What's Up With That?

Deven Boyce, 14, of Mukilteo on his cross-country bike ride. (Jon Boyce)

1,500 miles down, 1,500 to go on teen’s bike ride across U.S.

Deven Boyce, 14, of Mukilteo, is pedaling across America with his grandpa in tow — for a good cause.

Deven Boyce, 14, of Mukilteo on his cross-country bike ride. (Jon Boyce)
Joel Starr, owner of the Flying Pig, in the new restaurant space that was formerly the Prohibition Gastropub, Abbott's, on Thursday, June 24, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Flying Pig to reopen at eatery made famous by Gordon Ramsay

Belly up to the Everett bar for mango bango pulled pork sandwiches and bacon cheddar-cheese fries.

Joel Starr, owner of the Flying Pig, in the new restaurant space that was formerly the Prohibition Gastropub, Abbott's, on Thursday, June 24, 2021 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Max Djenohan climbed Alaska's Denali in early June to snowboard off the summit. (Submitted photo)

From steamy ‘Naked and Afraid’ to snowboarding down Denali

Max Djenohan spent the pandemic pursuing outdoor adventures, clothed and in the buff.

Max Djenohan climbed Alaska's Denali in early June to snowboard off the summit. (Submitted photo)
Taleah Burr (left right), Laurel Harrison, Caitlin Hitchner and Kelsey Jinneman-Fairbanks are four teachers at Challenger Elementary in Everett got Roman numeral '4' tattoos to represent their "Core 4" solidarity the day after their first year teaching in 2014.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Inked: Third-grade teachers tattoo their solidarity IV-ever

Most of their Challenger Elementary students don’t know about the hidden badge of teacher pride.

Taleah Burr (left right), Laurel Harrison, Caitlin Hitchner and Kelsey Jinneman-Fairbanks are four teachers at Challenger Elementary in Everett got Roman numeral '4' tattoos to represent their "Core 4" solidarity the day after their first year teaching in 2014.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Playful penguins (Pexels)

Get a room on Wednesday: It’s (supposedly) National Sex Day

The day of love, June 9, is back this year (on some calendars) for post-pandemic celebration.

Playful penguins (Pexels)
Jon Boyce, left, and his grandson Deven, 14, who will be completing 2 month long bike trip across the country, in their home surrounded by their supplies and planned route on Thursday, May 27, 2021 in Mukilteo, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

He’s 14 and pedaling across America — with Grandpa in tow

A Mukilteo teen’s “Light to Liberty” bicycle tour is a healing journey from sea to shining sea.

Jon Boyce, left, and his grandson Deven, 14, who will be completing 2 month long bike trip across the country, in their home surrounded by their supplies and planned route on Thursday, May 27, 2021 in Mukilteo, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tim Leonard, owner of the Machine Shop in Langley, has spent the pandemic making neon art. He, along with his daughter Sage Leonard, is setting up for an upcoming exhibit in April featuring about 50 pieces. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

A neon blast of bubbles, stars and diamonds light up Whidbey

The new exhibit at the Langley arcade is a selfie museum of electric art. Stick around and play pinball.

Tim Leonard, owner of the Machine Shop in Langley, has spent the pandemic making neon art. He, along with his daughter Sage Leonard, is setting up for an upcoming exhibit in April featuring about 50 pieces. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
David Stowell, 10, runs through his daily local weather report from his home on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 in Lake Stevens, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

10-year-old weather kid report: ‘Raining, like really raining’

The Lake Stevens fourth-grader on the autism spectrum does forecasts and a YouTube cartoon series.

David Stowell, 10, runs through his daily local weather report from his home on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 in Lake Stevens, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Standing on a new ramp to his home, Doug Waddell shakes hands with Dennis Taylor and Dan Barmon on April 15 in Sultan. Taylor and Barmon built the ramp for Waddell in exchange for two apple pies. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

What does two apple pies buy? A $3,500 wheelchair ramp

The kindness of two strangers, and a pie baker, helps Sultan amputee come home.

Standing on a new ramp to his home, Doug Waddell shakes hands with Dennis Taylor and Dan Barmon on April 15 in Sultan. Taylor and Barmon built the ramp for Waddell in exchange for two apple pies. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
THE CIRCLE Lisa in season 2 of THE CIRCLE. Cr. Netflix ©2021

Everett gal catfishes as Lance Bass on Netflix’s ‘The Circle’

Lisa Delcampo, longtime assistant to the NSYNC pop star, poses as her boss on the hit reality show.

THE CIRCLE Lisa in season 2 of THE CIRCLE. Cr. Netflix ©2021
Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Club president Zachary Nelson explains to a pair of students how the currency works while handing out free cryptocurrency at the University of Washington Bothell on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Crypto’s wild ride: It’s winning fans from here to Wall Street

Digital currency is worth trillions to traders betting on Dogecoin, Bitcoin and other blockchains.

Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Club president Zachary Nelson explains to a pair of students how the currency works while handing out free cryptocurrency at the University of Washington Bothell on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Eric Adler, the mystery man who is on Twitter as @EdmondsScanner (E. Wong)

Revealed: The mystery man behind the @EdmondsScanner tweets

He’s a 50-year-old mail carrier who dusted off his English degree to curate 6,000 tales on Twitter.

Eric Adler, the mystery man who is on Twitter as @EdmondsScanner (E. Wong)
Stanwood singer Savanna Woods, 26, is a contestant on "The Voice." (Alexandria Lane Photography)

Stanwood singer, 26, is living her dream on ‘The Voice’

Savanna Woods advances to the next round after Monday’s battle duet on the hit NBC show.

Stanwood singer Savanna Woods, 26, is a contestant on "The Voice." (Alexandria Lane Photography)
Leslie Davis (left) and her twin sister, Lyndsay Lamb, pose in the den of a house they remodeled in Snohomish, as seen on Unsellable Houses. (HGTV)
Leslie Davis (left) and her twin sister, Lyndsay Lamb, pose in the den of a house they remodeled in Snohomish, as seen on Unsellable Houses. (HGTV)
This longtime mural on a garage door in Mukilteo can be seen mainly from the Mukilteo Speedway overpass sidewalk. (David Welton/This is Whidbey)

This Yellow Brick Road leads to Ivar’s and the ‘Ferry of Oz’

The garage door mural hides in plain sight along Mukilteo Speedway. It’s been there a dozen years.

This longtime mural on a garage door in Mukilteo can be seen mainly from the Mukilteo Speedway overpass sidewalk. (David Welton/This is Whidbey)
About a dozen metal dinosaurs sit in the front yard of a home owned by Burt Mason and Mary Saltwick on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 in Freeland, Washington. The couple are used to finding strangers in their yard and taking photos. Every year on their trip to Tucson, Burt and Mary bring home another figure  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Dinos on Whidbey? This Freeland yard is a Jurassic Park

These creatures from long ago won’t chomp or chase you, and you’re welcome to visit.

About a dozen metal dinosaurs sit in the front yard of a home owned by Burt Mason and Mary Saltwick on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021 in Freeland, Washington. The couple are used to finding strangers in their yard and taking photos. Every year on their trip to Tucson, Burt and Mary bring home another figure  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Joe Hempel swims off of the shore of Seawall Park on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021 in Langley, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Scantily clad is the dress code for these cold rush swimmers

Immersed for 30 minutes in frigid water would kill most of us. It energizes these swimmers.

Joe Hempel swims off of the shore of Seawall Park on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021 in Langley, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Javier Del Valle and Haley Del Valle with their guinea pigs Luna and Molly on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2020 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

You’ve never seen anything like this couple’s guinea pig room

Bigfoot’s Guinea Pig Rescue in Everett is dedicated to finding homes for castoff cavy.

Javier Del Valle and Haley Del Valle with their guinea pigs Luna and Molly on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2020 in Everett, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Benson Boone of Monroe will be on "American Idol" on Feb. 14. (ABC/Christopher Willard)

Monroe singer Benson Boone wins ‘American Idol’ golden ticket

The 18-year-old charmed Katy Perry and the others on Sunday. Lionel Ritchie called him “Benson Ka-boom.”

Benson Boone of Monroe will be on "American Idol" on Feb. 14. (ABC/Christopher Willard)
Benson Boone of Monroe will be on "American Idol" on Feb. 14. (ABC/Christopher Willard)

Is Benson Boone, 18, of Monroe the next ‘American Idol’ star?

The new singer faces judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie on Sunday’s premiere on ABC.

Benson Boone of Monroe will be on "American Idol" on Feb. 14. (ABC/Christopher Willard)