The Spectacle: Issue #37
Spring 2025
The Return of the Blessing
by MJ Durkin
Dear friends,
I have a special guest to open up this very special Spectacle. MJ Durkin is a friend, mentor, and a beautiful human…Enjoy!
Thank you, MJ…I promise to give the blessing every day!
All The BEST! – Andrew Browne
I was sitting the morning after Easter, coffee in hand, chatting quietly with my wife. The house was still, the energy peaceful—the kind of peace that only comes after a full day of family, laughter, and a little bit of beautiful chaos. As we talked, I looked around and said something that came from deep in my heart:
“This house was so beautiful yesterday. Everything was glowing. The decorations, the food, the way you welcomed everyone—it all felt magical. You created a space that made people feel at home, feel celebrated. I just want to say how stunning it all was and how grateful I am for you.”
What was I doing in that moment? I was bestowing the Blessing.
It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t a strategy or a box to check off. It was a spontaneous expression of heartfelt recognition—an act of naming the beauty, the genius, the contribution of someone I love. And in that moment, I watched something shift in her face. It wasn’t just a smile. It was as if her inner light turned up a few notches, as if something in her that had been quietly working behind the scenes felt seen. Celebrated. Validated.
That is the power of the Blessing.
We live in a world where people are starved for this kind of recognition. Starved. So many are carrying invisible burdens: the weight of inadequacy, the fear of being forgotten or not being enough, the shame of comparison in a social media-driven world. And what they need—what we all need—is someone to take a stand for us. Someone to say, “I see your greatness. I see your effort. I see the beauty you bring to this world.”
The Blessing isn’t flattery. It’s not surface-level praise. It is a sacred affirmation of another person’s value, potential, and future. It is the act of holding a mirror up to someone’s best self—especially when they’ve forgotten what that looks like. It’s saying: I see you not as you are in your worst moment, but as you are at your best. I see the light you may have forgotten you carry.
I believe one of the greatest crises of our time is this silent epidemic of inferiority and loneliness. We scroll through curated highlight reels online while privately questioning our worth. We’re surrounded by people, yet feel more disconnected than ever. People aren’t hearing enough that they are astonishing. That they are talented. That they are creators of possibility. And because no one’s saying it, many stop believing it’s true.
But here’s the good news: the Blessing can change all of that. It doesn’t take a seminar or a big speech. It takes a moment of intention. A simple choice to say the thing that’s true, the thing that uplifts. A text, a voice note, a conversation over coffee—telling someone what you see in them, what you admire, what you believe they’re capable of. It's reminding them of who they are when they’ve forgotten. That kind of affirmation unlocks something deep inside of them. It allows people to see their own genius—and once seen, that genius begins to flourish.
So today, I invite you to become a Blesser.
Start with someone close to you. A teammate. A spouse. A child. A friend. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Just say what you see. Tell them they’re making an outstanding effort. Tell them how they light up a room. Tell them how much you admire the way they lead, the way they listen, the way they show up in the world.
You might think they already know. But trust me—they don’t know and they don’t hear it enough from someone that they respect.
The Blessing costs you nothing, but it could mean everything to the person receiving it.
It might be the reason they keep going. It might be the moment they start believing again. And it might just be the spark that brings someone’s buried brilliance roaring to life.
Let’s bring back the Blessing.
Read » “To Hear the Forest Sing” by Margaret Dulaney
by Andrew Browne
While I typically recommend fiction, autobiographies, and the occasional business book, today I'm delighted to introduce you to the remarkable Margaret Dulaney and her platform Listen Well. I discovered her work serendipitously during an online search about gratitude, and what a find it was! For over a decade, Dulaney has been recording thoughtful ten-minute audio essays, many of which she's now compiled into her book: To Hear the Forest Sing. All I can say is THANK YOU Margaret! You are a true breath of fresh air in today's world. Her spirituality and belief in a higher power is written in a way that is open, friendly and powerful.
The book’s back cover tells us: “To Hear the Forest Sing is a collection of essays by the founder of the spoken word website Listen Well. Margaret Dulaney has been accumulating a life's worth of spiritual musings for the past two decades. In 2010 she founded the spoken word website Listen Well, which offers one recorded essay a month to a growing number of followers. Listeners tune in for ten quiet minutes as she explores sacred and secular themes through story and metaphor.”
In her own words, Margaret writes: “The writings in this collection are a result of a quarter of a century of morning walks in the woods with my dogs, just under half a century of literary exploration of the wisdom of the world of religions, and a lifetime’s hunger for God.”
I hope you find joy, peace, and comfort if and when you read this book. All the best!
Drink » The Signature Merlot
by Andrew Browne & John Freeman
For those of you who have had the honor to live or visit us in the Pacific Northwest, you know we revel in the natural bounty of the region in everything we eat, drink, and do. We love to indulge in fresh, local fare crafted by friends and family, sip craft cocktails, enjoy crisp white wines, and relish bold reds.
Our newest release, Signature Merlot, elegantly depicts our region with the image of a salmon swimming upriver beneath a Pacific Northwest sunset. Crafted by a local friend and artist, Melanie Nead, the label is proudly displayed in our Bellevue tasting room and serves as a tribute to the landscapes and ecosystems that define the region. We hope you’ll join us soon to sip and savor!
– Andrew Browne
Embarking on my journey in the Washington wine business back in the early 1990s, I was immediately captivated by the depth and the quality of the wine our home state produces. Merlot, in particular, emerged as the ultimate expression of what makes Washington’s growing region so exceptional for rich, complex, and structured wines. Our Browne Family Signature Merlot is now available across our tasting room locations and boasts notes of ripe cherry with round tannins, a true homage to the terroir of our region.
– John Freeman
Taste » Sheet Pan Lemon Balsamic Chicken & Potatoes
by Courtney Browne
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Half-Baked Harvest, so when I’m looking for inspiration for planning our dinners, I usually flip through one of Tieghan Gerard’s cookbooks or her website, where you can create your own recipe box and save your favorites. We recently tried this recipe (deconstructed a little for the kids) and it was a total hit!
Image & recipe from Half-Baked Harvest
Sheet Pan Lemon Balsamic Chicken & Potatoes
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F.
On a baking sheet, toss the potatoes with 2 Tbsp. olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper.
In a bowl, toss together 2 Tbsp. olive oil, the chicken, balsamic vinegar, Dijon, oregano, paprika, garlic, shallot, salt, pepper, and chili flakes.
Nestle the chicken around the potatoes. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil, the lemon juice, herbs, pepperoncini, olives, and sesame seeds. Mix the tzatziki and feta.
Remove the chicken from the oven. Spoon over the herby olives. Serve with the tzatziki feta sauce. Enjoy!
Ingredients
1 lb. baby potatoes, halved
4 Tbsp. plus 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and black pepper, to taste
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. fresh chopped oregano
2 tsp. smoked or regular paprika
6 garlic cloves, chopped
1 shallot, chopped
Chili flakes
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 cup mixed chopped fresh herbs: dill, basil, or thyme
2 Tbsp.ssliced pepperoncini
1 cup green olives, torn
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
1 cup tzatziki sauce
6 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
Meet » Melanie Nead
by Andrew Browne
Years ago, ahead of the opening of our Tacoma space, I worked with Melanie Nead to create a scenic mural to tell the story of my grandfather and the inspiration behind our brand on the back bar. Aside from the breathtaking result that now graces both the wall and the labels of our Mural Collection, Melanie’s attention to detail and her craft made me know our paths would cross once again. Flash forward to the opening of our Bellevue location, and once again, Melanie hit the nail on the head with her art, this time depicting the Pacific Northwest ecosystem and the shared love my grandfather and I had for fishing.
After fifteen years as an artist at Icon Tattoo Studio in Portland, Melanie turned her love of plants and patterns to creating one-of-a-kind, hand-painted patterns, murals, and wallpapers. If you’re in the business for a piece, Melanie is graceful, collaborative and truly one of a kind.
Visit » San Diego
by Courtney Browne
We love San Diego - we have dear friends who live there and visit regularly. The weather is nearly perfect, there's so much to do, and with countless beaches nearby, what's not to love?! We always try to pack in as many activities as possible, and while there are countless options, I'm highlighting our adventures from our latest trip!
One of our most recent highlights was going to a San Diego FC game. This is the city’s first year having a professional soccer team, and we were lucky enough to visit when they were playing the Seattle Sounders. Although the Sounders lost, we had the BEST time! The kids loved taking the trolley through town, and the adults loved that it took us to the stadium's parking lot.
Since we had a bunch of kids in tow, we made it a priority to visit the (nearly) 2,000-acre San Diego Zoo! Don’t be intimidated by its size; they offer bus tours, and there's even a gondola you can take through the park! While we were there, we were able to sneak a peek at the famous red pandas that were on loan from China! The kids all picked their "must-see animal,” so we bopped to and fro, and ended our visit with some French fries and face painting, as one does.
While in town, we also went to Coronado Island. The Hotel Del Coronado is a MUST-visit. The history of the hotel is so rich, and the building is just so elegant. I loved watching the old-timey elevator cars while Ellie was pretty infatuated with discovering all of the movie stars and celebrities who have stayed there over the years. While it’s currently undergoing renovations, they are doing an amazing job of keeping the integrity and beauty of the old building. We stopped and had lunch on site and sat outdoors on the patio overlooking the beach. Of course, we followed it up with some ice cream sundaes at the Del. They have all the classic flavors, but also specialize in a special Mexican popsicle treat called paletas, which is what I chose! YUM. Later, we spent the afternoon playing at the beach, and none of us wanted to leave when it was time to pack up. Watching the military aircraft flyovers while sitting on the beach was especially spectacular for all involved. I have far too many pictures and videos!
The island boutiques are the best, and it’s so fun to support local businesses. I’m a big fan of stationery stores, so Seaside Papery was my little slice of heaven. There are great boutiques for grown-ups and kids alike, and of course, Geppetto’s Toys was a must-see! Coronado is also very dog-friendly, so we brought our tiny little furry companion, Millie, everywhere with us. Some restaurants even offer a “doggy dish," and Millie was able to enjoy grilled chicken while we had our people food.
There are so many great neighborhoods and places to visit in San Diego that it’s pretty hard to highlight them all! We had great meals out, but it was truly just enjoying time with our friends that made this last trip so special for us! We cannot wait to go back and explore new (to us) beaches and nearby towns.