Exploring Everett - Tygart Media

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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.

  • Boeing’s 737 North Line Hiring Hits 100+ Assemblers Per Day in Everett

    Boeing’s 737 North Line Hiring Hits 100+ Assemblers Per Day in Everett

    Q: How many people is Boeing hiring for the new 737 North Line in Everett?
    A: As of April 2026, Boeing is onboarding more than 100 assemblers per day for the North Line, with hundreds of additional roles open across mechanics, inspectors, manufacturing engineers, quality, supply chain, and logistics. The line is targeted to begin operating midsummer 2026 and will combine new hires with experienced teammates from Renton, Everett, and Moses Lake.

    For the first time since the original 737 rolled off a Renton line in the late 1960s, the world’s most-built jetliner is about to be assembled in Everett — and the hiring wave that comes with it is reshaping the daily rhythm of Snohomish County’s aerospace workforce.

    Boeing confirmed this month that the new 737 MAX assembly line at the Everett factory — internally called the “North Line” — is on track to open midsummer 2026. The company is currently onboarding more than 100 assemblers per day, according to an April 20 industry report, and has posted hundreds of roles across mechanics, inspectors, manufacturing engineers, quality, supply chain, tooling, transportation, and storage. Boeing’s own April feature on the program describes a team being built from a deliberate mix of newly hired employees and experienced teammates pulled from Renton, Everett, and Moses Lake.

    What the North Line Actually Is

    The North Line is Boeing’s fourth 737 MAX final-assembly line and the first one ever located outside Renton. It will be capable of producing every 737 MAX variant, with initial focus on the 737-8, 737-9, and 737-10. Boeing has said the build process will replicate Renton’s, with one significant exception: a new 737 Wing Transport Tool will ferry partially completed wings from the wing facility for final assembly inside the Everett factory.

    Production leader Jennifer Boland-Masterson described the ramp-up philosophy in plain terms in Boeing’s company feature: “It’s like running. You don’t start with a marathon. You start with shorter distances and build up from there.” That posture — slow, deliberate, training-first — is by design. Boeing has publicly committed to a Low Rate Initial Production phase before the line is folded into the broader 737 MAX flow, which is targeted to push monthly output above 47 airplanes once the North Line is integrated.

    The People Side: 12 Weeks of Training Before a Single Wrench Turns

    What Everett residents may not realize is how much work happens before any North Line aircraft moves through the factory. Boeing has built a 12-week Foundational Training program for North Line hires, paired with structured on-the-job training in Renton where new mechanics shadow experienced teammates on live 737 builds. The company has stated all North Line training is being completed before production begins on the new line.

    That model — train in Renton, build in Everett — explains why hiring numbers are climbing now even though the first North Line airplane is months away. The pipeline has to be primed. For families in Everett, Mukilteo, Marysville, Mill Creek, and Lake Stevens who have someone applying to Boeing this spring, that timeline matters: a job offer in April or May likely means weeks of training before a regular shift assignment, with North Line work coming later in the summer.

    Why This Matters Beyond the Factory Fence

    Roughly 30,000 people work at the Everett site, and aerospace anchors the regional economy in ways that ripple far past the Boeing parking lots. Every additional hundred assemblers means more apartments leased in south Everett, more cars on Highway 526, more demand at the food trucks that line up off Seaway Boulevard at lunch, and more enrollment pressure on Mukilteo and Everett school districts as families relocate.

    The North Line also changes the Everett factory’s identity. For decades, Everett has been the widebody plant — the home of the 747, the 767, the 777, and the 777X. Adding a single-aisle program puts Boeing’s two highest-volume aircraft families under the same roof for the first time. It diversifies what happens inside the building, and it deepens the workforce skills required on-site.

    What’s Open Right Now

    Recent hiring postings tied to the North Line include shift managers (1st and 2nd shift), manufacturing managers, quality inspectors, supply chain roles, and engineering positions. The April industry coverage described the broader hiring footprint as covering not just the line itself but the support structure around it: parts handling, logistics, tooling, transportation, and storage. Boeing’s careers portal at jobs.boeing.com remains the official posting source.

    For experienced Renton mechanics weighing a transfer, the North Line is being framed by Boeing as a chance to help launch a new line — the kind of resume entry that doesn’t come around often. For Moses Lake teammates, the relocation question is more practical, but Boeing has signaled the cross-facility mix is intentional to preserve safety and quality consistency from day one.

    The Honest Context

    Boeing has had a turbulent two years. The North Line itself has slipped from earlier targets, and Wall Street has watched the program closely as a marker of the broader 737 MAX recovery. The hiring ramp now underway is real, but the broader picture — production rates, certification pacing, supplier health, union contracts — still has open questions. Two of those questions land directly in Everett: SPEEA’s contract negotiations leading up to the October 6, 2026 expiration, and the ongoing IAM 751 workforce dynamics on the factory floor.

    None of that diminishes what the hiring wave means for Everett today. New paychecks are landing in Snohomish County. New shifts are being scheduled. New people are showing up to orientation at Everett’s largest single employer. That’s tangible, and it’s happening now.

    What to Watch in the Next 60 Days

    The next milestones to track: the formal LRIP start date for the North Line (expected after the current training waves complete), the first North Line aircraft entering final assembly, and whether Boeing publicly updates its production-rate target for late 2026. Each of those will mean another round of hiring announcements, and each will land in Everett before it lands anywhere else.

    For now, the practical takeaway for the city is straightforward: if you’ve ever wondered when “Boeing is hiring” stops being a headline and starts being a job offer, the answer in spring 2026 is — right now, in waves, at a pace the Everett factory hasn’t seen in years.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When will the 737 North Line officially open in Everett?
    Boeing has confirmed a midsummer 2026 target for the line to begin operating, following a Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase.

    How many people is Boeing hiring for the North Line?
    Industry reporting in April 2026 indicates Boeing is onboarding more than 100 assemblers per day, with hundreds of additional roles across multiple disciplines.

    What 737 models will the North Line build?
    The line is capable of producing every 737 MAX variant and will initially focus on the 737-8, 737-9, and 737-10.

    Where can I apply for a North Line job?
    Boeing posts all openings on its official careers portal at jobs.boeing.com under Everett, Washington locations.

    Will North Line hires train in Everett or Renton?
    Boeing has built a 12-week Foundational Training program plus structured on-the-job training in Renton before North Line work begins in Everett.

    How will the North Line affect Everett’s daily traffic and housing?
    Adding hundreds of new aerospace workers compounds existing pressure on south Everett housing, Highway 526 commute volumes, and Mukilteo and Everett school enrollment as families relocate for jobs.

    Does the North Line replace Renton 737 production?
    No. The North Line adds capacity on top of Renton’s existing 737 lines and is intended to push combined monthly output above 47 airplanes once integrated.

    What happens to Boeing’s widebody work in Everett?
    Widebody programs, including the 777X, KC-46, and remaining 767 freighters, continue at Everett. The North Line adds single-aisle production alongside, not instead of, widebody work.

  • Fisherman Jack’s Is the Everett Waterfront Restaurant Doing Dim Sum Better Than You Expect

    Fisherman Jack’s Is the Everett Waterfront Restaurant Doing Dim Sum Better Than You Expect

    Q: Is Fisherman Jack’s on the Everett waterfront worth the trip?
    A: Yes — Fisherman Jack’s at 205 Seiner Dr, Suite 101, Everett, WA 98201 is one of the only sit-down dim sum restaurants on the Port of Everett waterfront, serving Asian-seafood fusion with marina views. Locals repeatedly recommend the Jack’s miso black cod, Rainier clams with Chinese sausage, and the Dungeness crab rangoon. Open Tuesday through Sunday, closed Monday.

    We Keep Going Back to Fisherman Jack’s — And Here’s Why That Matters

    There’s a specific category of Everett restaurant we’ve come to appreciate: places that could easily coast on their view and don’t. Fisherman Jack’s is squarely in that category. Sitting at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place with the marina out the window and the Olympics across the Sound on a clear day, the restaurant has the kind of real estate where mediocre food would still pull tourists in on a Saturday night. That’s not what this place is.

    Fisherman Jack’s is an upscale Asian-seafood fusion restaurant that does dim sum, coastal Chinese dishes, and a genuine Pacific Northwest seafood menu — and it does them at a level most waterfront restaurants don’t bother with. If you live in Everett and you still haven’t been, you’re missing one of the two or three best things that have happened to the waterfront dining scene in the last five years.

    The Basics: Address, Hours, Parking

    Address: 205 Seiner Dr, Suite 101, Everett, WA 98201
    Phone: (425) 610-3616
    Website: fishermanjacks.com
    Hours: Tuesday–Thursday and Sunday, 11:30 AM–10:00 PM; Friday–Saturday, 11:30 AM–11:00 PM. Closed Monday.
    Price range: $$–$$$ (entrées $18–$42; dim sum $8–$16 per plate)
    Parking: Free waterfront parking along Seiner Dr and in the Waterfront Place lots. Weekends can fill up around sunset — aim to arrive before 6 PM or be prepared to walk a block.

    The restaurant is named after owner Jack Ng, whose love of Pacific Northwest seafood shaped the whole concept. It opened in late 2023 as one of the anchor restaurants at the Port’s Waterfront Place redevelopment — the same block where Tapped Public House, Bluewater Organic Distilling, and Scuttlebutt Brewing’s downtown taproom now live. Seiner Drive has become the most interesting half-block of food in Everett, and Fisherman Jack’s is the heavyweight of the group.

    What to Order (And What’s Worth the Hype)

    Start With the Dim Sum

    This is the move. Fisherman Jack’s is one of the only restaurants north of Seattle doing proper sit-down dim sum at dinner hours — not the cart-service format you’d get in the ID, but a menu of handmade dumplings, buns, and small plates that come out fast and hot. Order the Dungeness crab rangoon — we had doubts about a crab rangoon on a serious menu and the doubts were wrong. The filling is actual Dungeness, not the pink stuff, and the wrapper shatters the right way.

    Also get the shrimp and pork siu mai, the spicy wontons, and the chocolate dumplings for dessert if you’re feeling adventurous. The chocolate dumplings are weird. We kept eating them.

    Jack’s Miso Black Cod Is the Signature Dish

    If you’re only going once, order the miso black cod. It’s the dish that turns up in every positive review online, and it deserves that. Sablefish (black cod) is the richest, butteriest fish in Pacific Northwest waters, and the miso marinade at Fisherman Jack’s caramelizes just enough under the broiler to give it that classic Nobu-adjacent finish without being overly sweet. It flakes apart with a chopstick. It tastes like something you’d get at a Belltown tasting menu for twice the price.

    The Rainier Clams Are a Surprise Winner

    A Pacific Northwest classic with a Chinese twist: steamer clams cooked with lap cheong (Chinese cured sausage), garlic, onion, and Rainier beer. The broth is the reason to order it — lighter than a traditional clam sauce, with the sweet porkiness of the sausage threading through. Ask for extra bread. You’ll want to sop.

    If You’re Not in a Seafood Mood

    The Mongolian beef is tender and slightly sweet, sliced against the grain so it cuts with a chopstick. The Kung Pao tofu is a legitimate option for vegetarians (not an afterthought). The coconut curry mussels lean Thai but use PNW mussels and work better than they have any right to.

    The Drinks Program Is Better Than It Needs to Be

    Fisherman Jack’s has a tight craft cocktail list that leans tropical — think rum-forward drinks with fresh citrus — plus a draft list with local beers from At Large, Scuttlebutt, and a rotating PNW tap. The wine list is short but well-chosen and won’t embarrass anyone. Our house recommendations: the Oasis (light rum, pineapple, lime) at sunset, or the Darken the Ship cold brew martini after dinner if you still have it in you. They pair surprisingly well with the black cod.

    When to Go

    Go on a weeknight if you can. Tuesday through Thursday between 5:30 and 7:00 PM gives you the sunset over the marina without the Friday-night wait. The lighting inside is warm and low, the room stays quiet enough to have a conversation, and the kitchen has time to plate like they care.

    Weekends get busy — make a reservation through OpenTable or the restaurant website. Walk-ins on a Saturday at 7 PM are a gamble, especially in summer when the waterfront is packed. Happy hour isn’t the restaurant’s strength; we’d go for a full dinner or not at all.

    Who Fisherman Jack’s Is For

    This is a date-night restaurant, a visiting-parents restaurant, and an anniversary-but-you-don’t-want-to-drive-to-Seattle restaurant. It’s not a casual weekday lunch spot — that’s what Scuttlebutt and Tapped next door are for. Bring someone you want to impress without having to explain why you drove to Everett to do it.

    Families work too if you come early. The menu has enough non-seafood options (Mongolian beef, chicken dishes, fried rice) that picky eaters can stay happy while the rest of the table chases the black cod.

    What Fisherman Jack’s Means for Everett’s Dining Scene

    For a long time, the serious answer to “where should we go for dinner that isn’t a chain” in Everett was Anthony’s HomePort, Emory’s on Silver Lake, or driving 40 minutes to Edmonds or Seattle. That equation has changed — and Fisherman Jack’s is one of the main reasons why. Alongside The Net Shed Fish Market & Kitchen on Colby, the new waterfront brewery taprooms, and the Millwright District build-out, the city now has a dining tier that can hold its own against bigger neighbors to the south.

    Three months after our first visit, we’ve been back five times. That’s the real review.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What kind of cuisine is Fisherman Jack’s?

    Asian-seafood fusion. The menu centers on dim sum, coastal Chinese dishes like Szechuan sea bass and Mongolian beef, and Pacific Northwest seafood preparations including black cod, Dungeness crab, Rainier clams, and steamed oysters.

    Does Fisherman Jack’s take reservations?

    Yes — through OpenTable and on their website at fishermanjacks.com. Weeknights are usually fine for walk-ins before 6 PM; Friday and Saturday nights you’ll want a reservation.

    Is there parking at Fisherman Jack’s?

    Yes. Free parking is available along Seiner Drive and in the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place parking lots. On busy summer weekends, the closest lots fill up — plan on a short walk.

    Does Fisherman Jack’s have vegan or vegetarian options?

    Yes. The menu has impossible dumplings, veggie dumplings, Kung Pao tofu, and several vegetable-forward dim sum plates. Vegans have a real meal available; it’s not an afterthought.

    Is Fisherman Jack’s kid-friendly?

    Yes, especially early in the evening. Early dinner (5:00–6:30 PM) is a good time for families. The menu has non-seafood options for picky eaters, including Mongolian beef, chicken dishes, and fried rice.

    What’s the best dish at Fisherman Jack’s?

    The miso black cod is the signature entrée and the dish most regulars recommend first. For the dim sum menu, the Dungeness crab rangoon and shrimp and pork siu mai are the consistent winners. The Rainier clams with Chinese sausage are the surprise of the menu.

    How expensive is Fisherman Jack’s?

    Expect to spend $40–$70 per person for dinner with a cocktail, depending on how heavy you go on the dim sum and whether you get the black cod. Entrées run $18–$42; dim sum plates run $8–$16. It’s priced as a date-night restaurant, not a weekday lunch spot.

  • Tabby’s Coffee at the Everett Public Library Is the City’s Most Underrated Coffee Shop

    Tabby’s Coffee at the Everett Public Library Is the City’s Most Underrated Coffee Shop

    Q: Where is Tabby’s Coffee in Everett, WA?
    A: Tabby’s Coffee is inside the Everett Public Library main branch at 2702 Hoyt Ave, Everett, WA 98201. It’s open Monday through Wednesday 10:00 AM–7:30 PM, Thursday and Friday 10:00 AM–5:30 PM, and Saturday 10:00 AM–4:30 PM. Closed Sunday. Phone: (425) 623-6030.

    The Best Coffee Shop in Everett Is Inside a Library

    If you’ve lived in Everett for more than a year and you’ve never had a coffee at Tabby’s, you’ve been missing the most peaceful caffeine experience downtown. The space is a former reading room inside the main branch of the Everett Public Library at 2702 Hoyt Avenue — a building that has anchored the corner of Hoyt and Wall since 1934 and still feels like the most quietly civilized place in the city.

    The coffee program is real. The atmosphere is unmatched. And almost no one outside of regulars and library staff seems to know the place exists.

    The Basics

    Address: 2702 Hoyt Ave, Everett, WA 98201 (inside the Everett Public Library main branch)
    Phone: (425) 623-6030
    Hours: Monday–Wednesday 10:00 AM–7:30 PM, Thursday–Friday 10:00 AM–5:30 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM–4:30 PM, Sunday closed
    Price range: $ (drinks $4–$7; pastries $3–$5)
    Parking: Free street parking on Hoyt and Wall; library parking lot directly behind the building
    Wi-Fi: Yes (the library’s free public Wi-Fi)

    What’s on the Menu

    The drink menu does not pretend to be La Marzocco-pulled artisan coffee. What it does is pull a clean espresso shot, steam milk competently, and offer a bunch of fun options you won’t find at the chains.

    The hot menu covers the standard espresso lineup — lattes, cappuccinos, cortados, mochas, americanos, and drip coffee. The cold menu is where things get interesting: nitro cold brew on tap with the heavy cascading head when it’s poured right, and Lotus Energy drinks made from a botanical concentrate that blends coffee fruit, green coffee beans, and lotus flower extract. They’re sweeter than coffee but lighter than an energy drink, and they’re the most-ordered cold drink at the shop.

    Pastries and snacks include bagels, muffins, cookies, bagged chips, pretzels, candy bars, and cheese sticks. It’s not a bakery — manage expectations on food. You’re here for the coffee and the room.

    The Real Reason to Come Is the Room

    The Everett Public Library was built in the 1930s with the kind of money cities used to spend on civic buildings — high ceilings, dark wood paneling, leaded windows, and a quiet that feels physical. Tabby’s occupies a corner of the building that used to be one of the original reading rooms, and the original architecture is preserved. Wood-beamed ceiling. Tall windows looking onto Hoyt. Hushed voices because everyone in the building is reading.

    If you work from home in Everett and you need a change of scenery that isn’t another chain coffee shop with a soundtrack, Tabby’s is the answer. Bring a laptop. Sit at one of the heavy library tables in the next room over. Stay for four hours and refill twice. No one will bother you. The library is a public space, and your coffee buys you the right to occupy it without buying you a strict timer.

    What to Order

    The Lotus Energy. Order it iced. Pick a flavor — strawberry, peach, blueberry, or one of the rotating seasonal options — and it comes back as a tall, bright, slightly fizzy drink that has more caffeine than a double espresso. We are coffee snobs and we still love them. They’re $5–$6 and worth it.

    The nitro cold brew. Poured from a tap with the proper foam crown. Comes out smoother than most cold brews in town, and at $4.50 it’s one of the best deals downtown.

    The vanilla latte with edible glitter. Yes, edible glitter. The baristas decorate the foam on a number of drinks for fun, and yes it’s a little corny, and yes it’s delightful. If you have a kid in tow, this is the move.

    A bagel and a drip coffee. Cheap, easy, and gives you an excuse to sit for an hour before you head into the stacks.

    The People Who Run It

    Tabby’s is locally owned and operated and the staff have been featured in the local press for the kind of hospitality that doesn’t show up at chains. The Everett Herald wrote a profile years back titled “The customer is king at Tabby’s Coffee” — that kind of customer-first reputation is rare and worth supporting. The baristas remember regulars’ orders. They take time with kids. They’ll make a recommendation if you ask.

    When to Go

    Mornings (10 AM–noon) are the quietest, especially on weekdays. The library hasn’t filled up yet, the baristas have time to chat, and you can grab any of the big tables in the adjacent reading area for laptop work.

    Lunchtime (noon–2 PM) picks up with downtown workers from the county courthouse, City Hall, and the surrounding office buildings.

    Afternoon (2–5 PM) is when the library fills with after-school readers and homework crews. Quieter at the coffee bar, busier in the stacks.

    Mon/Tue/Wed late afternoon (5–7:30 PM) is the secret slot. Most coffee shops in Everett close by 4 or 5; Tabby’s stays open until 7:30 three days a week, which is the only place downtown to grab a real espresso drink past 5 PM.

    Where Tabby’s Fits in the Everett Coffee Map

    Everett’s coffee scene has gotten genuinely good. Narrative Coffee on Wetmore is the city’s destination roaster and the place serious coffee nerds pilgrimage to. Makario Coffee Roasters downtown does the heavy single-origin lifting on the espresso side. The Muse Whiskey & Coffee in the historic Weyerhaeuser building near the waterfront pulls double duty as a daytime coffee shop and a nighttime speakeasy. Bargreen Coffee Co. has been roasting in Everett since 1898 and is woven into the fabric of the city.

    Tabby’s doesn’t compete with any of those — it complements them. Tabby’s is where you go when you want to be somewhere quiet for two hours, drink something solid, and not have to talk to anyone. It’s the working-from-anywhere coffee shop. The studying coffee shop. The reading coffee shop. The civic-pride coffee shop in a building Everett built when it still believed libraries were monuments.

    If you live or work downtown and you’ve been driving past it on the way to a chain, walk in once. You’ll be back.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Tabby’s Coffee inside the Everett Public Library?

    Yes. Tabby’s Coffee operates inside the main branch of the Everett Public Library at 2702 Hoyt Avenue. It occupies a former reading room in the historic 1934 library building.

    What are Tabby’s Coffee hours?

    Monday through Wednesday from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed Sundays.

    Can you study at Tabby’s Coffee?

    Yes — and it’s one of the best places downtown to do it. Free Wi-Fi from the library, ample seating in the adjacent reading rooms, and an atmosphere designed for quiet focus. Bring a laptop and stay as long as you need.

    Is there parking at Tabby’s Coffee?

    Yes. Free street parking is available on Hoyt Ave and Wall Street, and the library has a parking lot directly behind the building.

    Does Tabby’s serve food?

    Yes, but it’s a limited snack menu — bagels, muffins, cookies, bagged chips, pretzels, and similar packaged items. It’s not a full café food program. Come for coffee, stay for a snack, but don’t expect a meal.

    What is the Lotus Energy drink at Tabby’s?

    Lotus Energy is a botanical-based energy concentrate made from coffee fruit, green coffee beans, lotus flower extract, and various super fruits. At Tabby’s it’s served iced with flavored syrups. It has more caffeine than a typical espresso drink and is one of the shop’s most popular menu items.

    Is Tabby’s Coffee kid-friendly?

    Yes. The library is a family destination, and Tabby’s caters to families with kids’ drinks, glittery decorations on lattes, and a generally welcoming atmosphere. Combine a coffee stop with a trip to the library’s children’s section for a great Saturday morning.

  • Dick’s Drive-In, Cathouse Pizza and 2 More Food Trucks Are Rolling Into Downtown Everett on April 25 for the Energy Block Party

    Dick’s Drive-In, Cathouse Pizza and 2 More Food Trucks Are Rolling Into Downtown Everett on April 25 for the Energy Block Party

    Q: When and where is the Snohomish PUD Energy Block Party 2026?
    A: Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Snohomish County PUD Electric Building headquarters, 2320 California Street, Everett, WA 98201. Free admission, no RSVP required. Food trucks for the 4th annual event include Dick’s Drive-In, Ryan’s Rezipes, Cathouse Pizza, Miller Meats, and Baker’s Dozen Mini Donuts. Rain or shine.

    The Best Free Food Event in Everett This Spring Is Also a Block Party About Electricity

    Hear us out. Snohomish PUD’s Energy Block Party is on its 4th year, and what started as a utility open house has quietly become one of the most interesting free community events on the spring calendar — largely because they figured out something other community events haven’t: if you put good food trucks in the parking lot, people will show up for reasons that have nothing to do with the official programming.

    This year’s edition rolls out Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the PUD’s Electric Building at 2320 California Street in downtown Everett. The food lineup is better than it has any right to be. And if you’ve been waiting for a Saturday where you can get Dick’s Drive-In without the Seattle line, this is your morning.

    The Food Truck Lineup

    Dick’s Drive-In Food Truck

    This is the big one. Dick’s Drive-In — the Seattle institution that has been serving Deluxes, Dick’s Specials, and hand-cut fries since 1954 — brings its mobile truck to the Everett waterfront for the first time in a long time. The permanent north-end Dick’s location is in Edmonds (the closest brick-and-mortar), so getting the full menu at a truck in downtown Everett is not a weekly occurrence. Expect a line. Bring cash or be ready for the card reader; either works.

    What to order: The Deluxe burger, hand-cut fries, and a chocolate shake. That’s the classic trio and that’s what they do best. Don’t overthink it.

    Cathouse Pizza

    Handcrafted New York-style 10-inch personal pizzas with a serious twist — Cathouse specializes in vegan, dairy-free, and egg-free dough and sauces. That doesn’t mean the pizza is only for vegans; it means everyone at the table can eat it, which is the whole point. The crust is proper thin, the sauce is proper red, and the pizzas are sized for one hungry human each.

    What to order: Whatever the daily special is. Cathouse rotates their specials based on what produce they picked up that week. Ask the window; they’ll tell you what’s worth it.

    Miller Meats

    The carnivore counter to Cathouse. Miller Meats is a Snohomish County-based operation doing the heavy meat lifting — burgers, sandwiches, smoked items. Good pick for anyone who looked at the pizza lineup and said “where’s the beef.”

    Ryan’s Rezipes

    Local family-run food truck with a rotating menu of comfort food — think hand-held sandwiches and creative takes on diner classics. Ryan’s Rezipes shows up on the Snohomish County food truck circuit regularly and has a loyal following. Good “I don’t know what I want” option because the menu covers a lot of ground.

    Baker’s Dozen Mini Donuts

    Fresh mini donuts made to order. Sugar, cinnamon, chocolate, or whatever seasonal topping they’re running that day. Bring a bag home for the kids. Bring a second bag for yourself.

    Coffee

    A coffee vendor will be on site — which matters, because this is a 10 AM event. Details on the specific roaster haven’t been announced, but you’ll be able to grab a latte without walking three blocks to downtown.

    What Else Is Going On

    The Energy Block Party is, technically, about energy. Snohomish PUD uses the event to show off the utility side of what they do — which, if you’re curious about how the grid works, is actually more interesting than it sounds.

    • Touch-a-truck: The line trucks are there, bucket trucks are there, and kids can climb on them. This is the reason every family with an under-10 in Snohomish County shows up.
    • High-voltage demo trailer: A PUD-run demonstration that shows what electricity actually does in the real world. Loud, smoky, safe. Very popular.
    • Line worker demonstrations: Real line workers in gear explaining how they keep the lights on.
    • Info booths: Solar power, lowering your bills, electric vehicles, and — new this year — booths on future energy tech including small modular nuclear and fusion. If you’ve been meaning to learn how to lower your bill or install rooftop solar, this is the one-stop shop.
    • Electric vehicle showcase: EVs on display, conversations with owners, and PUD staff available to answer rebate and installation questions.

    The Practical Details

    Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
    Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Location: Snohomish County PUD Electric Building, 2320 California Street, Everett, WA 98201
    Admission: Free
    RSVP: Not required
    Parking: Free street parking on California Street and in the surrounding blocks; PUD lots open to visitors during the event
    Kids: Yes, it’s kid-central
    Dogs: Leashed dogs generally welcome outdoors
    Weather: Rain or shine (the food trucks will be out; some of the demos are outdoors)

    How to Work This Saturday

    Get there at 10:15 AM. Grab coffee first, hit Dick’s before the line gets long (and it will), then rotate through the info booths while you eat. The mini donuts are the dessert move. The touch-a-truck area peaks around 11:30 AM, so if you have kids, plan to be done eating by then so you can enjoy the stuff they care about.

    If you’re on an EV and thinking about solar or a home charger, get there early and actually spend time at the info booths — PUD staff are not trying to sell you anything, and the rebate and tax credit landscape in 2026 has real money in it if you know where to look.

    Why This Event Matters for Everett

    The Energy Block Party has become one of those quietly great downtown events that does several things at once: it pulls people into downtown Everett on a Saturday morning, it puts independent food trucks in front of a captive audience, and it makes the PUD — a utility that most people only interact with when they pay a bill — feel like a neighbor. That’s a rare combination.

    It also lines up perfectly with the Everett Farmers Market’s Get Ready Market week and the broader spring-into-downtown push the city has been running. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to spend a Saturday morning in Everett that isn’t just a coffee run, this is the one.

    Go hungry. Bring cash for the smaller trucks. And yes — order the Dick’s Deluxe.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is the Snohomish PUD Energy Block Party free?

    Yes. Admission is free, and no RSVP is required. Food and drink from the trucks is at your own expense.

    What time does the Energy Block Party 2026 start?

    The event runs from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

    Where is the PUD Electric Building?

    2320 California Street, Everett, WA 98201. It’s in downtown Everett, a few blocks east of the waterfront and within walking distance of the Everett Transit Station.

    Is Dick’s Drive-In really coming to Everett for this?

    Yes — Dick’s is sending their food truck to the event. The closest permanent Dick’s Drive-In location is in Edmonds, so this is one of the few times per year the Dick’s truck is easily accessible from Everett without a drive down I-5.

    Are dogs allowed at the Energy Block Party?

    Leashed dogs are generally welcome in the outdoor areas. The demo trailer and some info booth tents may not allow pets inside — use judgment and keep your dog away from the high-voltage demo area.

    Is the event kid-friendly?

    Yes. This is arguably the most kid-friendly free event in downtown Everett in April. Touch-a-truck with real utility line trucks, the high-voltage demo, and the mini donut truck make it a strong family pick.

    Can you still go if it’s raining?

    Yes — the event happens rain or shine. The food trucks will be there, and most of the info booths are under tents. The touch-a-truck and outdoor demos may have modified schedules if the weather is severe.

    Will there be vegan food at the Energy Block Party?

    Yes. Cathouse Pizza specializes in vegan, dairy-free, and egg-free pizza dough and sauces. You can get a full vegan meal at this event — which is more than you can say about most food truck festivals.

  • Everett Housing Market Mid-April 2026: One City, Three Very Different Markets

    Everett Housing Market Mid-April 2026: One City, Three Very Different Markets

    Q: What’s happening in Everett’s housing market right now?

    A: Citywide, the median Everett home is selling for around $547,000 — down roughly 11.6% from a year ago, with homes going pending in about 8 days and selling within 1% of list price. But the neighborhood-level numbers tell a very different story. Downtown Everett is *up* 11.4% year-over-year. Northwest Everett — the stately old-money neighborhood above the waterfront — is up 22.1%. And the 98208 zip code on the south end is down 7.5%. One Everett, three very different markets.

    The headline number for Everett housing in early 2026 is grim if you’re a seller and encouraging if you’re a buyer: citywide, the median home is selling for $547,000, which is 11.6% below where it sat a year ago. The market is still moving fast — 8 days to pending, roughly 1% under list — but the price trajectory has turned.

    Pull one layer back from that headline, though, and the picture fractures. Different corners of Everett are in genuinely different markets right now. If you’re pricing a sale, underwriting a purchase, or watching your own home value, the number that matters isn’t the citywide median. It’s the number for your block.

    Here’s what we’re tracking neighborhood-by-neighborhood, based on the most recent Redfin data available as of mid-April 2026.

    The Citywide Snapshot

    Median sale price: ~$547,000 Year-over-year change: Down 11.6% Median price per square foot: $394 (up 0.9% YoY) Days on market to pending: ~8 Sale-to-list ratio: ~99% (homes selling about 1% under asking)

    A 11.6% year-over-year decline is, by any historical measure, a significant correction. It is not, however, a 2008-style correction. The speed of sale is still fast. Price-per-square-foot is holding steady. The market is still functional. What’s happening is that the feverish appreciation of 2021–2023 has normalized out, and Everett is settling into a version of its market that looks more like 2019 than like 2022.

    That settling is happening unevenly.

    Downtown Everett — Up 11.4% YoY

    The surprise of this cycle is downtown.

    Median sale price: ~$384,000 Year-over-year change: Up 11.4%

    Downtown Everett has historically been the most affordable submarket in the city — lots of older condos, aging multi-family stock, a mix of rental and owner-occupied product that rarely commands premium pricing. That is all still true. What’s changed is the direction of the trend.

    The obvious catalyst is everything that’s been happening physically downtown over the last 24 months. Tapped Public House and Restaurant Row. The Schack Art Center’s spring programming. The Historic Everett Theatre. Funko HQ’s continued pull. The AquaSox stadium site plan, even without shovels in the ground, is visibly changing what a ground-floor unit on Hewitt or Wetmore is worth. And the Edgewater Bridge is about to open on April 28, which cuts what was a gnarly detour for a lot of downtown-proximate commutes.

    If you bought a downtown condo in 2023 or 2024 when the citywide market was peaking and you watched your paper value slide, your value has probably recovered and then some, even as the citywide average has fallen.

    A rising downtown is a real shift in how the rest of the city’s housing market is going to work. Demand for walkable, amenity-dense urban product has been building for a decade in Seattle and finally has a credible competitor on the north end.

    Northwest Everett — Up 22.1% YoY (As of October 2025)

    Median sale price: ~$705,000 Year-over-year change: Up 22.1% (data from October 2025)

    Northwest Everett is the historic mansion district — the bluff above the waterfront, the big old homes on Rucker and Grand and Hoyt, the streets that were Everett’s money before the mills came in. It has always traded at a premium to the citywide average, and in the most recent data available it has appreciated at the fastest clip of any Everett neighborhood.

    A $705,000 median in NW Everett at a +22.1% YoY pace is a market that’s being pulled by two things. One is the same thing pulling downtown — everything happening on the waterfront is making the bluff above the waterfront more valuable. The other is housing stock scarcity. NW Everett doesn’t have teardown-and-build-a-fourplex density potential the way some newer parts of Everett do. What’s there is largely what’s there. When demand for character-rich historic homes in Puget Sound spikes, NW Everett is one of the first submarkets to reprice.

    The October 2025 reading is the most recent neighborhood-level number available on Redfin as of this writing. The direction of the citywide trend since then suggests the appreciation pace has probably moderated in 2026, but the relative premium is not going anywhere.

    98208 — Down 7.5% YoY

    Median sale price: ~$740,000 Year-over-year change: Down 7.5% (as of January 2026)

    Zipcode 98208 is the south-and-east chunk of Everett — Silver Lake, a good portion of the Cascade High School attendance boundary, the areas that functionally blend into unincorporated Snohomish County. It’s where a lot of Everett’s 1990s and 2000s single-family stock sits. It’s also where a lot of the most recent in-migration from Seattle has landed since 2020.

    That in-migration is what’s unwinding. 98208 saw some of the strongest appreciation during the 2021–2023 boom, and it’s now seeing some of the sharpest year-over-year declines. A $740,000 median is still substantial — higher than the citywide number — but it’s down from a peak around $800,000.

    If you’re buying in 98208 right now, the deals are better than they’ve been in three years. If you’re selling, you’re competing against more inventory than NW Everett or Downtown sellers are, and the negotiation leverage is on the other side of the table.

    What It Means for Different Everett Buyers

    First-time buyer

    Downtown is actually your best entry point right now. $384,000 median for a downtown condo is a number that, with a VA or FHA loan, is within reach for a dual-earner household at Everett’s median household income. You’re buying a smaller unit, but you’re buying into a trajectory. The +11.4% YoY in downtown is what appreciation looks like when the fundamentals around a neighborhood genuinely improve.

    Move-up buyer

    98208 is your buy. If you already own a smaller unit and you’re looking to trade up into a 3-4 bedroom single-family home, the citywide market is softer than it’s been since 2019, and the 98208 submarket specifically is down more than the citywide average. Your existing property’s paper value may be softer than you’d like, but you’re buying into a deeper discount than you’re selling out of.

    Investor / developer

    Watch Millwright District pre-leasing and Waterfront Place Restaurant Row lease-up as leading indicators for downtown. If the foot traffic and tenant demand at Waterfront Place keeps trending the way it has, downtown appreciation is going to keep outrunning the citywide average for at least another cycle. The investment thesis for small downtown multi-family right now is specifically the Waterfront Place thesis.

    Seller

    Price it sharp. Eight days to pending doesn’t mean every home is getting multiple offers. It means well-priced homes move fast and overpriced homes get stale fast. The citywide market is down 11.6%; don’t anchor to what your neighbor got in 2022. Talk to an agent who’s closed deals in the last 90 days in your specific zip code.

    What to Watch Next

    Three things that could move the neighborhood numbers between now and the end of summer 2026:

    • The downtown stadium vote on April 29. The City Council is being asked for $10.6 million in design funding. If the vote passes and the stadium project stays on track, downtown appreciation gets a structural tailwind. If it doesn’t, the most bullish part of the downtown thesis cools off.
    • Sound Transit Everett Link decisions. The Draft EIS is expected this year. Any final decision — in either direction — on the Everett Link extension will move downtown and waterfront-adjacent pricing materially.
    • Millwright District Phase 2 leasing traction. 120,000 square feet of waterfront office space is being pre-leased right now. Which tenants sign determines what downtown’s weekday population looks like in 2027–2028, which determines what downtown condo rents do next.

    The Everett housing market of 2026 is a market in transition. The story is not “Everett is up” or “Everett is down” anymore. It’s “which Everett.”

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the median home price in Everett right now? Approximately $547,000 citywide, down 11.6% year-over-year as of early 2026.

    Which Everett neighborhood is appreciating fastest? Northwest Everett posted the strongest recent year-over-year gain at approximately +22.1% as of October 2025 data, with a median sale price around $705,000.

    Which Everett neighborhood is the most affordable? Downtown Everett is the most affordable submarket, with a median around $384,000 — though it’s now appreciating at +11.4% YoY as the Waterfront Place and downtown revitalization story accelerates.

    How quickly are Everett homes selling? Homes in Everett are going pending in approximately 8 days on average, selling at roughly 1% below list price.

    Is it a buyer’s market or a seller’s market in Everett? It’s a mixed market. Citywide prices are down meaningfully year-over-year, which gives buyers leverage, but sale speed (8 days to pending) remains fast, which works in sellers’ favor if pricing is sharp. By neighborhood, Downtown and Northwest Everett lean seller, 98208 leans buyer.

    Where is Everett housing most softening? The 98208 zip code on Everett’s south side was down 7.5% year-over-year as of January 2026, with a median around $740,000. This is the submarket that appreciated most aggressively during 2021–2023.

    How should I think about Everett housing in 2026 overall? Don’t use the citywide number to value your specific home. Neighborhood-level variance in Everett right now is wider than citywide averages would suggest. A real estate agent who has closed recent deals in your specific zip code will give you a much more accurate number than a citywide aggregate.

  • Waterfront Place’s Next Wave: Menchie’s and Marina Azul Are Almost Open — And Alexa’s Cafe Is Out

    Waterfront Place’s Next Wave: Menchie’s and Marina Azul Are Almost Open — And Alexa’s Cafe Is Out

    Q: Who’s opening next at the Port of Everett’s Restaurant Row?

    A: Two new tenants are days to weeks away from opening at Waterfront Place: Menchie’s at the Marina (frozen yogurt, second floor of the new Restaurant Row building) and Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina (from the team behind Casa Azul in Woodinville and Agave Cocina in Issaquah). Both are expected in early spring 2026. Alexa’s Cafe — originally slated to be the breakfast-and-brunch tenant — has pulled out, and the Port is now actively searching for a new café operator to fill the last remaining spot in the building.

    Walking Waterfront Place in mid-April, you can feel that the second wave has landed. Tapped Public House’s rooftop is already pulling weekend crowds. Rustic Cork and The Net Shed Fresh Fish Market & Kitchen, both of which opened quietly in December 2025, are no longer “new” — they’re already part of the weekday regular rotation for a lot of downtown workers.

    But the building still has two tenants wrapping up construction, one that’s quietly vanished from the tenant list, and one visible empty storefront waiting for its operator.

    Here’s what we’re tracking in the final phase of the Restaurant Row lease-up at the Port of Everett.

    Menchie’s at the Marina — Opening Early Spring 2026

    The waterfront’s first national-brand dessert concept is going in on the second floor of the Restaurant Row building, a level up from where Tapped has its giant rooftop deck. If you’ve been to a Menchie’s anywhere else, you already know the deal — self-serve frozen yogurt, a wall of rotating flavors, a toppings bar, pay by weight.

    What makes this location different is the setting. Menchie’s hasn’t had a waterfront storefront anywhere in the Puget Sound region before, and putting one on the upper deck at Waterfront Place — with views out across the North Marina — turns what’s otherwise a suburban mall concept into something that reads a lot more like vacation-mode soft-serve. The Port has been positioning the full Restaurant Row building as a destination for families as much as for weekend drinkers, and Menchie’s is part of that case.

    The Port’s public communication says “early spring 2026,” which at this point in April is a window measured in weeks, not months. Watch for the signage to go up on the second-floor exterior first, then the lighting and cabinet fit-out in the back-of-house windows, then the soft open.

    Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina — From a Team You Probably Already Know

    The bigger food story, honestly, is Marina Azul.

    Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina is the third concept from the team behind Casa Azul Cocina and Cantina in Woodinville and Agave Cocina and Cantina in Issaquah. Both are well-regarded regional Mexican restaurants with strong happy hour programs and a family-owned operational style that Eastside diners have been sending Yelp reviews about for years.

    Putting their first waterfront location at the Port of Everett is a decision that says something about where they think the Eastside customer and the North Sound customer are going to overlap next. Woodinville and Issaquah are both destination-dining towns. Everett, with 110,000 residents and a brand-new waterfront, is on the verge of being one. A Friday evening in April at Fisherman’s Harbor already feels a lot more like a weekend in Leavenworth or Bellevue Collection than it used to.

    Marina Azul is taking ground-floor space directly on the water — the kind of setup where you can dock a boat, walk up to the deck, and be eating tacos and drinking a paloma within 10 minutes. That’s a very specific restaurant experience Everett just hasn’t had before, and it’s the kind of thing that starts pulling regional weekend traffic in a way Hewitt Avenue alone doesn’t.

    Expected opening: early spring 2026. Which again means weeks, not months.

    The Alexa’s Cafe Situation

    Here’s the interesting wrinkle we should flag honestly.

    Alexa’s Cafe was the originally announced breakfast-and-brunch tenant for the Restaurant Row building, going back to a Port press release in April 2024. That lease did not end up closing. Alexa’s is no longer a Waterfront Place tenant, and the Port is now actively searching for a new breakfast-and-brunch operator to take the last remaining space in the building.

    This isn’t a scandal — lease deals collapse in commercial real estate all the time, and a year-and-a-half gap between a press announcement and a signed lease is well within the normal range for a waterfront concept needing custom buildout. But it does mean the final tenant in the Restaurant Row building is currently a gap on the tenant list, not a named business.

    The Port has publicly said it wants a “breakfast and brunch café” concept specifically. If you’re a café operator in the North Sound market or you know one who’s been quietly looking at expansion, the Port’s real estate team is the place to send the inquiry.

    What’s Actually Open at Waterfront Place Right Now

    For the current scorecard, here’s what you can actually walk into at Waterfront Place as of mid-April 2026:

    • Tapped Public House — gastropub, largest open-air waterfront rooftop deck in Snohomish County. Opened March 2, 2026.
    • Rustic Cork Wine Bar — second floor of Restaurant Row building. Opened December 2025.
    • The Net Shed Fresh Fish Market & Kitchen — ground-floor fresh fish market and quick-service seafood. Opened December 2025.
    • S3 Maritime — marine maintenance and repair services, now open at the marina. (Not a restaurant, but it’s new and worth knowing about.)
    • Pacific Coast Salmon Coalition gift shop — the Port’s retail anchor from the first phase.
    • Hotel Indigo Everett Waterfront — still the only hotel at Waterfront Place, with the Bluewater Distilling restaurant on the ground floor.

    What’s Coming Next

    And here’s what’s still on deck between now and summer:

    • Menchie’s at the Marina — early spring 2026 (weeks out)
    • Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina — early spring 2026 (weeks out)
    • Unnamed breakfast-and-brunch café — Port actively recruiting, no signed tenant yet
    • Flagship restaurant at the last undeveloped parcel — Port opened an official search in early 2026; we covered that story separately

    That’s three tenants still to sign or open in a footprint that, 18 months ago, didn’t have a single operating restaurant. The pace of lease-up at Waterfront Place has been honestly faster than most commercial retail deliveries of comparable scale in the Puget Sound market over the last five years.

    Why This Matters for Everett

    It’s easy to look at restaurant openings as a soft story — lifestyle news, not real economic development. But the Restaurant Row lease-up is doing three specific things for Everett right now:

    First, it’s generating foot traffic that didn’t exist in this part of town 24 months ago. The Port has reported significant year-over-year increases in marina visitation since the first Restaurant Row tenants opened, and that foot traffic is spilling into the Hotel Indigo, into Jetty Island day-use traffic, and into the Mukilteo–Everett water taxi seasonal ridership.

    Second, it’s proving the commercial real estate thesis for Millwright District next door. Millwright Phase 2 — housing plus 120,000 square feet of office space — is being pre-leased right now. Every tenant that signs in Millwright is underwriting that decision against the foot traffic and the destination-draw of Waterfront Place. Restaurant Row is, in a direct way, making the Millwright deals close.

    Third, it’s generating the sales tax and lodging tax that funds basically everything else the Port and the City can pay for downtown. Hewitt Avenue’s slow rebuild into a restaurant district, the Edgewater Bridge opening April 28, the ongoing conversation about the Sound Transit Everett Link extension — all of those projects have better financing math when downtown and the waterfront are generating more taxable activity.

    Menchie’s and Marina Azul are, on one level, a frozen yogurt shop and a Mexican restaurant. On another level, they’re two more data points in the slow-motion argument that downtown Everett is becoming the kind of place where a regional restaurateur wants to sign a 10-year lease.

    Both of those things get to be true.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When is Menchie’s at the Marina opening at Waterfront Place? Early spring 2026. The Port has not announced a specific date, but the language suggests weeks rather than months from mid-April.

    When is Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina opening? Early spring 2026. The restaurant is from the team behind Casa Azul in Woodinville and Agave Cocina in Issaquah.

    Is Alexa’s Cafe still opening at Waterfront Place? No. Alexa’s is no longer a Waterfront Place tenant. The Port is actively recruiting a new breakfast-and-brunch operator to take that last spot in the Restaurant Row building.

    Which restaurants are already open at Waterfront Place? Tapped Public House, Rustic Cork Wine Bar, and The Net Shed Fresh Fish Market & Kitchen are the three most recent openings. Bluewater Distilling at the Hotel Indigo and the Port’s retail tenants anchor the first phase.

    Where is Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina located? Ground-floor space on the water at Waterfront Place, adjacent to the Restaurant Row building. The restaurant has direct waterfront exposure toward the marina.

    Who operates Menchie’s at the Marina? Menchie’s is a national frozen yogurt franchise. The individual franchise operator for the Waterfront Place location has not been publicly named.

    Is the Port still looking for more Restaurant Row tenants? Yes. The Port is actively searching for a breakfast-and-brunch café operator for the remaining Restaurant Row building slot, and in a separate process is recruiting a flagship restaurant for the last undeveloped waterfront parcel at Waterfront Place.

  • Everett’s Light Rail Showdown: What the April 14 Town Hall and the Somers Plan Mean for Snohomish County

    Everett’s Light Rail Showdown: What the April 14 Town Hall and the Somers Plan Mean for Snohomish County

    Q: Is Everett’s light rail extension still getting built?

    A: It’s still in the plan — but Sound Transit is staring down a $34.5 billion budget shortfall, and three of the agency’s cost-cutting scenarios would either shorten or delay the Everett connection. Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, who chairs the Sound Transit Board, pledged at the April 14 town hall in Everett that he’ll push a plan prioritizing the north-south spine — including Everett — over Seattle-area extensions. The fight over what actually gets funded happens in the next several months.

    We packed into Everett Station on Tuesday night, April 14, and it felt less like a transit meeting and more like a civic defense. Residents, small-business owners, transit nerds, skeptical commuters, and a row of Snohomish County officials spent the evening doing one thing — reminding Sound Transit that Everett has been paying for light rail for more than a decade, and we intend to get the light rail we’ve been paying for.

    If you’ve been half-following the Everett Link Extension saga, here’s where things stand right now.

    The $34.5 Billion Problem

    Sound Transit is facing a $34.5 billion budget shortfall across its ST3 program. That’s not a typo, and it’s not a projection for the distant future — it’s the gap between what the agency is required to build and what it can currently afford.

    In March, the agency put three illustrative cost-cutting scenarios on the table. All three involve cuts. One of the three scenarios would not complete the connection to Everett at all. The other two would shorten or delay extensions elsewhere — Ballard, West Seattle, Tacoma, Issaquah — but they still put pressure on the northern end of the spine, which is us.

    That’s the context for the April 14 town hall. It wasn’t an informational session. It was Everett saying: don’t you dare.

    What Somers Actually Said

    County Executive Dave Somers, who also chairs the Sound Transit Board, didn’t hedge. He told the room he plans to present a proposal to the full Sound Transit Board that prioritizes completing the north-south corridor — Everett to Tacoma — over extensions into areas that are already served by light rail.

    The quote that traveled was this one: “The citizens of Snohomish County have been paying for a system for a long, long time, and it’s time for them to get a light rail.”

    He was more specific about what that plan looks like in practice. Seattle-area projects — Ballard, West Seattle — would stay alive in planning but would not be authorized to move forward until the agency can actually afford them. “We will keep those projects alive in planning, but they will not be authorized for moving forward, because we can’t afford them right now.”

    Somers also told the room the obvious political truth: his is one voice among 18 on the Sound Transit Board. “That’s eight votes out of 18, so there’s 10 votes that are outside our control.” He’s going to need allies from Pierce County and from King County to get this across the finish line.

    Mayor Franklin’s Frame: “The Spine”

    Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin reinforced Somers with a framing device that matters for anyone trying to understand regional transit politics: the spine.

    “It is the spine from Everett to Tacoma that is actually going to connect this region.”

    The idea is that ST3 was never sold to voters as a series of disconnected spur lines. It was sold as a regional system with a north-south backbone. Cutting Everett off the spine isn’t a line-item reduction — it’s a structural amputation. Franklin’s argument is that if you want to know which projects are most essential to a regional transit system, you start with the backbone and work outward.

    That framing is a strategic move. It reframes the debate from “which extension is most deserving” to “which projects are structural versus which are peripheral.”

    The Timeline We’re Looking At

    The Everett Link Extension is currently not expected to open until sometime between 2037 and 2041. That’s a range we should all sit with for a minute. The original target was 2036. The most optimistic current estimate is one year later than originally promised. The least optimistic is five years later.

    This is before any of the three cost-cutting scenarios get applied.

    The extension would add 16 miles of light rail and six new stations connecting Snohomish County into the broader regional network. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be available for public review and formal comment in 2026, which means there is going to be a real window for residents to weigh in on this project in writing.

    What Voters Are Actually Angry About

    Walking out of the town hall, the argument that kept surfacing in conversations in the parking lot was a version of the one Kevin Ballard made in his April 20 letter to the editor in the Herald: we’ve been paying for this for over a decade. If the project gets delayed or scaled back, the money we’ve already paid doesn’t come back to us. It just gets spent somewhere else.

    There’s a version of this argument that’s about fairness — we paid, we deserve delivery. There’s another version that’s about math — Everett’s segment of ST3 is, by most measures, among the most cost-efficient in the entire package, which means cutting it would actually be a bad deal for the agency’s budget. Neither version is a closing argument, but both are going to be heard a lot over the next several months.

    What’s Next

    The Sound Transit Board meets on the fourth Thursday of each month from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Public comment is accepted at those meetings. Written comments can also go to meetingcomments@soundtransit.org.

    The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected this year. When it lands, there will be a formal public comment period.

    Somers has said he’ll bring his north-south-first proposal to the Board. We don’t know exactly when, but the implication from the town hall is that this is not a fall 2026 conversation — it’s a next-few-months conversation.

    And locally, Everett City Council and the Snohomish County Council have both started putting resolutions and letters of support behind the completion of the spine. That drumbeat is going to get louder before it gets quieter.

    What This Means for the Waterfront

    Everett’s waterfront transformation — Waterfront Place, Millwright District, the downtown stadium, Restaurant Row — is happening on the assumption that light rail is coming. The Everett Station location anchors the southern edge of downtown, and a future Everett Station-to-Waterfront connection is part of how downtown’s long-term density math actually works.

    If the Link extension gets shortened or delayed further, the case for downtown office, retail, and residential investment doesn’t collapse — but it does get harder. Developers project rent rolls on 30-year time horizons. A 2041 light rail opening versus a 2036 opening is the kind of thing that shows up in a capital stack.

    It’s also the reason why this is a waterfront story, not just a transit story. Everything Everett is building downtown right now — the stadium, the Millwright office space, the housing being pre-leased at Waterfront Place — is happening in front of a fundamental question about whether the city will be a light rail terminus or a light rail afterthought.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When was the Sound Transit town hall in Everett? Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Everett Station. Local officials and Sound Transit staff presented the agency’s budget situation and took public comment.

    Who chairs the Sound Transit Board? Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. He has publicly committed to advocating for completion of the Everett Link Extension as part of the north-south spine.

    How big is Sound Transit’s budget shortfall? $34.5 billion across the ST3 program. Three cost-cutting scenarios are being considered; one would not complete the Everett extension.

    When is the Everett Link Extension expected to open? Currently projected between 2037 and 2041. The original target was 2036.

    How many new stations would the Everett extension add? Six new stations across 16 miles of new light rail.

    How can Everett residents weigh in on this decision? Attend Sound Transit Board meetings (fourth Thursday of each month, 1:30–4:00 p.m.), submit written comments to meetingcomments@soundtransit.org, and watch for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement comment period later in 2026.

    What is “the spine” Mayor Franklin refers to? The north-south light rail corridor from Everett to Tacoma — the backbone of the ST3 system, distinct from the east-west extensions to Ballard, West Seattle, and Issaquah.

  • Howarth Park: The Everett Beach You Drive Past Without Knowing It’s There

    Howarth Park: The Everett Beach You Drive Past Without Knowing It’s There

    What is Howarth Park in Everett?
    Howarth Park is a City of Everett park on the Puget Sound bluff at 1127 Olympic Boulevard, with an easy 0.6-mile loop trail, a pedestrian bridge over the BNSF railroad tracks to a long beach, sport courts, a playground, and an off-leash dog beach on the north end. It’s open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, free to enter, and one of the most underused public beaches in Snohomish County.

    Howarth Park: The Everett Beach You Drive Past Without Knowing It’s There

    Olympic Boulevard in south Everett is mostly tidy residential streets, a few stop signs, and not much else to look at — which is exactly how most drivers end up cruising right past Howarth Park without noticing the turnoff. That is the central fact of this park. It’s one of the most scenic stretches of public beach in south Everett, it’s a short drive from downtown, and a huge number of Everett residents have never set foot on it.

    Let’s fix that.

    Where Howarth Park Actually Is

    Howarth Park is tucked along the western bluff of south Everett at 1127 Olympic Boulevard. Coming from downtown, the easiest route is south on Rucker Avenue, right on Mukilteo Boulevard, and then left into the park about a mile and a half after you pass Forest Park. If you hit the Mukilteo ferry, you’ve gone too far.

    The park sits on a long, narrow strip of bluff and beach that the City of Everett has owned and managed for generations. The bluff side holds the parking, playground, and sport courts. The beach is a separate world down below — reached only by the park’s signature pedestrian bridge.

    The Three Parking Lots and What Each One Gives You

    One of the things that confuses first-time visitors is that Howarth Park has three parking lots, and they’re not interchangeable. Pick the wrong one and you’ll either end up with a long walk or a missed view.

    The north parking lot is what most beach-goers want. This is the closest pedestrian access to the beach itself. A short trail leads from the lot to the park’s pedestrian bridge, which spans the BNSF railroad tracks below and drops you directly onto the sand. If your goal is to get to the water with kids, a dog, or a beach chair, this is the lot.

    The central parking lot sits at a small viewpoint on the bluff and offers a trail that drops down the hillside to the beach. This route is longer and steeper than the north access, but the view from the top is easily the best non-beach view in the park — on a clear day you’re looking straight across at the Olympic Mountains and Hat Island.

    The south parking lot is the one most Everett residents don’t realize exists. This is the family-friendly end: two sport courts (tennis and basketball), a playground, a restroom, and a short, level walking path that leads to another great water view — again with Hat Island front and center. If you have young kids and want a picnic without the pedestrian-bridge hike, come here.

    The Pedestrian Bridge and the Beach

    The pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks is the quintessential Howarth experience. It’s not fancy — a metal walkway with railings — but it feels a little bit like crossing into a hidden world. You come off the bridge onto a long, driftwood-strewn beach with Possession Sound in front of you, Whidbey Island in the distance, and the Mukilteo ferry crossing behind you.

    The beach itself runs north to south along the park’s full length. It’s sand and cobble, with plenty of driftwood washed up at the high-tide line and tide pools exposed at low tide. You’ll see people walking dogs, kids skipping rocks, the occasional fisherman, and on nice spring weekends, a handful of photographers chasing the light.

    The freight trains that run on the tracks behind you are loud and constant — that’s the tradeoff for beach access in this part of Puget Sound. After your first trip you stop noticing them.

    The 0.6-Mile Loop Trail

    On the bluff above, Howarth has a short but scenic 0.6-mile loop trail that’s generally rated as easy. It takes most people about 15 to 20 minutes and connects the three parking lots through a mix of forested switchbacks and bluff-edge sections. Strollers can handle some of it but not all. Dogs on leash are fine.

    The trail is at its best between March and September, when the alders have leafed out and the ground is dry. In winter the steeper descents can get muddy and slick — bring shoes with tread.

    The Off-Leash Dog Beach

    Here’s a Howarth detail most Everett dog owners don’t know until their neighbor tells them: the north end of the beach is off-leash. Everett has very few legal off-leash beach options, and this is one of them. The south half of the beach stays leashed, but if you walk north from the pedestrian bridge, your dog can run.

    Standard rules apply: owners are responsible for cleanup, voice control, and pulling your dog back if another leashed dog or visitor is coming through. The regulars who use this stretch have an informal etiquette that works well — show up, be considerate, and you’ll be welcomed.

    The Views and When to Come

    Howarth faces roughly west-southwest across Possession Sound. That geometry means:

    • Morning: Calm water, often glassy, great for reflective photos and cool-weather walks.
    • Golden hour to sunset: The main event. The sun drops behind Hat Island and the Olympics light up pink and orange. This is the time to come.
    • Overcast days: Still beautiful. The moody gray sky and driftwood beach are some of the most Pacific Northwest scenery Everett has.

    Weekends in July and August get busy, especially the north lot. Weekday evenings are the sweet spot — you’ll often have long stretches of beach to yourself.

    Hours, Amenities, and Rules

    • Hours: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
    • Cost: Free.
    • Parking: Three lots, no fee.
    • Restrooms: Available at the south lot.
    • Playground: South lot.
    • Sport courts: South lot (tennis and basketball).
    • Dogs: On leash in all park areas except the north end of the beach, which is off-leash.
    • Fires: Not permitted on the beach.
    • Alcohol: Not permitted in park facilities.

    Why Howarth Is Worth the Trip

    Everett has Jetty Island for ferry-ride summer beach days, Forest Park for forest walks and the animal farm, and Legion Memorial for views and golf. Howarth is the one that fills a different slot: a real, walkable Puget Sound beach you can drive to in ten minutes, stay on for two hours, and leave without feeling like you fought a crowd.

    It’s not flashy. It’s not a destination. It’s just quietly one of the best small parks in the city, and the Everett residents who use it regularly tend to keep it that way.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Howarth Park in Everett?

    Howarth Park is at 1127 Olympic Boulevard in south Everett, on the Puget Sound bluff between downtown Everett and Mukilteo. The easiest route from downtown is south on Rucker, right on Mukilteo Boulevard, and left into the park.

    What are the hours at Howarth Park?

    Howarth Park is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, year-round.

    How do you get to the beach at Howarth Park?

    The quickest access is from the north parking lot. A short trail leads to a pedestrian bridge that spans the BNSF railroad tracks and drops you directly onto the beach. There’s also a longer switchback trail from the central parking lot that descends the bluff to the beach.

    Is Howarth Park dog-friendly?

    Yes. Dogs are allowed throughout the park on leash, and the north end of the beach is an off-leash area. Owners are responsible for cleanup and voice control.

    How long is the Howarth Park trail?

    The main loop trail is about 0.6 miles and generally takes 15 to 20 minutes. It connects the three parking lots through a mix of forested switchbacks and bluff-edge segments.

    Is there parking at Howarth Park?

    Yes. There are three free parking lots — north, central, and south. The north lot is closest to the beach via the pedestrian bridge. The south lot has the playground, restroom, and sport courts.

    Can you swim at Howarth Park Beach?

    Wading is common on warm days, but Puget Sound water is cold year-round and the beach is not a lifeguarded swim beach. Conditions are best-suited for beachcombing, dog walking, and tide-pooling at low tide.

    When is the best time to visit Howarth Park?

    Weekday evenings between March and September are ideal. The golden-hour to sunset window is the park’s best view. Weekend afternoons in mid-summer can fill the north parking lot — come early or arrive after 4 p.m. for easier parking.

    Is Howarth Park free?

    Yes. There is no entrance fee and parking is free at all three lots.


  • Living in Delta: Everett’s Quietly Great Middle Neighborhood

    Living in Delta: Everett’s Quietly Great Middle Neighborhood

    What is the Delta neighborhood in Everett?
    Delta is a quiet, mostly residential neighborhood at the northern end of Everett, Washington, between the Snohomish River and Broadway. Roughly 13,000 residents live there. It’s known for older single-family homes, long-running local staples like Ray’s Drive-In and Tampico Mexican Restaurant, a big off-leash dog park, and some of the most affordable housing in north Everett.

    Living in Delta: Everett’s Quietly Great Middle Neighborhood

    Drive up Broadway from downtown Everett and somewhere past Providence Regional Medical Center, you cross into Delta without anyone telling you. There’s no gateway sign, no big intersection marking the change. The blocks just start feeling a little older, a little quieter, a little more lived-in. That’s Delta: one of Everett’s most populous neighborhoods and almost certainly its most underrated.

    If you’ve only driven through, you’ve probably missed it. Delta is not a destination neighborhood — it’s a living neighborhood, and that’s exactly what makes it good.

    Where Delta Is and What It Looks Like

    Delta sits at the northern end of Everett, bounded roughly by the Snohomish River to the north and east, Broadway running through its spine, and the Bayside and Northwest Everett neighborhoods to the west. It’s one of the largest of Everett’s 21 officially recognized neighborhoods by population, with around 13,000 residents according to recent census data.

    What you see when you walk it: 1920s craftsman bungalows next to 1940s workers’ cottages next to tidy early-2000s townhomes in the north end. Tree-lined streets. Basketball hoops in driveways. The occasional well-loved ’90s Tacoma in the front yard. It’s the kind of neighborhood where the housing stock has been continuously lived in for a hundred years because no one ever had a reason to leave.

    The Local Staples That Define Delta

    Every neighborhood has the places that anchor it. In Delta, two of them have been anchoring since before most current residents were born.

    Ray’s Drive-In has been flipping burgers and scooping ice cream on Broadway since 1962. That’s 64 years of the same drive-up counter, the same red-and-white signage, the same deep-fried fries that come out almost too hot to eat. Generations of Everett teenagers have had their first after-practice cheeseburger here. Generations of Delta residents have walked over for a shake on a summer evening. If you want to understand how Delta feels about itself, watch the parking lot at Ray’s on a Friday night.

    Tampico Mexican Restaurant opened in 1987 and has been serving tostadas and margaritas to Delta regulars ever since. It’s not flashy. The salsa is good. The prices are what Everett prices used to be everywhere, and the booth you sat in last year is probably still open when you come back.

    The Broadway corridor through Delta also includes a rotating cast of smaller shops, family-owned services, and the quiet kind of storefronts — dry cleaners, barbers, a tire place, a dentist — that keep a neighborhood running without ever becoming “scenes.”

    Who Lives in Delta and What It Costs

    Delta has historically been one of the most affordable neighborhoods in north Everett, and that’s still largely true — with an asterisk the rest of the Puget Sound region has stamped on everything.

    Two-bedroom 1940s bungalows trade in the $380,000 to $430,000 range. A three-bedroom 1920s craftsman lands closer to $470,000. Newer three-bedroom townhomes in the north end of the neighborhood go between $580,000 and $630,000. None of those numbers are cheap in absolute terms, but compared to similar homes in Northwest Everett or Bayside, Delta consistently comes in lower.

    The result is that Delta has stayed one of the most economically mixed neighborhoods in the city. You get long-time Everett families who bought their homes in the ’80s and never left, young couples stretching to buy their first place, and renters in the older duplexes and fourplexes that dot the side streets. That economic mix is probably Delta’s single most underappreciated quality.

    Schools and the Providence Connection

    Many Delta kids attend Hawthorne Elementary School, part of the Everett School District, which has a long-standing presence in the neighborhood. Middle and high school assignments in Delta run through the district’s standard boundary system, with most students funneling into North Middle School and then either Everett High School or Cascade High School depending on block.

    The neighborhood also benefits enormously from proximity to the Providence Regional Medical Center Everett campus on Pacific Avenue — a roughly five-minute drive for most of Delta. Between the hospital, Everett Community College just to the south, and the Washington State University Everett campus, Delta residents have three of the biggest employers and institutions in north Everett within easy reach.

    Parks, Dogs, and Green Space

    If Delta has a spiritual center, it’s Delta Park — and specifically, the big off-leash dog park in the middle of it. Residents have been bringing their dogs there for years. Poop bags are provided at the entrances. On any sunny evening, you’ll find a small democracy of retrievers, doodles, and senior mutts running circles while their owners compare notes on weather, work, and where the best new coffee shop opened. It’s the kind of low-key community space that a neighborhood has to earn.

    Delta also has easy access to the Snohomish River trail system and is a short drive from Legion Memorial Park, Kasch Park, and the waterfront at Jetty Landing.

    What’s Changing in Delta Right Now

    Delta is not being torn down and rebuilt — that’s part of its charm — but a few things are shifting. New construction in the north end of the neighborhood has brought in a steady trickle of townhomes over the past decade, gradually pushing up the neighborhood’s median home value and adding some density near the river. Broadway itself has seen small restaurant and service-business turnover, with newer independent places opening alongside the old staples.

    The bigger story for Delta residents is Sound Transit’s Everett Link Extension, which will eventually bring light rail service to Everett, with station planning that touches the broader Broadway corridor. That’s still years out, but it’s the kind of long-horizon change that is already showing up in real estate conversations in the neighborhood.

    Why Delta Works

    Delta isn’t trying to be the next trendy neighborhood. Nobody is writing breathless Instagram posts about its aesthetic. There’s no coffee cart behind a speakeasy-style door. And that’s the whole point.

    Delta works because the same people have lived there for a long time, the businesses that were there when those people moved in are still there, and the neighborhood has absorbed change slowly enough that it still feels like itself. In a city that is transforming fast — new stadium downtown, Boeing’s 737 line expanding, the waterfront filling in with new restaurants and housing — Delta is the neighborhood that reminds you Everett isn’t just what’s next. It’s also what’s already here, still working, still worth knowing.

    How to Spend an Afternoon in Delta

    If you’re new to Everett and want to get a feel for Delta the way locals do, here’s a simple afternoon:

    1. Grab a burger and a shake at Ray’s Drive-In on Broadway.
    2. Walk it off at Delta Park — say hi to the dogs at the off-leash area.
    3. Drive the residential side streets between Broadway and the river to get a sense of the housing stock and the neighborhood’s rhythm.
    4. Finish with tostadas and a margarita at Tampico Mexican Restaurant.

    Two hours. Maybe three if you linger. That’s Delta — and that’s the whole neighborhood, really.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is the Delta neighborhood in Everett?

    Delta sits at the northern end of Everett, Washington, bounded roughly by the Snohomish River to the north and east and by Broadway running through its spine. It’s immediately east of Northwest Everett and north of the central business district.

    How many people live in Delta?

    Around 13,000 residents, making Delta one of the more populous of Everett’s 21 officially recognized neighborhoods.

    Is Delta a good neighborhood to live in?

    For buyers looking for single-family homes in north Everett at below-northwest-Everett prices, Delta is one of the strongest value options in the city. The neighborhood is quiet, well-established, close to Providence Regional Medical Center and I-5, and has long-running local staples like Ray’s Drive-In and Tampico.

    What are the best restaurants in Delta?

    Ray’s Drive-In (burgers, shakes, and ice cream on Broadway since 1962) and Tampico Mexican Restaurant (tostadas and margaritas since 1987) are the two longest-running locals’ favorites. The Broadway corridor has additional smaller spots worth exploring.

    What elementary school serves the Delta neighborhood?

    Hawthorne Elementary School, part of the Everett School District, serves many Delta families. Middle and high school assignments depend on specific block boundaries within the district.

    Is there a dog park in Delta?

    Yes. Delta Park has a large off-leash dog area with poop bag stations at the entrances. It’s one of the most actively used dog parks in north Everett.

    How much does a house in Delta cost?

    Recent sales have ranged from around $380,000 for smaller 1940s bungalows up to roughly $630,000 for three-bedroom townhomes in the north end of the neighborhood. Prices skew lower than Northwest Everett and Bayside for comparable homes.

    What’s the best way to explore Delta as a visitor?

    Drive Broadway through the neighborhood, stop at Ray’s Drive-In and Tampico, walk Delta Park, and take a loop through the residential side streets between Broadway and the Snohomish River to see the mix of craftsman, bungalow, and townhome housing stock.


  • Antwane Tyler, Fretland, and Racyne Parker Land at APEX May 2 — And This Snohomish-Grown Lineup Is Worth Clearing Your Saturday For

    Antwane Tyler, Fretland, and Racyne Parker Land at APEX May 2 — And This Snohomish-Grown Lineup Is Worth Clearing Your Saturday For

    The short version: Antwane Tyler — the trailblazing Black country artist Snohomish has been quietly claiming for a few years now — headlines Kings Hall at APEX Everett on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Openers are Racyne Parker and, in a rare Pacific Northwest appearance, Snohomish’s own Fretland. It’s 21+. It’s arguably the most “from-right-here” country bill APEX has programmed to date. Go.

    Every once in a while a single lineup reminds you that the Snohomish County music scene isn’t riding on anyone else’s coattails. Saturday, May 2, at Kings Hall inside APEX Everett, three artists who have shaped what “Pacific Northwest country-Americana” sounds like in 2026 are stepping onto the same stage — and two of them came up inside a 15-minute drive of the venue.

    Here’s why the show matters, who these artists are, and why you should be the one in the room instead of the friend who sees it on Instagram the next morning.

    The headliner: Antwane Tyler

    If you’ve been paying attention to Washington country at all, you’ve run into Antwane Tyler. Born in Tacoma, adopted into the Monroe area as a kid, and now operating out of Snohomish, Tyler has spent the last few years quietly (and then not so quietly) carving out a voice that nobody else in the genre has. He grew up on the Johnny Cash–Waylon Jennings side of the family record collection, then picked up hip-hop in his teens, and the music he makes today isn’t a compromise between those two worlds — it’s a fusion that actually works.

    His single “Homesick” is the calling card. It went viral on TikTok and streaming, picked up Locals Only love from 107.7 The End, and earned him a King 5 spotlight that (refreshingly) didn’t spend the whole segment treating him like a novelty. The song was inspired by the grandfather who handed him his first guitar at eight years old, and Tyler tells that story without flattening it into a marketing bio.

    He’s also, to date, one of the only Black country artists consistently touring Washington’s small-to-mid-size rooms. That’s not a press angle — it’s a thing that matters, especially when a room like Kings Hall at APEX hands him a 7:30 p.m. headline slot.

    The rare-return opener: Fretland

    The part of this bill the country nerds are already texting each other about: Fretland. Led by Hillary Grace Fretland (yes, that’s actually her name), the Snohomish-based four-piece has been one of the most critically adored Americana acts to come out of Washington in the last five years. Billboard, American Songwriter, The Boot, No Depression — they’ve all gone to bat for Fretland’s fragile, leaf-strewn alt-country sound.

    They released their self-titled debut in May 2020 (timing that tested anyone’s career plans) and followed it with a second full-length a couple years later. Since then, live Fretland shows in the Pacific Northwest have become increasingly rare. The APEX announcement specifically flags this as a “one-night-only special appearance” and a “rare opportunity to see her live in the PNW again.” If you’ve been waiting for Fretland to play a hometown-adjacent room again — this is literally that.

    For anyone who hasn’t heard them: imagine the emotional weight of Phoebe Bridgers with the country bones of Kacey Musgraves and a little of Lord Huron’s atmosphere on top. They are the kind of band that makes a 300-person room go completely silent. In Kings Hall’s 800-ish capacity with good sightlines? It’s going to hit.

    The rising third: Racyne Parker

    Slotting in between Antwane Tyler and Fretland is Racyne Parker, a Klamath Falls, Oregon native who spent time in Denver before relocating to Seattle in 2024. Her debut full-length, Will You Go With Me?, came out in 2025 and was produced by Nashville’s Randall Kent. Parker writes from the side of country music that sits comfortably between Miranda Lambert’s storytelling and the more literary Noah Kahan / Lord Huron end of the folk spectrum — which is to say, she slots onto this bill like she was mailed to order.

    If you aren’t already familiar with her, an APEX show is exactly the right way to introduce yourself. Parker plays rooms this size well — enough stage presence to hold attention, and enough songcraft to earn the quiet between songs.

    The venue: Kings Hall at APEX

    A quick word about where this is happening, because Kings Hall deserves the context. APEX Everett opened inside a historic building at 1611 Everett Avenue, and the main performance room — Kings Hall — sits on the third floor with a capacity around 800. It’s one of the more architecturally interesting live music rooms to open in Snohomish County in a decade, and programmers there have been unusually deliberate about booking regionally-rooted acts alongside bigger touring names.

    A country-Americana triple-header like this — headlined by a Washington artist, with two more Washington-based (or Washington-adjacent) acts underneath — is exactly the kind of programming that justifies the Kings Hall project.

    The details you actually need

    • Show: Antwane Tyler with Special Guests Fretland + Racyne Parker
    • Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
    • Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
    • Venue: Kings Hall at APEX Everett, 1611 Everett Avenue, Everett, WA 98201
    • Age: 21+
    • Tickets: Via Ticketmaster or through the APEX Everett events page — lock them in before week-of, because the Fretland-return angle is quietly going to move tickets
    • Heads up: Kings Hall is on the third floor of a historic building. Dress like a human who is going to be standing for a few hours in a venue with character.

    Why this one stands out

    Everett’s calendar is thick in May. First Friday at Schack Art Center is happening the night before. Tony V’s Garage has its usual packed weekend. The Historic Everett Theatre will have something booked on Colby. But this is the show where you are not going to be able to replay the exact lineup later — the Fretland appearance is the kind of thing that, five years from now, somebody is going to mention they caught and you’re going to wish you’d been there too.

    Antwane Tyler is building something. Fretland doesn’t play the PNW much anymore. Racyne Parker is at the point in her arc where people will still be able to say they saw her in an 800-person room. APEX programmed the bill that put those three pieces together on a Saturday night — three miles from Snohomish, five miles from Monroe, and fifteen steps from where Hewitt Avenue starts getting fun.

    Clear your Saturday. It’s worth it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is playing at Kings Hall at APEX Everett on May 2, 2026?
    Antwane Tyler headlines, with Fretland and Racyne Parker as special guests. Showtime is 7:30 p.m., and the event is 21+.

    Where is Kings Hall at APEX Everett?
    Kings Hall is located on the third floor of APEX Everett at 1611 Everett Avenue, Everett, WA 98201.

    Is the APEX Everett May 2 show all ages?
    No. The Antwane Tyler show on May 2, 2026 is a 21+ event.

    Who is Antwane Tyler?
    Antwane Tyler is a Washington-based country artist born in Tacoma, raised in the Monroe area after being adopted, and currently operating out of Snohomish. His single “Homesick” went viral across streaming and TikTok. He is one of the most visible Black country artists consistently touring Washington venues.

    Is Fretland from Snohomish?
    Yes. Fretland is a four-piece Americana band based in Snohomish, Washington, led by Hillary Grace Fretland. They have been profiled by Billboard, American Songwriter, The Boot, and No Depression. Their May 2 APEX appearance is being promoted as a rare PNW live date.

    Where can I buy tickets?
    Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and via the APEX Everett official events page. Because of Fretland’s rare PNW appearance, tickets are moving faster than a typical APEX night — buy early rather than at the door if the show is a priority.

    What is the capacity of Kings Hall at APEX?
    Kings Hall seats / accommodates roughly 800 people, making it one of the larger mid-size live music rooms in Snohomish County.