The Connoisseur | Hill Harper
You may know Hill Harper as an acclaimed actor, bestselling author, and humanitarian—but step inside ASA Gathering, and you’ll meet Hill the host. Hill the curator. Hill the connoisseur of spirits who has quietly created one of the most thoughtful and inviting spaces on Mercer Island.
ASA isn’t just another bar—it’s a sanctuary of connection. From the moment you enter, the lighting softens, the world slows, and a quiet elegance takes over. The seating—a mix of well-placed chairs and low-slung sofas—encourages unhurried conversations. The patio glows at night, filled with laughter and layered conversations beneath the stars. Whether you come alone, meet a friend, arrive as a couple, or celebrate with a group, ASA feels like it was made just for that moment.
On a recent Friday night, the room was alive in that way only great spaces can be—comfortable, not crowded. Hill, ever gracious, moved through the evening with ease—welcoming guests, taking photos, sharing a warm word with each table, and offering heartfelt goodbyes to those heading out.
At one point, Hill stepped outside to personally thank a couple on their way out. “Please come by and see us again,” he said with a warmth that clearly wasn’t rehearsed. Moments later, that same couple returned—this time with a larger group—gathering spontaneously on the outdoor patio for a group photo. Hill had reignited the spirit of the night. He brought out the heart and soul of the party, reminding everyone that ASA is more than a place to stop by—it’s a place to stay connected.
This was especially gratifying, as I was there with my longtime friend, reactivating our common interests. I felt exactly like Hill envisioned during our first interview.
“I want ASA to feel like a place where people can reconnect—with each other, with themselves, with the moment,” Hill says.
ASA Gathering is open every day, and well into the night:
Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, you’re greeted like a regular and treated like a friend.
In a world where hospitality can feel transactional, ASA reminds you what it’s like to be truly hosted. Hill has created something rare—a space rooted in care, craft, and connection. And once you’ve been, it won’t be long before you find yourself returning again.
“In a busy world, finding a space that invites you to just be—that’s powerful. That’s what we’re trying to offer here, one meaningful drink and one meaningful night at a time.”
The Music Man | Marc Russo
Dual Identity – Builder by Day, DJ by Night
How do those two worlds intersect or influence each other?
People are always surprised when they learn I’m both a homebuilder and a DJ—but to me, they’re both acts of creativity and connection. At JayMarc Homes, we don’t just build luxury homes—we create a memorable experience by helping clients bring their dream to life. DJing taps into that same mission. It’s about playing music that makes people feel happy, connectedand energized.
And then there’s my third world: writing my book, Inspire Happiness: Create a Blueprint for a Happy Life. That work is about helping others design their own version of joy and purpose. Whether I’m building a home, curating a DJ set, or writing a book, it all comes back to the same thing—creating spaces where people can thrive.
Musical Beginnings – The Spark of Sound
When did you first start DJing? What sparked your passion?
My DJ journey started in 1990 at the University of Washington with my business partner and great friend, Jay Mezistrano. DJing was actually our first entrepreneurial venture—we spun music at nearly every fraternity and sorority party across campus. We built friendships, packed dance floors, and had an absolute blast.
In 1995, we sold the business so we could go full-time into real estate. That’s when we started buying fixer homes across Seattle—and JayMarc Homes was born from that leap. But the love for music never left.
The Creative Process – Flow Meets Intention
How do you prepare for a DJ set?
In 2019, after a 25-year break, I felt the pull to start DJing again. At first, it was small parties, fundraisers, and local charity events. But one day, I set a big, crazy goal: to DJ in clubs and festivals around the world. That dream took three years—and a global pandemic—to achieve.
I had to relearn everything from scratch: new equipment, creating original music, and building a personal brand on social media. Once I understood the technical and creative landscape, I had to find my place in the world of DJing. I landed on becoming an opening DJ—the one who sets the tone for the night, building energy without overshadowing the headliner.
That role is an art form. It’s about curating a mood—getting people excited while holding back just enough to create anticipation. Preparing a set often takes hundreds of hours for just one hour of music. I blend tracks that flow seamlessly, mixing familiar favorites with fresh new finds to keep the energy building without ever breaking it.
Culture & Community – Music as Emotional Connection
What role does DJ culture play in shaping community?
Music is one of the greatest emotional connectors we have. A song can instantly transport you back to a moment when you felt alive, free, or loved. That’s what I love about DJing—it’s a gateway to happiness. People let go of stress, come together, and just feel.
One of my favorite gigs was at Belly Up in Aspen, a legendary 450-person club that attracts some of the world’s biggest acts. I got to open for Claptone during two sold-out shows. People flew in from around the world, and my wife was there with me—it was one of those unforgettable moments where everything just aligned.
Influences & Icons – Soundtrack of a Life
Who are your biggest musical influences?
From the old school: Roger Sanchez, Carl Cox, Frankie Knuckles, and Masters at Work—the legends who laid the foundation. From the new wave: Fred again.., James Hype, and ODESZA. All of them tell stories through their sets. They don’t just play music—they create a journey.
An album or track that changed your life?
“You Don’t Know Me” by Armand Van Helden. That track opened my eyes to how music could be bold, soulful, and emotionally raw all at once.
Guilty pleasure track?
“Music Sounds Better with You” – by Stardust timeless, feel-good, and impossible not to dance to.
Best crowd you’ve ever played for?
Hands down, Stereo Live in Houston and Dallas. Two sold-out shows, 2,000+ people, opening up for Claptone—a bucket-list moment. That’s when I knew I had achieved the dream I set for myself years before.
What was your dream DJ gig?
Miami Music Week at the SLS Hotel Hyde Beach. I had the honor of opening for Fatboy Slim, Claptone, and James Hype—all in one weekend. Even better, I had eight of my best friends fly down to celebrate with me. It was everything I’d imagined and more.
Three words that describe your vibe behind the decks?
Happy. Creative. Fun
The Style Authority | Sunil Kumar
The Modern Gentleman. A look into the wardrobe, mindset, and rituals of a man who leads with quiet confidence and timeless style
Style Origins - How would you describe your personal style in a few words?
Casual, a little bold, and elegant. I love plaid pants and jackets—mixing things up keeps it interesting.
Where did your sense of style come from? Have you always been drawn to fashion, or did it evolve over time?
My mother always dressed me well, and my grandfather had his suits custom-made by a tailor. As a kid, I’d even bring my own ideas to the tailor. I’ve always loved style—GQ was a big influence. To me, clothes are a reflection of your personality, your confidence, and your ability to connect. They don’t define you, but they can express something you love—and my wife and daughter appreciate that.
The Signature Look - Is there a go-to piece in your wardrobe that you feel most yourself in?
I’ve worn Brunello Cucinelli for over 20 years. I usually go with Cucinelli pants, Isaia jackets, and suede shoes—especially from Bontoni. Shoes make a huge difference. I also love knits and polos for a relaxed, polished feel.
How do you balance looking sharp with the laid-back vibe of the Pacific Northwest?
The Northwest definitely leans casual, but I like to dress a little differently—casual pants, knits, and tailored jackets from my favorite designers. Over time, I’ve found a way to express myself while staying comfortable and appropriate for the setting.
Where do you love to shop—locally or online?
I’m a loyal client at Mario’s in Seattle, where I work with my style advisor, Chris. They know my whole family, and I order new pieces every season—Zegna, Isaia, Kiton, and of course, Cucinelli. For online shopping, I go to Gucci, Prada, Farfetch, and Neiman Marcus. I also have a great style advisor for those.
Do you work with a tailor? How important is fit when it comes to making a statement?
Fit is everything. Even the best clothes don’t look good if they don’t fit properly. Sue’s Tailoring is phenomenal—she can make anything look couture. I also work with tailors at Mario’s, especially during trunk shows.
What role do you think style plays in how others perceive you—and how you feel about yourself?
Style sends a message before you say a word. It’s not about impressing others—it’s about feeling confident, being thoughtful in how you present yourself, and creating a sense of connection.
Favorite spot on Mercer Island for a quick pick-me-up or relaxed meeting?
Barrels Wine Bar—I run into so many friends there, and the staff is incredibly welcoming. I also enjoy the South End Starbucks. The baristas there are great to talk with.
Any barbers, tailors, or shops in the area you’d recommend?
I stay loyal to the people who know my style. Charlie at Salon Louis in Bellevue is my go-to.
What does being a “modern gentleman” mean to you today?
It’s not just how you dress—it’s about your attitude, your behavior, and your willingness to listen. A gentleman is defined by confidence, thoughtfulness, and how he relates to others. And one of the best accessories? A smile—and it’s free.
How do you define elegance or sophistication in a world that’s increasingly casual?
It comes down to grooming, fit, and a few well-chosen accessories. You don’t need a huge wardrobe—just well-fitted clothes, polished shoes, and details like a pocket square, scarf, or colorful socks. I always keep a comb and a handkerchief in my pocket. Those small touches make a difference.
Quick Stitch: Rapid Fire Round
Tie or no tie?
No ties since leaving Silicon Valley.
Coffee or wine?
Coffee in the morning. Wine in the evening—usually red, but I enjoy experimenting with whites and rosés in the summer. A Bordeaux blend with a little structure is always great.
Shoes that make the man?
So many! Bontoni shoes with matching belts, Cucinelli, Gucci, Prada. I order several pairs each season—Keyton loafers are a favorite. I love pairing chinos and loafers with a casual jacket.
In one sentence: Style is…
Not just the way you dress, but a reflection of your personality, confidence, and how you connect with others.
The Taste Makers | Ed Kashiba and Jason Farrish
The Taste Makers
Ed Kashiba of Takai by Kashiba & Jason Farrish of The Crawlspace Gastropub
Two chefs. Two wildly different kitchens. One shared passion: creating unforgettable food experiences rooted in creativity, culture, and community.
At Takai by Kashiba, Ed Kashiba carries on a legendary family tradition with a modern edge. As the son of Seattle’s iconic Shiro Kashiba, Ed blends classical Japanese technique with a fresh eye for seasonality and simplicity. “I want the ingredients to speak for themselves,” he says. From pristine nigiri to delicate, balanced dishes, every plate reflects reverence for the craft and a deep understanding of Pacific Northwest seafood. His go-to ingredient? Fresh wasabi root—grated to order for a clean, dynamic finish.
Across the culinary spectrum, Jason Farrish of The Crawlspace Gastropub redefines comfort food with bold, unexpected flavor combinations. Known for his inventive menu and irreverent style, Jason describes his kitchen as “a lab, a playground, and sometimes a therapy session.” His signature dish—a Korean fried chicken sandwich with house-fermented pickles and chili aioli—embodies his boundary-pushing ethos. For Jason, the must-have ingredient is gochujang: “It’s spicy, funky, and full of umami—it wakes everything up.”
While their styles differ, both chefs celebrate the bounty of the Northwest and the power of food to build connection. Whether through delicate sashimi or a knockout burger, Ed and Jason prove that great cooking isn’t just about technique—it’s about telling a story, taking risks, and nourishing community.
The Modern Creative | Stu Denman: Explore the work of a man blending innovation and art
A deep dive into innovation, imagination, and interactive design
1. Creative Origins
- How did your journey into game and app development begin? Was there a pivotal moment or project that set you on this path?
Two words are meaningful to me when I think of my origins in games and technology: Mentorship and Limitations. When I was a little kid, my friends had game consoles like the Atari 2600 and my parents were not big into buying the latest technology. Our 8’ square TV was still black and white in the 80’s. This limitation made me dream about what it would be like to play video games at home on a big color TV. So as a kid, I did a lot of hands-on creative play, things like legos, art and photography and continued to take art classes through high school. In middle school at age 12, I met an amazing math+photography teacher, Mr. Wahle, who had a classroom full of computers, which was pretty unusual for my small town. He ran an after-school computer club, but it was basically a bunch of geeks hanging out, being silly, making games and programming computers to fill the screen with colorful visuals and sounds. The next Christmas, I was heading to bed and found a large present blocking the stairs to my room. Inside was my own computer, which was a pivotal moment for me, and showed my parent’s great support for my interests.
Another hugely pivotal moment was when I started my first game studio, Surreal, which really taught me so much about all the pieces and roles involved in making and marketing a good game. I started Surreal, incidentally, with another long-time Mercer Islander, Nick Radovich. Surreal was a relatively independent and vibrant game studio for 15 years before being merged with Warner Brothers Games.
2. Design & Development Process
- Can you walk us through your creative process when developing a game or app? Where do you start—mechanics, story, visuals?
I start with the mechanics (interactive experience) and the visuals. I’m a bit obsessed with making something new and original, so I do a lot of research to make sure I’m exploring a space that hasn’t been done before. Usually that means there are difficult problems to solve. Otherwise people would have done it before, right?
I would describe my creative process as “organic” and “playful” which means I don’t have a lot of structure or a particular goal in mind, other than I’m looking for fun new experiences with a particular game mechanic. So for example, when I designed Tiny Bubbles, I was intrigued by the structure and movement of soap bubbles and I had a strong gut feeling that there was a fun game in this idea. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was until I jumped over a lot of hurdles to bring this strange physics to life on the screen. Once I was convinced of the potential, then I had my co-designer and I just play with different ideas, start tossing bubbles up on the screen and see how they behave and the puzzles come to life out of that play.
- How do you balance form and function—making something that’s beautiful and intuitive?
This is a very difficult problem, even more than simulating the molecular dynamics of soap bubbles! It helps to have a sense for what looks good and what does not because if you have this sense then I find any design skills you lack can usually be learned. It’s important to keep things simple. If you can explain something in a game without words, that’s better for a frictionless first time player experience. I personally gravitate toward complicated things and so I won’t necessarily remove complicated puzzles from the game, but I will move them to appear later in a player’s journey so they can work up to this level of challenge.
3. Inspiration & Influence
- Where do you draw inspiration from—games, art, architecture, real-life experiences?
Other games are certainly a big influence to all game designers, but art and nature are my biggest inspirations. Nature has evolved into these unbelievably beautiful structures, colors, and behaviors that for me provide an endless bounty of untapped ideas. I suppose I’ve always been as much a scientist as a creator. But ideas can come from anywhere. My Grandfather was a huge influence on my interests, as is my wife and 2 boys. While the soap bubble idea came from my Grandfather, if you think about it, foam bubbles are literally right in front of us every day whenever we wash our hands. We’re just so used to seeing it, from babyhood, that its incredible charm is practically invisible to us.
- Are there designers, creators, or studios whose work you admire or who’ve influenced your own style?
There are too many to name! I love the visual design, simplicity and playfulness of the Monument Valley series by UsTwo Studios, which could not exist without M.C.Escher who I admire tremendously. Also other game developers who made impossible-object games before it, like Echochrome and Hocus. There have also been some influential talks at the Game Developers Conference over the years, such as by Zach Gage, Will Wright, and the famous “Juice It or Lose It” talk, which showed how simple “feedback” animations to player actions can make even a simple game feel so much more alive and fun.
4. Culture of Play
- What do you think games and interactive experiences can teach us about culture, creativity, or even ourselves?
To think more flexibly and to appreciate the beauty of diverse perspectives. This is true for many artforms. Art isn’t made for everybody, it’s made for somebody. Not everything is made for you but that’s OK and that’s a good thing. People review artworks, games and restaurants as if they were designed just for them and then pan it with great passion. I find this amusing, which probably helps me have a thicker skin!
Also collective creation. So just like a restaurant, games often require a group of talented individuals to work together to create something wonderful and those different selves make a better whole. Beauty can also come from lack of control and a collective work can manifest this idea sometimes better than one created by an individual artist.
- How do you approach creating something that resonates with people across different ages and backgrounds?
This shouldn’t always be the goal, but for Tiny Bubbles it definitely was and so I approached it with kindness, respect and “play” as the primary design pillars. Respect for players is unusual in my business, which is primarily mobile games. It is dominated by big data where every cent is squeezed out of players using psychologically-manipulative techniques. Unfortunately it works, but turns off many players to what would otherwise be a fantastic gaming platform in the hands of nearly every person on earth!
6. Favorite Projects
- Is there a project you’re especially proud of—either for how it turned out or what you learned in the process?
Tiny Bubbles for sure, but not just because of the dozens of awards it has won (which I’m obviously very grateful for that recognition), but because it was the first project that I designed and built from my own inspiration and leadership, as opposed to an idea created by other people on the team.
Also I’m very proud of my work with the Seattle Universal Math Museum, which is still very much a work in progress but has made a real impact in the community. Creativity is very important here, because we’re showing kids that math isn’t just the rigor of traditional math curriculum, but can have a rich visual and interactive appeal that we mistakenly omit from school learning.
- What’s one challenge you overcame in development that ended up making the work stronger?
Definitely the physics simulation that underlies the Tiny Bubbles soap was an incredible challenge to overcome and a leap of faith because I had to spend 3 weeks getting this physics to work before I knew if the game was going to be fun or not. I was learning this Ph.D-level math and also trying to make it calculate fast enough to run on a mobile phone!
This is a classic interview question, but it’s classic for a reason because it vets our perseverance. It’s important to acknowledge that not just the challenges and hurdles, but mistakes make us and the work stronger. It’s critical to teach our kids at home and at school to recognize that successful people have just made more mistakes and failed more than unsuccessful ones.
8. Living a Creative Life
- What keeps you creatively inspired or curious day to day?
I think I hopefully answered this above in Section 3.
- How do you recharge or reset when you hit a creative block?
I usually put things on the back burner and let them “cook” a bit more. I believe our brains do a lot of creative thinking and problem solving while we sleep, so I don’t see sleep as unproductive time like I used to in college. Lately I’ve been using AI chat to help me think more creatively and problem solve, but I think coworkers are an excellent help as well, which I don’t surround myself with enough of, these days.
9. Quick Tap:
- First video game you ever loved? Ballblazer by LucasArts.
- App you wish you had built? Monument Valley (Creative me) or YouTube (Business me)
- Favorite soundtrack from a game? It’s a tie between Hexic and Minecraft
- Go-to creative snack or beverage? Mocha, iced in summer, hot the rest of the year.
- Three words that describe your design aesthetic? Playful, Graphical, Mysterious