Open the pages of Eleanor Oliphant and prepare to be lost in a wonderful tale of an unconventional heroine whose charm and wit brings her on a remarkable journey to the universal realization that in order to survive, we must open our hearts—a true page turner!

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Frenchy's Day Spa has been a Madison Park staple for over 20 years. New owners Angela Rosen, Jennifer Hyde and Annie Gleason, who also own Penelope and the Beauty Bar, completed a full redesign making the boutique better than ever! City dwellers and Eastsiders alike continue to flock to what is arguably the best nail salon the city has to offer.

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Enjoy a cocktail party unlike any other! This year SAM's Party in the Park is a joy ride around the Olympic Sculpture Park with 18 incredibly rare and internationally renowned automobiles from private collections. Rally for SAM with art, music, food and drinks.

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My IT Pick for May is the new bookstore in Madison Park, Madison BKS! I am thrilled that we finally have this in our community again. My mother was the owner of Madison Park Books, which closed in 2005 (for those of you that did not live here then, it occupied the space where Key Bank is now). Not a day goes by that my mom does not think about her store… On Mother’s Day this year, after breakfast at Bings, we walked over to check out the new bookstore and had a lovely conversation and tour with the manager. Let’s all support our local store so that it continues to serve our community!

I love books that are “flashlight under the covers good”…and this is one of them! Based on the true story of Elizabeth Holmes the young, gifted, and blonde Stanford dropout who started Theranos. The collection of names that Holmes collected as investors and board members is astonishing, though weirdly eclectic. Her board included Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State George Shultz, and a smattering of former senators and other political bigwigs. This would be a great read over the holiday….

My It Pick for the month of June is Casablanca Floral, located in Seward Park. Using only the freshest botanical ingredients, the boutique floral design studio carefully considers the recipient, occasion, and space when sourcing and creating floral arrangements. The owner of the business is Maura Whalen and she is just lovely. I recently had the privilege of discussing gardening with her over coffee at the Starbucks in Madison Park! She traces her passion for flowers to her Italian grandmother in whose garden she used to play. If you are looking for an elegant flower arrangement for a special occasion, I highly recommend Casablanca Floral.

My “It Pick” for this month is the Vivian Rose Weaver Defeat DIPG Foundation, based out of Washington state. Committed to finding a cure for brainstem tumors known as diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), Katie and Simon Weaver established the foundation in honor of their 3-year-old daughter, Vivian Rose Weaver, who was diagnosed with DIPG in February 2018. They are thrilled to announce that a very generous anonymous supporter donated $1 millino recently to the fund and they are hoping to raise an additional $1 million by the end of the year. By raising awareness, and increasing funding for essential research, we can make a difference and save lives.

My “It Pick” for this month is local stylist, Michael Bruce, who I met at an event last year. I was so impressed by what he offers that I had to include him in my monthly newsletter! He is a great guy with a fun personality and a great sense of style and he helps you be a better YOU. Personal and professional style combine to create a brand; it is Michael Bruce Image Consulting's job to help define your brand identity.

My “It Pick” for this month is the thrilling book, "Red Notice: A Story of High Finance, Murder and One Man's Fight for Justice." I recently finished listening to the audiobook and couldn't put it down! I highly recommend reading (or listening to) this if you are looking for a fascinating exposé that is part business, part political memoir. You will not be disappointed.

My “It Pick” for this month is Earth + Wind + Fire Yoga, located in Madison Valley. I've been so inspired by the women who run this specialty yoga studio. Over a decade ago Jaime, Alice, and Madzy met and a true sisterhood was formed. Earth Wind Fire Yoga offers a wide variety of yoga styles. Drop in for a class soon and maybe I’ll see you there!

My “It Pick” for this month is a fantastic podcast from Forbes that discusses Cryptocurrency which is everywhere in the news. This podcast covers a nice mix of business, technology, beginner, and advanced topics. Whether you want to learn about the basics of blockchain technology or the implications of the latest hard fork, this podcast is an amazing resource. 

This month's IT PICK is the fabulous dog walking and dog sitting app, Wag!, which connects dog owners with dog lovers in their community. Hire trusted professionals for on-demand dog walking, dog sitting and dog boarding - 7 days a week! With live GPS tracking, you can see exactly where your furry friend is at all times.

While I was in Las Vegas attending the Sotheby's International Realty GNE, I learned of a new SIR partnership with New Story. This non-profit organization puts 100% of donations toward transforming dangerous living environments into communities of safe, sustainable homes - all for $6,000 per house. Not only do 100% of donations go directly to the field, but donors have the ability to see the exact family they are sponsoring. When the home is completed, they are delivered a move-in video to share in the excitement of this incredible effort.

I recently read an excellent book by Graham Moore, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of The Imitation Game, titled The Last Days of Night. The novel begins in 1888 and follows Thomas Edison & George Westinghouse, the two great inventors fighting to control the spread of electricity across the United States. For any history buffs out there, this is definitely a novel you want at the top of your list. You won't be able to put it down!

The statistics for the first quarter of 2017 are in — and more impressive than ever! Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates has excelled in bringing global awareness to real estate properties. Not only has the company surpassed the competition in the global realm, the website traffic reports prove that more people will see luxury listings when they are affiliated with our company. The statistics for SIR.com from the first quarter reached a staggering 7 million unique visits with over 30 million page views! When compared to previous reports, it’s clear the company’s continued growth and digital marketing efforts are making an impact.

Tom Skerritt, "Top Gun" star and founder of TheFilmSchool, recently announced his new endeavor: Heyou Media LLC. With a goal to elevate Seattle's film production reputation, "He and Heyou co-founders are hoping to build a business that make visual entertainment content in Seattle on modest budgets." I urge you to read his interview with The Puget Sound Business Journal on his startup's plans; he has quite a fascinating vision!

My "It Pick" for this month is the NPR podcast titled "How I Built This", which explores innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists and the stories behind the movements they built. Each episode is a narrative journey. Featured guests include Mark Cuban (serial entrepreneur), Sara Blakely (founder of Spanx), real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, and many more. 

My "It Pick" for this month is the 43rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival, taking place from May 18th-June 11th all throughout Seattle. As the largest and most highly-attended film festival in the country, more than 400 films from 80 countries are screened. There is certainly something for everyone, from an opening night red carpet experience to a full series pass, complete with priority seating. Become a member and get low prices on festival ticket packages before the general public! I cannot wait to check out some of these films. Which ones are you the most excited to see? 

Strideline was started by Jake and Riley in 2009 while they were in high school with their graduation money. They started out as Seatown Lax as they were lacrosse players and named it after the sport. After the Skyline designs took over, they changed their name to Strideline and can now be found in major retailers including Champs, Nordstrom, Lids, Macy's, and Costco, among others.

Perhaps many of you have taken advantage of the Town Hall Lecture Series, but it was new to me as of last year (the last to know perhaps!). I was introduced to this unique venue by my mother to listen to the famed New York Times columnist David Brooks as he had just published his latest book: The Road to Character. If you have not been there before, it is housed in a historic, beautifulbuilding on the corner of 8th & Seneca Street. There is also a little “pub” on the main floor to enjoy a glass of wine or coffee before or after a lecture. Prices are very affordable and the speakers are truly incredible. I have attached a link to the upcoming lecture series (sadly, Alec Baldwin’s is sold out already!). I hope that you might enjoy this special treasure in our community.

My IT pick for the month of January is a book that I read over the holiday…actually, I listened to it via Audible while I went on my walks. This was such a great, fun read. In the audio book version, it was fun because each character is narrated by a different person…so, you really get the feel for each character. The book reminded me of the book Gone Girl.  If you liked that, you will love this one!

My December "It" Pick is this precious gem, located right in the heart of Madison Park - Scoop Du Jour. The owners are a father and son team (Mr. Washington Junior & Senior!), who have owned and operated “Scoop” for over 32 years. Their storefront has undergone a huge transformation and is now painted a rich dark navy blue. Inside, one still finds ample seating and a TV for watching…cozy & comforting. When I asked what their best seller was, Mr. Washington Junior quickly replied “our Scoop Burger” followed by anything chocolate in the ice cream world (Vanilla Salted Caramel Fudge Brownie Swirl - are you kidding me!). So happy to have this treasured neighborhood eatery open for business again!

I love TED Talks. The company embraces the global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. This month listen to Sal Khan, a hedge fund analyst who believes that the education system should be focused on helping students master subjects, not just score highly on standardized tests. Listen to how Khan plans to take this complicated subject and turn struggling students into scholars by helping them master concepts at their own pace.

For October's "It" Pick, I decided to feature Peel Tech, a company that prides itself on providing in-house tech support without the technical difficulty. In an age that focuses so much on the latest technology, I very much appreciate this philosophy! Working on almost all platforms, devices and brands, Peel Tech offers concierge-style support for all of your personal, home and small business technology challenges. If you are looking for reliable tech support in the Seattle area, I would highly suggest this fabulous startup company! 

Professor Macmillan is an exceptional history writer: engaging, direct and interesting (sometimes even funny), but also a wide-ranging thinker who see and explains the vast sweep of history. Her knowledge of world history and her ability to explain it concisely and in a way that is so engaging to the reader is exceptional. So many of the decisions that were made during this time have had ripples that we are still dealing with today, and they are fully illustrated in her explanations of the various ethnic claims for land and self-rule; her ability to compare and contrast these claims is extraordinary. The bottom line is that this is truly a history book that is very hard to put down, and also one that can give one so much insight into the complicated issues that we are still dealing with in 2016.

In the fourth annual Disruptor 50 list, CNBC features private companies in 15 industries — from aerospace to financial services to cybersecurity to retail — whose innovations are revolutionizing the business landscape. These forward-thinking starts-ups have identified unexploited niches in the marketplace that have the potential to become billion-dollar businesses, and they rushed to fill them.

I recently learned about WeWork, a company that transforms buildings into beautiful, collaborative work spaces that encourage a co-working environment. With a network of over 40,000, it is easy for members to get inspired and thrive. I find this concept fascinating - membership is affordable (starting as low as $45/month) and offers a network of thousands of potential customers. 

I LOVE monograms! These days it’s hard for those of us that do still adore this beautiful traditional look to find anywhere to purchase something custom made. Enter Walker Valentine (out of San Francisco). This company monograms everything from linen dinner napkins to tote bags.

If you have podcasts or are on iTunes, simply steer your browser over to a Bloomberg Podcast called “Masters In Business” with Barry Ritholtz. In the January 29th episode, they interview Jonathan Miller of Miller Samuel, Inc., a real estate appraisal and accounting firm. They discuss high end home sales in NYC and the Hamptons, critique the Case-Schiller Index and have some other insights that I think you might find fascinating.

My "IT" pick for the month of March is the Blood & Sand cocktail at Bing's on East Madison. A killer combination of scotch, cherry heering, sweet vermouth & orange, this libation is the perfect spring refreshment. Be still my heart!

Meet Georgia and Panda, the wagging welcome wagon at the Madison Park Starbucks. 

What’s old is now new, as eye-catching period elements meet today’s designs.

For the first time in history, 2016’s Pantone color flawlessly fuses two select shades. 

What’s old is now new, as eye-catching period elements meet today’s designs.

Frenchy’s Day Spa “IT” color for May. A modest light blue that feels like spring.

Our Sotheby’s Global Networking Event with owners, Dean & Stacy Jones and my fun colleagues!

Maple frosting & bacon together on a doughy bar; salty meets sweet at the Madison Park Bakery!

Love the annual parade, picnic & sidewalk sale… July 8th-11th!

The new Madison Park location for Realogics Sotheby’s Int’l Realty is coming along nicely. 

He’s been the wine buyer for over 40 years & is my go-to guy when I need advice on a great cabernet.

My favorite spot on a balmy June evening is a sidewalk table at Cactus with Margarita in hand!