The Best of Washington Wine: 100 best wines selected by wine expert Sean Sullivan, 10 top winery experiences, and quite likely the best vintage we’ve ever had. Plus, 3BA might be the next big thing in professional basketball: full-court, three-on-three hoops played at breakneck speed. But the action of the game can’t compete with the off-the-court legal drama; and our Fall Arts Preview, a sampler of outstanding selections from the coming cultural season, from soup to nuts.

Fascinated by the Seattle food world? Welcome to a feast of sumptuous edibles and rising culinary stars. Plus: Hospital emergency rooms like Highline Medical Center are gambling on state-of-the-art services and a commitment to customer service to attract patients, and Top Doctors 2010. This year, our annual roster of 423 outstanding physicians in 87 specialties places special emphasis on primary care.

100 inspiring, edible, creative, moving, surprising things that make us proud to call Seattle the best place on the planet. Plus: How The Seattle Times broke the story of a lifetime, investigated a killer, and rescued itself from irrelevance; a profile of Justice Richard Sanders, the state Supreme Court’s maverick libertarian, who champions unpopular causes, offends powerful people, and fights hard when his ethics come under question; and our list of 1,933 top lawyers in 54 areas of practice.

Lucky us: We live near some of the best hiking and mountain biking trails in the Pacific Northwest. Want to break a sweat? Take a stroll before lunch? There’s a trail for that. Plus: A Kirkland homeowner discovers the joys of living artfully.

Loving where you live is just as important as loving what you live in. Here are Seattle Met’s picks for the Emerald City’s 15 must-live neighborhoods right now, plus vital stats on the people, property, and parks in 116 communities. Also: Seattle’s “Millennium Bomber” endured years of interrogations. He spilled al Qaeda’s secrets and helped convict other terrorists. And then he refused to say more, even when threatened with life in prison. Ten years after he was captured, the nation’s courts are still struggling over what to do with Ahmed Ressam.

No need for excuses. Here are five regional reasons to load the trunk, get behind the wheel, and put rubber to asphalt. Plus, new, ultrarelaxed mixing and matching brings fresh air to warm-weather style.

We’ve got a pizza renaissance in progress, and the town is bubbling with amazing pies. So we studied up on crusts and toppings, sorted pies by category, pitted them against each other, and anointed our favorites. Plus: Fishermen and oyster growers suspect the ocean may be harmful to their business, and an obsessive’s guide to the Sounders.

Love and lust, Seattle-style: 150 years of pioneering romance, marriage, and scandal. Plus, the spring arts calendar fills up with artists who are breaking new ground, our 2010 list of top dentists, and tips from leading dental professionals help keep a smile on your face.

Better body, better brain, better you: 68 healthy, stress-free, fun ways to make 2010 your best year yet. Plus, alpine racer Scott Macartney had high hopes for the 2010 Games in Vancouver. He nearly died in one of the worst crashes in World Cup history. But now he’s set to compete again.

The world knows we’re a movie-loving city, but Seattle has a criminally unheralded history as a movie making city, too. Here are the films that defined Seattle’s cinematic persona, from Tugboat Annie to Sleepless in Seattle. Plus, the true story of how Seattle made The Stunt Man. Also: For the Cle Elum Seven, the road to heaven is paved with bananas. And in Seattle, seniors and their families face abundant new options for places to live and varieties of care.

When the weekend rolls around, it seems there’s nothing to do—or too much to do. That’s where we come in. We’ve planned out a year’s worth of memorable days —urban explorations, out-of-bounds adventures, and relaxed, cultural happenings of the very Seattle kind. Plus: On the 10th anniversary of the WTO conference, the people most closely involved tell what really happened. And, Beat the Traffic!. How to save time, money—and get where you’re going on foot, by car, bike, train, or bus.

There are few cities where naming the best restaurants is tougher than in Seattle. But take our word and our belt size for it—we researched thoroughly to find the top 10, then 30 more that offer unmatched experiences, and dozens more that we couldn’t bear not to mention. Read it…and eat. Plus: Cliff Mass and Brad Colman have clashed for years over who best predicts and communicates the mysteries of Northwest weather. Then one of the biggest snowstorms in decades revealed what’s really at stake. Want to update your skills? Need a new hobby? Here’s your guide to 25 of the best, most sought-after adult education classes and programs around. And check out Fall’s hottest fashions: This season, fashion travels light years, from the ’40s to the future.

The grapes are grown east of the mountains, but some of the best wine excursions are close at hand. Plus: Experts name 106 top Northwest wines under $50, the story behind the most sophisticated bank robbery in recent Washington State history, and a primer to the cultural season’s best bets in theater, art, music, books, and dance.

In the Ultimate Northwest Beach Guide, we highlight 15 great spots to splash, paddle, hike, and hunt for treasure in the sand. Top Doctors 2009 features 347 outstanding physicians in 80 specialties and the story of a doctor who went into general practice to help people and now just wishes someone would do the same for the health care system. Plus, learn 20 ways to stop worrying and thrive in the recession with our Meltdown Survival Handbook.

Take an international tour of Seattle to experience the best taco joint, sushi bar, Bollywood theater, Italian pizza, tae kwon do, Russian spa, French cleaner, nail salon, Korean cooking class, Polish film festival, Swedish furniture, and more—much more. Plus: A singing teenager from Federal Way channels the voice of Johnny Cash. And that’s the problem. Can he make it as a star in his own right? And in a rundown Tukwila refugee apartment complex a new world city is taking shape, and one teenage girl is at the center of it.

We select the 13 yummy, juicy, downright awesome burgers that will change your life—or at least induce a moment of culinary ecstasy. Plus, resident experts on five nearby islands dish on how to make the most of your next island sojourn; and modular prefab cabins meet Northwest aesthetics.

Our Smart Drinker’s Guide to Seattle tells you where to go, who to know, and what to get: Here’s the lowdown on the city’s 25 best bars right now, and there’s a whole new deal at happy hour. Plus: A profile of crusading cat lovers wanting to make the city safe for strays—and make feral cats safe for the city; and an all-inclusive, all-natural, all-over guide to destressing, detoxifying, and retuning in the midst of a downturn, whether you crave a quick grooming fix or a sound investment in relief and relaxation.

Buy? Sell? Or hold on for dear life? We present true tales of Seattle real estate and expert advice to help you navigate the new rules of homeownership. Also: Seattle Sounders FC’s controversial marching band, hiking through a rainforest, how to eat nettles, and what the current economic climate’s doing to ordinary friendships.

Seattle Met researchers compiled data on chocolates, iconic desserts, cupcakes, a pastry chef smackdown, and one erotic bakery—with delicious results. Plus: a life-cycle home in Greenlake that changes to fit its owners’ changing needs; and a tribal princess leads the Duwamish in its latest battle to prove to the U.S. government that it exists.

East of the lake, fancy new developments and diverse populations are giving the suburbs a distinct air of urban sophistication. Should Seattle worry? Plus, a portrait of a developer with a civic soul, and discover new ways to eat, shop, and play on the Eastside. Don’t miss our Quotable Spring Arts Preview, which spotlights the season’s attractions, with a little input from the stars and the folks behind the scenes.

What to do with the most important 48 hours of the week in the best region on the planet? The answers are all here, 52 destinations—enough to cover every weekend of the year. Next we profile Frank Chopp, who has done it his way as Speaker of the House in the Washington Legislature for the past 10 years. Now his fellow Democrats are asking whether Chopp’s way is the right way. Plus: Indecent appraisals at WaMu, top dentists, winter fashions, and a visit with photographer Annie Liebovitz.

A tribute to the rock guitarists, jazz stylists, banjo-picking folkies, smooth crooners, world-class cellists, avant-garde innovators, and one didgeridoo pioneer who’ve made Seattle one of the best music cities in the country. Kyla Fairchild finds a home for the roots-music zine No Depression online, and another for herself on Camano Island. Will Seattle’s American Idol Sanjaya Malakar make a successful leap from notoriety to stardom? Also in this issue: When one of the worst storms in a generation hit Lewis County, Dil and Sue Griffiths lost everything in the churning floodwaters of the Chehalis—but they found a reason to stay. Plus, tips to stay healthy: Seattle doctors and specialists answer 30 of the biggest questions you’ll have at every stage of your life.

Small plates and gastropubs, tiny restaurants and unrestaurants, here are the 10 most groundbreaking eateries Seattle has ever seen. Plus 20 more, some long gone and some still kicking, that did more than just serve food—they changed the way we eat. Also in this issue: William Ruckelshaus, the EPA’s founding administrator, tries to convince Puget Sound’s most profligate polluters to mend their ways; a week in the world of a hardcore videogamer; and an interurban holiday shopping guide leads into the city and through the woods.

Like well-rounded college kids, we attacked the topic of Pacific Northwest colleges from all sides, combining statistics and reports from students and alums to rank the top 39 schools in Washington and Oregon—for prospective students, anxious parents of the same, or proud alums who want more than just a diploma from a prestigious institution. Next, writer Juliette Guilbert explores the long-awaited Northwest African American Museum, now open after decades of lobbying, politicking, fundraising, and civil disobedience aimed at bringing a black history museum to Seattle. Plus: the city’s finest breweries and brewpubs; fall fashion; kayaking Yakima Valley wine country; and a culinary fling with Spring Hill in West Seattle.

Our wine expert ranks the best 100 wines from the Pacific Northwest, plus 15 great value wines: Learn which bottles need time in the cellar and which ones to drink with dinner tonight. Then get your highlighters and Post-its ready for the proactive Seattleite’s guide to enjoying a super-sliding, high-flying, great-dining time at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Also in this issue, read about the life and death of Ric Weiland, one of Microsoft’s earliest employees and the gay community’s greatest philanthropist; Husky football fans pin big hopes on sophomore quarterback Jake Locker; and 15 candidates from the fall arts season are primed to make us ponder where we’ve been, where we are, where we’re headed, and how far we have yet to go. Plus: a polite chat with John Waters, and foodies find heaven in Georgetown’s Corson Building.

Our Top Doctors issue looks at the future of medicine—and it’s being developed in Seattle, thanks to our bold scientists and stellar research institutions. We journey into the decades ahead to see where their advancements will lead us, and bestow the Golden Stethoscope Awards on 333 outstanding medical practitioners who provide the best care in the present. Next, does Mayor Nickels deserve his evergreen reputation, or are hizzoner’s supporters missing the political forest for the trees? And Emerald Downs sets the stage for top jockey Ricky Frazier’s courageous comeback. Also in this issue: a dozen ways Seattle can go green, a couple’s self-built house in the San Juans, and Ponti’s new executive chef keeps it classic.

This month we view Seattle through new lenses—that is, through 3D glasses in our print magazine. For this extra-special Best of the City issue, bursting with images in three dimensions, we trained our focus of on 183 shops, services, activities, and eateries that help us define ourselves anew. Next, read about how the UW’s Environmental Law Clinic has nurtured young lawyers, defended the little guy, and battled big corporations for five years. Plus: Sub Pop turns 20, Summer Fashion update, a visit with Arianna Huffington, and more.

We tested the terrain to line up a summer’s worth of great outdoor adventures, so you can trek, kayak, and scale the Northwest’s breathtaking mountains, waterways, and peninsulas. Also in this issue: News editor Eric Scigliano hits the streets to explore our city’s addiction—to artificial light. Meet the dating coaches, social organizers, groups, and event planners helping hitch singles in Seattle; and get to know eight celebrity singles who’ll put stars in your eyes at Seattle Metropolitan’s Celebrity Singles Auction and Party. And find inspiration—and tiles and tubs and countertops—in our luxury bath remodels.

What’s the best neighborhood for you? To help you navigate Seattle’s real estate market, we scoped out the deals and hot spots in and out of the city, the folks shaping our communities, and changes the coming years will bring. And we got the low-down on your current (and future) neighbors—from their pets to their politics to the cars they drive. Next, a Lynnwood woman struggles with the urban development of her diverse, cosmopolitan community incubating among affordable ramblers, modest shopping strips, and remnant forests. Tess Gallagher, the widow of acclaimed Northwest writer Raymond Carver, draws fire from the New York publishing establishment for her plans to publish early drafts of her late husband’s beloved short stories. Plus: Outdoor Dining Guide; a trip to Spokane (yes, that Spokane); and a chat with the radio censorship guru himself, Dr. Demento.

Ramp up your résumés, Seattle. We profile 14 innovative businesses that are reinventing the working world with sweet perks, inspired workspaces, inclusive management styles, family-friendly policies, and visionary bosses—and, they’re hiring! Also in this issue, read about a horticultural whodunit at Capitol Hill’s Volunteer Park Conservatory, and, just in time for spring, go behind the gates of three very different Seattle gardens to glean the gardeners’ inspiration and top plant picks. Next, actor-singer Nick Garrison transcends the fringe for the main stage in the 5th Avenue’s production of Cabaret. Plus: a chat about osteoporosis with actor Sally Field (she really, really doesn’t like it); and bold fashions for the new season.

Fifty Seattle-centric ways to grow faster, stronger, and more flexible and have fun doing it: From Ping-Pong, bowling, and underwater hockey to rowing in Lake Union and biking straight up Mount Rainier, you’ll transform flab into fab or turn your guns into bazookas. Plus, five hometown Olympic hopefuls share their fitness secrets. Next, with a new resort hotel about to open on their reservation, the Tulalips gamble on an uneasy blend of tourism and tribal culture. And architect Chris Haddad brings to life the modern designs of some of the Northwest’s most desirable homes—when he’s not making art.

Learn how to spend smart and live rich with our ultimate price warrior’s guide. Find snowboards and skis, tickets to arts events, restaurant meals, party goods, furniture, planters, clothes, shoes, spa treatments, and more. And get tips on free stuff, seasonal sales, discount stores, and saver’s secrets to keep the values going year-round. Next, news writer L. D. Kirshenbaum explores the transformation of the world’s oldest profession, from the stormy convergence of hookers, pimps, johns, and cops on the streets to the more amicable communities for buyers and sellers of sex on the Internet. Plus: 14 artists and 15 events making headlines in the new spring season, and where to buy a vacation home.

Find 50 ways to rise and shine and start your day at the hottest breakfast spots in town—get the lowdown on the best cinnamon rolls, scones, huevos, and waffles. Plus: British novelist Nick Hornby feels perhaps too at home in Seattle; the story of an amateur environmentalist who fought to save an urban salmon stream and came up against Seattle’s green mayor; Seattle Symphony’s principal cellist puts a classical spin on Radiohead’s rock at Town Hall; and winter fashions to keep you warm and, of course, stylish.

Your children are talented, motivated, and capable of changing the world. We’re here to help find the right school for them. We went back to school ourselves, touring campuses, sitting in on classes, dodging spitballs in the cafeteria, and talking to students. We’ll walk you through 245 private schools—some in depth, some via a quick glance. Next, senior editor James Ross Gardner profiles cabbie Mustapha Dhoodi, who escaped war horrors in Somalia only to face other dangers on Seattle’s streets. Plus: our 21st Century Gift Guide; the restoration of the UW president’s historic home; skiing the backcountry at Beverly Peak; and a new modern Asian bistro in the ID.

We chose the 10 best restaurants to have opened in the last 12 months, serving them up alongside a heaping helping of Seattle’s time-tested, critic-approved classic dishes; plus off-duty chefs confess their favorite hangouts, and our critic reveals tricks of the trade. Next, find your speed in our snowbound getaway guide for lodge bunnies, adrenaline fiends, and in between; get tips on entertaining this holiday season; and learn which Washington wines pair well with turkey. Plus: the collector who left his art in Seattle; and the life, death, and rebirth of the Medicine Creek Treaty Tree.

For decades brainiacs have flocked to our corner of the country, lured by Microsoft and Boeing and the UW. For this issue we collected stories of inventors, developers, and researchers, mining every aspect of Seattle’s geek culture to show how Seattle will shape the future or our city—and the world. Then read about two Seattle musicians who traveled the world to collect vintage Victrola recordings for a new release of their favorite (almost) forgotten sounds. Plus: fall fashion; five Northwest road trips for a perfect autumn weekend; where to find the cream of the 2005 wine crop; and Le Pichet’s owners bring Paris to Capitol Hill in Café Presse.

The intrepid imbibers at Seattle Met spent months giving hundreds of local bars their (happy) hour in court. The result is the definitive guide to drinking well in this town. Find your ticket to the coming cultural season in our Fall Arts Guide, with a spotlight on homegrown stars and must-see events. Plus: the cannon blast that split Snohomish, design ideas for your kitchen, the arrival of Crow’s sister restaurant Betty atop Queen Anne, and a chaotic chat with the stars of Hot Rod.

Seattle enjoys a true embarrassment of riches when it comes to regionally grown and produced fare, and we’ve crisscrossed town to tell you where to find the best food: From Hood Canal oysters to Whatcom County raspberries and Carnation farmstead cheese to tender Vashon Island veal and sweet Yakima corn, we showcase the beauty of local products and the genius of local purveyors. Then, Kathryn Robinson hangs her dirty-energy linen for all to see, enlisting the conservation experts to make her old house green. And 10 writers offer 10 pieces in the puzzle of how we can work together to live on this planet. Plus, the best thriller writer you’ve never heard of, the new chef at Ray’s Boathouse upholds the classics, and an Idaho lake getaway.

Our expert troop of shoppers, tasters, and critics reports on what’s best in the city—right now—pinpointing the top taco truck, the sweetest cupcake, the happiest happy hours, the chicest shoe stores, the funniest stand-up, the most festive festivals, the top career coach, the best camps for Junior… No fewer than 253 new, special, and surprising stores, eateries, activities, and services to help you get the most out of Seattle. Plus the tale of the city’s on-again, off-again relationship with streetcars, a visit with Sir Anthony Hopkins, and an awe-inspiring cruise to Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Peek into the lifestyles of the city’s wealthiest: See how they live and spend, and learn a financial planner’s tips on how to join them. Our guide to spa treatments and top-to-toe tune-ups shows the urban male how to feel like a billion bucks. Plus, the best lawyers in Seattle; a JAG lawyer and a tough legal team challenge the Guantánamo detentions; two Northwest women aim for the top of the male-dominated sport of road motorcycle racing; and the unexpected legacy of a Bellevue couple’s home.

Climb the highest peak and drive the fastest car, or cook like an Iron Chef and golf like a pro: Pick your own summer adventure from our rundown of the top getaways within a few hours’ drive of Seattle. Next, we’ve scoured the city to reveal the best places to restore and preserve objects from every room in the house. And we’ve tippled at the area’s most notable pour houses to sniff out 28 of the best, based on the wine list, the food, and the atmosphere. Plus: The U District’s liberal church enclave faces dwindling congregations and an influx of evangelical ministries; the city debates a high fiber-optic diet; and a new destination restaurant opens in Bellevue, with a great wine bar, of course.

The numbers are in! Our April issue provides vital stats on single-family homes, condos, lofts, and townhomes in the whole metropolitan area, plus a buyer’s guide to 53 of the newest condos on the market. Raise your kids the Seattle way with our year-by-year activity guide for kids ages one to 18, or dress for spring with fashions for him and her. Also in the April issue: tiptoeing through the tulips in Skagit Valley; a harrowing story of survival on Mount Adams; parkour street acrobatics land in Seattle; how to install French doors, the first in a series on DIY home improvements; and reviews of the top restaurants and the best in arts and entertainment.

Our September issue presents the 25 best places to work, from start-ups to Starbucks, counting all the ways they keep their employees happy. How does your job compare? Head back to school with Washington Middle School principal Jon Halfaker, whose work is never done. Whether you prefer gilded lounges or rowdy dives, the 78 watering holes on our “Bar Trek” are bound to make you thirsty. Plan ahead with our Fall Arts Guide, and mark your calendar with the best the city has to offer on stages, pages, canvases, and more. Take a look inside the homes of designer Richard Rhodes, an artist in stone. And as always we deliver the best in arts, entertainment, and restaurants.

Seattle’s home to a who’s who of medical research, so this month’s issue explores 100 years of medical breakthroughs and introduces the city’s top doctors: 315 specialists in 77 fields of medicine, as voted by 5,000 of their peers. Tour Washington’s finest wine regions and learn how Chateau Ste. Michelle CEO Ted Baseler plans to put Washington wines on the world map. A photo essay goes deep underground with Sound Transit’s light-rail tunnel. Mountaineer Ed Viesturs has climbed world’s tallest peaks—how will he top that? Thanks to teenaged DJs, disco is alive and thriving at Seattle’s C89 radio station. And as always, we deliver the best in arts, entertainment, and restaurants.

Our History Issue spotlights 277 people who shaped Seattle, with plenty of surprises and a plethora of little-known and long-forgotten facts. The city’s delectable and versatile ethnic restaurants offer us 26 ways to think—and eat—globally., We get behind the scenes with Mike McGavick for a look at the hottest Senate race in the U.S., and the pluralistic, naughty-but-nice world of burlesque gets the once-over twice. And as always, we deliver the best in arts, entertainment, and Seattle eateries.

Our jam-packed April issue features our extensive real estate guide profiling Seattle’s 15 hottest neighborhoods and surveying 80 additional places to call home; a spring gardening preview; and a profile of artist/architect Maya Lin. Plus, get the best in arts and entertainment and reviews of more than 80 top Seattle restaurants.

Our August issue asks the burning question, “How Seattle are you?” See how many of our 50 “must dos” you’ve done, from volunteering for Bumbershoot to planting a tree. Looking for a date? Learn the do’s and don’ts of dating, pick up tips from local dating experts, and browse through our meet market of Seattle’s most eligible singles. Read about how Seattle’s water warriors are keeping the taps running as global warming taxes our supply. Meet the Northwest gardeners who’ve led Seattle and the country at large into the golden age of horticulture. Get to know Trimpin, the genius of sound and find out where you can hear his acoustic inventions. And as always, we deliver the best in arts, entertainment, and restaurants.