While the approaching winter months are all about staying warm and cozy, that doesn’t mean you can’t fill your calendar with spirited holiday events across the Emerald City! Besa Gordon shared a few of her favorite productions, activities, and holiday hotspots that make this time of year in the greater Seattle area so special. These are the experiences that turn you back into a kid and remind you what the season is all about.

The holiday season is here, and you know what that means—it’s time to celebrate culture, community, and the businesses that truly light up the Emerald City! For Besa Gordon, the holiday season isn't just about finding the perfect gift; it's about shopping with intention and investing directly in the excellence of Seattle’s Black community.

The pops of corks and cheers of the community came together to celebrate the opening of OBK Winery’s new tasting room last month. The first Black-owned winery in Pierce County, OBK hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, demonstrating what can be achieved with perseverance, family, and community support.

The Re-Sole 206, Seattle’s very first sneaker dry cleaning business is revolutionizing how people care for their sneakers. Takiyah “T-Dub” Ward, artist and founder of the Re-Sole in Seattle’s Central District, offers high-quality customization and restoration services while also serving as a community hub to educate locals on the power of sneaker maintenance and sustainability. 

Scope Screenings, a monthly independent film festival, has cemented its place as a vital cornerstone of Seattle’s arts ecosystem. Last month, the festival brought together a variety of filmmakers, musicians, and creatives to showcase their short-form content on the big screen. With pride in their people and expression, the local creatives and team members revealed a profound dedication to community, artistic growth, and powerful storytelling.

In the heart of Seattle's Central District, Zara Jo Beauty Supply is redefining the beauty product shopping experience for the Black community. Focusing on representation and Black-owned brands, the store's owner Jamal Wilson and Director of Events and Community Development Autumm Coles shared the inspiring journey behind their business and its commitment to the community.

Last month, for the second year in a row, Converge Media visited Rainier Beach High School for the 8th Annual Black College Expo. The expo was more than a college-readiness event; it was a crossroads where students could connect with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and learn about opportunities to advance their higher education.

Besa Gordon joined Good Day Seattle this morning for a Support Black Business uplift of Zara Jo Beauty Supply, a new beauty supply store in Seattle’s Central District owned by Jamal Wilson. After stopping by the storefront with Converge Media host Trae Holiday, Gordon shared that she left feeling joyful and represented. 

The news hit us at Converge Media like a gut punch: Mattice Hoyt, the resilient and utterly inspiring "unofficial mayor of Tacoma," has left us. At just 39 years old, Mattice’s passing leaves a hole in the heart of Tacoma and in the hearts of all of us who had the privilege of knowing her. We are heartbroken, but we also find ourselves reflecting on the profound impact she had, not just on her community, but on each of us at Converge Media, Besa Gordon, and the entire Back2Besa family. (Read more here)

In the first episode of Chef Trey Lamont’s new series Food With Melanin, the owner of Jerk Shack Kitchen sat down for a compelling conversation at Fat’s Chicken and Waffles with Chef Erika White. In the first installment of the series airing in 2026, the two owners talked about White’s career as a Southern soul food chef, the establishment of Fats Chicken and Waffles in Seattle's Central District, and the importance of community in running a restaurant.

The transformative healing arts studio A Space Inside recently hosted an open mic at River Seattle, hosted by Deaunte Damper, where local artists and marginalized creative voices could find solace and safety in the community’s undying support. Despite closing its doors earlier this year, A Space Inside’s permeates through the people it has touched, remaining a vital community hub for healing, expression, and unwavering support. 

Chef Wally, the owner of Wally's Northwest Soul, opened the doors to his new storefront last month in Seattle’s Central District. After a decade and a half of serving the community through selling plates, catering, and pop-up spots, the chef described his new brick-and-mortar location as a return home, celebrating the monumental achievement with the community that has deeply influenced him.

Spokane, WA - The Inland Northwest’s largest multimedia art and music festival, Terrain, recently celebrated its “sweet 16” with its annual art festival in the heart of Spokane, Washington. This creative mecca brought together nearly 500 artists from the region showcasing close to 900 pieces, and connected them with an audience of over 10,000 people.

WeRise Wine, a Seattle wine bar dedicated to promoting diversity and representation in the wine industry, celebrated the one-year anniversary of its wine club with a Pour and Explore event last month. The celebration, held at the bar’s Downtown Seattle location, not only commemorated the milestone but also introduced its new private-label wine to its loyal community.

Back2Besa is back with a celebratory episode dedicated to Besa’s birthday. This week, we take a look back at some of Besa’s favorite stories from the past year, from Daddy Strollers Social Club to DEFY Wrestling in the Central District. We also take a trip across the bay to Vashon Island, made possible by King County Metro, for some tasty Southern food at Gravy.

Besa Gordon joined Good Day Seattle this morning to showcase her recent trip to Vashon Island, made possible by King County Metro water taxi’s additional schedule running on Saturdays. On the island, Gravy Executive Chef and owner Chef Dre picked her up and gave her a tour of his favorite spots, including Vashon Island Baking Company and his own Southern restaurant, Gravy. 

Are you looking for something to do tonight in Seattle? Here’s what Erik Kalligraphy captured at the Pioneer Square Art Walk last month. This community event, which occurs every first Thursday of each month, brings together creatives and business owners across the Emerald City, from musicians, painters, and clothing designers, to share their work and shed light on one of Seattle’s most historic neighborhoods.

SpoonFed Training recently passed a monumental milestone, celebrating its 10-year anniversary with the grand opening of a new gym in Tukwila. This event signified a new chapter for the fitness center after outgrowing its previous location, and brought together SpoonFed’s dedicated community, who shared their love and appreciation for the organization's profound impact on the Black community.

In a rapidly changing Central District, Wa Na Wari strives to bridge the gaps between artistic expression, residential permanence, and physical activity with its annual art festival Walk the Block. Last month, the festival took over Seattle’s Central District with the strength of Black creativity on full display in the historic Seattle neighborhood that has marked the grounds of the city’s Black community for generations.  

Scope Screenings hosted Queen of the Screen, the September edition of the underground film festival, and a dynamic event celebrating women in film. The fourth episode of the fourth season took place at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute in the Central District, a venue packed with historical and cultural significance for Seattle’s Black community.