Category: Seattle, Washington Local News

Drag Race isn’t Drag Race without Snatch Game.

Designed to test queens’ improv comedy skills through celebrity impersonation, Snatch Game has generated some of the show’s most memorable moments. We’ve had Snatch Game every year since Season 2 plus All Stars and the international adaptations of the show. It doesn’t carry the same weight that it once did. Some viewers have even gone as far as to call for the challenge to be retired.

Over the years, queens have found creative ways to push the limits of Snatch Game—impersonating the judges, past Drag Race queens, or male celebrities (taboo until Kennedy Davenport won as Little Richard in Season 7). New contestants are running out of celebrities to do for Snatch Game, unless they want to repeat one, which can be risky.

So how do you find fresh energy in the 79th iteration of this challenge? Fictional characters are out-of-bounds for copyright reasons. Some recent queens have resorted to “made-up” characters, bending the “celebrity impersonation” requirement, (which Myki Meeks called “avoiding the challenge.” Debates on Instagram ensued). In Season 18, both the producers and queens went to great lengths to snatch our attention this time around.

“Just Do Something Greek”

Drag Race producers have created new “flavors” of Snatch Game to keep it interesting. We usually see these versions in All Stars seasons, but Season 18 brought us “Snatch Game of Love Island” featuring friendly hotties Zane Phillips, Froy Gutierrez, and Chris Renfro.

The queens reacted to the Love Island twist with a healthy dose of trepidation. Many thought their prepared characters wouldn’t translate well to the new format and decided to pivot.

Athena originally planned to do “Charlie Chaplin breaking his silence and coming out as a homosexual,” but RuPaul dismissed it as too meta (boo). “Now, I know you have Greek heritage,” she counseled, leading Athena to cobble together a MILF based loosely on Greek heiress Tina Onassis Niarchos (first wife to Aristotle Onassis, who ultimately married Jackie O). RuPaul clearly has no qualms about made-up characters. She’s just here to laugh. And she loves ethnic stereotypes.

Athena’s Greek cougar and Darlene’s horny Mrs. Claus were entertaining, but didn’t give us much beyond what we’ve already seen from them. As Bloody Mary, Mia gave us virtually nothing at all besides a bad case of secondhand embarrassment. “I’m shitting myself,” she said of her performance. At least she’s not delusional.

Discord also went down the concept-as-character route. “I’m not doing any specific Pope, but just the idea of a Pope,” she explained. Her version of the Pope as a lisping old queen showed us another facet of her talent, and her “Christ Almighty” yoga pose had me howling. Discord was rated as safe, to her disappointment, and mine. She should’ve been in the top.

 

 

 

The Horniest Snatch Game Ever

The rest of the queens impersonated actual celebrities for Snatch Game. Emerging superpower Myki Meeks did a brilliant rendition of Drew Barrymore, outshining most of her castmates (as well as Season 14’s Willow Pill, who did Drew too. That Snatch Game was so bad that RuPaul put everyone but DeJa Skye in the bottom).

Myki had the voice, mannerisms, and references down to a T, and made everyone laugh—a technically perfect Snatch Game.

Nini went for a randy version of Sir David Attenborough. The physical transformation was impressive and the jokes were there. Hearing our favorite British naturalist talk about his lost-to-time documentary, My Anaconda Do, was so funny that the other queens had trouble staying in character.

Kenya gave us her day job, impersonating Lizzo for Snatch Game. She looked like Lizzo, she moved like Lizzo, but at the end of the day it was Kenya telling dick jokes. “It was not that good,” she admitted. No drag delusion here, either.

Juicy panicked when the twist was announced, agonizing over her character options with Jane in the werkroom. Her image has shifted from drag prodigy to kid sister that everyone has been mothering through the competition. “I don’t have time to ghostwrite jokes for you anymore,” Jane asserted. It’s every queen for herself.

As Jojo Siwa, Juicy reminded us that she could dance, but that was about it. Judge Carson Kressley said of it, “I didn’t Siwa she was doing with her Jojo.” Thanks, Uncle Carson. Juicy landed in the bottom three.

With her nimble wit and encyclopedic knowledge of gay culture, Jane Don’t was a favorite for this Snatch Game. She pulled out a never-seen-before (a rarity) celebrity impersonation of American novelist and homosexual icon, Truman Capote. Her mid-century mannerisms and horny quips had RuPaul cackling, earning her a top placement for the week.

A Child Left Behind

After Snatch Game, Darlene opened up about feeling constantly out of place growing up in the Midwest. “[I was] made fun of for being gay before I even knew what that was,” she shared. I wanted to reach through the screen and give her a big bonecrushing Midwestern hug.

Mia was in remarkably good spirits despite her abysmal Snatch Game performance, acknowledging her shortcomings with a wink and a grin. “Listen,” she explained to the other queens, “I grew up in the Florida educational system.”

“A child was left behind,” Jane said gravely, drawing laughs from Mia and everyone else. Honestly, a queen that can stare down the barrel of being eliminated from a reality television show and treat it like being eliminated from a reality television show is a breath of fresh air.

80s Ladies (ft. Brooke Shields)

The queens brought more celebrity impersonations to the mainstage as “80s Ladies.” We love a runway that speaks to the main challenge.

We got Joan Collins from Athena, Dolly Parton from Darlene, and Olivia Newton John from Myki. Discord shapeshifted into Reba McEntire while Jane pulled out a gorgeous dragged-up version of Kate Pearson of The B-52s. Nini’s Cyndi Lauper was a perfect foil to her dirty David Attenborough, earning her a second win.

 

 

 

Among the bottom three queens, Juicy’s Celia Cruz was by far the best. Mia went for a costumey version of Prince (“80s Lady-Adjacent”). And Kenya… Kenya must have run out of clothes. “Somehow, you de-dragged Chaka Khan,” Michelle Visage said of her basic look. Ouch, gurl.

Guest judge Brooke Shields was a treat, giving effortless glamour and charm on the mainstage. Her legendary career as an actress and model was unknown to some of the cast. “Who is Brooke Shields?” Juicy asked. “We literally named eyebrows after her!” Jane chastised.

When introducing the judges, RuPaul playfully asked them each about their first kiss, with Michelle Visage and Carson Kressley offering the usual lol-bait gay drivel. But Brooke Shields kept it real. “I was 11 and he was 28, I believe,” she answered coolly. “I was filming Pretty Baby. That was technically my first kiss.”

Her response was glossed over with a corny sound effect and awkward chuckles from the other judges. But Shields’ powerful admission highlighted the culture of misogyny and child exploitation that still haunts us. (The 2023 documentary film Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields is a timely watch.)

But, I digress: back to Drag Race. Juicy was declared safe, leaving Kenya and Mia to lip-sync-for-their-lives. While “Head Over Heels” by the Go Gos was a perfect song choice for the night, this one was weird.

The lip-sync felt uncharacteristically low-energy, unsurprising given the marathon that is RuPaul’s Drag Race. The edit focused on Mia, which made me think she would be saved. However, on closer inspection, the cuts distracted from Kenya dropping her words! After multiple warnings from the judges, I thought this was the final nail for her.

Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Kenya Pleaser–but her being saved yet again after another sloppy lip-sync was a strange choice. The Miami Alliance lost its first queen, with Mia Starr sashaying away. Pour one out for a real one, y’all.

Next week, we’ll be back with another perennial Drag Race challenge: The Rusical.

MONDAY 2/23  

12th Annual Black & Brew Imperial Stout Festival

(FOOD & DRINK) The Black & Brew Imperial Stout Festival is back for a 12th year, and final pours are coming up fast. Running through Tuesday the 24th, the beloved stout fest returns with a tightly curated lineup of 15 rich, dark, and decadent imperial stouts from some of the best producers around the country. We’re talkin’ big flavors, cozy vibes, and plenty of reasons to linger over a pint… or three. Grab a lover, a friend, or dare I say, a rival, and prepare to get bold and brave on the beer spectrum! (Watershed Pub & Kitchen, 11 am—11 pm, 21+) LANGSTON THOMAS

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TUESDAY 2/24  

Twin Peaks Day at Scarecrow

(TV/FILM) Diane, 11:30am, February 24th. Entering the town of Twin Peaks. Oh, we know these words well. They started something and they cemented this gloomy sliver of the world a place where the owls are not what they seem and where that gum you like is going to come back in style. If you are thirsting for some damn fine coffee (the fish was not in the percolator this time) or a sweet treat, head on down to Scarecrow Video. They’ll be supplying donuts and coffee that would make Special Agent Cooper smile. Plus, if anyone’s going to bring the eerie surrealism it will be the fine folks of Scarecrow—a video store still thriving in the year 2026. While you’re there, why not check out the first season? Maybe even Fire Walk With Me? Take it home and make your living room the Black Lodge, you freak. Also, you should celebrate. It’s only the second Twin Peaks Day since David Lynch died. He’d want you to feel existential dread today. (Scarecrow Video, 11 am—8 pm, free, all ages) NATHALIE GRAHAM

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WEDNESDAY 2/25  

clipping.

(MUSIC) clipping. have let it be known that they spend a lot of time thinking about what space sounds like, but it’s their creative process that may capture the idea best: Aside from a few notable exceptions, they use no samples, no presets—they make every sound from scratch. In short, they create in a vacuum. Space also permeates their lyrics and concepts. Octavia Butler and Samuel R. Delany pop up in verses; they have entire albums billed as Afrofuturist space operas. But it’s important to remember the three humanoids amidst the sci-fi poetry: vocalist Daveed Diggs (whom you may remember as ol’ Tommie Jefferson in the original cast of Hamilton), and producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes. Hutson and Snipes graft jagged power electronics to the cyberpunk quilt, bold and discordant by design, while Diggs pens horrorcore anthems that he unleashes breathlessly. The result is like a cleaner, more theatrical Death Grips—both of which are equally beautiful and terrifying. Tonight’s show opener, Open Mike Eagle, is also not to be missed. (Showbox, 8 pm, all ages) TODD HAMM

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THURSDAY 2/26  

Dorothy Roberts

(BOOKS) During Black History Month, Dorothy Roberts’s debut memoir The Mixed Marriage Project feels especially resonant. Best known for her landmark work Killing the Black Body, Roberts turns inward in her latest release, examining her upbringing in a Black/white interracial family in ’60s Chicago and the unfinished research project on interracial marriage that shaped her parents’ lives (and her own identity). Hosted at Elliott Bay Book Company, expect a packed house as Roberts dives into this sharp reflection on love, race, and family, and all the ways Black History Month invites us to reconsider how history exists inside our own homes. (Elliott Bay Book Company, 7 pm, free with RSVP, all ages) LANGSTON THOMAS

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FRIDAY 2/27  

Babylon Death Party

(PARTY) The intimate Rabbit Box Theatre will host this evening of witchcraft, led by the psychic, medium, and ceremonial artist Mugga Rose (formerly KOOK Teflon), who recently returned to Seattle. Shamanic arts throat singer Soriah will cultivate otherworldly vibrations, followed by an occult performance by storyteller and psychic Doña Macabra. Meagan Angus, Hannah Haddix, and Gabriela of All Gates Within will impart stories and spoken word, Mugga Rose will read from her book, and Jessica Henry and CURRĄŊ will curate a market full of “unique, peculiar, one-of-a-kind creations” from artists. The night is also in part a tribute to the late “fire-tongued, spell-bright, never forgotten” witch Jaguar Bullet. (Rabbit Box Theatre, 7–10 pm, all ages) JULIANNE BELL

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SATURDAY 2/28  

2026 HUMP! Film Festival

Look, HUMP! is always good. You already know that this indie porn festival is nothing like the 5-minute clips you watch while bathed in the cold, blue, loveless light of your laptop. They’re creative and silly and usually feel like a friend is sharing their new, naked, art project with you. But if the trailer for this year is any indication, this year’s spring lineup isn’t one to miss. It has stop-motion praying mantises, pottery, a sexy Bop It, and the Starfish Sex Beetle. One person managed to weave in sanitation workers and labor solidarity into their submission. Another clearly knows what it’s like to bomb on stage as a standup comedian, and used the power of porn to reimagine it. This festival only happens twice a year, and it’s never the same. Don’t miss this one. (On the Boards, 6:30 pm, 21+) HANNAH MURPHY WINTER

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SUNDAY 3/1  

säje

(MUSIC) The jazz-vocal quartet säje (rhymes with “beige”), took home two Grammys between 2023 and 2025. They consist of Sara Gazarek, Seattle native and graduate of Roosevelt High’s mighty jazz program; Amanda Taylor, also of our fair city; Johnaye Kendrick, a San Diego native who moved north to teach at Cornish College of the Arts; and Erin Bentlage, who came out from Vermont to teach in Los Angeles. They blend jazz, soul, blues, pop, folk, and Gazarek’s ever-evolving experimental edge, into an elaborate mix emphasizing complex chords and braided vocal parts. They solve problems neatly, too—stuck without a recording studio during the pandemic, they rented an Airbnb and dragged their own gear into it. That’s how they clocked their first Grammy. Excelsior! (Jazz Alley, 7:30 and 9:30 pm, all ages) ANDREW HAMLIN

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After Mexican forces killed Nemesio “El Mencho” Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, the longtime head of the ultraviolent Jalisco New Generation Cartel, violence erupted across Jalisco, grounding flights and leaving American vacationers stranded mid-winter break in Puerto Vallarta, with some hotels urging guests not to even attempt the airport. A Seattle traveler, Colleen EchoHawk, said her family could see smoke from their resort and is now doing that uniquely 2026 thing: calm, informed panic while refreshing flight alerts. The US Embassy is advising Americans to shelter in place and avoid law-enforcement activity as airlines cautiously reschedule. It’s the same grim pattern on repeat: a high-profile cartel takedown, a nationwide retaliation wave, and civilians stuck in the fallout. 

And now, as mandated by the 24-hour news cycle, the Trump portion of our programming.

Tariff Talk: After the Supreme Court ruled that his sweeping tariffs were an overreach, Donald Trump claims he can now deploy tariffs in a “more powerful and obnoxious way” (his words). The catch: no one, from the UK to the EU, is totally sure whether the new global tariff he’s asserting is 10 percent or 15 percent, which is not ideal if you enjoy functioning supply chains. While Trump’s team insists existing deals remain in place, European officials are demanding “clarity” and hinting at hitting pause on ratification. Meanwhile, US Customs is deactivating some tariff codes and up to $175 billion in past tariff revenue could be subject to refunds.

President Trump is reportedly weighing a “targeted” strike on Iran, with the option to escalate to a much larger attack aimed at regime change, if last-ditch nuclear talks in Geneva collapse. As two US carrier groups amass in the region (because nothing says diplomacy like parking an armada offshore), negotiators are scrambling over a possible off-ramp that would allow limited uranium enrichment for medical use. If this feels like Iraq War déjà vu with better wifi, that’s because once again the “pressure campaign” risks becoming a forever war no one voted for.

On the eve of his State of the Union address, a new NPR/PBS/Marist poll says most Americans are not exactly feeling the “strong nation” vibes: 57 percent say the union is not strong, and 60 percent think the country is worse off than a year ago. A majority also say Trump is steering things in a “change for the worse” direction, and more than half report his policies have negatively affected them personally. Meanwhile, 78 percent see a serious threat to democracy, and 68 percent say checks and balances aren’t working. The partisan split remains stark, but independents are increasingly skeptical, making this State of the Union feel like a live attempt at political CPR.

Well, color me not shocked: an analysis by The Guardian of nearly 140,000 DHS records found that 77 percent of people put into deportation proceedings for the first time in 2025 had no criminal convictions. Of the 23 percent who did, nearly half of those were for nonviolent traffic or immigration offenses, with just 1 percent involving sexual assault and less than 1 percent homicide. The data, which was dragged into daylight via a FOIA lawsuit, confirms what anyone with functioning eyeballs (or a pulse) already suspected: this isn’t precision-level crackdown on violent crime, it’s a Costco-sized dragnet scooping up longtime community members over paperwork glitches and busted taillights. The supposed “public safety threat” looks less like a cartel kingpin and more like the neighbor who forgets to renew his tabs on time and still waves when you bring in the trash cans.

The BAFTA used its two-hour delay to cut “Free Palestine” and a spicy political joke from Alan Cumming, but somehow let an involuntary slur shouted from the audience air while Sinners actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting. The blunder overshadowed a bigger story: after years of #BaftasSoWhite backlash, reforms appear to be working, with wins for Wunmi Mosaku and Ryan Coogler signaling real change. Even more chaotic-good, Robert Aramayo beat out Leonardo DiCaprio for best actor, apparently forcing voters to actually watch the nominees can produce plot twists. 

A 21-year-old North Carolina man, identified as Austin Tucker Martin, was shot and killed by Secret Service agents after breaching the perimeter of Mar-a-Lago with a shotgun and gas can; authorities say he raised the weapon after being ordered to drop it. President Donald Trump was in Washington at the time, and no agents were injured. Neighbors back in North Carolina described Martin as quiet and kind, a recent high school grad who’d been reported missing hours earlier, adding a layer of heartbreak and confusion to an already surreal scene at America’s most securitized country club. Investigators are now working to determine a motive.

While the Northeast faces a blizzard, Western Washington is entering its “atmospheric rinse cycle” era, with storm systems lined up to deliver rain, gusty winds, and a whole lot of mountain snow through next week. A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Cascades until 1 p.m. Monday, with 6-12 inches expected at the passes (hi, Snoqualmie), and potentially several feet in the mountains by week’s end—so maybe don’t test your bald tires’ main character energy. Lower elevations can expect 1-3 inches of rain, dropping snow levels, and that classic Seattle forecast: “unsettled,” aka keep the parka emotionally and physically accessible.

Washington gas prices have shot up nearly 50 cents in a month, averaging around $4.29 a gallon, making us the third-most expensive state after California and Hawaii. The big culprit is the seasonal switch to pricier summer-blend fuel, plus refinery maintenance and global oil drama (hi, geopolitical tension), which means the West Coast gets hit first and hardest. In short: about half what you’re paying is crude oil, the rest is refining, distribution, taxes, and vibes—and the vibes are saying “maybe take public transit.”

A 41-year-old man is being held on $2 million bail at King County Jail after a judge found probable cause to investigate a second-degree murder charge in connection with a fatal shooting in Capitol Hill. According to SPD, the shooting followed a fight Friday night in Seattle, where one man had a gun and the other a box cutter; the victim was shot multiple times and died at the scene. Prosecutors expect a felony case referral this week as the investigation continues.

The United States Coast Guard has suspended its search for a 21-year-old kayaker who went missing after his boat overturned on Friday near Hazel Point. He wasn’t wearing a life jacket, and despite a massive, multi-agency effort covering 43 square miles, including helicopter and boat crews, search teams were unable to locate him. It’s a heartbreaking reminder that our waters are no joke: beautiful, yes; forgiving, absolutely not. So please, wear the life jacket, even if it clashes with the hoodie.

As a partial shutdown over Department of Homeland Security funding lurches along, protesters in Bellevue and Tacoma rallied in the rain this weekend demanding “ICE Out” of their cities. Meanwhile, even as some DHS workers are furloughed or unpaid, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests and deportation flights continue, with removals still departing near Boeing Field. Translation: the shutdown may pause paychecks, but it hasn’t paused enforcement—so the streets, like the deportation machine, remain fully operational.

Shutdown chaos also hit Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Sunday, when travelers were told TSA PreCheck was suspended, only to have TSA reverse itself an hour later after staff had already scrambled to change signage. PreCheck is back, but Global Entry remains offline thanks to the ongoing funding fight at the Department of Homeland Security. So yes, keep your shoes on, but if you’re flying international, please enjoy this live demonstration of a superpower held together with Post-it notes and vibes.

It’s Black History Month, it’s W.E.B. Du Bois’s birthday, and honestly? If there were ever a day to spend three minutes with one of the most brilliant, side-eye-ready, ahead-of-his-time scholars, “agitators,” and intellectuals to ever do it, this is it: 

 

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Council member Rob Saka was joined by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson for the grand reopening of the Hiawatha Community Center after a six year closure on Feb. 21, 2026.

Photo by Patrick Robinson

 

On February 21, 2026, the Hiawatha Community Center in West Seattle celebrated its grand reopening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking the end of a nearly six-year closure. The event signaled the completion of a comprehensive $7.5 million modernization project that transformed the historic facility into a model for urban sustainability.

A Historic Legacy Restored

Originally constructed between 1910 and 1911, Hiawatha is Seattle’s oldest community center. Designed by the prominent firm Bebb & Gould, the center and its surrounding playfield were a key part of the 1908 Olmsted Brothers Supplemental Plan.

 

 

Doug Luetjen, President of the Friends of Seattle’s Olmsted Parks, noted during the ceremony that Hiawatha was the first designed child-oriented playfield and community center in the United States, representing a significant piece of national history.

The center has long served as a vital hub for youth programs and athletics due to its proximity to West Seattle High School. However, by the early 2000s, assessments indicated that the aging landmark required significant long-term investment.

Extent of the Modernization

The extensive renovation, which began as a structural stabilization project, evolved into a full-scale renewal. The scope of the work included:

• Full Structural Stabilization: Addressing years of deferred maintenance to secure the 115-year-old building.
• Seismic and Safety Upgrades: Implementing structural reinforcements and modernizing safety systems.
• Complete Electrification: Hiawatha is now Seattle’s first fully electrified community center, having completely eliminated fossil-fuel systems.
• Interior Refurbishment: The project refreshed interior spaces, updated activity rooms, and reopened the tot gym.

The project’s $7.5 million cost was driven in part by the additional infrastructure required for full electrification. The nearly six-year timeline was attributed to pandemic-related shutdowns, delays in federal grant funding, and the expanded project scope.

 

 

 

 

 

Community Impact and Voices

 

 

Speakers at the event emphasized that the center is more than just a building. Mayor Katie Wilson described the facility as “the connective tissue of neighborhoods across Seattle,” adding that “the oldest community center in Seattle now leads the way into our clean energy future”. She characterized the project as an investment in “belonging as infrastructure”.

 

 

Council Member Rob Saka acknowledged the void left by the center’s long absence, stating, “When Hiawatha closed, West Seattle felt it. Families felt it. Seniors felt it. And kids felt it”. He celebrated the reopening by declaring that the “heart” of the neighborhood “is beating stronger yet again”.

 

 

The Interim Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation Michelle Finnegan apologized for the “prolonged closure” but expressed gratitude for the community’s “extraordinary patience,” noting that the upgrades ensure the facility will provide services for a “long, long time”.

Next Steps

Following the grand reopening, the center will operate with limited hours from February 23 to March 6, before returning to full daily operations on March 9, 2026. Expanded programming is expected to launch by Summer 2026.

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Passport is our extended library of captivating dramas, inspiring arts performances, thoughtful documentaries, trusted news and more. Donate to support public media in your local community and enjoy the member benefit of Passport.

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