Andrea Brown

Grandpa Buzz smiles while he crosses the street and greets people along the way as he walks to Cascade View Elementary on Sept. 30, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘Everybody wants a Grandpa Buzz’

Buzz Upton, 88, drives 40 minutes from Stanwood to spread joy and walk kids to school in Snohomish.

 

Pop star Benson Boone comes home to Monroe High School

Boone, 23, proves you can take the star out of Monroe — but you can’t take Monroe out of the star.

 

The Methow Valley in North Central Washington draws visitors year-round for hiking, rafting, skiing and fly-fishing.

Twisp with a twist: Road-tripping to Washington’s Methow Valley

Welcome to Twisp, the mountain town that puts “fun, funky and friendly” on the map.

 

A truck passes by the shoe tree along Machias Road on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Murder on Machias Road? Not quite.

The Shoe Tree may look rough, but this oddball icon still has plenty of sole.

A truck passes by the shoe tree along Machias Road on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The 140 seat Merc Playhouse, once home of the Twisp Mercantile, hosts theater, music, lectures and other productions throughout the year in Twisp. (Sue Misao)

Twisp with a twist: Road-tripping to the Methow Valley

Welcome to Twisp, the mountain town that puts “fun, funky and friendly” on the map.

The 140 seat Merc Playhouse, once home of the Twisp Mercantile, hosts theater, music, lectures and other productions throughout the year in Twisp. (Sue Misao)
Eisley Lewis, 9, demonstrates a basic stitch with her lavender sewing machine on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Everett fourth grader stitches summer boredom into business

Rice bags, tote bags and entrepreneurial grit made Eisley Lewis, 9, proud of herself and $400.

Eisley Lewis, 9, demonstrates a basic stitch with her lavender sewing machine on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jake Graham holds a photograph of his mother Poppy Graham on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

RIP Poppy: Lake Stevens renter finds missing ashes in garage

Thanks to the power of social media, Jake Graham was reunited with his mom after 15 years.

Jake Graham holds a photograph of his mother Poppy Graham on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Annzolee Olsen with her chair, from Houseboat, and card table from a Robert Redford movie on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Hollywood’s hottest giveaway is at The Herald on Thursday

From TV hunks to silver screen queens, snag your favorites for free at the pop-up.

Annzolee Olsen with her chair, from Houseboat, and card table from a Robert Redford movie on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Free celeb photos! Dig into The Herald’s Hollywood time capsule

John Wayne, Travolta, Golden Girls and hundreds more B&W glossies are up for grabs at August pop-up.

What’s Up columnist Andrea Brown with a selection of black and white glossy promotional photos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Burgers, brews and blues: Madison Avenue Pub has it all

Enjoy half-price burgers on Tuesday, prime rib specials and live music at the Everett mainstay.

Bar manager Faith Britton pours a beer for a customer at the Madison Avenue Pub in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Pop some tags at Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley

$20 buys an outfit, a unicycle — or a little Macklemore magic. Sales support the food bank.

A woman flips through a book at the Good Cheer Thrift Store in Langley. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

‘Homer Hedge’: A Simpsons meme takes root in Everett — D’oh!

Homer has been lurking in the bushes on West Mukilteo Boulevard since 2023. Stop by for a selfie.

The Mukilteo Boulevard Homer on Monday, May 12, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mary Ann Karber, 101, spins the wheel during Wheel of Forunte at Washington Oakes on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Lunch and Wheel of Fortune with some Everett swinging seniors

She’s 101 and he’s 76. At Washington Oakes, fun and friendship are on the menu.

Mary Ann Karber, 101, spins the wheel during Wheel of Forunte at Washington Oakes on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Don Sharrett talks John Wrice through his trimming technique on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Don Sharrett talks John Wrice through his trimming technique on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Flamingos fill the inside of Marty Vale’s art car. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Lynnwood’s party car: Hot pink Corolla is 125,000-mile marvel

Marty Vale’s ’91 Toyota has 301 pink flamingos and a Barbie party on the roof.

Flamingos fill the inside of Marty Vale’s art car. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Christopher Bragg outside of the Everett YMCA on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Dude, where’s your pants? These guys wear shorts in winter

Here’s the long story short on bare-legged men. “Are you cold or are you just hardy?”

Christopher Bragg outside of the Everett YMCA on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett P. Fog, 15, in front of an Everett mural along Colby Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Hello, Everett! No escape when your name is same as the town

Everett P. Fog, 15, sees and hears his first name wherever he goes. His middle name is also epic.

Everett P. Fog, 15, in front of an Everett mural along Colby Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Jared Meads takes a breath after dunking in an ice bath in his back yard while his son Fallen, 5, reads off the water temperature on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Chill out: Dive into the cold plunge craze

Plungers say they get mental clarity and relief for ails in icy water in tubs, troughs and clubs.

Jared Meads takes a breath after dunking in an ice bath in his back yard while his son Fallen, 5, reads off the water temperature on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Andrea Brown is back. ‘What’s Up With That?’

The column by Andrea Brown will run monthly in the Herald.

A person walks past Laura Haddad’s “Cloud” sculpture before boarding a Link car on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 in SeaTac, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Riding the rails to the end of the line: An almost true story

Hop aboard for a rollicking roundtrip from Lynnwood to Angle Lake.

A person walks past Laura Haddad’s “Cloud” sculpture before boarding a Link car on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 in SeaTac, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)