In Newsstands: Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

Seattle Metropolitan finally launched today.

I could not wait to get my paws on the Premiere Issue (from the same publishers of Portland Monthly) so I drove around for a while this morning looking for it--to no avail--until I called the magazine and asked where oh where were the precious.

"Whole Foods (Ravenna and Bellevue) and QFC later this afternoon". So I drove to Whole Foods in Ravenna and found a fresh batch right as I came into the store.

I've been browsing and reading my copy since noon and so far I like what I see.

I especially enjoyed the story on artisanal cheesemaker Rhonda Gothberg who is making goat cheese in Skagit Valley, an article on pairing wine and rabbit stew, a feature on Veil in Queen Anne and for the ballet patron in me (have you subscribed  yet?), a fabulous article on Pacific Northwest Ballet and the amazing Peter Boal (pity the soul who has missed the season so far).

Then there is, of course, the cover story: 65 Best Ways To Love Our City which should have actually been titled 100 Things to Love About Seattle (at least!).

Memo to Seattle Metropolitan: You guys just got here. It is not your city just yet. You'll have to wow us on a monthly basis to earn the privilege.

Just one thing: Top Pot Doughnuts downtown location (in my very own corner of the city) is at 2124 5th Avenue, not 4th Avenue. :-)

Hopefully soon, for us downtowners, it will be available at First & Pike News and Elliot Bay Book Co.

Where to find (now):

Albertson's
Barnes & Noble
Bartells
B. Dalton Books
Borders Books & Music
Fred Meyer
Long's Drugs
PCC
PDX Airport newsstands
Powell’s
QFC
Ralph's
Red Apple Markets
Rite Aid
Roth's IGA
Safeway
SeaTac Airport
Target
Thriftway
Thrifty Foods
Tower Books
Tully's Coffee
University Bookstore
Whole Foods
W. H. Smith

To subscribe click here

Comments

[Katie]

Hi Viv. Thanks for pointing out this new magazine. I just bought and read most of the premier issue. I enjoyed that it is, indeed, substantial, covering a wide range of topics. Hope they continue that.

I hope they will not do the "best of Seattle" blurbs every issue as it comes off a bit tourist-booky. And, the fashion section was, in some parts, a tad frumpy (p. 93 n.reagan-alike...).

I like that they did not pander at the doors of starbucks and microsoft - ultimate Seattle (ok, redmond) cliches. I'd love to see them continue to dig up finds in neighborhoods, and report stories from around town in new ways.

The overall tone of ra-ra Seattle comes across at times upbeat, and at other times almost apologetic. I believe they will grow beyond this as the team and publication mature.

I look forward to their future issues!

[Artdish]

Read these comment about the magazine:

http://www.artdish.com/ubbcgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3&t=000150

[TLA]

Glad to see they reviewed a couple of my favorite restaurants and hit it right on the money! Ethan Stowell at Union is amazing and as they said "can even make cardboard taste good!" The guy is seriously a genuis. And pastry chef Dana Bickford over at Eva....her desserts are so good "they'll make your toes curl!"

[steph]

I picked up the issue last night at S&J News on Broadway. I flipped through it quickly (had to watch Gilmore Girls) and really liked it. I agree with Balasubramani that it was just more substantial than Seattle Mag. I don't buy Seattle mag every month...but I'll subscribe to Seattle Metropolitan mag.

Thanks Viv for letting us know about it & thanks fo adding me (messy muse) to your blog roll! Vanessa (entre nous)& I are both thrilled!

Steph! I am glad you liked it! And by the way, as with everything else getting procrastinated with my crazy work/social schedule and such I realized silly me had not updated the blogroll in ages and you two were missing! Long overdue! Hugs! V

PS:
10:00 PM
Project Runway
212 - Finale - Part 1

[Rebecca]

This is a great magazine! I went to the launch party on Saturday and WOW! Tom Douglas outdid himself on the catering and even said he was having a grand time. Gotta love how Seattle celebrates!

[Balasubramani]

I was equally skeptical. But a friend of mine left the issue at my house, and leafing through it I found it much much more substantive than the other Seattle magazine.

There was just more to it.

[jamie]

WOW...I expect you to be so much more discriminating. I can't believe you weren't bothered by the tragically bad food photography, in fact, the bad photography and design in general. I wouldn't recommend a subscription to anyone.

Hi Jamie! I was bothered by the fact that they said a city icon such as Top Pot is on 4th Avenue when it is so easy to fact check their address just by going to Top Pot's website. Their "Last Look" on page 160 (the cartoon!) I could not stomach.

But...I'm glad there is an alternative to Seattle Magazine (which I've subscribed to since moving to Washington). I enjoy choice.

Besides, it is after all a Portland based publisher (even with Katherine Koberg and various other Seattle Weekly alum on board) and this is only their first issue.

I look forward to see what they've got (they are offering a money back guarantee on their subscription). I'm going to give them a chance and have already emailed them with a couple ideas and comments.

Perhaps you should do the same? :-)

All the best to you, V

[marielle]

Yeah!!! So, so happy that you're posting again. This looks like a good read, thanks to you I just subscribed :)