Jennifer Brookes: These photos were taken on November 8th from the edge of Gas Works Park, the closest you can get to Lake Union without falling in. The darkness is misleading; it was only 6:00 PM at the time. Seattle’s sun now either deserts the sky at 4:30 in the afternoon or makes no appearance at all. The good news is, my city is just as beautiful in the dark as it is in the light. If you have any desire to be chilled to the bone, visit Gas Works at night. You won’t regret it. Unless you are easily spooked. You might regret it then.

Eric Peterson: My freshmen year of high school, Matt Treyvaud and Patrick Kelly introduced me to the soundtrack to an independent Japanese film called Blue, which was scored by Otomo Yoshihide. The bulk of the soundtrack prominently features recorder, and it was this soundtrack which inspired me to go back and legitimately learn the instrument (beyond the elementary school standards “Hot Crossed Buns” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb”). Also, my friend’s little sister is at about the age when kids learn how to play; when I met her a couple of weeks ago, I told her I would play her something on the recorder if she played me something on the recorder. Now that I’ve played something for you, you owe me a recorder concert (you know who you are).