Written by Whitney Popa
Ah, the icky part of autumn in the Pacific Northwest, when the sun sets by 5 p.m., the rain arrives, and the grey never leaves. It’s when our annual Seasonal Affective Disorder kicks in, we remember to take our Vitamin D pills, and we spend a lot more time curled under blankets.
In Edmonds, all of this is much easier to stomach. Why? Because it’s a Hallmark town, and in a Hallmark town, you can find joy and whimsy, Big Dark or nah. Keep reading to learn about seven ways to romanticize The Big Dark in Edmonds. We invite you to come as many times as you need to survive the season!
And if you want a quick scroll of options available to you, check out the Instagram post that inspired this piece here.
1. Romanticize Walks
Edmonds is such a beautiful city to stroll. Whether you’re walking through downtown (grab a cinnamon roll and chai tea latte from The Red Twig Bakery & Cafe—trust) or by the water (stop by the beachside window at CommonGrounds), there are lots of mostly flat areas to get your steps in. You could even walk several laps around Civic Field to get to 10k steps relatively quickly! And if you want to kill two birds, as it were, come over on a Saturday when one of the holiday markets is popped up around 5th & Bell, mosey through to find the perfect gifts, and then head down the hill to watch the ferries come and go. Sure, we’re biased, but few experiences sound dreamier to us.
2. Dress Up
It’s easy to sink into the sofa donning a full sweatsuit, and we promise there is plenty of time for that this season. You can get super creative with layers this time of year, so hit up the racks at Anchor Chic Consignment, Little Bipsy, Pear Tree Consignment, Podium, Rebekah’s, and more to rock fun ‘fits while staying warm and cozy. Plus, did you know we have one of the chicest Goodwills in the area? If you’re a thrifter, don’t blow past it on your way into downtown. No one is more main character than you are.
3. Catch a Live Show
‘Tis the season for indoor music, and Edmonds is full of places to experience it this season! Musicology Co. holds Saturday Sessions; Bar Americano has open mic nights (as do Engel’s and Salish Sea Brewing). And if you haven’t been to Elsom Cellars yet, this Perrinville gem really knows how to wine and dine you. Plus, they have live music often, too.
If you’re coming to town in more of the Christmas spirit, check out our rundown of all the holiday-specific shows here.
4. Decorate Your Home
One of the beauties of The Big Dark is how well it lends itself to candlelight. As far as we’re concerned, you can never have too many candles going at once, especially when your overhead lights are dimmed. Find candles at many of our downtown shops (Common Formme, HouseWares, FIELD, The Paper Feather) and at the Edmonds Holiday Market, which runs most Saturdays throughout November and December. We have a bunch of maker markets this season—find them all here.
5. Take a Class
We wrote a whole ode to taking a class in Edmonds recently, and the options are truly endless. Read (and bookmark) it here. We also have it on good authority that Musicology Co. is planning to offer more DJ classes, some of them women-only. How cool is that! Whether you want to learn how to paint, make jewelry, craft your own cards, nurture your spiritual side, or master your next meal, Edmonds will give you lots of reasons to get out of the house and learn something new.
6. Hang with Friends
Since it’s so perfectly situated between Seattle and Everett, Edmonds lends itself to being the perfect meeting place for friends. As you’ve gleaned, there’s always something going on, and it’s a stunning city to hang in, even (and especially?) when a ferry is running behind schedule. Ask your people to meet you for a stroll through Yost Park and drive straight down the hill for a coffee at Walnut afterward. Hit up happy hour at Charcoal, Kelnero, Leftcraft, Salt & Iron, or Vinbero. Introduce them to Chino-Latino fare at Bar Dojo. Put on your finery and attend the ballet (it’s Nutcracker season!). Or walk onto the ferry, stroll around Kingston, and ride back for the epitome of a PNW day. Whatever you choose, we know it’s going to be great.
7. Read More Books
Hibernation season = books, but you do have to procure them, so why not support independent bookstores while you do? The Edmonds Bookshop is a staple in the community, and they are always happy to help with recommendations. If you’re wanting something spiritual, plan a few laps around East West right off of 3rd Avenue South. And don’t forget—Edmonds hosts a monthly silent book club at Leftcraft! Introverts, your time has arrived.
See? The Big Dark Doesn’t Have To Be So Bad
Edmonds was built to combat The Big Dark, so please don’t hesitate to come over as much as you need to. We invite you to romanticize this time of the year with us.
We just know you’re going to love our moody waterfront walks, cozy coffee shops, vintage movie nights, live music, creative workshops, candlelit cocktails, and little shops filled with treasures. All the ingredients for a main character winter are right here, after all.
Consider this your permission slip to wear the dramatic coat, order the seasonal latte, take the long way home, make plans with friends, and find a little magic in the mundane.
The Big Dark doesn’t have to mean staying home until April. We’ll see you in Edmonds.
And don’t forget to tag us while you’re here! We’re @exploreedmondswa on Instagram and Facebook.