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.

Article

Another Obama-Seattle connection?

A conversation with a guy who went to parties with the First Lady two decades ago

02/03/2009 By James Ross Gardner

Article

52 Weekends

52 destinations for each weekend of the year.

01/09/2009 By James Ross Gardner, Laura Cassidy, Jim Gullo, Jessica Voelker, Lia Steakley Dicker, Christopher Werner, and Courtney Nash

Article

Clear the Camps (or) Let Sleeping Bags Lie?

Seattle has a new playbook for clearing out squatter camps, but critics say it’s inhumane and leaves the homeless nowhere to go.

01/04/2009 By James Ross Gardner

PASSING THROUGH

Listen to this man—Or we kill a puppy

Dr. Demento’s reign of syndicated radio terror started in Seattle.

01/03/2009 By James Ross Gardner

Article

Best of the City 2008

You're about to see your city in a whole new way.

12/28/2008 With Steve Wiecking, Kathryn Robinson, James Ross Gardner, Leah Finn, Laura Cassidy, Ben Schock, Stefan Durham, Christopher Werner, Roger Brooks, Lee Fehrenbacher, Rachelle Robinett, Sarah Anderson, Kelly Huffman, Erin Pursell, Laura Peach, and Wilson Diehl Edited by Jessica Voelker

Feature

Lord of the Reins

Horse racing was once dead in Washington State. The career of top jockey Ricky Frazier was once dead too. Hell, there was a time when Ricky Frazier was nearly dead. A story of courage, cunning, and redemption on the back of a thoroughbred.

12/27/2008 By James Ross Gardner

Article

Early Game Plan

The proactive Seattleite’s guide to enjoying a super-sliding, high-flying, great-dining time at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

12/23/2008 By Kathryn Robinson and James Ross Gardner

Feature

Things They Lost in the Flood

Dil and Sue Griffiths were still recovering from one life-altering tragedy last December when the worst storm in a generation sent Lewis County through a wash cycle of swelling rivers and mudslides, inflicting millions of dollars worth of damage.

12/09/2008 By James Ross Gardner

small towns

It Fakes a Village

Welcome to Leavenworth—Bavaria in the heart of Washington.

10/03/2006 By James Ross Gardner