Tag: Everett WA

  • Sabai Jai Thai Everett: Authentic Hewitt Ave Thai Food

    Sabai Jai Thai Everett: Authentic Hewitt Ave Thai Food

    Sabai Jai Thai Cuisine has been at 1707 Hewitt Ave since April 2022, and it is quietly one of the best Thai restaurants in Snohomish County. The name means “comfortable heart” in Thai, and the concept follows through: a family-owned kitchen, authentic regional recipes, and a dining room on the Hewitt walking street with a little patio out front. It’s the kind of place that rewards the people who actually pay attention to Everett’s food scene instead of defaulting to the chains out on Broadway.

    We’ve covered a lot of Hewitt Avenue over the past few months — Heritage African Restaurant, Luca Italian, The New Mexicans, Vintage Cafe, Obsidian Beer Hall. But this is the first time we’re giving Sabai Jai Thai the full treatment it deserves. Here’s the guide.

    The Kitchen: Bangkok Street Food Meets Thai Regional Cooking

    Sabai Jai Thai is owned by a couple with more than a decade in the Thai food industry. They built the menu around two ideas: dishes from specific Thai regions, and Bangkok street food — both treated as the real thing, not approximations for Western tastes.

    The seasonal menu rotates based on ingredient availability and keeps things interesting for regulars. The kitchen also uses house organic beverages and homemade desserts from a family recipe — the kind of touches that separate a restaurant that’s going through the motions from one that’s genuinely trying to do the food justice.

    What to Order

    Pineapple Fried Rice — one of the most-ordered dishes here. Made properly, with actual pineapple, cashews, egg, and protein in a wok, it’s a completely different thing than the stir-fried slop that passes for fried rice at most Thai-adjacent spots. Sabai Jai does it right.

    Avocado Curry — this is a standout. Not a traditional Thai curry you’d find everywhere, but a house development that works: the richness of avocado against a curry base is a combination that earns its place on the menu. Order it.

    Mushroom Pop — listed as an appetizer, and it functions as one, but don’t let it be an afterthought. The crispy mushroom preparation is one of those dishes that turns mushroom skeptics into believers.

    Gang Kha (Galangal Coconut Curry) — the traditional Thai coconut milk curry with galangal (a relative of ginger), lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves. This is one of the dishes that tells you whether a kitchen understands Thai flavor architecture. Here, they do.

    Crab Fried Rice — for the protein upgrade. Real crab meat, seasoned properly, in fried rice that doesn’t resort to soy sauce overload as a crutch.

    Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free

    This is one of the strongest aspects of Sabai Jai Thai’s menu: nearly every dish can be ordered vegan or vegetarian, with the protein either omitted or replaced. The kitchen doesn’t treat plant-based orders as an afterthought — the dishes are built so the vegetables and aromatics carry the flavor even without meat. Gluten-free diners are accommodated as well. If you’ve been burned before by Thai restaurants that claim “easily modified” and then deliver something disappointing, give Sabai Jai a real chance.

    The Space: Hewitt Walking Street Patio

    The restaurant is at 1707 Hewitt Ave, inside the Hewitt walking street corridor — the 4-block stretch of downtown Everett that has been quietly building into a legitimate dining destination over the past few years. Sabai Jai has indoor seating for a proper sit-down dinner and a small patio out front for good-weather evenings.

    The atmosphere is warm and cozy — not fancy, but considered. Tables with good lighting, a space that feels lived-in rather than branded. It’s a neighborhood restaurant in the best sense of the term. Parking: street parking on Hewitt or the nearby city lots on Hoyt or Norton.

    Hours

    Monday through Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
    Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
    Saturday – Sunday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM

    Phone: (425) 259-6365. Online ordering available through DoorDash and their own site at sabaijaithaieverett.com.

    Awards and Recognition

    Sabai Jai Thai earned Restaurant Guru recognition as one of the top Thai restaurants in Everett and Marysville in both 2024 and 2025. That’s a third-party signal, not just local boosterism — the food earns it. With 164 Yelp reviews (updated April 2026) and a consistent rating, this isn’t a hidden gem in the way of something no one knows about. But it’s underrated relative to how good it actually is, and it’s never had a full guide written about it. Now it does.

    The Hewitt Corridor Context

    Sabai Jai Thai is one of the anchors of the Hewitt food corridor — the stretch we’ve been documenting that now includes a Gambian-Senegalese kitchen at Heritage African, real Florentine Italian at Luca, Hatch green chile and posole at The New Mexicans, 50-year diner anchor Vintage Cafe, and a curated PNW beer hall at Obsidian. Authentic Thai from a family kitchen belongs on that list. Walk the street, eat well, end at Obsidian for a beer.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Sabai Jai Thai in Everett?

    1707 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201 — on the Hewitt walking street in downtown Everett. Hours: Mon–Thu 11 AM–9:30 PM, Fri 11 AM–10 PM, Sat–Sun 12–10 PM.

    Is Sabai Jai Thai vegan-friendly?

    Yes — almost every dish on the menu can be ordered vegan or vegetarian with simple modifications. The kitchen accommodates plant-based orders without the food suffering for it.

    What are the best dishes at Sabai Jai Thai?

    Pineapple Fried Rice, Avocado Curry, Mushroom Pop appetizer, Gang Kha (galangal coconut curry), and Crab Fried Rice are standouts. The seasonal menu rotates, so ask the server what’s current.

    How long has Sabai Jai Thai been open?

    Since April 2022. The owners have over 10 years of Thai food industry experience. Restaurant Guru named it one of the top Thai restaurants in Everett and Marysville in 2024 and 2025.

    Can I order Sabai Jai Thai online?

    Yes — through DoorDash delivery or their own online ordering at sabaijaithaieverett.com.

    Is there parking near Sabai Jai Thai on Hewitt?

    Street parking on Hewitt Ave and in nearby city parking lots on Hoyt or Norton Ave. The Hewitt walking street area is walkable from downtown parking structures.

    Is Sabai Jai Thai authentic Thai food?

    Yes — the owners draw on Thai regional recipes and Bangkok street food traditions, using organic house beverages and homemade desserts from family recipes. It’s not a generic Americanized Thai menu.

  • Das Bratmobile: Everett’s Authentic German Food Truck

    Das Bratmobile: Everett’s Authentic German Food Truck

    Das Bratmobile has been feeding Everett the real thing for years, and most of the city still hasn’t found it. A German food truck run by a brother and sister from Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, Das Bratmobile is the kind of operation that food-obsessed locals discover and immediately tell everyone they know. It’s authentic, it’s handcrafted, and it shows up at the Beverly Food Truck Park with the kind of menu that makes you realize how many years you’ve been settling for inferior sausages.

    If you haven’t been, here’s everything you need to know.

    Who’s Behind the Truck

    Ferdi and Uschi moved to the United States from Pirmasens, a town in Rheinland-Pfalz in western Germany, in the early 1990s. They built Das Bratmobile themselves — not because it was the trendy thing to do, but because buying a pre-built food service trailer was too expensive and building their own was the only realistic path. That’s the origin story of a truck built with genuine stakes, not a lifestyle pivot. When you taste the food, that history makes sense. This isn’t a German-themed food truck. It’s a truck run by Germans cooking the food they grew up eating.

    The Menu: Uli’s Sausages, Schnitzel, and Frikadelle

    Das Bratmobile sources its sausages from Uli’s Famous Sausage, the Seattle institution that has been making old-world European sausages since 1982. If you know Uli’s, you know what that means: these aren’t grocery-store brats. These are serious sausages made with care from a supplier that takes the craft seriously. The lineup includes smoked, jalapeño cheddar, currywurst, and polish — mild to spicy, with something for every heat tolerance.

    The Jaegerschnitzel is a bestseller — a German classic done right: breaded and fried pork cutlet with mushroom gravy. When it’s made well, schnitzel is one of the most satisfying foods in existence. Ferdi and Uschi make it well.

    Then there’s the Frikadelle — a homemade German burger. Not an American burger with a German twist. A proper German pan-fried meatball patty, seasoned the way it should be, served with German-style potato salad. If you’ve only ever had American versions of this concept, the real thing will recalibrate your expectations.

    German-style potato salad rounds out the sides — vinegar-based, not the mayo-loaded American picnic version. It’s the right call alongside sausages.

    Where to Find Das Bratmobile

    Das Bratmobile rotates through several Everett-area spots. Your most reliable bet:

    Beverly Food Truck Park — 6731 Beverly Blvd, Everett. The park runs Monday through Saturday, 4–7 PM with a rotating lineup of 2–4 trucks. Das Bratmobile is one of the regulars here, alongside other standouts we’ve covered. Check StreetFoodFinder before you go to confirm they’re on the schedule that day.

    They’ve also appeared at Scuttlebutt Brewing’s Cedar Street taproom, the Everett Food Truck Festival, and at various events around Snohomish County. Scuttlebutt + Das Bratmobile is one of those pairings that doesn’t need a lot of explaining — a cold craft beer and a proper Uli’s brat is a complete evening.

    What to Order

    First visit: Get the Jaegerschnitzel. It’s the benchmark — if they can do schnitzel right, they can do everything right. Spoiler: they can. Add a brat on the side and get the potato salad. This is a two-hands meal.

    Second visit: Try the Frikadelle. It’s different from what you expect a “burger” to be, and that difference is entirely the point.

    For heat seekers: the jalapeño cheddar brat from Uli’s brings real spice without gimmick. Most vegetarian and vegan customers will find options with the potato salad and some of the sides — but this is fundamentally a meat-forward menu.

    Price Range and Parking

    Food truck pricing — typically $10–$16 per item. Cash and cards accepted. The Beverly Food Truck Park has surface parking on-site, free. When Das Bratmobile is at Scuttlebutt, street parking on Cedar Street or the nearby lots applies.

    Why This Truck Matters

    Everett’s food truck scene has real range: Uzbek street food at Tabassum, Indian chaat at The Food Atlas, Mexican-Cuban fusion at Mexicuban, Central Asian flavors at Beverly Food Truck Park regulars. Das Bratmobile adds German to that list — and it’s not a novelty version of German food. It’s the real thing, from people who know exactly what the real thing tastes like because they grew up eating it.

    We’ve covered food trucks in Everett before, and one pattern holds: the trucks worth returning to are the ones where the operators have a personal stake in the food being right. Das Bratmobile is exactly that. Ferdi and Uschi built this truck with their own hands. The food shows it.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Das Bratmobile food truck in Everett?

    Das Bratmobile regularly appears at Beverly Food Truck Park (6731 Beverly Blvd, Mon–Sat 4–7 PM), Scuttlebutt Brewing taproom, and various Snohomish County events. Check StreetFoodFinder at streetfoodfinder.com/DasBratmobile for the current schedule.

    What sausages does Das Bratmobile use?

    They source from Uli’s Famous Sausage in Seattle — one of the best European-style sausage makers in the Pacific Northwest. Varieties include smoked, jalapeño cheddar, currywurst, and polish.

    What is Frikadelle?

    Frikadelle is a traditional German pan-fried meatball patty — similar to a burger but seasoned and prepared in the German style. Das Bratmobile makes it homemade.

    Is Das Bratmobile vegetarian-friendly?

    This is primarily a meat-focused menu (sausages, schnitzel, meatball patties). The German potato salad and some sides are vegetarian. Not the best choice for fully plant-based eaters.

    Who owns Das Bratmobile?

    Brother and sister Ferdi and Uschi, who immigrated from Pirmasens, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany in the early 1990s and built the trailer themselves.

    What’s the best thing to order at Das Bratmobile?

    Start with the Jaegerschnitzel — breaded pork cutlet with mushroom gravy. It’s their benchmark dish and consistently excellent. Add a brat and German potato salad to round out the meal.

  • Marina Azul Everett: Elevated Mexican on the Waterfront

    Marina Azul Everett: Elevated Mexican on the Waterfront

    Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina is open. After months of anticipation — we covered the signed lease back in September 2025 and the coming-soon preview in April — the restaurant from the family behind Cava Azul in Woodinville and Agave Cocina in Redmond and Kent has officially landed at the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place. If you’ve been watching that new Restaurant Row building go up on Seiner Drive and wondering when you’d finally get a margarita with a marina view, the answer is now.

    We stopped by to see what the Eastside team brought to Everett’s waterfront, and the short version is: this is a serious restaurant. Not a tourist trap, not a chain spin-off. Marina Azul is the real thing.

    Where It Is and How to Get There

    Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina sits at 1500 Seiner Drive, Suite 102, inside the new Restaurant Row building at Fisherman’s Harbor, Port of Everett Waterfront Place. That puts it right next door to The Net Shed, steps from the marina esplanade, and inside the same development as Tapped Public House and South Fork Baking Co. Parking is in the Port’s main Waterfront Place lot — it’s free and plentiful. If you’re arriving by boat, the marina docks are right there.

    The Food: Elevated Mexican Done Right

    Marina Azul is not your average chips-and-queso operation. The team behind the Woodinville and Redmond locations built a reputation on elevated traditional Mexican — fresh tacos, meticulous sauces, and a kitchen that actually respects what Mexican cuisine can be. The Everett menu follows suit: fresh tacos in multiple styles, specialty items that change seasonally, and an approach to ingredients that puts flavor first rather than defaulting to the same four proteins everyone else uses.

    The menu accommodates vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free diners — a detail that matters in 2026 when half your dining party has a dietary note. That said, don’t let the plant-friendly options fool you into thinking this is health food dressed up as a night out. The kitchen’s strength is in the preparation: salsas made from actual chiles, sauces that taste like they took time, tortillas that have texture. Come hungry.

    The Tequila Program: 100+ Bottles

    Here’s the part worth calling out explicitly: Marina Azul carries more than 100 tequilas. Not a shelf of well tequila with a few premium bottles for show — a genuine sipping tequila program curated by people who care. Blanco, reposado, añejo, extra añejo — it’s all represented. If you’re a mezcal person, they have that covered too.

    The specialty margaritas are the entry point for most tables, and they’re built from the same philosophy as the food: actual fresh ingredients, good base spirits, no neon-green mix. The craft cocktail list extends beyond margaritas into curated agave-forward options. This is a bar worth lingering at.

    The Space: Waterfront Views, Year-Round Patio

    The interior seats a proper dining room with views out toward the marina. But the covered patio is the move — Marina Azul designed it specifically for Pacific Northwest year-round use, which means it works in May when the sun is out and in November when it’s not. A heated, covered patio with marina views and a margarita in hand is a specific kind of good that Everett hasn’t had until now.

    The space is about 2,500 square feet inside plus the patio, which means it can handle a full dinner crowd without feeling cramped. Reservations are strongly recommended for weekends — this is going to be a destination restaurant for the whole county, not just a neighborhood spot.

    Who’s Running It

    The Everett location is managed by Alejandro and Esteban Ramos — nephew and son of the founding family behind the Eastside locations. This isn’t an absentee franchise situation. It’s a family operation that understands the Eastside concept and is extending it with the intention of doing it well in a new market. The family has been in the elevated Mexican dining space in the Seattle region long enough to know what separates a restaurant that becomes a fixture from one that opens and quietly fades. The Everett location has the backing to be the former.

    Hours

    Monday through Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
    Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
    Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
    Sunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

    Weekend brunch service starts at 10 AM — which puts Marina Azul on the short list of actual waterfront brunch options in Everett. That list was previously very short. Note that they’re running a Mother’s Day special (May 11) — if you haven’t booked yet, call soon: (425) 241-9023.

    The Verdict

    The Port of Everett’s Restaurant Row has been building toward something for years, and Marina Azul feels like the piece that completes the picture. You’ve now got fresh fish at The Net Shed, craft beer and brunch at Tapped, pastries and espresso at South Fork Baking Co., and now elevated Mexican with a serious tequila program at Marina Azul — all within a five-minute walk of each other on the marina esplanade.

    We’ve been waiting for Everett’s waterfront dining scene to have a proper night-out Mexican restaurant. The wait is over. Go get a margarita and watch the boats.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina open in Everett?

    Yes. Marina Azul Cocina & Cantina is now open at 1500 Seiner Drive, Suite 102, Port of Everett Waterfront Place. Hours are Monday–Thursday 11 AM–9 PM, Friday 11 AM–10 PM, Saturday–Sunday 10 AM–9/10 PM.

    What kind of food does Marina Azul serve?

    Elevated traditional Mexican cuisine — fresh tacos, specialty margaritas, curated cocktails, and more. The menu includes vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

    How many tequilas does Marina Azul carry?

    More than 100. It’s one of the most extensive tequila programs in Snohomish County.

    Is there outdoor seating?

    Yes — a covered, heated patio along the marina esplanade designed for year-round use.

    Who owns Marina Azul Everett?

    The same family behind Cava Azul Cocina & Cantina in Woodinville and Agave Cocina & Cantina in Redmond and Kent. The Everett location is managed by Alejandro and Esteban Ramos. Public relations contact: Deba Wegner at Recipe for Success, Inc.

    Is Marina Azul good for a date night or special occasion?

    Yes — waterfront views, serious cocktails, and a menu that’s actually trying. Reserve a table for weekends.

    Is there parking at Marina Azul?

    Yes, free parking in the Port of Everett Waterfront Place main lot off Seine Drive. Accessible by boat as well via the marina docks.

  • Everett Utility Tax: What the 12% Proposal Costs You

    Everett Utility Tax: What the 12% Proposal Costs You

    What this means for you: The City of Everett is moving a proposal to replace its current 6% utility billing charge with a 12% utility tax to the City Council for a formal vote beginning in May 2026. For a typical Everett residential water customer, that’s an estimated increase of about $10.74 per month. The change would affect not just Everett residents, but customers across more than 75% of Snohomish County who rely on Everett’s water, sewer, and stormwater system. If approved, the new rate takes effect as early as July 1, 2026.
    This is the part of Everett’s budget conversation that doesn’t make the headlines the way a stadium vote or a light rail letter does — but it shows up on your water bill. The City of Everett is preparing to bring a utility tax proposal before the City Council this month, a move that would effectively double the charge applied to residents’ and businesses’ water, sewer, and stormwater bills. The proposal has been in development since at least March 2026, when the council received an informational briefing. Now, with legislation expected to go before the council beginning in May, the public comment window is officially open — and closes once the council acts.

    What’s Actually Being Proposed

    Since 1983, Everett has collected a 6% Payment in Lieu of Taxes — often called PILOT — on utility bills. A PILOT is essentially a transfer from a city-owned utility to the city’s general fund, a substitute for the property taxes a private utility would pay. It’s built into your water bill already; you’ve been paying it for decades, even if you didn’t know the line item’s name. What Everett is now considering is replacing that 6% PILOT with a 12% utility tax — doubling the rate. The change would generate approximately $7.5 million per year in additional revenue for the city’s general fund. The general fund pays for the city services residents use every day: parks, libraries, streets, and public safety. Everett, like most Washington cities, faces a structural constraint on how much its property tax revenue can grow under Initiative 747 — capped at 1% per year, regardless of inflation. That constraint is the underlying driver of the $14 million projected budget deficit the city is working to close by 2027.

    What It Costs

    For a typical residential customer, the estimated monthly increase is $10.74 per month, or roughly $129 per year. That’s the city’s own estimate from the March 2026 council briefing. The increase applies to water, sewer, and stormwater charges combined, since the utility tax rate is applied across all three services. Business customers and other large users of Everett’s water system would see increases scaled to their consumption. Everett provides water, sewer, and stormwater services not just to city residents but to customers across a wide regional footprint — more than 75% of Snohomish County. That means the financial impact extends well beyond Everett city limits. A family in parts of Mukilteo, Snohomish, or unincorporated Snohomish County who receives their water from Everett Utilities could see the same rate change reflected on their bill if the council approves it.

    Is This Unusual?

    The city’s own research says no — most neighboring cities already use a utility tax at comparable or higher rates. Everett’s current 6% PILOT has been in place since 1983, making it one of the lower rates in the region. The council briefing included a comparison of other jurisdictions’ utility tax rates that supports this framing. That said, calling it a “utility tax” instead of a “PILOT” is more than semantic. PILOTs are internal transfers; utility taxes are charges on the consumer. The shift changes how the revenue is classified — and potentially how it’s understood by the public.

    The $14 Million Context

    The utility tax proposal doesn’t exist in isolation. It’s one of four major revenue levers the city is exploring to close a projected $14 million general fund deficit by 2027:
    • Regional fire authority (RFA) — Merging Everett Fire with other agencies in a regional structure, moving fire costs off the city’s general fund.
    • Sno-Isle Library regionalization — Shifting library costs to a regional taxing district.
    • Another levy lid lift — Going back to voters to raise property taxes above the I-747 cap.
    • Mariner annexation — Bringing the roughly 21,000-resident Mariner neighborhood into Everett’s tax base, adding revenue without raising rates on existing residents.
    Three of those four require a public vote. The utility tax does not — it is a council decision. That makes it the most direct and immediate tool available to the city without going to the ballot, and it explains why it’s moving to a council vote this spring rather than waiting for an August or November election. That same August ballot already carries the EMS levy lid lift, which asks voters to restore the EMS property tax rate from $0.36 to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value to maintain roughly 78 firefighter-paramedic positions at Everett Fire Department.

    What the Council Process Looks Like

    The council has been briefed. The legislation is now being drafted for formal consideration. Once introduced, the typical council process includes a first reading, an opportunity for public comment, and a vote — which could happen within weeks of the bill’s formal introduction. The council meets on Wednesdays. Under its standard schedule, most meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. at Everett City Hall; the fourth and fifth Wednesdays of the month begin at 12:30 p.m. Public comment is accepted at all council meetings, either in person or virtually through the city’s online registration system. The city has also signaled it is considering expanding its utility assistance program for low-income residents to help offset the cost increase. Specific eligibility details have not been publicly released as of this writing.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does this affect residents outside Everett city limits?
    Yes. Everett provides water, sewer, and stormwater services to customers across more than 75% of Snohomish County. Any customer whose utility service is billed through Everett Utilities could see the rate change reflected on their bill. Why can’t the city just cut spending instead?
    Washington’s I-747 caps property tax growth at 1% per year regardless of inflation or service cost increases. That constraint — not spending choices alone — is the primary driver of the projected deficit. What is a PILOT, and how is it different from a utility tax?
    A Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) is an internal transfer from a city-owned utility to the general fund, functioning as a substitute for property taxes. A utility tax is a charge assessed on the consumer. Both produce revenue for the general fund, but the legal structure and how it appears on bills differ. Is 12% high compared to other cities?
    According to the city’s own comparison of nearby jurisdictions, most Washington cities use utility taxes at rates comparable to or higher than 12%. Everett’s current 6% PILOT is on the lower end of regional practice. What does the money pay for?
    The general fund covers parks, libraries, streets, and public safety — the core services Everett residents interact with daily. Will there be low-income assistance?
    The city has indicated it is considering expanding utility assistance for low-income households as part of the proposal, but specific eligibility details have not been announced. Can the council vote on this without a public vote?
    Yes. A utility tax is a council decision and does not require a ballot measure. This distinguishes it from three of the four other revenue options under consideration (levy lid lift, RFA formation, and library regionalization), all of which require voter approval.

    What To Do Next

    Comment now — before the vote: Once the council votes, the public comment window closes. Submit written comments by email to council@everettwa.gov or attend a city council meeting in person or virtually. The virtual public comment registration form is at everettwa.gov. Attend a council meeting: The Everett City Council meets Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. (or 12:30 p.m. on the 4th and 5th Wednesdays) at Everett City Hall, 3002 Wetmore Ave. Public comment is taken at the start of each regular meeting. Review the March briefing materials: The council received a full briefing on March 18, 2026. The presentation PDF and video recording are available at everettwa.gov/council. The presentation includes the comparison of other jurisdictions’ rates and the utility service area map. Check your utility provider: If you live outside Everett city limits, verify whether your water service is provided by Everett Utilities — and therefore whether this rate change would affect your bill. Contact your council member: All nine Everett City Council members represent the city at large. Contact information is available at everettwa.gov/council.

    Related coverage: Everett’s $14 Million Budget Gap Is Back — and Regionalizing Fire and Libraries Is on the Table | Mayor Franklin’s 2026 State of the City: Five Priorities Now Shaping Everett | Everett EMS Levy Goes to August 2026 Ballot

  • Everett Link Extension: City Council Demands Full Funding

    Everett Link Extension: City Council Demands Full Funding

    What this means for you: The Everett City Council voted unanimously on April 29 to formally demand that Sound Transit complete the full 16-mile Everett Link Extension — all the way to downtown Everett Station, not just to the SW Everett Industrial Center. The board votes on a revised system plan by June 30. Everett residents have until May 1 to weigh in directly via Sound Transit’s public survey.

    The Everett City Council isn’t waiting to find out what happens to their light rail line. On April 29, the council voted unanimously to sign a formal letter to the Sound Transit Board of Directors, making a clear, documented demand: complete the Everett Link Extension in full and on schedule, and don’t solve Sound Transit’s $34.5 billion budget shortfall by shortchanging Snohomish County.

    The letter, brought forward by City Council Vice President Paula Rhyne, is both a political signal and a public record — arriving as Sound Transit prepares to vote this summer on a revised ST3 System Plan that could reshape the light rail spine that Snohomish County voters have been funding since 2016.

    Why the Council Felt the Need to Act Now

    Sound Transit is navigating a serious financial crisis. The agency faces a projected $34.5 billion shortfall across its light rail extension portfolio, driven by inflation, rising construction costs, tariffs, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and higher land acquisition costs. The board is evaluating three broad “approaches” — called the Enterprise Initiative — for closing that gap before its June 30 deadline.

    Two of the three approaches would fund full completion of the 16-mile Everett Link line, running from Lynnwood through the Paine Field area to downtown Everett Station. The third approach would phase the extension, building only to the SW Everett Industrial Center — leaving downtown Everett without a direct connection.

    “The intent of the letter is to remind the board that Everett is expecting the completion of the Everett Link Extension, and that the Everett Link Extension is not the route segment that’s the biggest problem for cost overruns, so cutting our promised route should not be part of the solution,” Rhyne said at the council’s April 22 meeting.

    What the Letter Actually Says

    The council’s approved letter frames the Everett extension as the most cost-effective segment in the entire ST3 package — and uses Sound Transit’s own numbers to make the argument.

    “The Everett Link Extension is the most cost-effective and impactful light rail segment under consideration,” the letter reads. “The cost increases are dramatically lower than other segments due to the extensive and intentional use of existing rights of way, the major portions of track alignment that can be run at-grade, and substantially lower land acquisition costs.”

    For context: some ST3 projects have nearly doubled in expected costs compared to original estimates. The Everett Link Extension’s costs have increased by only about five to ten percent — a fraction of the overruns plaguing the West Seattle and Ballard extensions in North and South King County. Sound Transit staff have previously said there is a high likelihood of keeping the Everett segment affordable through targeted design changes, while preserving all six planned stations.

    The letter also invokes the principle of subarea equity — the foundational policy that Snohomish County’s tax dollars go toward Snohomish County’s projects. Everett residents have been paying the Sound Transit property tax and sales tax levy since 2016. The letter argues that redirecting those funds or shortchanging Snohomish County to cover King County overruns would violate both the letter and spirit of that commitment.

    “Maintaining the commitment to Everett voters, who have been paying into the system for decades, is essential to preserving public trust and upholding Sound Transit’s commitment to subarea equity,” the letter states.

    The closing request is direct: “We urge the Board to deliver the Everett Extension in full and on schedule and to address the most significant cost escalation within the segments where they are occurring, rather than shifting impacts to Everett.”

    The Financial Picture: Who Owns the Problem?

    Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers — who chairs the Sound Transit Board and serves as a board member alongside Mayor Cassie Franklin — has been explicit about where the budget crisis is concentrated.

    Somers told a standing-room audience at an April 14 town hall meeting that about 90 percent of the cost overruns are in the North King County and South King County subareas. The Snohomish subarea’s funding, by contrast, is almost fully in place for the Everett extension.

    Sound Transit attributes approximately $30 billion of its total shortfall to the east-west rail extensions to West Seattle and Ballard — not to the Everett spine.

    Both Somers and Mayor Franklin have stated publicly that they favor completing the spine — the line from the Tacoma Dome to Everett Station — before funding other extensions. “It is the spine from Everett to Tacoma that is actually going to connect this region,” Franklin told the April 14 town hall crowd.

    Somers has said he plans to bring forward a chair’s proposal for the updated system plan that is “affordable at the systemwide level and compliant with our subarea equity policies.” The framework is designed to advance projects into construction when financially feasible while building in contingencies for future uncertainty.

    What Happens Next

    The Sound Transit Board is expected to vote on an updated ST3 System Plan no later than June 30, 2026. A May 28 board meeting is on the calendar as a key decision point before that deadline.

    Current plans call for the Everett Link Extension to arrive near Paine Field by 2037, with the downtown Everett Station opening by 2041. Under the third “approach” currently under consideration — the one that would truncate service at SW Everett Industrial Center — those timelines would slip further.

    A draft environmental impact statement examining the extension’s station locations in detail is expected to be released this fall.

    What the Council Letter Does and Doesn’t Do

    The letter is a formal political communication, not a binding vote on Sound Transit’s budget. It goes into the public record and will be included in the materials Sound Transit’s board reviews ahead of its May 28 meeting. Its weight is persuasive, not procedural.

    What gives it teeth is the unanimity. Every member of the Everett City Council signed it, signaling unified institutional pressure from the city that stands to gain or lose the most from the June 30 decision. It also positions Everett alongside Snohomish County — through Somers — and other Snohomish cities whose residents have been paying into the system since 2016.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the Everett Link Extension?
    A 16-mile light rail line planned to run from Lynnwood through the Paine Field area to downtown Everett Station, adding six new stations. Part of the Sound Transit 3 package approved by voters in 2016.

    Why is Sound Transit’s budget in trouble?
    The agency faces a $34.5 billion projected shortfall through 2046, driven by inflation, construction cost increases, tariffs, labor and supply chain issues. Overruns are concentrated in the West Seattle and Ballard extensions in King County.

    How much did the Everett extension’s costs increase?
    By about five to ten percent — significantly less than some other ST3 projects, which have nearly doubled in cost. The Snohomish subarea is almost fully funded for the Everett segment.

    What is the third “approach” Sound Transit is considering?
    It would build the light rail spine only to Fife (not the Tacoma Dome) and only to SW Everett Industrial Center (not downtown Everett Station). Under this scenario, Everett would not get a downtown light rail connection on the current timeline.

    When does Sound Transit make its decision?
    The board is expected to vote on an updated system plan by June 30, 2026. The May 28 board meeting is a key milestone.

    What is subarea equity?
    The policy that each of Sound Transit’s five subareas — Snohomish, East King, North King, South King, and Pierce — funds its own segment with its own tax revenues. The Everett letter argues that cutting Snohomish County’s service to cover King County overruns would violate this principle.

    What did the council vote on specifically?
    To approve and sign a formal letter to the Sound Transit Board urging full completion of the Everett Link Extension. The vote was unanimous. Council Vice President Paula Rhyne brought the letter forward.

    What To Do Next

    Comment directly to Sound Transit: The agency’s public survey on the Enterprise Initiative approaches closes May 1, 2026 — today. Fill it out at soundtransit.org. Survey responses go to the board before its May 28 meeting.

    Attend or watch Sound Transit Board meetings: The board meets from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Ruth Fisher Board Room, 401 Jackson St., Seattle. The next meeting is Thursday, May 28. Virtual attendance is available — visit soundtransit.org for Zoom details.

    Send email directly to the board: Email comments can be submitted through Sound Transit’s website or at any board meeting during public comment.

    Contact the council: Public comment is accepted at Everett City Council meetings on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Everett City Hall, 3002 Wetmore Ave., or virtually at everettwa.gov.

    Related coverage: Everett’s Light Rail Future Comes to a Head: What the June 30 Sound Transit Vote Means | The June 30 Sound Transit Vote and Everett’s Light Rail Future: A Complete 2026 Guide | Everett City Council Will Decide Whether to End Everett Transit

  • Glacier View Everett: Mid-Century Neighborhood Guide

    Glacier View Everett: Mid-Century Neighborhood Guide

    Quick take: Glacier View is a mid-century neighborhood anchored by Lowell Elementary, the Everett Golf and Country Club, and easy access to Forest Park — with one of the most active neighborhood associations in the city and housing prices that have climbed significantly in 2025–2026. It’s a neighborhood that rewards locals who already know it and puzzles visitors who drive through without stopping.

    Glacier View: The Mid-Century Everett Neighborhood That Rewards the People Who Actually Know It

    Ask most Everett residents about Glacier View and you’ll get a vague wave southward. Ask someone who actually lives there and you’ll get a 20-minute conversation about block parties, the trail system behind their house, the view of the Cascades from their backyard, and the neighbors who’ve been around since before the kids were born.

    That gap — between how the neighborhood looks from the outside and what it actually is — is Glacier View in a nutshell. It’s one of Everett’s more established residential pockets, filled with mid-century brick ramblers and craftsman bungalows, bounded by Interstate 5 to the east, Evergreen Way to the west, roughly 41st Street to the north, and 62nd Street SE to the south. It sits between the more frequently profiled south Everett neighborhoods and downtown, close enough to both to be convenient, quiet enough to feel like neither.

    The Housing Stock That Defines the Neighborhood

    Glacier View’s character is shaped heavily by its housing stock. Mid-century brick ramblers dominate — one-story homes with clean lines, good bones, and the kind of lot sizes that feel generous compared to newer infill construction. Craftsman cottages fill in the gaps. Most of the neighborhood was built out decades ago, which means the streets have mature trees and the lots have settled into something that feels lived-in rather than speculative.

    The market has moved. The median sale price in Glacier View reached approximately $785,000 in early 2026, up significantly year-over-year — reflecting broader Snohomish County market dynamics as buyers pushed into south Everett in search of space and value relative to Seattle and the Eastside. The neighborhood scores 82 out of 100 on Redfin’s competitive market index, with homes averaging around 15 days on market as of early 2026.

    For context: mid-century ramblers and cottages in Glacier View have ranged from roughly $415,000 to $850,000 depending on condition and lot, while craftsman-style homes have started around $500,000 and run into the $930,000 range at the high end. The 7,454 residents recorded by US Census data represent a homeownership-heavy community — approximately 70% owner-occupied, which contributes to the neighborhood’s stability and the active civic engagement its association is known for.

    The Everett Golf and Country Club — Anchor and Anomaly

    The single most distinctive feature of the Glacier View neighborhood’s geography is the Everett Golf and Country Club, which occupies a substantial portion of the neighborhood’s southwest side. Founded in 1910, the private club features an 18-hole course, a fitness center, a swimming pool, and seasonal dining and social events.

    The club is members-only, which means the majority of the green space it sits on is not publicly accessible. But it shapes the neighborhood in other ways: it keeps a large area in the heart of the neighborhood at low density, it contributes to the neighborhood’s sense of green space and views, and it creates a geographic logic to Glacier View’s street layout that makes it feel more residential and less through-traveled than other Everett neighborhoods on the arterial grid.

    Forest Park and the Trail System

    Glacier View residents enjoy proximity to two significant green space assets. Forest Park — Everett’s largest and oldest park — is accessible from the neighborhood’s western edge. The park offers a splash pad, picnic areas, a large playground, sports courts, tennis courts, meeting halls, and trail access. It’s the kind of anchor amenity that makes a neighborhood feel self-contained.

    The Interurban Trail also runs through the area, providing 12 miles of paved paths for biking, jogging, and walking. For residents who want outdoor recreation without driving, Glacier View is well-positioned relative to most of south Everett.

    Schools

    Glacier View students move through an Everett School District pathway: Lowell Elementary (Pre-K–5, located in the neighborhood at approximately 5010 View Drive), then Evergreen Middle School, and on to Everett High School. Lowell Elementary has a total enrollment of approximately 543 students and a 16:1 student-teacher ratio.

    The Everett School District recorded a 96.3% graduation rate in 2025 — a district record — and Everett High was part of that picture. Parents in Glacier View looking at the school pathway are working with a district that has been putting up real numbers on student outcomes.

    Families in the neighborhood’s southern portion may also fall within proximity of Mukilteo School District boundaries — the district’s service area runs through parts of south Everett, including Cascade View and corridor areas near Casino Road.

    The Neighborhood Association

    By most accounts — including the City of Everett’s own neighborhood documentation — the Glacier View Neighborhood Association is one of the more active in the city. Meetings are held in-person at the Lowell Elementary library at 6:30 PM, on a roughly bi-monthly schedule (typical dates: January, March, May, and November). Co-chairs Katie Shaffer and Crystal Cameron lead the association, which can be reached at GlacierViewNeighbor@hotmail.com.

    In February 2026, Glacier View residents were part of a broad south Everett neighborhood meeting at the Cascade Boys and Girls Club at 7600 Cascade Drive, which brought together multiple neighborhood associations alongside Mayor Franklin and Police Chief Robert Goetz. The multi-neighborhood meeting format is one the city has been piloting for district-wide conversations — Glacier View participated as part of that broader civic engagement effort.

    Getting Around

    Glacier View sits west of Interstate 5, making highway access straightforward for commuters heading north toward Boeing’s Paine Field facilities, south toward Bellevue and Seattle, or east. The neighborhood is roughly 26 miles from downtown Seattle by car — a commute that, depending on the time of day, runs anywhere from 40 minutes to well over an hour.

    Everett Transit runs bus routes along Evergreen Way, Colby Street, and Broadway — the major arterials that border or bisect the neighborhood — providing transit access for residents who prefer not to drive. This connectivity to south Everett’s main transit corridors will take on added relevance as Sound Transit’s light rail extension to Everett moves toward completion in the coming years.

    Why People Stay

    Neighbors who live in Glacier View tend to describe the same constellation of reasons for staying: quiet streets, homes with real yards, walkable access to Forest Park and the trail system, friendly block-level community, and proximity to south Everett amenities without the traffic intensity of Evergreen Way itself. The neighborhood scores high on family-friendliness and dog-friendliness on resident review platforms, and the 70% homeownership rate means most of the people on the block have chosen to be there long-term.

    The housing prices that felt like a deal a few years ago have moved. But the neighborhood’s character — mid-century, stable, community-engaged, green-space-adjacent — is what it is because the people who lived there made it that way over decades. That doesn’t change when the comp prices move up.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where exactly is Glacier View in Everett?

    Glacier View is bounded roughly by 41st Street to the north, Interstate 5 to the east, 62nd Street SE to the south, and Evergreen Way to the west. It sits in the southeast portion of central Everett, between downtown and the south Everett corridor.

    What schools serve Glacier View?

    Glacier View is primarily served by Everett School District. The pathway is Lowell Elementary → Evergreen Middle School → Everett High School.

    Is the Everett Golf and Country Club open to the public?

    No. The Everett Golf and Country Club (founded 1910) is a members-only private club featuring an 18-hole course, fitness center, and swimming pool. It is not open to the general public.

    How do I get involved with the Glacier View Neighborhood Association?

    Meetings are held at Lowell Elementary’s library at 6:30 PM on a bi-monthly schedule. Contact the association at GlacierViewNeighbor@hotmail.com. The City of Everett’s Neighborhood Associations page at everettwa.gov/334 has current meeting dates and neighborhood contacts.

    What parks are closest to Glacier View?

    Forest Park — Everett’s largest park — is accessible from the neighborhood’s western edge. The Interurban Trail runs through the area with 12 miles of paved paths. Lowell Park and Emma Yule Park are also within or adjacent to the neighborhood’s boundaries.

  • Polkadot Cadaver at Tony V’s Garage: June 11 Tickets

    Polkadot Cadaver at Tony V’s Garage: June 11 Tickets

    You’ve probably walked past Tony V’s Garage a hundred times without knowing what’s happening inside on any given Thursday. Here’s what’s happening on June 11, 2026: Polkadot Cadaver, one of the most genuinely weird and genuinely heavy bands working in American rock right now, is setting up at 1716 Hewitt Avenue and playing until nearly midnight. Tickets are $23.18 on Eventbrite. Doors open before 8 PM. Angry Toons open the night.

    That’s the short version. The longer version involves a 20-year creative obsession, a frontman who spent a decade rewriting what underground metal could sound like, and a venue that keeps pulling in acts Everett has no business booking — and yet somehow does.

    What Polkadot Cadaver Actually Sounds Like

    Polkadot Cadaver is the project of Todd Smith, who you might know better as the voice and primary creative force behind Dog Fashion Disco. If Dog Fashion Disco is the kind of band name that either stops you cold or makes you immediately pull up YouTube, you already have a sense of the territory. Smith has spent most of his adult life making music that doesn’t fit cleanly into any genre — avant-garde metal, experimental rock, dark circus, jazz-inflected hard rock — and Polkadot Cadaver is where that restlessness gets its most concentrated form.

    The band formed in the mid-2000s, initially as something of a side project while Dog Fashion Disco was on hiatus, and quickly developed its own distinct identity. Where Dog Fashion Disco can be theatrical and sprawling, Polkadot Cadaver tends to be heavier, faster, and more unsettling. The aesthetic runs toward horror and dark carnival imagery — not in a theatrical Halloween-costume way but in a genuinely off-kilter, dissonant-chord, what-key-is-this way. If you want a reference point: think late-period Primus meets Dillinger Escape Plan meets a Tom Waits album recorded in a basement at 2 AM. That still doesn’t quite capture it, but it’s closer than “metal band.”

    Albums like Megaton Shotblast (2009) and Sex Offender (2010) established the band’s reputation in the underground metal and experimental rock communities — not household names, but the kind of records that people who find them tend to keep for the rest of their lives. Smith’s vocal range is a significant part of what makes it work: he can go from a clean croon to a full thrash scream inside the same measure, and the band is tight enough to follow him wherever that goes.

    Why Tony V’s Is the Right Room for This

    Tony V’s Garage at 1716 Hewitt Avenue is a 400-capacity standing-room venue in the middle of downtown Everett. It books the kind of music that the Paramount doesn’t — touring acts who are too big for a bar but not quite at the theater level, with ticket prices that reflect that honestly. Twenty-three dollars gets you into a room where the stage is close enough that you can see the set list taped to the floor monitors.

    That intimacy matters for a band like Polkadot Cadaver. This is not music that benefits from distance. The odd time signatures and left-field genre pivots land differently when you’re close enough to feel the bass in your sternum. Tony V’s has hosted enough touring metal and hard rock acts over the years to know how to run a show at this volume level — the sound system is built for it, the staff know what they’re doing, and the crowd that shows up on a Thursday night for a bill like this tends to be there because they did the research, not because they stumbled in off the street.

    In a mid-size city with no dedicated all-ages metal venue and a concert market dominated by the Xfinity Center and the HET’s theater programming, Tony V’s fills a gap that matters. Polkadot Cadaver playing Everett at all is genuinely unusual — this is not a band that has historically saturated the Pacific Northwest touring circuit, and June 11 may be the only Washington date on this run.

    Angry Toons Opens

    Angry Toons is on the bill as the opening act. If you’ve been to enough shows at Tony V’s, you’ve probably encountered them — a local and regional punk-metal act that knows how to warm up a room without overstaying its welcome. Openers at this venue tend to take the set seriously, and getting the crowd moving before Polkadot Cadaver requires a band that can commit to the room’s energy. Showing up early is worth it. Doors and the opener are part of what makes a Thursday night at a 400-cap venue feel like an event rather than just a show.

    The Ticket Math

    $23.18 is the Eventbrite all-in price as of this writing, and the listing shows tickets in stock. The show is Thursday, June 11 — it starts at 8:00 PM and runs until 11:30 PM per the Eventbrite listing. That’s a real show, not a 45-minute set and out.

    For context: a comparable touring underground metal act at a Seattle venue would run you $28–$35 plus the drive, parking, and the particular joy of standing in line on Capitol Hill in the rain. June in Everett is drier, the venue is walkable from the downtown core, and the ticket is cheaper. The math is not complicated.

    Tickets are available now at eventbrite.com. Tony V’s Garage is at 1716 Hewitt Avenue, Everett WA 98201.

    The Bigger Picture

    Everett’s live music scene has a specific reputation problem: people who don’t live here assume there isn’t one. Shows at Tony V’s, APEX, and the Historic Everett Theatre have been quietly building a counter-argument to that for years, but the argument only works if people show up. Polkadot Cadaver is the kind of booking that — if the room fills — demonstrates that Everett can sustain a touring circuit for underground and experimental acts, not just cover bands and casino headliners.

    That’s not why you should go. You should go because Todd Smith is a genuinely exceptional songwriter and performer and the show is $23 on a Thursday night twelve minutes from most of downtown Everett. But the side effect of going is that it tells the booking infrastructure something useful: that this city will show up for something strange and heavy if you give it the chance.

    June 11. Tony V’s Garage. 8 PM. Polkadot Cadaver and Angry Toons. $23.18 at the door or on Eventbrite now while tickets last.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Polkadot Cadaver?

    Polkadot Cadaver is an avant-garde metal and experimental rock project fronted by Todd Smith, the vocalist and primary songwriter of Dog Fashion Disco. The band blends heavy guitar riffs with jazz influences, dark carnival imagery, and unconventional song structures.

    Where is Tony V’s Garage in Everett?

    Tony V’s Garage is at 1716 Hewitt Avenue in downtown Everett, Washington 98201 — a standing-room live music venue with a capacity of approximately 400.

    How much are tickets to Polkadot Cadaver at Tony V’s on June 11, 2026?

    Tickets are $23.18 all-in and available through Eventbrite. The show starts at 8:00 PM and runs until approximately 11:30 PM.

    Is Polkadot Cadaver related to Dog Fashion Disco?

    Yes. Polkadot Cadaver is the primary side project and creative outlet for Todd Smith, the frontman of Dog Fashion Disco. The two bands share members and a similar avant-garde, dark aesthetic, though Polkadot Cadaver is generally heavier and more experimental in execution.

  • Taqueria Loma Bonita Everett: Best Downtown Street Tacos

    Taqueria Loma Bonita Everett: Best Downtown Street Tacos

    What is Taqueria Loma Bonita? Taqueria Loma Bonita is a family-owned authentic Mexican taqueria at 1530 Broadway in downtown Everett, open since the mid-2010s and consistently rated among the city’s best spots for street tacos and tortas. Street tacos start at $2.25. Open Monday–Friday 10:30 AM–7:30 PM, Saturday 11 AM–5 PM.

    Everett has a Casino Road. Everyone knows about Casino Road. The international food corridor that runs through South Everett with its Vietnamese pho shops, Filipino-Hawaiian kitchens, Central Asian food trucks, and Mexican tortillerias gets most of the attention when food writers talk about Everett’s authentic immigrant food scene—and for good reason. But the conversation about where to find great, unpretentious, genuinely made-from-scratch Mexican food in Everett sometimes skips right past a place that’s been doing it quietly on Broadway for nearly a decade.

    Taqueria Loma Bonita at 1530 Broadway doesn’t have a rooftop deck or a waterfront view. It doesn’t need one. It has $2.25 street tacos and a carne asada torta that people in this city call their favorite sandwich in Washington.

    Who Runs It

    Taqueria Loma Bonita is a family operation. The parents run the kitchen—their recipes, their expertise, their standards. The family has been serving Everett for close to a decade with the same approach to ingredients: authentic, homemade, and made with the kind of attention that only comes when the people cooking actually care about the food landing right. That’s not marketing copy. That’s what a 4.5-star rating across 288-plus reviews on multiple platforms looks like over time.

    What to Order

    Start with the street tacos. At $2.25 each, they’re priced the way street tacos should be—inexpensive enough that ordering four is a reasonable move, not an extravagance. The corn tortillas are solid, the meat portions are generous, and the toppings (cilantro, onion, salsa) are applied correctly rather than haphazardly. Carne asada is the move if you’re ordering first-timers. Al pastor is the move if you know your way around a taqueria.

    The tortas are the other thing people keep coming back for. The Regular Torta runs $9.75 with your choice of meat—carne asada, al pastor, pollo, carnitas, chorizo, or lengua—served on a bolillo roll with tomato, avocado, jalapeño, and cabbage. The carne asada version in particular has developed a genuine following. It’s not a dressed-up Americanized sandwich. It’s the real thing: properly seasoned grilled beef, fresh avocado, heat from the jalapeño, crunch from the cabbage. The kind of torta that makes you question every other sandwich you’ve had recently.

    For the full meal: the Burrito Ranchero at $10.49 comes with meat, rice, beans, avocado, pico de gallo, sour cream, and cheese. It’s a big burrito. Order it when you’re actually hungry. And finish with horchata—fresh, not from a concentrate, exactly as sweet as it needs to be.

    The Room and the Vibe

    Taqueria Loma Bonita is a clean, unfussy room on Broadway. No gimmicks. No pretension. The dining room is well-kept and the service is friendly and efficient—the kind of place that takes your order, gets the food out fast, and lets the food do the talking. It offers dine-in, takeaway, and delivery through the major apps, which makes it a practical everyday lunch spot as much as a destination meal.

    The lunch hour crowd at downtown Everett taquerias tends to move fast, and Loma Bonita handles volume well. It’s a spot where you can be in and out in 30 minutes with a serious meal, or take your time and linger over a second round of tacos. Both options are valid.

    How It Fits Into Everett’s Mexican Food Landscape

    Everett has a genuinely strong Mexican food scene, and the depth of it isn’t always obvious until you start mapping it out. Casa El Dorado Tortilleria on Casino Road is the working tortilleria with the kitchen attached—fresh-ground corn and flour tortillas by the kilo, breakfast burritos, tamales. Birrieria Tijuana at 205 E Casino Rd is the Tijuana-style quesabirria spot with 253-plus Yelp reviews. Those are the Casino Road anchors. Taqueria Loma Bonita is the downtown counterpart—slightly different audience (office workers, residents of the Broadway corridor, anyone who wants a fast, authentic weekday lunch without driving to SE Everett Mall Way), same commitment to the real thing.

    If you’re building a mental map of where to eat across Everett’s international food geography, Loma Bonita on Broadway belongs in the same conversation as Heritage African on Hewitt and Enseamada Cafe on Evergreen Way—places that represent real immigrant culinary traditions, done right, at prices that don’t require a special occasion.

    The Details

    Address: 1530 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201
    Hours: Monday–Friday 10:30 AM–7:30 PM, Saturday 11 AM–5 PM, Sunday closed
    Phone: (425) 252-1487
    Price range: Street tacos $2.25, tortas $9.75, burritos $10.49
    Parking: Street parking on Broadway; downtown meters are free on Sundays (but they’re closed Sundays anyway, so weekday meters apply)
    Delivery: Available via DoorDash, UberEats, Grubhub
    Dine-in: Yes

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Taqueria Loma Bonita known for?

    Taqueria Loma Bonita is best known for its authentic street tacos at $2.25 each and its carne asada torta, which has a strong local following. Everything is made from scratch using authentic family recipes.

    What are Taqueria Loma Bonita’s hours?

    Monday–Friday 10:30 AM–7:30 PM, Saturday 11 AM–5 PM. Closed Sundays.

    How much do tacos cost at Taqueria Loma Bonita?

    Street tacos are $2.25 each. Tortas run $9.75. Burritos are around $10.49.

    Where is Taqueria Loma Bonita located?

    1530 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201. Street parking available on Broadway.

    Does Taqueria Loma Bonita offer delivery?

    Yes, available through DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub.

    What’s the best thing to order at Taqueria Loma Bonita?

    The carne asada street tacos and the carne asada torta are the most-praised items. For drinks, the fresh horchata is worth ordering.

    Is Taqueria Loma Bonita family-owned?

    Yes. It’s a family-owned restaurant where the parents lead the kitchen using authentic recipes developed over years.

  • Everett Farmers Market 2026: May 10 Opening Day Guide

    Everett Farmers Market 2026: May 10 Opening Day Guide

    When does the Everett Farmers Market open in 2026? The Everett Farmers Market opens for its 2026 season on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 2930 Wetmore Ave in downtown Everett. Seniors and high-risk customers enter at 10:30 AM; general public at 11 AM. The market runs Sundays through October.

    The wait is almost over. After a long Everett winter of grocery store hothouse tomatoes and shrink-wrapped herbs, the Everett Farmers Market opens for its 2026 season on Sunday, May 10 at 2930 Wetmore Ave in downtown Everett. Doors open at 10:30 AM for seniors and high-risk shoppers, and at 11 AM for everyone else. The market runs through October, every Sunday—but Opening Day has a particular energy that the later-season Sundays never quite match. This is the guide for making the most of it.

    The Basics: What the Everett Farmers Market Actually Is

    The Everett Farmers Market at 2930 Wetmore Ave is a certified farmers market operating under Washington State Department of Agriculture rules, which means vendors selling “farm products” must actually grow or raise what they’re selling. It’s not a craft fair with a few vegetable booths—it’s a working market with produce, baked goods, honey, flowers, wine and distillery tastings, artisan goods, and music. The vendor mix is updated on their website (everettfarmersmarket.com) by Saturday noon each week, so you can check what’s there before you drive.

    In past seasons, Opening Day has drawn 60+ vendors, a full flower section from Hmong farmers who cultivate, deliver, and arrange fresh seasonal bouquets on-site, and a line of regulars who show up early specifically for the first-of-season strawberries. Don’t underestimate how much better the Opening Day energy is compared to a random mid-July Sunday. People are ready to be there.

    What’s Usually Available on Opening Day (Early May)

    Early May in the Pacific Northwest means you’re at the tail end of spring’s first real produce push. Opening Day in past seasons has reliably included:

    • Asparagus — usually a highlight of the early-season haul from Snohomish and Skagit Valley farms
    • Rhubarb — often the most sought-after early-season item; goes fast
    • Spinach, kale, and salad greens — cool-weather crops that are at their best in May before summer heat sets in
    • Fresh eggs — always available from local farms early in the season
    • Transplants and starts — tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and flowers ready for your garden
    • Baked goods — artisan breads, pastry, jams
    • Honey — local producers usually debut seasonal varieties on Opening Day
    • Fresh-cut flower bouquets — from Hmong growers who have become one of the market’s most beloved vendors

    What you won’t find on May 10: corn, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, or any of the summer crops. Those arrive in June and July. If you show up expecting summer produce, you’ll be disappointed. Show up expecting the best spring vegetables the Snohomish County region grows, and you’ll fill a bag fast.

    The Vendor Ecosystem: Beyond Produce

    The Everett Farmers Market is meaningfully more than a vegetable market. Past seasons have included kombucha producers, local wine and distillery tasting booths, artisan jam and preserves, fresh-milled grain products, fermented foods, hot prepared food vendors, and a rotating selection of jewelry, pottery, glasswork, and handmade crafts.

    The distinction between farm vendors (required to grow what they sell) and maker/artisan vendors (required to make what they sell) means the quality floor is high. This isn’t a swap meet. Every vendor in both categories has been vetted to ensure their products are what they say they are. The market’s WSDA certification is what backs that up.

    If you’re looking to fill gaps before Opening Day, the CSA pre-market guide covers Goat & Seed at Twin Willows, SnoValley Tilth, and Garden Treasures Arlington for year-round farm access. But on May 10, you can just show up at Wetmore Ave and buy directly from the growers.

    Practical Guide: How to Make the Most of Opening Day

    Arrive Early

    If you’re a senior or high-risk shopper, the 10:30 AM early entry window is specifically for you. For everyone else, arriving at 11 AM right at open gives you first crack at rhubarb, asparagus, flower bouquets, and anything else that tends to run out before noon. By 1 PM, the best-sellers from specific vendors can be gone.

    Bring Cash and a Bag

    Most vendors accept cards, but cash is faster and some smaller producers prefer it. Bring reusable bags—ideally a sturdy tote for produce and a separate soft bag for baked goods or fragile items like eggs. The vendors don’t provide bags, and a plastic grocery bag filled with asparagus and rhubarb on a walk back to your car is a mess waiting to happen.

    Walk the Full Market Before You Buy

    First-timers often make the mistake of buying everything at the first booth with something they recognize. Walk the full market first—30 minutes is enough—see what the different vendors are offering, compare prices and quality, and make a mental list. Then go back. The vendors set up in roughly the same positions each week, so once you find your regular egg farmer or bread vendor, you’ll always know where to find them.

    Parking

    Street parking on Wetmore Ave and adjacent streets fills up quickly on Opening Day. The 2930 Wetmore Ave site has some on-site parking, but plan for a short walk from surrounding streets or the downtown parking garages. Sunday morning parking in downtown Everett is generally manageable—just don’t arrive at 11:05 expecting a spot right at the entrance.

    The Full-Day Pairing: Market Morning + More

    Opening Day pairs naturally with a downtown morning. The 2026 market season preview lays out the full calendar through October. For a post-market breakfast, South Fork Baking Co. at Port of Everett Waterfront Place does scratch pastries and Joe Coffee espresso—a natural follow-up to a Wetmore Ave flower-and-vegetable haul. The waterfront is a 10-minute drive from the market.

    If you want to keep the local food theme going into the afternoon, Beverly Food Truck Park at 6731 Beverly Blvd runs Monday through Saturday 4–7 PM with rotating trucks including Mexicuban and Tabassum.

    The Details

    Address: 2930 Wetmore Ave, Everett, WA 98201
    2026 Opening Day: Sunday, May 10, 2026
    Hours: 10:30 AM early entry (seniors/high-risk); 11 AM–3 PM general public
    Season: Sundays through October 2026
    Phone: (425) 422-5656
    Website: everettfarmersmarket.com — vendor map updated Saturday noon before each Sunday market
    Parking: Street parking + downtown garages; plan for a short walk on Opening Day

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When does the Everett Farmers Market open in 2026?

    Opening Day is Sunday, May 10, 2026. Seniors and high-risk customers enter at 10:30 AM; general public from 11 AM to 3 PM. The market runs every Sunday through October at 2930 Wetmore Ave in downtown Everett.

    What vegetables are available at the Everett Farmers Market in early May?

    Early-season produce typically includes asparagus, rhubarb, salad greens, spinach, kale, fresh eggs, garden transplants, and herbs. Summer crops like corn, tomatoes, and peppers are not available until June–July.

    Is there parking at the Everett Farmers Market?

    There is some on-site parking at 2930 Wetmore Ave plus street parking and downtown garages nearby. On Opening Day, plan to arrive early or be prepared for a short walk from a nearby garage.

    Do vendors at the Everett Farmers Market accept credit cards?

    Most vendors accept cards, but cash is faster and some small producers prefer it. Bring both to be safe.

    What is the Everett Farmers Market’s early entry policy?

    The market opens at 10:30 AM for seniors and high-risk customers, and at 11 AM for the general public. This early entry window is a regular part of the market’s operation.

    Are there non-food vendors at the Everett Farmers Market?

    Yes. The market includes artisan vendors selling jewelry, pottery, glasswork, and handmade crafts, along with maker-vendors for jams, honey, baked goods, kombucha, and wine/distillery tasting.

    Where can I find the vendor list before going to the market?

    The vendor map for each Sunday’s market is posted at everettfarmersmarket.com by Saturday noon the day before.

  • Middleton Brewing Everett: Nano-Brewpub & Fruit Ales

    Middleton Brewing Everett: Nano-Brewpub & Fruit Ales

    What is Middleton Brewing? Middleton Brewing is a 1.5-barrel nano-brewpub in South Everett run by owner-brewer Geoff Middleton, specializing in nontraditional fruit ales. Located at 607 SE Everett Mall Way Suite 27-A, it’s open Thursday through Sunday and is one of the most under-the-radar craft beer stops in Snohomish County.

    There’s a pattern to how people discover Middleton Brewing. Someone moves to South Everett, does a quick search for local craft beer, finds the brewery trail article that mentions eight stops, sees Middleton listed, assumes it’s just another tap house, and promptly goes somewhere shinier. A few weeks later, a neighbor sets them straight.

    “You haven’t been to Geoff’s place yet?”

    Then they go, order a Tangerine IPA, and wonder why they waited.

    Middleton Brewing has been operating at 607 SE Everett Mall Way since 2013, tucked into a suite in a South Everett commercial strip. It’s a 1.5-barrel nano-brewpub—meaning Geoff Middleton brews everything on-site in small batches, frequently rotates what’s on tap, and is personally behind the bar more days than not. The scale is intentional. At 1.5 barrels, he can try things that no production brewery would risk: a Lime & Cilantro session ale, a Walnut Almond Coconut stout, a Ginger Lemongrass wheat. Every batch is a few kegs. When it’s gone, it’s gone.

    The Beer Program: Fruit-Forward, Unashamed, Surprisingly Sophisticated

    The majority of Middleton’s beers include fruit, and Geoff doesn’t apologize for it. His Tangerine IPA uses a full pound of fresh tangerines per gallon—which is not a flavoring trick, that’s a real citrus load that comes through in every sip. The result is bright and bitter in the way a good IPA should be, with fresh citrus that doesn’t read as artificial or syrupy. It is, by a wide margin, the best fruit IPA in South Everett, and it’s not particularly close.

    The rotating tap list on any given week might include some combination of: Blackberry Wheat, Blueberry Stout, Strawberry Blonde, Jalapeno Pale, Honey Ale, Coconut Porter, or the Ginger Lemongrass Saison. These aren’t gimmick beers—they’re the product of a homebrewer who spent years perfecting recipes before going commercial and who still treats every batch as a small batch worth getting right.

    If you want to know what’s on tap before you make the drive, check their Facebook page or Instagram (@middleton_brewing), where Geoff posts fairly regularly about current pours. The tap list changes with whatever just finished fermenting, so there’s no reliable “house beer” other than whatever he’s currently excited about.

    The Space: Small, Dog-Friendly, Genuinely Neighborhood

    Middleton Brewing is not a destination taproom with exposed timber beams and a DJ. It’s a neighborhood brewpub that happens to be in a commercial strip near the SE Everett Mall. The space is small and unpretentious, with open seating, a full food menu including sandwiches, pizza with vegan cheese options, beer cheese nachos, and the kind of low-key atmosphere where you can show up with your dog (they’re welcome), claim a table, and work through a few small-batch pours without anyone making you feel like you need to buy another round.

    It’s also genuinely family-friendly. There’s no craft-beer-bar pressure to the place. Geoff Middleton built it to serve his neighborhood, and that’s exactly what it does.

    The Origin Story: From Painting Contractor to Nano-Brewery Owner

    Geoff Middleton’s path to opening a brewery ran through a college hobby, a family painting business, and about a decade of perfecting recipes on a homebrew kit. His first batch was a two-gallon blonde ale from a retail kit to which he added fresh blueberries—a choice that probably tells you everything you need to know about where his beer program was going to end up.

    He chose the brewpub model deliberately, wanting a taproom-first business rather than a production brewery chasing distribution. In 2013, the Middleton family opened at the current SE Everett Mall Way location. Geoff still works for the family painting business during the week. The brewery runs Thursday through Sunday, and he’s there every open day—which means if you have a question about a beer, the person who brewed it is almost certainly the one pouring it.

    That kind of direct-from-brewer tap experience is increasingly rare as Everett’s craft beer scene has grown and professionalized. The Everett brewery trail now has eight stops, ranging from production facilities with full kitchens to small taprooms. Middleton sits firmly at the intimate, personal end of that spectrum—a place where the menu is whatever Geoff just finished brewing and the best pairing advice comes from the guy who made it.

    How It Fits Into the Broader South Everett Craft Beer Scene

    South Everett has quietly developed a credible craft beer circuit. Lazy Boy Brewing opened recently at 715 100th St SE and is drawing the rotating-tap crowd with trivia nights and live music. U-Neek and Crucible Brewing, just down the road at 909 SE Everett Mall Way, relaunched with new ownership and a new small-batch Owner’s Series that rhymes with what Middleton has always done. That puts three distinct nano-to-small breweries within a few miles of each other in South Everett—a circuit worth building an afternoon around.

    For context on the North Everett and waterfront brewery scene, Obsidian Beer Hall on Hewitt and Sound to Summit at the marina offer a different vibe—larger spaces, more taps, waterfront access. Middleton is the counterweight: tight, brewer-owned, neighborhood-first.

    What to Order

    If the Tangerine IPA is on tap, start there. It’s the anchor of the program and the best introduction to Geoff’s approach. If you want to go fruit-forward but lighter, look for whatever wheat or blonde is currently running with a fruit addition. For the adventurous: ask what the weirdest thing on tap is. The answer is usually worth trying.

    On the food side, the beer cheese nachos pair well with anything on the hop-forward side of the tap list, and the house pizza with vegan cheese is legitimately good for a brewpub offering.

    The Details

    Address: 607 SE Everett Mall Way Suite 27-A, Everett, WA 98208
    Hours: Thursday–Friday 2–9 PM, Saturday 2–9 PM, Sunday 2–8 PM (closed Mon–Wed)
    Phone: (425) 280-9178
    Dog-friendly: Yes
    Family-friendly: Yes
    Price range: Pints typically $5–$7, food items $9–$14
    Parking: Free surface lot at the commercial strip
    Follow for tap updates: Facebook (Middleton Brewing) / Instagram @middleton_brewing

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What kind of beer does Middleton Brewing specialize in?

    Middleton Brewing specializes in nontraditional fruit ales—beers that use real fruit additions like fresh tangerines, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, coconut, ginger, and jalapeño. The tap list rotates constantly based on what’s currently fermenting.

    Is Middleton Brewing dog-friendly?

    Yes. Middleton Brewing is family- and dog-friendly.

    What are the hours at Middleton Brewing?

    Thursday through Friday 2–9 PM, Saturday 2–9 PM, Sunday 2–8 PM. Closed Monday through Wednesday.

    How big is Middleton Brewing?

    It’s a 1.5-barrel nano-brewpub, meaning all beer is brewed on-site in very small batches. When a batch runs out, that beer is gone until the next brew cycle.

    How does Middleton Brewing compare to other Everett breweries?

    Middleton is the smallest and most personal of Everett’s brewery options. It lacks the large-production capacity or waterfront ambiance of places like Sound to Summit or Obsidian Beer Hall, but it offers something none of the others do: a brewer-owned nano-operation where the person pouring is the person who brewed it, and the tap list changes based on actual small-batch experimentation rather than a set rotation.

    Does Middleton Brewing serve food?

    Yes—full food menu including sandwiches, pizza (with vegan cheese option), beer cheese nachos, and soups.

    Where is Middleton Brewing located?

    607 SE Everett Mall Way Suite 27-A, Everett, WA 98208. Free parking in the surface lot.