Saturday afternoon, Top Pot's 5th Ave location filled up as people arrived to watch their 3rd Annual Doughnut Eating Contest, sponsored by Light in the Attic Records and KEXP. Here are pics (and a grainy video) from the event, which was won once again by the intimidatingly-named Billy the Fridge (9 doughnuts in 5 minutes). more ›

• The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce asks what livability is and receives several thoughtful responses. We'd settle for a coffee and donut place on every corner. (h/t to Hugeasscity.)
• Rainier Valley Post has a hot tip about "close-your-eyes-and-sigh" good Eritrean cuisine on Rainier Avenue.
• The Capitol Record posted blow-by-blow reports on the Senate and House budget meetings today. Grim reading, but very informative.

Paczki are Polish donuts. Bomboloni in Italy, Berliner in Germany, Krapfen in Austria (and Sicily, of all places). And in the Midwest, they're the food of Mardi Gras, a time to raid the larder and get rid of all things sugary and delicious. (Mo Rocca filed this report on the phenomenon last year for CBS.) Pronounced poonch-key, they come in plain, raspberry, and cream-filled. Metropolitan Markets, the chain of six local grocery stores, is baking them in-house this month and selling them for about $1.50 apiece. more ›

It's 100 percent free to be thrilled about the inauguration of our new executive leader. Joy isn't the only freebie today, however. (What? There's more?!) Krispy Kreme will give you one free donut today in honor of the occasion, and a bunch of department stores such as Nordstrom and Macys are giving away free cosmetics and beauty products starting today and continuing until supplies last. Though fitting to the savvy celeb now residing in the White House (we're speaking, naturally, of Michelle Obama), the beauty giveaway is actually in response to a lawsuit accusing the department stores of price fixing on their cosmetics. That kind of two-faced cheating is simply not going to be tolerated under the Obama administration. Get your free stuff before the country runs out of donuts and concealer! more ›

Yes, you read that correctly. Donut! Eating! Competition! Are your artery walls closing in yet? Don't worry, because all calories from the donut consumption on Saturday will be null-and-voided by the blast of hiphoppy surfer punk rock played live by The Saturday Knights while you cram your mouth full of cakey, frosted goodness at the downtown Top Pot on (appropriately) Saturday. Last year, Bob of The Blakes won; this year, our money's on a very special someone named Billy The Fridge. more ›

Seattlest was in Vancouver this weekend, and, on a whim, made our first foray into a Tim Hortons. We'd heard good things -- "the apex of Canadian cuisine," for example -- and as lifelong doughnut fans we were happy to test that claim. more ›

The local deliciousness that is Top Pot Doughnuts has opened a new neighborhood location. Queen Anne has been blessed (truly) with the fourth installation of the local doughnut and coffee shop. The new location had its grand opening this week, with hopes to create a whole new neighborhood of Feather Boa addicts. more ›