concepts have rough patches: service miscues, menu items that don’t land, kitchen timing issues. The Net Shed appears to have largely cleared that hump. Three months in, the consistent report from locals we’ve talked to is that the quality is holding, the fish is genuinely fresh (the market model keeps that honest — they can’t hide behind preparation), and service has found its rhythm.

    The fish market side is still building its customer base, which takes time — buying raw seafood requires a level of confidence in the product that you develop through repeated visits and trust. But the kitchen side has been winning people over quickly. Word of mouth from the December opening has been positive, and the lunch crowd on a weekday has gone from trickle to steady.

    The Verdict

    Everett waited a long time for a real seafood concept that connected the port heritage to the plate. The Net Shed Fish Market and Kitchen is that concept, done right. It’s not cheap, it’s not a fish shack, and it’s not trying to be. It’s a serious fish market with a serious kitchen, and at three months in, the hype is justified. Go for the miso sablefish. Buy some cod to take home. Come back.

    The Details

    • Address: 1500 Seiner Dr, Everett, WA 98201 (Restaurant Row, Waterfront Place)
    • Hours: Monday–Saturday 11 AM–8 PM | Sunday 11 AM–7 PM
    • Price range: $$–$$$ | Entrées $18–$32
    • Parking: Free at Waterfront Place lot
    • What to order: Miso-glazed sablefish, fish and chips (wild-caught Alaskan cod), clam chowder, pan-seared scallops
    • Also offers: Fresh fish market case to buy and cook at home
    • Website: thenetshed.com

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When did The Net Shed open in Everett?

    The Net Shed Fish Market and Kitchen celebrated its grand opening on December 16, 2025, at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place, Fisherman’s Harbor.

    Where is The Net Shed in Everett?

    The Net Shed is at 1500 Seiner Dr, Everett, WA 98201 — on Restaurant Row at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place development, next to Rustic Cork Wine Bar.

    What are The Net Shed’s hours?

    The Net Shed is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 7 PM.

    What should I order at The Net Shed?

    The miso-glazed sablefish is the standout dish — rich, buttery, and perfectly prepared. The fish and chips with wild-caught Alaskan cod is the accessible crowd-pleaser. For starters, the clam chowder. For something different, the pan-seared scallops in brown butter.

    Can I buy fresh fish at The Net Shed?

    Yes — The Net Shed operates as both a fish market and a restaurant. You can purchase fresh, seasonal seafood from their market case to cook at home, in addition to dining in the restaurant.

    Is The Net Shed expensive?

    Expect to pay $18–$32 for entrées, depending on what you order. It’s priced for a quality seafood experience, not a casual fish shack — and the quality justifies it. Fish and chips is at the lower end of the range; sablefish and lobster roll are at the higher end.

    Is there parking at The Net Shed at Port of Everett?

    Yes. Free parking is available in the Waterfront Place lot at the Port of Everett. Parking is ample and well-signed.

  • Tapped Public House Opens on the Everett Waterfront — And That Rooftop Is the Real Deal

    Q: Is Tapped Public House at the Port of Everett worth visiting?

    A: Yes — Tapped Public House opened March 2, 2026 at 1420 Seiner Drive on Restaurant Row at the Port of Everett. It features the largest waterfront rooftop deck in Snohomish County, a scratch kitchen with Pacific Northwest-inspired dishes, and a full bar with craft beer, cider, and wine. The Bay Shrimp Roll is the move.

    Tapped Public House Opens on the Everett Waterfront — And That Rooftop Is the Real Deal

    We’ve been watching the Port of Everett’s Restaurant Row come together for a couple of years now, and when Tapped Public House threw open its doors on March 2, 2026, it felt like the waterfront finally clicked into place. Not because the other spots aren’t good — The Net Shed and Rustic Cork have been holding it down since December — but because Tapped brought something nobody else on Restaurant Row has: the largest open-air rooftop deck on the waterfront in Snohomish County.

    That’s not marketing copy. We went up there. It’s the real deal.

    Where It Is and How to Get There

    Tapped Public House sits at 1420 Seiner Drive, Everett, WA 98201 — second floor of the Port’s new Restaurant Row building at Waterfront Place, Fisherman’s Harbor district. Head down the waterfront toward the marina and you’ll see the new construction. Parking is available in the Waterfront Place lot — it’s free and there’s plenty of it, even on weekends. Walking from the parking area to the restaurant takes maybe three minutes along the water, and honestly that walk alone is worth something on a clear Pacific Northwest day.

    The Rooftop: Yes, You Should Go Up There

    The rooftop deck faces the marina and opens up to panoramic views of Possession Sound. On a clear evening, you’ve got the water, the boats, the Olympic Mountains in the distance, and if you time it right, a sunset that’ll make you understand why people choose to live in this corner of the Pacific Northwest despite what the winters do to your soul. The deck is open-air, which in Everett means “bring a layer,” but Tapped has thought this through — they’ve done right by their guests’ comfort.

    Rooftop seating is first-come, first-served. There’s no reservation system for the deck specifically, so if you want it on a Friday evening, show up early or accept that you might be waiting with a pint in hand. We can think of worse fates.

    The Food: PNW Scratch Kitchen With a Waterfront Twist

    Tapped has been operating their Mill Creek location long enough to have a menu that works. The Port of Everett location carries those favorites plus some waterfront-specific additions. The standout new item is the Bay Shrimp Roll — it’s port-exclusive and it was clearly developed with this specific location in mind. Pacific Northwest shrimp, fresh, not overdressed. Get it.

    The broader menu leans into approachable pub food done with more care than you’d expect: tacos, loaded tots, sliders, mac and cheese. The scratch kitchen commitment means nothing is coming out of a bag — these are real ingredients, actually cooked. Prices land in the $14–$22 range for entrées, which for waterfront dining with those views is reasonable. You’re not paying a tourist tax for the scenery, which we appreciate.

    The beverage program is solid: craft beer, cider, wine. You won’t find the most adventurous tap list in town — this isn’t a brewery — but what they have is well-curated and changes with the season. For the locals who just want a cold beer with a marina view and a plate of something good, Tapped has figured this out.

    The Vibe

    Tapped Public House is a public house in the truest sense: this is a place for everyone. Families are welcome. Dogs haven’t been confirmed for the deck, so check before you show up with your lab. The crowd on a weekend skews local — people who live in Everett, work at the port district businesses, or drove down from the north end specifically for the waterfront experience. It doesn’t feel like a tourist trap, which given the setting is genuinely impressive.

    Service at the grand opening week was, predictably, finding its footing — they opened to a ribbon-cutting crowd of over 100 people — but the staff was warm and things moved smoothly. This is a chain’s second location learning to be its own thing, and early signs are that it’s going to earn its place on Restaurant Row.

    What the Waterfront Needed

    The Port of Everett’s $15.2 million Restaurant Row project has been coming together in stages, and Tapped Public House is the piece that turns the district from “a few new spots” into “a destination.” The Net Shed does fresh seafood. Rustic Cork does wine. Tapped does the full pub experience with the outdoor space that ties it all together. When Marina Azul Cocina and Cantina opens later in 2026, bringing their elevated Mexican concept and 100+ tequila selection to the row, this stretch of Seiner Drive is going to be something genuinely special for Snohomish County.

    But right now, today, Tapped is worth the drive down to the waterfront on its own. Go for the rooftop. Stay for the Bay Shrimp Roll. Come back when the weather breaks.

    The Details

    • Address: 1420 Seiner Drive, Everett, WA 98201 (second floor, Restaurant Row at Waterfront Place)
    • Hours: Check tappedpublichouse.com for current hours — they’re still settling into their operating schedule
    • Price range: $$ — Entrées $14–$22, appetizers $8–$14
    • Parking: Free at Waterfront Place lot, easy access
    • What to order: Bay Shrimp Roll (port-exclusive), loaded tots, and whatever’s on tap from the PNW craft selection
    • Best seat in the house: The rooftop deck — but get there early
    • Website: tappedpublichouse.com

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When did Tapped Public House Everett open?

    Tapped Public House at the Port of Everett opened March 2, 2026, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by more than 100 people at Waterfront Place, Fisherman’s Harbor.

    Where is Tapped Public House in Everett?

    The restaurant is located at 1420 Seiner Drive, Everett, WA 98201 — on the second floor of the Restaurant Row building at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place development.

    Does Tapped Public House have a rooftop deck?

    Yes. Tapped Public House at the Port of Everett features the largest open-air rooftop deck on the waterfront in Snohomish County, with panoramic views of the marina and Possession Sound.

    What should I order at Tapped Public House Everett?

    The Bay Shrimp Roll is port-exclusive — you can only get it at the Everett waterfront location. Beyond that, the loaded tots and the rotating craft tap list are solid. The scratch kitchen means everything is made fresh on-site.

    Is there parking at Tapped Public House Everett?

    Yes — free parking is available at the Waterfront Place lot. It’s well-signed and there’s generally plenty of space, even on weekends.

    Is Tapped Public House part of a chain?

    Tapped Public House has a Mill Creek location in addition to the new Everett waterfront spot. The Everett location is their second, with a port-specific menu that includes items like the Bay Shrimp Roll not found at Mill Creek.

    What else is open on Restaurant Row at the Port of Everett?

    As of spring 2026, Restaurant Row includes Tapped Public House, The Net Shed Fish Market and Kitchen, and Rustic Cork Wine Bar. Marina Azul Cocina and Cantina is expected to open later in 2026.

  • Everett Housing Market Update: April 2026 — What Buyers and Sellers Are Seeing Right Now

    Q: What is the median home price in Everett WA in April 2026?
    A: The median home price in Everett, WA is $635,000 as of April 2026, down 0.8% year-over-year, with 190 new listings and homes spending a median of just 11 days on the market.

    Everett Housing Market Update: April 2026 — What Buyers and Sellers Are Seeing Right Now

    We pull together a monthly snapshot of the Everett housing market because the numbers tell a story that generic regional reports often miss. Everett is not Bellevue, and it is not Marysville — it has its own supply dynamics, its own buyer pool, and its own relationship between price and pace. Here is what the April 2026 data is showing us.

    The Headline Numbers

    The median home price in Everett, WA sits at $635,000 over the last 30 days, which is down 0.8 percent year-over-year. That modest year-over-year dip is worth noting, but it should not be read as a cooling market — the pace data tells a very different story. The median days on market is 11 days. There are 190 new listings that have come to market. Total active inventory is 410 homes for sale, which is up 18.2 percent compared to the same period last year.

    More inventory, slightly lower median price, and homes still moving in under two weeks. That is the compressed version of where the Everett market sits right now.

    The Market Is Splitting by Price Point

    The most interesting dynamic in Everett right now is not the headline median — it is what is happening at different price points. Local market data is showing a distinct segmentation:

    Homes priced under $750,000 are moving fast. Buyers in this range have very little time to deliberate before a well-priced home goes under contract. This is the core Everett market where competition remains sharp despite the inventory increase.

    The $750,000 to $949,000 range has shifted notably. What was a slower, more deliberate segment has flipped to become extremely competitive in recent weeks. Buyers who were expecting more negotiating room in this range are finding less of it than they anticipated. This is a meaningful change for move-up buyers and for anyone relocating from Seattle or Bellevue who might be looking for more space at a price point below the million-dollar threshold.

    Above $950,000, conditions are more variable, but even here the pace has accelerated. Segments that were sitting at around three months’ inventory-equivalent pace have compressed to under two weeks in some cases. High-end inventory in Everett remains limited, and when well-priced properties hit the market, they are not lingering.

    The Sale-to-List Price Ratio

    Everett homes are closing at a median sale-to-list price ratio of 100 percent — meaning the typical home is selling right at asking price. That is flat compared to the same period last year. Approximately 30.77 percent of homes sold above list price, which is down about 1.9 percentage points year-over-year. So slightly fewer bidding wars than a year ago, but competition is still very real for correctly priced homes.

    The 100 percent sale-to-list ratio in a market with 11-day median days on market is a signal that sellers are pricing correctly and buyers are not finding much room to negotiate below list. If you are a buyer hoping to come in under asking price and negotiate your way to a deal, the data suggests that strategy is not working well in Everett right now, particularly under $750,000.

    What the Inventory Increase Actually Means

    A 18.2 percent year-over-year increase in total homes for sale sounds like a lot, and it is worth contextualizing. Everett’s inventory base was tight in 2025, so the increase from that compressed baseline still leaves total inventory relatively lean compared to balanced market conditions. Four hundred and ten active listings across a city of Everett’s size is not an abundance of choice for buyers — it is more options than last year, but not a buyer’s market by any meaningful definition.

    The inventory increase is healthy. It gives buyers more options, reduces panic-buying dynamics, and contributes to the slight year-over-year softening in the median price. But it has not fundamentally shifted the supply-demand balance that has characterized Everett’s housing market for several years.

    The Development Context: New Supply Coming Online

    It is worth connecting the housing market numbers to the development activity we cover on this desk. The Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place project is adding residential and mixed-use capacity to the waterfront. The downtown core is seeing investment and potential transformation around the planned Outdoor Event Center site. These are not immediate supply additions that show up in April 2026 inventory numbers, but they represent the medium-term supply pipeline for Everett’s housing market.

    Sound Transit’s Everett Link Extension — targeted for a Paine Field phase by 2037 — will have more immediate effects on housing demand near future station areas well before tracks are laid, as buyers and investors begin positioning around transit corridors. That dynamic is worth watching in neighborhoods adjacent to planned station sites.

    For Buyers in April 2026

    If you are shopping in Everett right now, the practical reality is: move quickly in the sub-$750,000 range and do not assume you have room to negotiate. The $750,000 to $949,000 range has tightened up, so if you were waiting for a softer moment there, you may have missed it. Above $950,000 is less predictable — specific properties and neighborhoods matter more at that price point than market-wide averages suggest.

    Pre-approval and a clear understanding of your walk-away number are more important than they were a year ago when the market had slightly more breathing room.

    For Sellers in April 2026

    Correct pricing still matters. The 100 percent sale-to-list ratio reflects a market where sellers are pricing accurately and buyers are accepting those prices — not a market where sellers can pad the list price and expect to negotiate down to a reasonable number. Homes that come in overpriced are taking longer and sometimes requiring price cuts that cost more time and money than pricing right the first time.

    The 11-day median days on market means a well-priced, well-presented home is under contract in under two weeks. That is a good market for sellers, but it rewards preparation and correct pricing rather than opportunism.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the median home price in Everett WA in April 2026?

    The median home price in Everett, WA is $635,000 as of April 2026, down 0.8% year-over-year.

    How long are homes sitting on the market in Everett in 2026?

    The median days on market in Everett is 11 days as of April 2026, indicating a fast-moving market.

    Is Everett a buyer’s or seller’s market right now?

    Everett remains a seller’s market in April 2026, particularly for homes under $750,000, where competition is strongest. While inventory is up 18.2% year-over-year, total active listings of around 410 homes is still relatively lean.

    What percentage of homes in Everett sell above asking price?

    Approximately 30.77% of Everett homes sold above list price in April 2026, down about 1.9 percentage points from the same period last year. The median sale-to-list ratio is 100%.

    Is Everett real estate affordable compared to Seattle?

    At a median of $635,000, Everett remains significantly more affordable than Seattle and many Eastside communities, while offering proximity to major employers including Boeing, Naval Station Everett, and the broader Puget Sound economy.

    What is happening with housing in downtown Everett?

    Downtown Everett is seeing investment around the planned $120 million Outdoor Event Center, and the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place development continues to add mixed-use capacity to the waterfront area, contributing to longer-term supply additions.


  • Everett’s Downtown Stadium Price Tag Climbs to $120M: What the $38M Gap Means for the AquaSox and USL Project

    Q: What is the current cost estimate for the Everett downtown stadium?
    A: As of early 2026, the Everett Outdoor Event Center is estimated to cost $120 million — up $38 million from the previous estimate — with construction now targeted for 2027 and games beginning in 2028.

    Everett’s Downtown Stadium Price Tag Climbs to $120M: What the $38M Gap Means for the AquaSox and USL Project

    We have been following the Everett Outdoor Event Center closely since the city first committed to the concept, and the latest numbers deserve an honest look. Documents shared with city council members in January 2026 and reported publicly in February revealed that the stadium’s estimated cost has grown to $120 million — about $38 million more than the estimate from last May. That is not a rounding error. It is a real funding challenge that the city, the AquaSox, and prospective soccer tenants now have to solve before a shovel goes in the ground.

    Here is where things stand as of April 2026, and what we think matters most about the path forward.

    How Did the Cost Jump by $38 Million?

    The short answer: construction costs have gone up across the board, and the stadium project is not immune. The city’s original financial model anticipated a cost significantly below $120 million, with a planned $40 million in revenue bonds — paid off by the stadium’s own revenue stream — providing the bulk of the funding. State contributions, Snohomish County dollars, and commitments from both the Everett AquaSox and the prospective United Soccer League (USL) teams were also part of the mix.

    That plan still exists. But the new $38 million gap has to be closed before the city council can formally approve the project. City staff are clear about the sequencing: find the funding, finalize the lease agreements with the teams, negotiate the property purchase at the site, and then bring it to council for approval. The council cannot move forward until those three conditions are met.

    The Site and What Gets Built There

    The planned location is downtown Everett, with most of the block between the site boundaries — except the buildings fronting Hewitt Avenue — slated for demolition to clear the footprint. Twenty-eight privately owned parcels make up most of that block, and property acquisition is part of the pre-construction work the city needs to complete.

    The design-build team is DLR Group and Bayley Construction, selected through the city’s Progressive Design-Build (PDB) process. As of early 2026, the design is at roughly 60 percent completion. The full plan and budget — the version that actually goes to council — is expected to be ready soon, with the city’s stated goal of having the stadium ready for baseball by April 2027. Following the funding news, city staff placed the revised construction start in 2027, pushing the opening to 2028 for both baseball and soccer.

    Mayor Franklin’s Take: Momentum and a Funding Plan Coming

    Mayor Cassie Franklin addressed the stadium directly at her March 5, 2026 State of the City address inside the New Everett Theater on Colby Avenue. The speech leaned into the city’s broader momentum — crime reduction, housing growth, annexation plans — with the stadium cited as a symbol of downtown revitalization. On the funding gap, the mayor signaled that a formal funding plan is coming to council soon, with an emphasis on private-public partnership dollars as the preferred first approach.

    The city is working first with private investors — regional businesses and corporations — plus public agencies to find as much non-city funding as possible. If that falls short, additional city bonds are on the table to fill whatever gap remains. The editorial board of the Everett Herald has weighed in supporting the effort to fund the project, and the Everett Chamber of Commerce has issued formal support. There is also community pushback: a piece in the Snohomish County Tribune argued that taxpayer funding for a minor league stadium is not the right use of public dollars. That debate is real, and the council will have to navigate it.

    The AquaSox and USL Dimension

    The stadium is designed to serve both the Everett AquaSox (Minor League Baseball, an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners) and potentially both a men’s and women’s United Soccer League team. The AquaSox currently play at Funko Field at Everett Memorial Stadium, which was built in the 1960s and has aged considerably. A new downtown facility would represent a major upgrade for the franchise and for fans.

    The USL angle is compelling from an economic standpoint: dual-sport use expands the number of event days the facility can generate revenue, which directly improves the financial model underlying the revenue bonds. More event days means stronger debt service coverage, which means the bonds are a safer bet. That is why both sports tenants matter to the funding math, not just the fan experience.

    What We Are Watching

    There are several decision points ahead that will determine whether this stadium actually gets built on the current timeline:

    The council presentation: City staff have committed to presenting a formal funding plan to council soon. That presentation will include how the $38 million gap is proposed to be closed — and whether private investment dollars materialize, or whether additional city bonds are needed.

    Property acquisition: The city needs to negotiate the purchase of 28 privately owned parcels. That process involves appraisals, negotiations, and potentially condemnation proceedings if sellers do not agree on price. Timeline uncertainty here is real.

    Lease agreements: The AquaSox and USL tenants need signed lease agreements before the project can move to council. Those negotiations are ongoing.

    Design completion: The 60 percent design milestone needs to reach 100 percent, with a budget that the city and its design-build team can both commit to. Any further cost escalation at this stage could reopen the funding math again.

    Is This Stadium Still Happening?

    We think the honest answer is: probably yes, but on a compressed timeline with real funding risk. The political will exists — the mayor is behind it, the chamber is behind it, the council has already approved $4.8 million in stadium spending to get to this point. The question is whether the private investment dollars materialize quickly enough to keep the 2027-2028 construction and opening timeline intact.

    If the private funding effort comes up short and the city has to go to additional bonds, that will face a political test with the council and with the public. Everett voters and taxpayers are paying attention. The Herald editorial support helps, but so does the Tribune’s skepticism — it represents a real constituency.

    What we know for certain: the stadium as designed, at $120 million, would be a transformative piece of downtown Everett’s physical fabric. Whether the city can close the gap and break ground in 2027 is the story we will be tracking all year.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How much does the Everett downtown stadium cost?

    The latest estimate as of early 2026 is $120 million — approximately $38 million more than the estimate from May 2025.

    When will the Everett stadium be built?

    City staff have placed construction in 2027, with baseball and soccer games targeted to begin in 2028. The previous goal of opening for April 2027 baseball has been pushed back.

    Who is the design-build team for the Everett stadium?

    DLR Group and Bayley Construction were selected through the city’s Progressive Design-Build process.

    What teams will play in the new Everett stadium?

    The Everett AquaSox (Minor League Baseball, Seattle Mariners affiliate) and potentially both men’s and women’s United Soccer League teams.

    Where will the Everett stadium be built?

    In downtown Everett. Most of a city block — 28 privately owned parcels — will be demolished, except for buildings fronting Hewitt Avenue.

    How will the $38 million funding gap be filled?

    The city plans to seek private investment first (regional businesses and corporations), then public agency contributions. If those fall short, additional city revenue bonds are on the table. A formal funding plan presentation to the city council is forthcoming.