Looking for a staycation with wine tasting, and even some wine making? You’ll find it at Woodvinville’s newest retreat, The SOMM Hotel & Spa, which opens Sunday, Sept. 28. Guests can take part in complimentary wine blending classes on site, where each participant crafts their own bottle according to their palate and preferences. James Beard Award semifinalist Chef Maximillian Petty will lead the kitchen in Bin 47, an upscale bistro celebrating Washington’s best ingredients. Locally sourced produce also shines on the plate and in the glass at The Shed on the roof, where you can take in panoramic views of Mount Rainier and the Sammamish River Valley.  

Seattle Kraken fans, are you hungry?

We hope so, because Climate Pledge Arena is bringing the heat—er, that probably won’t be great for the ice—with some cool, locally inspired dining options for games (phew, that’s better). In what’s probably a first for a sporting venue general admission, freshly shucked oysters will be available at Poke Pop. Piroshky Piroshky will also join, and Chefs Table is a spot where local chefs will whip up dishes for a rotating menu (expect it to change about six times during the season). The best part? There will be 30 items priced at $9.99 or less. 

Get back your mojo

Paseo’s Caribbean roast, or mojo, sandwich, made with slow-cooked pork in a citrus marinade, caramelized onion, pickled jalapeños, cilantro, romaine lettuce, and creamy aioli on a roll, has been a pillar of Seattle’s culinary culture since 1994. With a status so renowned, it’s unsurprising to find different takes on the recipe spread across the city—but which one is the best? That’s for you, and your taste buds, to find out.

Craft beer crashes to earth in Capitol Hill

After ten years, it’s curtains for Outer Planet Brewing, the latest casualty in the rapidly shrinking vanguard of the little guys in the industry. Co-owner Gabriel Villenave said that they looked for an outside party to take over the business for nearly six months, but there were no takers amid skyrocketing operating costs. Fans can stop by the closing party, Saturday, Sept. 20 from noon to 10 p.m. to snag any remaining beers and merch. 

One day to rule them all

It’s Sept. 22, of course, otherwise known as International Hobbit Day. The observance marks the shared birthdays of Tolkien’s two half-pint protagonists, Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, and encourages fans to live like they do in the Shire. Our suggestion to capture the magic of Middle-earth? Have a mushroom egg sandwich for second breakfast at B-Side Foods and enjoy a frothy flagon of ale at Ballard’s Skål Beer Hall.

Have a meal, nourish your neighbors

Dining Out For Life, the annual fundraiser in support of people living with HIV, returns Thursday, Sept. 25. Restaurants, cafes, and bars across Seattle will donate a portion of every bill to Lifelong, a nonprofit that provides medically tailored meals, housing, and health care to those living with serious illness. Plenty of Clouds, Stoup Brewing, and Palace Kitchen are just three participating businesses to sink your teeth into.

Hear ye, hear ye

Queen City will soon return to Belltown following its closure in 2016. The historic restaurant, which started life as a saloon way back in 1910, has a fresh lease on life at First Avenue and Blanchard Street. Under new owner Jessica Gifford, the kitchen will lean into local seafood dishes, like seared scallops and tuna tartare, as well as pastas, a mouthwatering New York strip steak, and rosemary-garlic chicken. The cocktails also jump off the menu with unique flavors. Many of the original staff from the 1990s and early 2000s will also make a comeback.

Cocktails, courtesy of the Empire State

New York City’s iconic bar Death & Co, a pioneer of the 21st-century cocktail renaissance, is fittingly set to open an outpost in Pioneer Square next spring. Seattle’s waterfront renovations, walkability, and exemplary culinary scene were huge draws, co-founder David Kaplan told Axios.