In recent years, many black women, like singer Solange and writer Phoebe Robinson, have used their hair as a starting point for conversations about race, racism, and identity. Now two local women are sharing their stories with us.

Local outdoors professional Denaya Shorter writes in this poignant essay for Crosscut about the unwanted attention she’s received about her hair over the years. On a trip to North Cascades National Park, a woman stared at her for awhile and then told her, “I’m trying to figure out your hair.”

Shorter writes that while her hair has caused her much unwanted attention and anxiety in the past, today she affirms that her Afro is remarkable:

“My hair both figuratively and literally has the ability to capture my day’s adventure,” she writes, describing how after she hiked a trail that day, she “plucked a few pine needles from my ‘fro,” and also “clinging to my kinks: tiny patches of lichen, webs of friendly forest arthropods, and fragments of tree bark…”

Another hair-focused interaction has made headlines recently after it was turned into an art installation by Seattle University student Alexis Taylor. In the project, Taylor explores the moment when a white woman — Seattle Times columnist Nicole Brodeur — asked to touch her hair during an interview.

Brodeur has apologized for the interaction, and The Times said it plans to rebuild trust with readers by bringing in an outside facilitator to examine its newsroom culture.

In other news…

King County is facing a measles outbreak, and recent exposure sites include Sea-Tac Airport, a Seattle coffee shop, and suburban big box stores. A new state law banning personal or philosophical exemptions to the measles vaccine takes effect July 1. (The Seattle Times)

The sun will return eventually, and when it does, you’re gonna need a place to bask in its glow. The Seattle Times’ food and drink critics tell us which of the city’s rooftop bars live up to the hype. (The Seattle Times)

The drama of Ballard’s “Up” house may be over, but Edith Macefield’s legacy lives on. The BBC has turned Seattle’s most famous story of “property holdout” into a 45-minute radio documentary, starring veteran Welsh stage actress Dame Sian Phillips. (My Ballard)

It’s the news that Seattle’s sour-beer fans have been waiting for: Dirty Couch Brewing — which has to be the industry’s most pungently named brewery — is opening its first-ever taproom today in Magnolia. (Eater)

And an update for all you chocolate lovers: Joe Chocolate Co. has delayed its opening at Pike Place Market, so you’ll have to wait until next Friday to get your fix. (Eater) —thanks for the tip, Rosin!

🍸 Hey spirit lovers, let’s make some tasty drinks together. It’s Crafting Libations time! We’re getting tasty with absinthe on Tuesday — see you there. (South Lake Union)

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The questions are in, and it’s time to vote! Here are the top three questions about Pioneer Square:

Why did that ugly “Sinking Ship” parking structure ever get built? What happened to the fancy hotel that was there before? —Aster Max

What’s being done to protect this historic neighborhood, particularly from earthquakes? Have there been any efforts to retrofit all the old brick buildings? —Beth Anderson

Which tribe does the totem pole in Pioneer Square belong to? —Natalie Evans

Which one should we dive into? Head to our site to cast your vote.

We’ll tally up the results at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and get started on the winning question. Thanks to everyone who participated in the submission round!

First there were overly protective crows, now Seattle is apparently home to a snack-crazed squirrel who has been known to climb up people’s legs (!!) in search of popcorn. The girl squirrel is named Kevin, and she has developed quite the reputation at Discovery Park.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and hang on to your Cheez-Its. We’ll see you Monday. 🐿️

— The Evergrey