How to Seattle<\/h2>\n
How are we feeling, Seattle? It seems like the warm days of summer are but a distant memory \u2014 and that might be affecting our mood. In this area, where the sun sets as early as 4 p.m. during the winter, residents can suffer from seasonal affective disorder, a form of depression caused by reduced daylight.<\/p>\n
Luckily for us, brighter days are ahead \u2014 literally. Seattle will finally have sunsets after 5 p.m. starting this week. But there are also other ways to find joy in your everyday life \u2014 and in community, to boot. Here are a few.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Romance on the rink<\/h2>\n
Many of us might lean into a cozy night in by bingeing a TV show \u2014 and nothing has drawn a more viral following lately than \u201cHeated Rivalry<\/a>,\u201d Canadian platform Crave\u2019s gay hockey romance adaptation, streaming in the U.S. on HBO Max.<\/p>\n Local Seattle venues acted quickly to fill fans\u2019 need for ways to collectively fawn over the yearning, angst-filled love story between two fictional professional hockey players. Neumos<\/a> is hosting “Heated Rivalry”-themed raves Thursday<\/span> and Friday, while Club 90s is holding a “Heated Rivalry” night<\/a> Feb. 21 at The Showbox. And Southgate Roller Rink<\/a> dedicated the theme of one of its recent weekly Pride Skates to the show.\u00a0<\/p>\n The day of the \u201cHeated Rivalry\u201d skate at Southgate, the line to get in stretched out the door and almost to the street. Many patrons wore \u201cHollanov\u201d hockey jerseys \u2014 a combination of the two main characters\u2019 names \u2014 and one person wore a \u201cWelcome to the cottage\u201d shirt, referencing a popular scene from the show.\u00a0<\/p>\n Emily O\u2019Mahony, who lives on Capitol Hill and stood in line with her wife and a friend, heard about the skate as the news quickly spread among their social circles.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, in the beginning, I was like, what are they all talking about? Why is everyone talking about this hockey show?\u201d O\u2019Mahony said. \u201cThen I watched it. I like being a part of something bigger than myself, seeing something that everyone else is watching. It’s heartwarming. I like gay media when they’re yearning, and coming out is always very heartwarming. It\u2019s nice to see that it’s mainstream.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin Rhoads, who has owned Southgate for the past 14 years and was in the disc jockey booth the night of the skate, saw the buzz around the show and decided it would make a perfect theme for the night. \u201cWe thought, what a fun theme, especially when it’s on skates. We are on wheels, they’re on blades, but thought it’d be a really fun thing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s been a positive thing that’s going on right now, when I think we all need some positivity,\u201d Rhoads added. \u201c We all need to laugh, we need to cry, we need to feel connected.\u201d<\/p>\n Inside, hundreds of people popped on skates and took a turn around the rink as a projector showed scenes from the show on the back wall. Music pounded through speakers and colorful lights reflected off a central disco ball. Members of the Seattle Torrent\u2019s merch team were also on-site, selling jerseys, stickers and more gear. Each time an emcee called to the crowd over the speakers, a collective cheer went up from a group brought together by their obsession over a hockey love story.<\/p>\n \u201cThere’s something that’s so freeing about just being on roller skates,\u201d Rhoads said. \u201cSkating to music, you really have a chance to give yourself a break and just be in the moment. And I think being present is so important these days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n For information on future themed skate nights, visit southgaterollerrink.com<\/a> or @southgaterollerrink<\/a> on Instagram.\u00a0<\/p>\n For other Seattleites, nothing brings more joy than a pint-size, furry companion. Resilient Hearts Animal Sanctuary<\/a> in Fremont puts an adorable spin on yoga classes: Anywhere from eight to 10 puppies join students for a session of (slightly chaotic) movement. The sanctuary coordinates the puppies\u2019 placement in foster homes, and bringing them to the Fremont location for classes \u2014 led by professional yoga instructors \u2014 helps the puppies expend their energy and socialize with each other.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s very beginner friendly, and it’s kind of \u2018choose your own adventure,\u2019 \u201d said Kira Morin, programs and events coordinator at Resilient Hearts. \u201cIf you choose to sit on a mat and hold a puppy the entire time, we love it. \u2026 Sometimes the puppies crawl on to you while you’re laying down or in funny positions and decide that you are now their bed.\u201d<\/p>\n The sanctuary holds several puppy yoga classes a month, based on when it can get enough puppies together at one time. Despite only announcing classes a few days ahead of time, Morin said the 15 spots per class usually fill up within 24 hours of being posted. Classes operate on a pay-what-you-can model, with a suggested donation of $35, which will help cover the facility\u2019s rent.\u00a0<\/p>\n Morin stressed the pay-what-you-can model is a way for the sanctuary to demonstrate its core value of serving its community and remaining accessible. Now having hosted successful classes for several years, the sanctuary has helped solidify its place as a supportive hub for both pets and people.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s this relationship that kind of develops by giving to our community that we love to honor. Things are hard and stressful (for the community). Puppies bring so much joy and love, and that is the reason why people get into rescue work \u2014 you love animals, and you love the service and the joy that the animals bring into human lives.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n For more information about Resilient Hearts Animal Sanctuary and upcoming puppy yoga classes, visit resilientheartsanimalsanctuary.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nNot your typical yoga class<\/h2>\n