ISSUE 47
C E L E B R AT I N G
VOLUME 49
47 YEARS
F R I D AY
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Holiday Special S E AT T L E ’ S L G B T Q I A + N E W S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T W E E K LY S I N C E 19 74
LOCAL BUSINESS GIFT GUIDE
SHOP LOCAL SMILE MORE
Photo courtesy of Dough Joy Donuts
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Holiday Special
Dough for the Holidays
Dough Joy’s guilt-free donuts make Seattle’s vegan nice list
X Sean Willis and Christopher Ballard – Photo courtesy of Dough Joy Donuts
by Kylin Brown SGN Contributing Writer When Sean Willis met Christopher Ballard on a brief trip to Seattle years ago, neither of them initially suspected they would someday jointly venture into veganism, let alone get engaged and launch a vegandonut food-truck business together. Nevertheless, Seattle is sure glad they did. Dough Joy Donuts is currently parked in Ballard — with occasional pop-ups across the city — and the truck has consistently sold out before closing since it launched in late May. Vegan at first sight Ballard says he accidentally began to phase out meat while cooking and going out to restaurants with already-vegetarian Willis, with dairy following shortly after. “I don’t really know when it happened, but at some point, I just went vegan, and we have been vegan ever since,” he said. “Now it’s really something that we bond over and share together — the excitement of finding new restaurants and food together.” Sharing that enjoyment with each other apparently wasn’t enough; the couple wanted to share it with others too. Ballard and Willis initially showcased their love of plant-based living by publishing a quarterly travel magazine called Outbound Herbivore. Now in its fifth issue, it aims to explore common questions people who are exploring plant-based lifestyles have along the way, according to Willis. “The name came from ‘out,’ because we’re out and proud, and then ‘outbound’ because it was originally about traveling and finding food,” said Ballard. “Unfortunately, shortly after we really took off with Outbound online, COVID started, so we weren’t really traveling all that much, mainly eating local.” Since then, the pair has helped host mini vegan markets, dinner pop-ups, and online events for Seattle eaters. “Then we really wanted to just build a community here,” said Willis. “Not necessarily just people who were vegan, but showing people that were curious about incorporating more plant-based foods into their diet that doing so could be easy, it could be fun, there are lots of options. And that’s kind of our philosophy about promoting vegan food.” Deep-fried dedication Given the growing local network of vegan-friendly business owners and plantbased food connoisseurs, the pair found themselves confronted with an opportunity to add their own product to the scene. They knew the needs in the market and the wishes of the vegan community well, and that one universal challenge for vegan menus persisted in Seattle: desserts.
Photo courtesy of Dough Joy Donuts
Vegan donut recipes the couple had tested at home became the basis of the Dough Joy menu, which features fun and seasonal flavor profiles, like the current pumpkin seed butter donut. The couple’s goals of highlighting veganism as trendy and worthwhile are well known to customers due to spunky design ideas from their team. Not only are their products decadent vegan treats, but they are totally Instagram-worthy (and where else can you find a vegan mango con chile donut?). Ballard and Willis’ involvement in Seattle’s plant-based dining community led them to seek out a food truck in early 2021. Passed on from one vegan venture to the next, Cycle Dogs’ truck was ready to work and available, and Dough Joy moved into a fixed location in Ballard this year. Coming soon to Capitol Hill In its nearly six months of selling out daily, DoughJoy has surely proven that
it’s enticed the community by its mission to “do donuts differently.” The handmade, fresh-daily products and top-notch service have paid off, as the business is now gathering the final permits to open on Capitol Hill next month, at the location of previously adored Old School Frozen Custard. Customers have themselves to thank for the new brick-and-mortar venue — the purchase was made possible entirely through a Kickstarter campaign this fall. Though launched just three short weeks ago, the campaign has officially secured its purchase as of November 15, with $41,124 raised from 445 backers. Ballard, originally from Wenatchee, expressed his love of Seattle and Capitol Hill for giving him and his new fiancé a home where they can continue to do what they love and be a part of a larger LGBTQ+ business community. “People misunderstand that having a larger concentration of vegan businesses
actually doesn’t hurt them; it helps them all. It brings a vegan identity to that place,” said Willis. “We’re really excited to be surrounded by other Queer-owned vegan businesses,” said Ballard. Dough Joy’s scheduled opening day at 1316 E. Pike is December 15, but Ballard and Willis say they are prepared for the possibility of delays due to ongoing national shortages. In the meantime, the pair looks forward to providing double their current production and bringing an innovative, Queer-owned, plantbased donut shop to Capitol Hill. Gift guide Bring Dough Joy to your loved ones this holiday season: A dozen fresh, colorful, seasonal doughnuts runs for $40, or a gift card for the new location could give someone a sweet December date idea. Learn more about Dough Joy at doughjoydonuts.com.
Photos courtesy of Dough Joy Donuts
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Holiday Special
Cute Crafts and Queer Vendors
Urban Craft Uprising’s Winter Show
Dark Days Tarot
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John Waters – Photo by Greg Gorman
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Citizen Ruth
Photos courtesy of Urban Craft Uprising
by Nick Rapp SGN Contributing Writer
Junebug and Darlin
Ida Loves Dresses
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As winter approaches, holiday music is gushing out of the speakers of every retail establishment in Seattle. Gifts are another story. Global supply chain shortages are messing with business-as-usual holiday shopping, and the nearer to December we get, the more dire the situation is expected to become. Many people are rushing to buy all their gifts early on Amazon, ensuring delivery before the inevitable chaos of the holiday season. But rushing to support the e-commerce monopoly may not be your only choice this year. One of the Northwest’s largest indie maker-event organizers, Urban Craft Uprising, has two major craft fairs coming in December. Independent crafter events focus on showcasing the best of local vendors’ products to build community and offer a more personable approach to buying gifts for others (or yourself!). Urban Craft Uprising’s Winter Show is its main event; it takes place December 4 and 5 in Seattle Center Exhibition Hall (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday). The event is free to attend, with an encouraged $1 donation upon entrance. The Winter Show will feature over 140 vendor booths selling all sorts of goods, including art, accessories, bags, bath & body items, candles, ceramics, clothing, food, and much more. It has grown since its 50-vendor beginnings in 2005 to become the largest indie craft event in the Pacific Northwest. While the pandemic threw a wrench into the possibility of independent craft events in 2020, this year, vendors are back and ready to sell unique crafts to crowds hoping for a more personable holiday season. Kristen Rask, president of Urban Craft Uprising, has much to say on the excitement brought by this year’s Winter Show. “Honestly, I am just so excited to connect fans and vendors together again. Small businesses have been hit hard in the pandemic, and I hope that this helps. Not only financially, but mentally, as it’s been hard for many vendors to be more active online. While some have thrived, many have struggled,” said Rask. She continued, “For me, clicking buttons and trying to think of special gifts for people online only was challenging to say the least. Our holiday last year felt very ‘meh,’ and it’s because we couldn’t shop with independent makers and artists… With supply chain
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issues this year, I feel like it’s the best way to shop — with makers and small businesses!” A crafter herself, Rask has been a part of Urban Craft Uprising since 2008. When asked about the organization’s growth since then, Rask responded, “When I started, we did one holiday show. Since then, we have grown a lot. We now do over 30 events a year” (in non-COVID times, she specified). These events include a summer show, one around Thanksgiving (“Gobble Up” in Portland and Seattle), a handmade gift show in January, and plenty of others. Rask explained that Urban Craft Uprising has “learned a lot since COVID,” and “will once again evolve in this new way of life.” Gift guide If you are looking to get advance access to the crafts at the Winter Show, Urban Craft Uprising is offering a “preview night,” from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the Friday before the show, December 3, to the first 1,000 fans who register online. These tickets are can be found at www.eventbrite.com/e/ucu-preview-night-2021-tickets-169392827507; make sure to buy early. Rask also offered up a list of some of the many Queer vendors selling their goods at the event. Citizen Ruth is “an ethics-forward company providing high-quality, intersectional feminist art, books, clothing, jewelry, and personal and home accessories.” Its focus is on creating empowering crafts and practicing what it preaches by compensating its employees with livable wages. Junebug & Darlin sells a range of beautiful floral cross-stitch crafts alongside witty, progressive phrases. It also gives customers the chance to craft themselves. From the website: “We sell cross-stitch kits that are 100% handmade and provide all of the supplies needed for people to create a finished cross-stitch from first stitch to frame.” Dark Days Tarot features unique decks of tarot cards, inspired by the lunar cycle and the artist’s own interest in “the moon, Earth, botanical world, animal kingdom, nudity and bodies, queerness, and psychology.” Ida Loves Dresses sells adorable children’s dresses, tees, and tote bags, “inspired (and sometimes co-designed)” by the artist’s own child. All vendor quotes were pulled from their respective websites. Read more about their crafts at: citizenruth.com; junebuganddarlin.com; www.darkdaystarot.com; and idalovesdresses.com.
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Holiday Special
Don we now our Gay apparel Shop Babeland this holiday season Together Vibrating Double – Photos courtesy of Babeland
John Waters – Photo by Greg Gorman
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Melt Clitoral Stimulator
Babeland on Capitol Hill – Photos by Lindsey Anderson Ball Stretcher Army
The Sam STP Packer
Touch and Glow Dildo
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by Lindsey Anderson SGN Contributing Writer The roots of patriarchy penetrate deeper than one could ever imagine. That is what Babeland founders Claire Cavanah and Rachel Venning realized after searching up and down Seattle for a well-lit and comfortable sex-toy shop. Even though sex toys are often necessary tools for AFAB (assigned female at birth) people seeking pleasure, the two found that the stores they explored continued to pander to the patriarchy and often gave off sleazy vibes. Taking matters into their own hands, they decided to erect their own business: Toys in Babeland. Centering the female experience and offering encouragement to women who wanted to explore their sexuality, their shop soon became a huge success. People from all over Seattle began patronizing it, encouraged by the gentle atmosphere and top-quality products. Two years after the store’s opening in 1993, Cavanah and Venning decided to expand Toys in Babeland’s reach with its very own mail-order catalog. A year later, they launched a website, and Babeland soon sent vibrations throughout the nation. In 1998, the pair moved to New York City, where they opened up another store, this one on the glamorous Lower East Side. Since then, they have opened two more stores, one in Brooklyn and the other in SoHo. The original Babeland still operates in Capitol Hill with a mission to “promote and celebrate sexual vitality by providing an honest, open, and fun environment [and] encouraging personal empowerment, community education, and support for a more passionate world.” Other ventures Meanwhile, Cavanah and Venning continue to take the world by storm. In 2003 they published the first-ever full-color guide to gear for satisfying sex, Sex Toys 101. In 2010 they published a second book, Moregasm, a female drive guide to “mindblowing” sex. In 2005 they officially celebrated the success of their stores by shortening the name to just Babeland, placing
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an emphasis on the word as a destination, a lifestyle, and a state of mind. The founders of Babeland acknowledge that sexual pleasure can only occur after all of one’s basic needs have first been met. With that in mind, they decided to launch their philanthropy project, “Come for a Cause.” It aims to create tangible social change on local, national, and global levels. Throughout the year, Babeland partners with different organizations to support the social change they hope to see in the world. Currently, Babeland is partnering with the Sex Down South conference, a group that provides sexuality workshops taught by professionals and centers around the sexual liberation of marginalized communities, especially the LGBTQ+ community. Babeland is also partnering with the Transgender Law Center, the largest national Trans-led organization, and the Act Blue List, which provides bail funds, mutual aid funds, and racial justice organizers in response to injustices against Black lives. Gift guide Santa won’t be the only one coming down the chimney this Christmas Eve thanks to Babeland’s great selection of toys for everyone on your naughty list. Gift recommendations include the Together Vibrating Double ($210), a shared couple’s vibrator designed to heighten intimacy by encouraging eye-to-eye contact. The Melt Clitoral Stimulator ($149) is a slim waterproof vibrator designed to fit perfectly between two bodies; it has 12 vibration modes and can connect with the WEVibe app so it can be used between partners anywhere. Ballbender Ball Stretcher Army ($35) is a two-in-one cock ring and ball stretcher that will blow minds with the size of your package. The Sam STP packer ($75) is the perfect packer, allowing you to stand to pee; it fits into any size boxer or brief. The Touch and Glow Dildo ($47) is made with lifelike silicone that feels like skin and is crafted to look true to life; it fits in any size strap and also comes with a strong suction cup — plus it glows in the dark!
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Holiday Special
The Mountain's Out this Winter Show your pride with Left of Rainier's progressive apparel
Henry Waymack – Photo courtesy of the artist
John Waters – Photo by Greg Gorman
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Rainbow Philadelphia Flag Lapel Pin – Photos courtesy of Left of Rainier
by Renee Raketty SGN Contributing Writer In 2018, Henry Waymack of Tacoma went looking for “get out the vote” apparel, but he didn’t quite find what he was looking for. Instead, he found items that had a significantly jaded view of political participation or produced by large, national nonprofits, and specific political campaigns. As a graphic designer and a Queer man of a Trans experience, he put his skill to use creating his ideal products. “The first items I designed were enamel ‘I Voted’ pins, one with an American Flag and the other with the Philadelphia Pride Flag, which had just debuted that summer in 2018,” Waymack recalled. “Since then, the designs have expanded to include a variety of progressive issues and items -- beyond apparel… I continue to design new products for Left of Rainier throughout the year.” He said two of the most popular designs are “Be Gay Do Crime,” white in a pink triangle, and the “Mountain is Out” designs. Both will now be available as patches “very soon,” available as iron-on and velco options, according to Waymack. “When people visit Left of Rainier (hosted on Etsy), I hope folx will find something fun and meaningful both for themselves or as gifts for their friends and loved ones,” he said. Waymack grew up in Seattle and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 2000. He moved to Tacoma that same fall to attend Pacific Lutheran University (PLU). By the time he graduated, he’d grown to really love the city and has called Tacoma his home ever since. Gift guide The Left of Rainier website offers a number of sales throughout the holiday season, including on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Left of Rainier can be found at LeftofRainier.com, leftofrainier.etsy.com or on social media @leftofrainer
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Vaccinated Pin Unicorn Edition
“Be Gay Do Crime” Enamel Pin
Nonbinary Pride Socks Racing Stripe Edition
Rainbow Mountain Shirt
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Holiday Special
Knock their Socks Off this Christmas The Sock Monster offers more than just stockings Photo courtesy of The Sock Monster
John Waters – Photo by Greg Gorman
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Vangrizzle
Photos courtesy of The Sock Monster
by Lindsey Anderson SGN Contributing Writer
Stranger
Flamingo Time slippers
Touch and Glow Dildo
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We’ve all been there: Christmas morning, all the greatest gifts under the tree — and then, amidst the sparkles and gadgets sits a pair of tube socks. Nobody wants them, and nobody wants to be the basic gift-giver who brought them. Yet they somehow show up, worse than coal. One Seattle business is reimagining socks, delivering the most unique, sturdy, and highly requested footwear in the country. In just a little over a decade, The Sock Monster has become the most renowned such gift shop in the Pacific Northwest. It’s now a Seattle staple, a must-see as important as Pike Place Market or the Space Needle. Visitors from near and far flock to the unique store to get a look at the largest selection of socks in Washington state. In its “sole,” the Sock Monster is a women-run and women-supported business. It was first opened in 2010 by Holly Gummelt, a Seattle woman looking to spread her love of color and creativity. Gummelt always wanted to support local artisans and provide quality and ethically sourced goods to her community. So for the last eleven years, the Sock Monster has provided a space for Seattlebased artists to showcase their work while also managing to only distribute products from factories that work hard to support fair-trade and sustainable practices. In 2019 Gummelt stepped down as owner, making way for long-time manager Kelly Tremaine to step in. Tremaine continued Gummelt’s goals of running an ethical and fair-trade business. From its first days, the Sock Monster has also always been a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people, and Tremaine and Gummelt have actively voiced their support and pride in the community through the store’s social media accounts. When asked what she recommends as the perfect gift for the holiday season, Tremaine couldn’t pick just one product. “Oh my gosh, there are so many things! We specialize in a million different socks!” she exclaimed. “We also offer organic wool socks, definitely something you don’t find every day.” Tremaine did offered a recommendation, though: “Darn Tough wool socks. They come with an unconditional lifetime guarantee.” While these socks tend to land on the more expensive side, they’re worth it when you realize you’ll never have to buy new ones again. “They change people’s lives,” Tremaine said. “If you ever get a hole in it, you can trade it in. They come in boot socks and ankle socks.” Sock Monster is so serious about these “life-changing” socks that they have dedi-
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cated a whole wall to them. For anyone into the outdoors, these are the perfect hiking, skiing, or just trudging-around-Seattle winter socks. Darn Tough socks also come in many different styles, including a Pride rainbow. Tremaine mentioned Oooh Yeah as one of her favorite brands. “They have all kinds of fun ones: rainbow unicorns, flamingos, cats, cows, you name it.” The brand features anything a shopper could be into, from celebrities like Bob Ross, TV shows like Stranger Things, and even a pair with grilled cheese on them! Oooh Yeah has also come out with a line of slippers called Oooh Geez, which are now available at the Sock Monster. Socks aren’t the only gifts you’ll find at the Sock Monster, though. “We’ve also got hats and scarves and leggings,” said Tremaine, “as well as enamel pins, stickers, and blind boxes.” If you want to go down in the holiday history books as the greatest gift giver in the family, take a trip to the Sock Monster. There’s something for everyone. Nobody will be complaining about finding these socks under the tree! Gift guide Darn Tough socks • Animal Haus women’s lightweight crew • Vangrizzle, men’s midweight book sock • Light Hiker, women’s micro lightweight crew with cushion • Prism, women’s crew with light cushion • Treeline, women’s micro crew with cushion • Prism, men’s light crew with cushion Oooh Yeah! socks • Into the Desert women’s crew • Stranger women’s crew/men’s crew • Grilled Cheez women’s crew/men’s crew • Them They women’s crew/men’s crew • Love Wins women’s/men’s crew For legs • Maggie’s Organics blackout leggings • Tabbisocks Starry Night by Van Gogh printed tights • Tabbisocks Jasmine by William Morris printed tights • Tabbisocks Bouquet Beauty Printed Tights • Pug Time slippers • Funky Unicorn slippers • Flamingo Time slippers • Monkey Around slippers Other • Good Luck: The Great Wave Off Kanagawa boxer briefs • Good Luck: Octopus boxer briefs
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Fantagraphics An old guard on the vanguard
Photo courtesy of Fantagraphics
John Waters – Photo by Greg Gorman
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Photos courtesy of Fantagraphics
by Daniel Lindsley SGN Contributing Writer In such a literary town as Seattle, the right book can be someone’s gift of the year. And with winter only just beginning around Christmas, a new book to curl up with is timely. But unless the giftee in question is already a comic book geek, it’s typical to default to fiction, poetry, or even self-help. The lineup at Fantagraphics, though, as its social media and events manager Lauren Peugh attests, will likely change that. Peugh spoke with me over Zoom from Fantagraphics’ Seattle office. Nestled between the tall, colorful bookshelves were posters, figurines, stickers, and cardboard cutouts — the many layers of decoration serving as a telling sign of the publisher’s rich past. Fantagraphics was founded in College Park, Maryland, in 1976, and after relocating a few times, in 1989, it settled down in the Maple Leaf neighborhood of Seattle. Peugh says the city’s strong arts scene and very literary residents has made it an ideal place for the headquarters. Since its founding, Fantagraphics has published more famous series and artists than could be listed here, so Peugh and I focused on what’s new. “I’ve always been more partial to the kinds of books Fantagraphics publishes, as opposed to superhero stories,” Peugh told me. “We tend to publish narratives more than superhero stories... They’re actually really accessible to people who don’t normally read comics.” At one time, Peugh was one of those people. She says she arrived at the hobby only recently, in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when as an avid reader, she was suddenly finding it hard to concentrate on traditional books. “I found graphic novels, for some reason, were the only thing that could hold my attention,” she said. “So... I would just scan the spines and look for the Fantagraphics logo and grab whatever I found, just like, ‘I don’t care what it is, I know I’ll enjoy it.’” Now she has been at Fantagraphics for a
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year. “It’s really fun seeing how the sausage is made,” she said, “and I love getting early access to great comics.” Fantagraphics usually connects with the Seattle community by hosting in-person events, notably a number of panels at the annual Emerald City Comic-Con (ECCC). Last year, like so many other organizations, it switched to hosting virtual events only. Peugh says Fantagraphics’ in-person presence at ECCC this year will be minimal, with only one artist panel planned so far, although it does plan to celebrate its Georgetown bookstore’s 15th anniversary in December. (The store is at 1201 S. Vale Street, at Airport Way S.) Aside from problems in the supply chain, though, its sales have only grown during the pandemic. Many of its employees work remotely, and its artists are all over the world, so adjusting wasn’t hard. But while Fantagraphics is global, Seattle is special because of its arts scene. Peugh said of Seattle, “There are so many creative, talented people, I’m constantly shocked by it.” Gift guide This year Fantagraphics is giving back with early discounts on the books in its holiday gift guide, which can be found on the website (www.fantagraphics.com). Here are some suggestions: Stone Fruit by Lee Lai: especially recommended by Peugh, described as a Queer narrative and “an ode to love and connection shared by three women and the child they all adore.” Queen of the Ring: Wrestling Drawings by Jaime Hernandez, by the artist who made the famed Love and Rockets series, celebrating the “often forgotten” women in pro wrestling. Red Room: The Antisocial Network by Ed Piskor: A gory series of “outlaw, cyberpunk” comics in which a dark web organization has begun to livestream murders. No One Else by R. Kikuo Johnson, a graphic novella “of tender truth” by the author of the critically acclaimed literary novel Night Fisher.
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425.467.8129
www.dpcatering.com
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