Editor at Large

James Ross Gardner is the former editor in chief of Seattle Met. During his time as top editor the magazine won numerous awards, including the national City and Regional Magazine Association's award for general excellence, twice (in 2015 and 2018). While at Seattle Met, James's writing has garnered 14 first place awards from the regional chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and has been a finalist for seven national CRMA awards. His work has also appeared in Esquire, GQ, and The New York Times, among others. He lives in Seattle’s Central District neighborhood.

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Better Body, Better Brain, Better You

68 ways to make 2010 your best year yet.

12/17/2009 With Matthew Halverson, James Ross Gardner, Laura Cassidy, Christopher Werner, Karen Quinn, and Kristin Cordova Edited by Jessica Voelker

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The Not–So–Hard Times of Amber Lancaster

From high school to spokesmodel and back to high school.

12/08/2009 By James Ross Gardner

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Why Is This Chimp Smiling?

Seven apes arrived last year in Cle Elum. They’d been used up by medical science and the entertainment industry—and left to rot in tiny cages. Then one man showed them the depths of human kindness.

11/13/2009 By James Ross Gardner

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26 Perfect Saturdays

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.

10/19/2009 With Steve Wiecking, James Ross Gardner, Jessica Voelker, Christopher Werner, Karen Quinn, Rachel Solomon, Nick Feldman, Kristin Cordova, and Parisa Sadrzadeh By Laura Cassidy

Coffee Culture

Higher Grounds

Fonté goes to the source to give you its best shot. But first, a few questions.

09/16/2009 By James Ross Gardner

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Heist

Even as a kid Luke Elliott Sommer showed a talent for leadership. And by the time he finished U.S. Army Ranger School his mind had become a precision weapon capable of planning strategic attacks on buildings in enemy territory. Then he came home.

08/14/2009 By James Ross Gardner

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Wine Country Weekends

Celebrate the harvest with premier sipping in pristine settings.

08/12/2009 By James Ross Gardner and Jessica Voelker

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Vince Mira Won’t Walk the Line

Billed as the Second Coming of Johnny Cash, a teenager from Federal Way wowed rock stars, morning news shows, Ellen DeGeneres, and the Cash estate. There’s just one problem: Vince Mira is done parroting the Man in Black.

06/23/2009 By James Ross Gardner