Final Scene: Happy Landings

Photo & Text Copyright 2006 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

What goes up comes down more or less okay. These two guys repeated many slides down the rail, but none with landings quite like this. If that had been me coming down on my shoulder and hand, I don't think I'd be getting up to do it again. To see what happens next and to view more skateboarding shots, click my More Seattle Stuff page. skateboarding Seattle+skateboardrail+slide skateboard+landing Ballard+skate+park Seattle+skate+park skateboarders

Scene Two: The Great Seattle Rail Slide-Off

Here goes buddy number two in quick succession to yesterday's skateboarder. These guys moves are like airborn ballet most of the time. Sometimes it's like they sent in the clowns, though. Tomorrow's photo will complete the triptich and show you how these two jumps turned out. Till then, enjoy this beautiful Indian Summer day (or spring if you're down under)! Seattle+skateboard rail+slide skateboarding+Seattle Seattle+skate+park Ballard+skate+park Ballard+skateboard thrasher skateboard+stairs skateboard+rail

Sliding the Rail in Seattle

I remember when I lived in beach territory that friends who surfed would have photographer friends sit on a board out in the waves and take shots of them inside the curl or take videos from shore of them dropping down a wave and riding it out. So, it didn't surprise me when I visited this Seattle skateboarding park that I wasn't the only one recording what I saw. This guy and his buddy had a videographer shooting them as they went down this 7-stair rail. Tomorrow I'll post what I saw next. . . Seattle+skateboarding Seattle+skate+park Seattle+rail+slide Ballard+skateboard+park Seattle+skateboard+photo 7-stair+rail+skateboard+photo skateboarder

The Bon Marche

Here is the facade of the landmark Seattle department store lovingly called "The Bon." (click on the photo for a larger image) When I was in college the animated holiday windows were a big draw for downtown shopping. Of course in the post-merger/takeover/everything-is-owned-by-the same-six-big-businesses-anyway era of ownership, The Bon hasn't been The Bon for quite some time: founded in 1890 and named by it's owners for a Paris store whose customer service they admired, it is now a Macy's. For a peek at The Bon Marche and Macy's signs on a different facade, click my More Seattle Stuff page. The+Bon+Marche Bon+Marche The+Bon Bon+Macy's Seattle+department+store Seattle+Bon+Marche Seattle+Bon Macy's+Seattle

Hey Mr. DJ

Photo & Text Copyright 206 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

I was passing this storefront and noticed a private party going on inside. It was a grand opening celebration for a new shop that features useful and decorative items which have been handmade by local Seattle artists and craftspeople. This DJ had his electronics and turntables set up right in the shop window and was bopping and dancing around to the music, twisting dials, moving platters, keeping things hopping for the guests inside. I think he may have been doing dnb oriented stuff, but not sure. Seattle+DJ dnb+dj dj dnb store+opening+SeattleQueen+Anne+art+crafts Hey+Mr.+DJ

A Little Too Much Fun

Photo & Text Copyright 2006 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction and republishing.

With her parents permission, I took this photo of a toddler who fell asleep in her stroller at the fair midway through a corndog. Apparently the excitement of the day was just too much! Me, I'm freaking out that this beautiful kid is going to aspirate part of her lunch when she comes to. . . Seattle+fair corndog child+sleeping Seattle+county+fair food+aspiration

County Fair In The Country Sun: I WON!

Photo & Text Copyright 2006 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

All summer long the city of Seattle seems to be one big festival town. But, when September rolls around, city folks head for the country, and the Puyallup Fair (a Native American word that most people pronounce as Pew-al-up). This young gent seemed pleased to have won his fair lady a huge prize through some feat of skill or blind luck in some game on the midway. PuyallupPuyallup+Fair county+fair+Seattle Seattle+fair county+fair+prize I+won

Seattle's Traffic Circles

If you drive anywhere in Seattle, you will find a scene similar to this at nearly every residential street intersection. Seattle's traffic circles, it has been said, are "as common as Starbuck's and rain." They were created to slow traffic at blind intersections to 15 mph. Since their widespread use here, traffic accidents at blind intersections have been reduced by over 70%. Neighbors keep up the landscaping (or not. . .). See more pics at More Seattle Stuff. Seattle+traffic+circles trafic+calming round+about blind+intersection slow+traffic no+stop+signs Seattle+circles circles traffic+circles

Kerry Hall, Cornish College of the Arts

If you wish to become an accomplished musician or dancer, this doorway might be the one to step through right into your dreams. Cornish College of the Arts is a highly respected school for performing and visual arts. This doorway into Kerry Hall of Cornish is located on Roy Street on Capitol Hill. (The visual and theater arts departments are in another location near Seattle Center.) The tile work on this (I think) 1915-1930 era doorway is beautiful and interesting. For a full look and more detailed photos click the link to my More Seattle Stuff page. Cornish Cornish+Seattle Cornish+College+of+the+Arts Kerry+Hall Cornish+Capitol+Hill tile+doorway Seattle+arts+college

Broadway Dance Steps

This is what you glimpsed near the top of yesterday's photo. For 4 blocks along Broadway on Capitol Hill you can follow the lovely tile trails on either side of the street to find 8 wonderful bronze sculptures embedded in the walkways. These eight different dance steps (pictured here is the Lindy Hop) are the work of artist Jack Mackie. In 1989 the city tore up the sidewalks on Broadway to put overhead wires underground. Mackie created these very popular, whimsical pieces to be included in the neighborhood "redux." Read more about the Rumba, Mombo, and other Broadway Dance Steps by clicking the link. Broadway+Seattle Broadway+Dance+Steps Jack+Mackie Mackie+Dance+Steps Seattle+Sidewalk+Art Seattle+Public+Art Dance+Steps Seattle+Dance+Steps Broadway+tile

Not Quite the Yellow Brick Road. . .

Clear across town from yesterday's photo, up on Capitol Hill I found this block-long mosaic tile pathway on Broadway. This shop's number can be read correctly forward or backward. Up ahead is a surprise embedded in the sidewalk. More on that tomorrow! Capitol+Hill+Seattle Broadway+Seattle Seattle+storefront Seattle+tile+work Seattle+dance+steps Broadway+dance+steps tile+mosaic Broadway+tile Seattle+sidewalk sidewalk+art

Artistic Touches in Seattle Storefronts

Despite their faded glory, these two colors of terrazo and their checkerboard borders of cheddar and black, black and white, and terra cotta and white tile patterns still delights. I found this in an old shop front doorway. Inlaid in black handcut letters in the terrazo was the name "Frank's." What pride that first proprietor must have taken in this entryway treatment. For a full view click my More Seattle Stuff page. doorway tile+work terrazo+entryway storefront+entry store+entry+tile+work tile+storefront Seattle+tile work Seattle+terrazo Frank's+Ballard Frank's+storefront

Surrealistic Fellow

Today the quarter begins at most colleges and universities in Seattle. A student newly back in town donned a woolly brimmed hat and hoody to stroll, seemingly invisibly, to the market. The clear light, nip in the air, and swell in the population of 18-25 year olds all seem to shout, "Autumn is nearly here." Metropolitan+Market+Queen+Anne Metropolitan+Market+Seattle shadows silhouette surrealistic Seattle+autumn

Cafe Decisions

As I was walking by a cafe doorway I glimpsed these two young women by chance. The way the late afternoon light outlined the young mother seemed so beautiful to me. I think they were considering food in a display case. Seattle+cafe Queen+Anne+cafe late+afternoon+light+photo Seattle+photo

Miro Paints Seattle Sunset

The wires, trolly lines, poles, street lamp, blobs of transformers and signal towers against the sunset gave me the feeling I was looking at Miro's take on the Seattle skyline. Miro wires trolly+lines tansformers Seattle Seattle+sunset Miro+Seattle

Truck in the Window

The last sunny Seattle summer day, the older children are back in school, the metal chairs outside the greengrocer sit empty at lunchtime in a busy week when no one has time to sit and chat. Summers of my childhood recall riding joyously in the back of my father's old 52 Chevy pickup truck. Ramp up life to warp speed, Mr. Sulu. Here we go barreling into fall. (Click this link for a full view of this cheerful store front tableau at my More Seattle Stuff page). Sunset+Hill+Greemarket Greenmarket greengrocer metal+chairs sidewalk+cafe wine+cheese+Seattle Seattle+neighborhood+market Seattle+street+scene Seattle+truck truck+reflection Seattle+photo

Farewell to Summer

It's the last hurrah in the gardens around Seattle. The light is dwindling earlier, yesterday the midday sun was bright, the air crisp, tree leaves beginning to turn red and amber, and the last blue-sky blooms were saying goodbye. Today gloom and drizzle, tomorrow rain. Farewell high summer. You were glorious!

Men's Back to School Fashion--Seattle Style

What the well dressed Frosh will be wearing on campus this year. . . Yes, Seattle's own Utilikilts are just the thing for frat parties or comfortable late night studies. Well, maybe mainly guys in art school or industrial education and technology classes--but I think they are gaining popularity with liberal arts types, as well. Prior to moving to Seattle, I'd only seen men in the US wear kilts to formal functions, such as black tie dinners and weddings. Here I've seen students, tradesmen, hikers, runners, and all kinds and ages of guys around Seattle wearing these casual kilts. They come in everything from goretex to leather. I even noticed a petite fashionista incorporating a black one of these into her very chic designer ensemble. See my More Seattle Stuff page for shots I took of the Interbay neighborhood store, which just closed and moved to the Pioneer Square neighborhood). Click this for a live model (a Seattle blogger who wears them). Remember, you saw them here first, folks. . . Utilikilts Seattle+Utilikilts Seattle+kilt kilt work+clothes men's+fashion Seattle+menswear Seattle+fashion kilts Seattle+clothing fall+fashion

Split Rectangle

Just beyond Frank Gehry's electric-guitar-red aluminium shingles and clear blue raised panels on the roof of the free flowing Experience Music Project, you can spy the Space Needle's revolving restaurant in the sky (46 minutes per full rotation) and 360 degree observation deck. Gehry expects the red paint of these shingles to fade with age, just as music changes over time. I liked the way the colors in this shot split the frame diagonally like a quilt block. Seattle+Center EMP Experience+Music+Project Frank+Gehry Gehry+design Space+Needle Observation+Deck O-Deck Rotating+Restaurant Split+Rectangle

Native Son

Jimi Hendrix grew up in Seattle's Central District (click the link to read about it). The house where he lived was moved last fall to the city of Renton, where Hendrix's memorial is located. I photographed this bronze statue of Hendrix where it currently sits on Broadway near the corner of Pine Street. It has been given to the city of Seattle by its owner and will soon be moved to the new Jimi Hendrix Park which was just developed. Click here for more shots I took.
Jimi+Hendrix Jimi+Hendrix+statue Jimi+Hendrix+Seattle Jimi+Hendrix+birthplace Jimi+Hendrix+Park Jimi+Hendrix+Broadway Jimi Hendrix Hendrix+statue Hendrix+Seattle

Are You Experienced?

Looking skyward at dawn under the undulating form of the stainless steel clad Experience Music Project. The EMP's exterior is covered by 21,000 uniquely shaped shingles that catch and reflect the light. The building was designed by Frank Gehry, and commissioned by Microsoft's Paul Allen to honor Seattle native son, Jimi Hendrix, and the popular music of the 50s to the present. "Are you experienced?"
c. 2006 SDP All rights reserved Experience+Music+Project EMP Jimi+Hendrix Seattle+museum stainless+steel Seattle+Center Gehry Frank+Gehry Seattle+architecture

Art Underfoot

This eclectic tile patio is in the triangular plaza behind the Lenin statue (featured a few days ago). There are outdoor tables for a gelato shop and a seafood taco restaurant. It's an inviting place to sit and people watch, chat, eat, read, let your toddler find ponies, salmon, seashells, and cupboard door handles in the cement. It's huge, and one could spend hours looking at all the wonderful embedded tidbits. Click here for some fun detailed views. I had thought for a long time that I would like to photograph this; then one day I was telling someone about SDPhoto and he said, "You know, there's this tile patio in the Fremont that would be really cool. . ." That cinched it.

Seattle+art+tile Fremont+patio Fremont+plaza Taco+Del+Mar+patio Seattle+tile+work art+tile Fremont+tile+work Lenin+statue Fremont+Seattle

Aurora Bridge Reflection

You might like the view this contemporary houseboat offers of the tall Aurora Bridge that spans the Lake Washington Ship Canal where it meets Lake Union. Actually, the bridge is really named the George Washington Memorial Bridge, but hardy anyone refers to it as such. It carries Hwy 99, also known as Aurora Ave., a major thoroughfare running north/south through town, and most people just call it the Aurora Bridge. It is the only bridge spanning the ship canal that is not a draw bridge, and its graceful arches can be clearly seen from across the lake. Unfortunately, because of its height, the bridge has been a magnet for upset people contemplating suicide.

I didn't notice the bridge in the window until I downloaded the photo. I liked the way the reflection's line angled across the window and the line continues to be carried by the roofline. This strikingly designed 1 bedroom 1 1/2 bath houseboat built in 1991 is for sale. Can you guess the asking price? Would you believe only $998,800--but hey, it comes with a kayak! :^) Check out more views of its other features by clicking here, and dream.

Aurora+Bridge George+Washington+Memorial+Bridge Lake+Union Fremont Seattle+Houseboat Lake+Union+Houseboat Floating+Home+Seattle Bridge+Reflection

The OTHER Thing Under the Aurora Bridge

He's seen you, watch out!

Yes, that is a real VW Beetle in his grasp. The Fremont Troll doesn't hear The Three Billy Goats Gruff up on his bridge. Instead, he hears the hundreds of cars that zoom overhead on Hwy 99 (Aurora Avenue). He has plucked one of them down for lunch. You're NEXT!

You can read about its history and how the Troll's artist creators constructed it by clicking here. The Troll is another of Seattle's unique takes on Nordic traditions. The open air Duck Boat Tours (you may remember from here) used to drive by the Troll in years past, but not anymore. Some local tours in enclosed vans do drive right up for a close look, brave souls. If you'd like a close up from a safe distance and a more complete view check my More Seattle Stuff page.

Fremont Fremont+Troll Troll Seattle+Troll Aurora+Bridge Hwy+99 Duck+Boat VW

Salmon Under Seattle's Aurora Bridge

Actually, make that a grey whale, a three-masted tall ship, and some salmon against the sun and sky beneath the Aurora Avenue (George Washington) Bridge in the Fremont district. I took this shot of a whimsical handcrafted fence at History House of Greater Seattle, whose motto is " giving every neighborhood a place to tell their story." You will find the unusual and unique on display, and all of it really interesting. For instance, you can learn about one of those 50's roadside attractions called Hat and Boots that has distinguished one south Seattle neighborhood, which, like Fremont, is also known for its artistic community.

Fremont's Epi Center Apartments

Seattle's condo and apartment dwellers generally gravitate toward the popular Capitol Hill and Belltown neighborhoods. But should you wish to have a really distinctive address complete with gigantic free-form sculpture enveloping the building's corner tower, the Epi
Apartments could be for you. The studio through 2 bedroom units sit above a popular health conscious co-op grocery store and an ice cream store, and are right next to Peet's Coffee & Tea on the corner. The Fremont Bridge is just steps away, and the Burke-Gilman Bicycle Trail runs right in front of the building. There is currently construction going on at the intersection due to bridge refitting, but when it's over the very famous art installation that people love to dress up, "Waiting for the Inter-Urban," will be put back in it's place just catty-corner to this sculpture-clad tower. For a full view of the complex click here.

Epi epi+apartments Fremont building+sculpture Seattle Fremont+district Fremont+apartment Seattle+apartment Burke+Gilman+Trail PCC+Seattle PCC+Fremont Coldstone+Seattle Peet's+Coffee+Seattle

Not Your Average American Monument

This colossal and controversial bronze sculpture of Lenin sits in front of the Toco Del Mar restaurant plaza in the heart of the Fremont district's commercial zone. It is huge and it is for sale for $150,000. Last Christmas season I noticed it was strung with red lights! The story of the sculptor, the statue's toppling in the former Chechoslovakia in 1989, and how it came to Fremont can be viewed here. It is believed to be the only depiction of Lenin among flames and rifles instead of more common statues of him carrying a book and such. To give you an idea of its size, if you click on the photo to enlarge it you can better see a man's foot (wearing a flip flop)just visible to the left behind the statue.

Lenin Fremont Lenin+Statue+Fremont Lenin+Statue Lenin+Sculpture Seattle+Lenin+Statue

"De Libertas Quirkas"

Seattle's Fremont neighborhood marches to the beat of its own drum. Even Fremont's 53-foot tall real Korean-built salvaged cold war era Rocket mounted on a corner shop carries the neighborhood motto: "De Libertas Quirkas." It marks The Center of the Universe. What was once a thriving progressive counter-culture has tamed into more of a barrista-counter culture. The fun, quirky cultural icons of the self-proclaimed Republic of Fremont are left.

Fremont Fremont+Rocket Seattle+Rocket Center+of+the+Universe

Alleyway at the Center of the Universe

After yesterday's doorways from around the world (46+ locations), perhaps you would enjoy seeing some windows from the "Center of the Universe." I spied these arched windows while peering up an alley in Seattle's much celebrated Fremont neighborhood. I loved the repetitive pattern in the brick arches and changing sizes of the windows, the blue painted surface, the alley's incline, and the found art outside a shop doorway.

The Fremont district borders the shipping canal that runs between the Sound to Lake Union and beyond to Lake Washington. It's been known as the epitome of artsy fartsy since the 50s and has attracted creative free spirits and boho wannabees in the decades since. Now it's still smart and hip and funky, but has gone a lot more upscale since my college days when it was more a blue-collar-meets-crunchy-granola sort of place.

alley Fremont windows Seattle+alley Seattle+Fremont Center+of+the+Universe

Seattle Live-Aboard's Doorway

Many people here in Seattle live on board their houseboats and boats. This shot is of the port door of The Compass Rose which was in a slip on Lake Union (that's the Aurora Bridge in the background). This cabin door was just so sweet, I just couldn't resist! (For a view of the entire boat, click here)

46 City Daily Photo bloggers around the globe are participating in the September 1st theme day: Doorways. Please use the links to below to visit them. (Due to time zone differences and other factors, the theme photo may not be displayed until later if you are viewing early in the day.)

1 - Porto (Portugal) -2 - Copenhagen (Denmark) -3 - Trier/Treves (Germany) -4 - Hyde (UK) -5 - Greenville, SC (USA) -6 - Trondheim (Norway) -7 - Manila (Philippines) -8 - Willamette Valley, OR (USA) -9 - Cottage Grove, MN (USA) -10 - Alexandria, VA (USA) -11 - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) -12 - Guadalajara (Mexico) -13 - Szentes (Hungary) -14 - Sydney (Australia) -15 - Wellington (New Zealand) -16 - Sharon, CT (USA) -17 - Albuquerque, NM (USA) -18 - Washington, DC [Passante] -19 - Chattanooga, TN (USA) -20 - Antigua (Guatemala) -21 - Rotterdam (Netherlands) -22 - Portsmouth (UK) -23 - Ryde (UK) -24 - Saarbrücken (Germany) -25 - London (UK) -26 - Newcastle (UK) -27 - Singapore -28 - Aliso Viejo, CA (USA) -29 - Seattle, WA (USA) [Kim] -30 - Sandiego, CA (USA) [Felicia] -31 - Jakarta (Indonesia) -32 - Vallauris (France) -33 - Brussels (Belgium) -34 - Seattle, WA (USA) [Susan] -35 - Stavanger (Norway) -36 - Paris (France) -37 - Sainte Maxime (France) -38 - Hong Kong (HK) -39 - Oulu (Finland) -40 - Trujillo (Peru)-41 - Berlin (Germany) -42- Vantaa (Finland) -43 - Melbourne (Australia) -44 - Delta, CO (USA). This just in: For 45 and 46, click the links to the right for Parma, Italy, anEdinburghghScotlandnd.

doors doorway daily+photo daily+photo+theme+day Seattle+door boat+door cabin+door Lake+Union Seattle+boat