The pace of Seattle’s transformation is mind-boggling. Seems the entire city has been turned into one massive construction zone. Everywhere, cranes color the skies: Amazon’s glassy towers sprouting like dandelions on steroids above South Lake Union; a new 50-story skyscraper planned for downtown, next to the Rainier Tower; nearly 30 apartment buildings going up in Capitol Hill—while developers snap up parking lots and vacant spaces to construct four new hotels on Stewart Street. Yes, Seattleites, don’t leave home without your hardhat. Those cranes are here to stay.

Read all of our picks for People & Places, and explore the rest of this year’s edition of Best of Seattle.