Meet Me Here

Seattle readers are loving romance books. From heated hockey players to… yes, Bigfoot romance. Seattle bookstores can't keep them on the shelves. Katie Campbell chats with Ashley Adair, an owner of Beguiled Books, about why Seattle readers have caught the love bug for romance books. Hint: It’s rough out here.
And… if you need some help filling that book shaped void, here’s Ashley’s and Katie’s Recommended If You Liked (RIYL):
Beguiled Books
Squatch Out! A Bigfoot Shifter Rom-com by Deysi O'Donal
The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura
Like in Love with You by Emma R. Alban
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
The Possession of Alba Diaz
Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Cañas
Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver
Book Bedazzling
Ink Drinker
Event recommendations from this week’s episode:
Thomas Mallon w/ Katie Campbell - The Wyncote NW Forum at Town Hall Seattle, Feb 20
Do you have a favorite romance novel? Tell us about your favorite steamy reads at [email protected].
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Meet Me Here listeners, if you still don't have any plans for this weekend, fear not. The Weekend Warmup is here to help with a whole bunch of ideas for fun things to do around the region this weekend.
Hosted by KUOW's Jason Megatron Burrows.
LINKS:
Olympic Opening Ceremony
Olympic Women's Hockey @ Rough & Tumble Ballard Full Watch Party Schedule

Ear Hustle | Town Hall Seattle
Eagle Festival | Arlington, WA
Enumclaw Wine & Chocolate Festival
Chocolate “Escape Room” challenge
Washington State Gaming Expo / Anime Washington
The Grave Plot Film Fest
Seahawks at Patriots Super Bowl LX Game Center
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/meet
Meet Me Here is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We made our hosts read (some of) Infinite Jest, the thousand-page novel by David Foster Wallace that turns 30 this month, to answer the question once and for all: Do we have to read this book?
The publishing world hailed Wallace as a genius voice of his generation when Infinite Jest became a bestseller in 1996. Interest in the book has spiked many times since then: with Wallace’ death by suicide in 2008; again after accusations in 2012 that he had abused and stalked women; and again now that Infinite Jest is 30. If you want to check it out from the Seattle Public Library, you'll have to get in line. But there’s no hold time for this episode of Meet Me Here.
This episode discusses sexual assault and stalking. Please take care while listening.
Guest: KUOW producer Will James
Book recommendations:
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Lit by Mary Karr
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
We by Yevgeny Zamyatin

Event recommendations from this week’s episode:
Merlantis at Base Camp Studios in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood, through March 27
My Circus Valentine at the Bellingham Circus Guild, Feb. 12-14, 20 & 21
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Me Here listeners, if you still don't have any plans for this weekend, fear not. The Weekend Warmup is here to help with a whole bunch of ideas for fun things to do around the region this weekend.
Hosted by KUOW's Jason Megatron Burrows.
LINKS:
Washington Sportsmen's Show
Tacoma Home + Garden Show
Heated Rivalry Rave | Neumos
sQuatch Fest + Galactic Fest 2026
For Your Consideration - SIFF
The Chronology of Water - SIFF
Battle of the Sound: Seattle Thunderbirds vs Everett Silvertips
Tacoma Tattoo Expo 2026
Seattle Wedding Show
Drag Queen Bingo - Chuck’s Hop Shop Seward Park
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/meet
Meet Me Here is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Seattle-area drag scene has grown into the national spotlight. Two local queens, Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme, have won the franchised competition show RuPaul’s Drag Race. Other locals have passed through the show, like Bosco, Irene the Alien, and, currently on the 18th season, Jane Don’t.
Seattle drag shows operate in a DIY, underground way, thriving off an engaged fanbase and a regional circuit of clubs. When an art form blows up on the national scene, like grunge did in the '90s, can it lose what made it special in the first place?
Diving into this question and revealing the big picture of Seattle's drag queen scene are our guests: Journalist Adam Willems with Chum News and Miss Texas 1988.

Read Adam's coverage of Seattle's drag scene here: Can Seattle drag afford to stay weird?

Also, a visit to a live performance of Seattle's Dungeons & Drag Queens Live, featuring Kylie Mooncakes, Ma'amShe, and Irene the Alien. You haven't experienced anything like this.
Have you gone to an event you heard about on Meet Me Here? Tell us how it went! Email us at [email protected].
Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here!
Become a KUOW member today
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.