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.

Sliding Doors

Seattle, in Sickness and in Health

In a building filled with doctors, every elevator ride tells a story.

07/17/2018 By James Ross Gardner

Editor's Note

Pike Place Market Is Seattle's Best Idea

But it almost wasn't.

06/19/2018 By James Ross Gardner

Editor's Note

Tenant, Interrupted

The side of the city you might only see if you rent.

05/22/2018 By James Ross Gardner

Light a Fire 2018: Most With the Least

At Facing Homelessness, Home Is Where the Hope Is

Rex Hohlbein left a successful career as an architect to educate local residents on the struggles of the region’s homeless population.

05/22/2018 By James Ross Gardner

Light a Fire 2018: Emerging Leader

Meet Wing Luke’s People Connector, Christina Shimizu

“I’ve developed a language to learn about my identity—and about my heritage and the history of my family and community here.”

05/22/2018 By James Ross Gardner

Editor's Note

From the Editor: Spring Soundtrack

Let some of the city’s brightest podcasters ride shotgun on your April road trip.

03/27/2018 By James Ross Gardner

From the Editor

Central District Casting

The sweat and lofty dreams behind every home move.

02/27/2018 By James Ross Gardner

From the Editor

About That Gender Equality Victory Lap…

We've got a long way to go.

01/31/2018 By James Ross Gardner

Editor's Note

From the Editor: Patriot Game

To stand or to kneel?

12/19/2017 By James Ross Gardner

Editor's Note

Well, That Was a Weird Year

And so was our collective reaction to it.

11/21/2017 By James Ross Gardner

Lexicon Devils

Harsh Realm: The Greatest Prank Seattle Ever Pulled on New York

Twenty-five years ago the national media, obsessed with Seattle's music scene, came calling. The right person picked up the phone.

11/13/2017 By James Ross Gardner Illustrations by Peter Bagge

Feature

The Russian Spies Who Fooled Seattle

Before hackers tried to sway the 2016 election or word spread that our new president might be compromised, a peculiar couple resided on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Have we really taken stock of the spies who lived among us?

10/30/2017 By James Ross Gardner

In Print

A Redesign the Size of Seattle

Why Seattle Met just got bigger.

10/17/2017 By James Ross Gardner

Napoleon Dynamite

Nazis Stole Our Art

Add to the litany of white nationalism’s idiocy its adherents’ lack of humor.

09/20/2017 By James Ross Gardner

Editor's Note

Check, Please. No Really, the Check. Please?

The one foul committed by an otherwise outstanding dining scene.

08/18/2017 By James Ross Gardner

Editor's Note

Spoiler Alert

You don’t always have to wait till the end.

07/20/2017 By James Ross Gardner

Street View

Could the Solution to Homelessness Be Geodesic?

Dome sweet dome.

07/14/2017 By James Ross Gardner

Explainer

Could a Single-Payer Plan in Washington Soon Come to Pass?

As fights over national health care simmer in DC, one local state senator is pushing for a radical old idea: insuring every Washingtonian.

07/13/2017 By James Ross Gardner

Editor's Note

Summer of Totality

Here comes the sun—and the eclipse.

06/12/2017 By James Ross Gardner

Explainer

Demise of the Seattle Traffic Jam?

Earlier this year, the Seattle Department of Transportation will introduced SCOOT, software designed to ease traffic tensions. Will it deliver us from gridlock?

06/12/2017 By James Ross Gardner