Huzzah- summer has finally arrived! Thus, this week's Food Frenzy includes what we consider the summer essentials: ice cream, leisurely farms days and gin. more ›

Tipster Steve was just reminding us--look at that, it's like a Vermeer up there--that the tulips are in. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is on through April 30, and there are a variety of ways to get there from Seattle, including your car and motorcoach. Says the Bellingham Herald of spring: "The fields are spread out over a 15-mile radius and events are scattered around the entire county. Activities include art shows, cruises and wildlife tours, farms and nurseries, local foods and products, museums and wineries." Now where'd we put our sabots? more ›

This weekend, Mount Vernon police pulled over and arrested a Skagit Valley man for his 14th DUI. Our only question--why does this guy still have his license? We're not big on removing judicial discretion from sentencing, but it would seem to this Seattlest that the DUI is one conviction where "three strikes and you're out" should apply. Three DUIs, and say goodbye to your license. Instead, since this is the man's fourth DUI arrest in under ten years, he can be charged with a felony; this seems only to punish him, rather than to protect other drivers he may come into crashing contact with when drunk behind the wheel next time around. more ›