Recently, a very nice woman came into my office to discuss a basement remodel. She told me that she was just doing a very simple remodel, but soon it involved creating a room, running a heat duct to it, including a new light … read more

Learn. Cook. Eat. Drink. Laugh. This is the mission statement of the Gig Harbor Cooking Club, an eclectic group of amateur chefs who have formed lasting friendships through food. The club began two years ago, after one member spent a month in Korea. … read more

In the summer of 2014, when Lance and JoAnn Kahn first saw the 1970s rambler, they weren’t all that impressed. The 40-year-old house was dated and the floorplan was decidedly quirky with long, dark hallways that ran like tunnels from either side of … read more

Our fall, winter, and springtime weathers here on the South Sound and the West Sound pretty much come from the same place. The Chehalis gap! And no, you can’t buy jeans there. This gap is the space between the southernmost of the Olympic … read more

Bert Pesciallo, whose father immigrated from Genoa, Italy, in 1900, doesn’t remember when he became interested in the winery business. He was pretty young and following in his father’s footsteps. “Things just happened naturally at that time, when you are a teenager and … read more

Model Tested: 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club Engine: 2.0-liter I-4 gas, 155 horsepower, 148 lb-ft torque Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel-drive EPA Ratings: 27/City—34/Highway—30/Combined Base Price: $28,600 As Tested: $32,820 Performance: Club model has extra performance enhancements Limited slip differential 17-inch BBS forged … read more

Model Tested: 2016 Acura MDX AWD Engine: 3.5-liter V-6 gas, 290 horsepower, 267 lb-ft torque Transmission: 9-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive EPA Ratings: 19/City—26/Highway—22/Combined Base Price: $57,080 As Tested: $58,000 Performance: Very smooth, powerful V-6 engine 9-speed automatic: a gear for every occasion Paddle … read more

Model Tested: 2016 Honda HR-V 5-Door AWD EX-L Engine: 1.8-liter four-cylinder gas, 141 horsepower, 127 lb-ft torque Transmission: CVT automatic transmission, Real Time all-wheel-drive EPA Ratings: 27/City—32/Highway—29/Combined Base Price: $25,840 As Tested: $26,720 Performance: Nimble off-road capabilities Full time AWD, but no locking features … read more

Model Tested: 2016 Scion iA 4-Door Sedan Engine: 1.5-liter four-cylinder gas, 106 horsepower, 103 lb-ft torque Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission, front-wheel-drive EPA Ratings: 31/City—41/Highway—35/Combined Base Price: $15,700 As Tested: $16,470 Performance: Acceptable acceleration if manual trans is used aggressively Very good fuel economy, … read more