COVID-19 and Seattle’s Nordic Businesses & Organizations: Who Will Be Left Standing?

Nordic on Tap - the podcast

With the full or partial closure of many businesses, institutions, and organizations in Seattle in late March 2020 due to COVID-19, we wonder how are our cherished Nordic haunts, restaurants, museums, and fraternal organizations making it through in Seattle. We talk with Erik Pihl of the National Nordic Museum, Bjørn Ruud of Scandinavian Specialties, Rachel Antalek of Byen Bakeri, and report on the Scandinavian Hour, Nordic Roots and Branches, the Swedish Club, The Dane Restaurant, Nordiska (Poulsbo), the 17th of May (Syttende Mai) Parade, and the Norwegian-American News, among others. If we value these outfits, how can we support them so they survive?

Links

The National Nordic Museum the premiere Nordic institution and gathering place in the Seattle Area has visiting and permanent collections, lectures, concerts, and virtual programming too.

The Swedish Club of Seattle, offering a full calendar of programming, from weaving, to language classes, weekly dinners, and superb Swedish pancakes.

Rachel Antelek and Larry Walsh's Byen Bakeri in the lower Queen Anne area of Seattle, where I buy my lingonberry tarts, skolebrød, prinsessekake, krumkake, and cardamom lattes. I'm told they also sell nutritious food (!). Here's the Seattle Times article that appeared when they bought the bakery in 2019.

Nordic Roots and Branches radio show streaming live at 7pm Pacific on Tuesdays out of Evertt, WA. With host Karen Pauli. Interviews and Nordic music. Facebook site here.

The Dane Restaurant in Seattle sadly did not survive the pandemic. :( This lovely spot is where I interviewed Morton Alfred Høirup when he came to town.

Scandinavian Specialties managed by Bjørn Ruud, Seattle's shop for Nordic frozen food, sweaters, cookware, arts, and fresh cakes and pølse. They'd be happy to ship something to you or have it delivered locally; order online. The shop had some difficult times in the past two years.

Nordiska gift shop, in Poulsbo, Washington (a cute town with a real Scandinavian flavor). Shop online or visit in person.

The Norwegian American News is the oldest Norwegian American newspaper with 24-28 color pages of articles on Norwegian politics, science, sport, arts and entertainment, cooking, pages on learning Norwegian, a page just for kids, and occasionally articles by yours truly. Both print or digital subscriptions include a weekly newsletter. See the Nordic on Tap podcast about the editor-in-chief, Lori Ann Reinhall, as well as their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter sites.

Syttende Mai Festival for Seattle's 17th of May events claims to have the biggest celebration outside of Oslo. Looking forward to when we can have concerts, luncheons, and the big parade again!

The Scandinavian Hour on KKNW Bellevue (a music variety show where I got my own start on radio), where you can listen to live shows online at 6am & 9am Pacific on Saturdays, 6am Pacific on Sundays. Hosts Seth Tufteland and Doug Warne also conduct some interviews and announce community events. Not many shows like this in the world - well worth checking out.

Other Nordic businesses I'd recommend the Greater Seattle Area are Larsen's Bakery and Nielson's Pastries.