Avid boaters Kelly and Jim Hettinger cruised the waters around the Key Peninsula for years. They made friends, anchored at the Longbranch Marina, and got involved in the social life at the Longbranch Improvement Club. Eventually the time came to think about looking … read more

The Romans introduced grapevines to the Netherlands in 968. Today about one million bottles of Dutch wine are produced annually from 170 small vineyards located throughout the country. Fortunately, there’s no need to buy a ticket to Amsterdam to taste Dutch wines when … read more

When embarking on an update or remodel of the hard-working rooms of your home (kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or closet), it is wise to familiarize yourself with the many options available in convenience hardware. This will ensure you are creating spaces that maximize … read more

Owning and operating six restaurants can be complicated. Just ask Brendan McGill, founder of Hitchcock on Bainbridge Island and the fabulously popular Bruciato pizzeria across the street. On one recent morning, McGill sauntered into his Hitchcock Deli, adjacent to his farm-to-table eatery, and … read more

Science project. For some students, those words conjure up nightmares. For others, it’s an opportunity for revving up their creativity and designing a project that might win them an award in the Washington State Science & Engineering Fair — and beyond. WSSEF (“Wussef,” … read more

In 1988, a small handful of artists got together and rented a space in the old Shoreline building where Marketplace Grille is located today in downtown Gig Harbor. Gretchen Wilbert (a former mayor of Gig Harbor) was their landlord, and very supportive of … read more

From Joe and Cheryl Falk’s Point No Point home, the setting sun flares coho pink against the Cascade Mountains and the lighthouse to the east. A seagull skims over the darkening water. As the first stars shine through, the only sound is the … read more

Maybe you’re planning a trip to Croatia to see the Instagram-worthy walls of Dubrovnik. Or to Portugal because everyone raves about its food and budget-destination status. Or perhaps to Peru to see Machu Pichu before limits are imposed on daily tourist visits. You’re … read more

Daylight is burning more hours and highlighting the new plant catalogs scattered across your desk. It is gray outside, with many months left to fill with drizzling precipitation, cold wind and storms. You cannot wait to get outside and grab a handful of … read more