Brendan Kiley on the Catholic Church's Alleged "Dumping Ground" for Pedophiles in Alaska
"Among the alleged conspirators is Father Stephen Sundborg, who is the current president of Seattle University... The suit alleges that while Sundborg was head of the Northwest Jesuits, he had access to the personnel files of several pedophile priests, including one named Father Henry Hargreaves, whom he allowed to remain in the ministry. 'As a direct result of Father Sundborg's decision,' the suit alleges, 'Father Hargreaves was able to continue molesting children, including but not limited to James Doe 94, who was raped by Father Hargreaves in 1992, when James Doe was approximately 6 years old...'"

Erica C. Barnett Asks: Who Will Replace (the Obama-Administration-Bound) Ron Sims?
"The ink is barely dry on King County Executive Ron Sims's nomination as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and already speculation is running wild about who will fill his shoes..."

Eric Grandy on the Return of the Crocodile
"Last week, a familiar but lately uncommon scene was unfolding in Belltown. A van was pulled up outside the iconic Crocodile Cafe, and a band were loading their gear into the club..."

Lindy West Goes to a Gucci Party
"Seattle's brand-new Gucci store is not a place I ever intended to go. To me, a $5,000 purse might as well be a $50,000 purse might as well be a $both-my-kidneys purse (you need at least one to live, you know). Inside, it was very elegant. A cute boy in a little suit took my coat and gave me champagne. Or maybe it was prosecco. Everything was made of glass and leather. Another cute boy offered me 'food': some sort of microscopic cracker with, like, half a pimiento and a lobster hair on top. I 'ate' it..."

Jen Graves Goes to Stella Caffe on First Avenue, Drinks Coffee, Feels Things
First two sentences: "In Rome, just a few steps from the Pantheon, there is an old coffee shop. I don't know its name..."

Meanwhile, Bethany Jean Clement Visits the New Bus Stop, Where a Different Kind of Drinking Is Occurring
"The city corner at night outside the new Bus Stop's windows would be picturesque if it weren't for the billion-candlepower sign stuck to Amante Pizza. This hate crime of signage is so bright it ought to be illegal. Those intending to sit facing the street at the front tables should bring sunglasses, Valium, and a friend with a very large head..."

Jonathan Golob Measures The Stranger's Carbon Footprint
Dear Science saith: "Eleven hours of online reading of The Stranger equals about the carbon impact of a single paper copy..."

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Eli Sanders on gay marriage; an essay about the Murder City Devils playing together again (the first comment: "Overrated with a capital OVER"—ah, it's like the old days!); a few words by Paul Constant on indulgent autobiographical comics; a few words about John Updike maybe kinda sorta knowing he was going to die; a review of the show at the Frye that rewrites German art history; Savage Love; Last Days; Theater Review Revue; the calendar of this week's notable music shows; the lovingly updated movie times; and much more.