07.25.2024

Today’s Forecast

🍸 Word

The history of the Last Word: a world-famous cocktail reborn in Seattle

Served chilled, the Last Word is an excellent drinking choice for a hot summer’s day. | Photo by SEAtoday Staff

Equal parts gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime — this is all you need for a Last Word, now a world-famous cocktail that was reborn right here in Seattle at Zig Zag Cafe.

While delicious (it was once described as perfectly balanced by Audrey Saunders, another world-famous bartender), this cocktail didn’t just put Seattle on the map. The Last Word also helped restart a public fascination with the art of cocktail making.

Why did we say “reborn?”

Cocktails have been in and out of fashion for centuries. The Last Word was originally created by a Vaudeville singer in 1920s Detroit, but didn’t stand the test of time — yet. The cocktail later appeared in a 1951 recipe book titled “Bottoms Up,” which is where bartending legend Murray Stenson found the recipe in 2003.

A Zig Zag employee at the time, Stenson was just looking for something to help the bar compete with another bar in Pioneer Square. However, despite his jokes about his discovery being a fluke, the drink spread like wildfire.

A friend tried the drink and was so impressed that he took the idea over to New York. Then word traveled to San Francisco, then London, and then the world — and, well, the rest is history.

Wanna try one for yourself?

Zig Zag Cafe is a fabulous place to start, but other bars like Tin Lizzie (which claims to use the very original specifications for the drink), Roquette, Le Coin, and Tavern Law are some great sources, too. It’s a classic, so feel free to order even if it’s not on the menu.

Events

Thursday, July 25

Botanical Printing at the Farm | Thursday, July 25 | 2-5 p.m. | 21 Acres Center, 13701 NE 171st St., Seattle | $35-$65 | Use some beautiful summer blooms to make an artwork you can enjoy all year long.
Ann Powers with Claire Dederer: “Traveling: On the Path of Joni Mitchell” | Thursday, July 25 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Seattle | Free | Ann Powers’ new biography offers a look at the music legend through her various encounters with Mitchell and interviews with her peers.
Queer AF | Thursday, July 25 | 8 p.m. | The Rendezvous, 2322 Second Ave., Seattle | $10 | This Portland-based comedy variety show has a sports theme for this particular show — touchdown.

Friday, July 26

Seattle Art Fair | Friday, July 26-Sunday, July 28 | Times vary | Lumen Field, 800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle | $35-$65 | Peruse works from 80+ galleries showcasing works from both local and global artists.
Back From the Dead Party and Silent Disco | Friday, July 26 | 9 p.m.-12:30 a.m. | W Seattle Hotel, 1112 Fourth Ave., Seattle | $15 | It doesn’t take brainnssssssss to figure out that a zombie-pool-party meets disco-event sounds like a deadly good time.

Saturday, July 27

Festal: Seattle Arab Festival | Saturday, July 27 + Sunday, July 28 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St., Seattle | Free | Sip on some smooth cups of coffee while checking out documentary screenings, henna, calligraphy, and live music.
Vegan Street Fair Seattle 2024 | Saturday, July 27 + Sunday, July 28 | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle | $0-$55 | A festival with 20+ vegan and vegan-friendly vendors sounds pretty tempeh-ting, doesn’t it?

Events calendar here

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News Notes

Civic

The US Environmental Protection Agency has awarded King County ~$50 million through its Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to reduce building emissions in the area. The money will be redistributed to support decarbonization projects for government buildings, multifamily complexes, and commercial spaces.

Maritime

Things are looking pretty locked up at the Ballard Locks. Recreational vessels may have to wait longer than usual to continue their journey due to falling water levels in the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Estimated wait times could be as long as an hour for these boats. (My Ballard)

Opening

Brew news — Fremont Brewing Co. is opening its new Urban Beer Garden in Columbia City on Friday, July 26. Much like its other space, the new taproom will be kid- and dog-friendly + feature Mammoth sandwiches. To celebrate its opening, the Urban Beer Garden will be pouring $1 pints all weekend. (Eater Seattle)

Environment

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has a new plan for helping out local salmon populations. The new system — which took the WDFW four years to complete — uses an algorithm to determine which projects to start with, maximizing public dollars invested in salmon and orca recovery. (Seattle Times)

Drink

Los Angeles-based pop-up company Zero Proofed is bringing its non-alcoholic parties to Seattle next month. Previously, the biz has hosted events like multi-floor Halloween parties + poolside mocktail parties. It’ll be starting on the Eastside with a launch party Saturday, Aug. 10 at Third Culture Coffee. Tickets are on sale. (Eater Seattle)

Coming Soon

In case you needed some more reading material, a new Barnes & Noble is coming to Bellevue Square. No opening date has been announced yet, but it will be taking up a space on the first level formerly occupied by Z Gallery. (Downtown Bellevue Network)

Sports

The Seahawks’ training camp has officially begun. Hear from the local experts about what to look for in both the offense and defense with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.

Drink Up

Grabbing a coffee or a post-work drink this week? Find a local drink deal and raise a glass to Drink Up Week, our annual celebration of our city’s buzzy beverage industry. Businesses around Seattle are offering fun deals — see what’s poppin’.

Home

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Edu

Stock it up

Help local teachers stock their classrooms with school supplies

Plastic dividers contain a variety of colored pens and finetip markers including greens, blues, oranges, pinks, and grays.

Hands-on activities, guided courses, and opportunities to explore interests are a great way to spend the summer months. | Photo by SEAtoday staff

The start of Seattle Public Schools’ 2024-2025 school year is a little over a month away and teachers are stocking their classrooms with supplies. In some cases, teachers use their personal finances to obtain the tools they need for their students to succeed.

We want to show our support for local educators by helping them cross items off their school supply wishlists. If you — or a teacher you know — has a wishlist, let us know for a chance to be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

If you’re a teacher and don’t have a wishlist but need help with school supplies, check out Donors Choose. This nonprofit connects teachers to donors for requested supplies and miscellaneous items like movie tickets, snacks, and sailing lessons.

The Buy

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More worth The Buy

Answered

I visit a local brewery...

Pike Brewing’s Pike Place Market taproom is covered in all sorts of brewing memorabilia.
|
Photo by SEAtoday Staff

Earlier this week, we were curious about how often you all found yourselves lurking around Seattle’s local breweries — and the results were pretty evenly split. Our results show 33% of our readers going weekly, 23% once a month, 23% never really going, and 19% only every once in awhile.

But you all also had some good recs for your favorite locally inspired brews. Check out Stoup Brewing’s Cap Hill Magic Hazy IPA or Hellbent’s Northwest Pilsner.

Find more sudsy recs

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Alina

From the editor

So, I think it’s safe to say I’ve officially kept a plant alive and well for the first time ever. It’s a very cute African violet my bonus mom gave me and it’s gone through several rounds of new blooms. So, that’s really been boosting my confidence. If you see me walking with an extra little pep in my step, that’s why (or because it’s Leo season).

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