CORE MEMORY: A MAGICAL TRADITION AT THE MAXWELL

By Celina Hymer

I was three years old when my mom took me to my first ballet, The Nutcracker. Now at 45, traveling to Seattle to see her and looking forward to our annual tradition of seeing The Nutcracker together remains, without exaggeration, the highlight of our Christmas season.

Photo 1: Large Tree and The Pacific Northwest Ballet, Photo by Celina Hymer | Photo 2: Exterior Signage and Statue at The Maxwell Hotel, Photo by Celina Hymer

It has become a holiday tradition that’s hard to put into words how meaningful it is to us. We have not missed a year. Out of all the performances we’ve seen in multiple theaters across multiple states, the Pacific Northwest Ballet production in Seattle is our favorite. Seattle is the only place we could imagine seeing The Nutcracker and having The Maxwell Hotel in so many of the core memories of our tradition makes our time together extraordinary.

PNB Company dancers in George Balanchine's The Nutcracker®, choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust, photo © Angela Sterling

The Maxwell Hotel fits seamlessly into this tradition. The location — walking distance to all the spots in the Seattle Center, including McCaw Hall for The Nutcracker performances and the Monorail to get downtown — is perfect. Our room offered amazing views of the Space Needle and the lovely trees along the city streets. One of the best things about our tradition is that we can park our car at the beginning of our three-night stay and feel like “locals” throughout our visit.

The staff is exceptional. We are treated like honored guests, and every single member of The Maxwell Hotel team has been kind and patient with us. This includes their very special interactions with my daughter Quinn, who became part of this tradition when she was eight years old. She has always considered the hotel her own. Now 10, she explores the hotel independently, makes sure the piano in the lobby is working, and immediately befriends the staff. My daughter might even say it’s her favorite memory of the whole year.

Photo 1: Drinking Hot Cocoa at Pineapple Bistro & Bar, Photo by Celina Hymer | Photo 2: Decor Inside the Winter Wonderland Suite at The Maxwell Hotel, Photo by Celina Hymer