Seattle Daily Photo: June 2007

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Mr. & Mrs. Smith Go to Washington

This couple kind of reminded me of some celebs, but there is something more east coast about them. . .maybe the outerwear and the resemblance of the woman to the late wife of JFK Jr. They were walking along 2nd Ave. in the Belltown neighborhood after work on a Friday. Perhaps she's inquiring if the new iphones were going on sale at 6 PM? There are about a thousand of those visible around town tonight! Have you seen one in your city yet?

Thanks to the many readers who contacted me about the formatting problem of the past couple months and for your patience through it. I gave up trying to resolve the disappearing background wrapper with the web host and had to just scrap the old template altogether, a big undertaking I couldn't get to until recently. I think we'll use the new face lift to help to celebrate SDP's upcoming one year anniversary on July 8th. Not only will that day mark the 365th daily post, but I expect to have on or about that day my 40,000 th visitor to SDP (currently 38,698 visitors from 113 countries!). Hope you will drop by to help celebrate on the 8th! Meanwhile, tomorrow is "Theme Day" for the City Daily Photo Bloggers, always a fun event. Our July theme is "Red." Lots of great possibilities for that here in Seattle. . .hope you'll come enjoy a trip around the world in Red.

Friday, June 29, 2007

All The Diamonds

. . .in this world that mean anything to me, are conjured up by wind and sunlight sparkling on the sea. ~ B. Cockburn

Summer here in Seattle is filled with festivals and fun outdoor events every weekend, but nothing beats just walking by the water on a workday and enjoying the balmy breezes and the beautiful views. I took this shot while at the Olympic Sculpture Park, a great place for people watching.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Ready For Most Anything

I took this shot of a table top parade of condiments in a popular Seattle restaurant that prides itself in it regional American cooking. The 5 Spot on Queen Anne Hill features dishes from five areas in the USA, four of which remain constant and one of which rotates and is featured for a number of weeks. Currently they are visiting Hawaii. Book 'em, Danno! They decorate the interior for the theme (including a number of commissioned poster-sized paintings), put out special placements and table settings, and go all out to cook up really yummy offerings. This is a place you can get breakfast all day. Comfort food in a comfortable setting. Always a crowd, a pro wait staff, and attention to the fun factor by the kitchen crew.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Applied Urban Geometry

Not quite your Paris rooftop scene, eh? Here are four Seattle buildings which are actually far apart, but my zoom compressed the feel to make them seem as if they were next to each other. I shot this from the 17th floor of a building on First Hill, looking west toward downtown. In the foreground are the mechanical structures on the roof of an old apartment building, just past those are the reflective windows and pink stone face of a high rise, a Louvre-like pyramid roof cap is beyond that, and furthest away the concrete and window bands of an office building. I liked all the geometric shapes that compose the pieces.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

'Rasin'

Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen's sculpture Typewriter Eraser, Scale X is a popular work at the Olympic Sculpture Park. Whenever I see it on the hillside, it makes me smile to think of it careening down at breakneck speed, smudging out anything in its path. It would be fun to animate this. The grasses and wildflowers have grown in now to create a lush and colorful carpet.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Day Labor Pick Up Zone

I shot this while driving by Casa Latina's pick up point for immigrant day laborers. The sidewalk is lined for a block with people available for hire. Contractors or homeowners who need extra help with projects can phone or drop by the charitable organization's site to arrange for workers who can then be driven by the organization to the job site or picked up in this zone in the Belltown neighborhood. Workers can receive support services and training and make casual work agreements with potential employers in relative safety and with a collectively agreed upon minimum wage and work scale. Way different than the day laborer zones I used to see in Marin City and Berkeley, CA where guys represented themselves, stood at the curb outside lumber yards and such and negotiated with potential employers themselves. I'm curious to know how day laborers make themselves available for employment in other communities and countries. What have you seen where you live? How are they received or looked on in your community?

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Corner Scooter

Hope you are enjoying a relaxing Sunday. Belltown neighborhood condo dwellers can take an early morning scooter ride to pick up some pastries or Top Pot donuts and the Sunday paper, then head back home to enjoy them with coffee on their balconies overlooking Seattle Center, Downtown, Elliot Bay and the Sound. Vespas and other scooters are very popular here.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

The Triple Door

Seattle is full of night life and wonderful concert venues, from the symphony to pop, roots, rock, and jazz clubs. This is the scene just as people are exiting a concert at the Triple Door in downtown Seattle. There is a mainstage dinner theater that seats 300, and a separate bar venue called the Musicquarium for smaller combos. There is also a pan-asian restaurant called Wild Ginger above the two venues. The Triple Door serves up a very eclectic live playbill that includes up to the minute alt and rock bands, jazz legends, world music, pop, blues, even classical chamber music and live performances of music scores to films. I recently heard Jonatha Brooke in concert here and was super impressed by the crystal clear sound system. Music is a vital part of Seattle community life, and one can visit almost any neighborhood in the city and find a great live show to enjoy. After I uploaded this photo, I noticed the fellow in the blue shirt sort of highlighted in the midst of the crowd and liked that ;^).

Friday, June 22, 2007

It's the Last Day of School. . .Here Comes Vacation Time!

The Spirit of Disneyland, an Alaska Airlines 737, seen from Olympic Sculpture Park

While walking through the Olympic Sculpture Park, we looked up and spied Alaska Airline's "The Spirit of Disneyland." It is one of two such themed Boeing 737s that travel the route to Orange County's Disneyland, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Aircraft are a very common sight in Seattle skies, but this is the first time I've spotted this brightly painted craft. It was following the route along the western bluffs that I have seen is generally taken by cargo planes such as UPS and DSL. What a cheerful sight on the evening of the last day of school. I bet it gave kids who might have seen it exciting ideas of how they might like to spend some of their summertime vacation!

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Summer Is Here!

A walk through the Olympic Sculpture Park and along the waterfront on this lovely warm evening led to a spontaneous dinner at the Waterfront Seafood Grill on Pier 70. . .a fine "a la carte" style seafood restaurant where the wait staff were intent on being personable but a bit over-attentive. The room was huge and comfortable, the view splendid, the background piano Nordstromesque, the wine list unending, a popular oyster bar and a "view the chefs at work" kitchen, the food in abundant portions, fresh and cooked perfectly and with lovely presentation, and all of it overpriced even in comparison with fine dining establishments in the San Francisco area). Everything was great, if a little too forced. The wait staff dressed in their formal navy blue uniforms with pseudo-nautical braiding on the sleeves, and most parroting the same stiff customer service phrases from table to table rather than being themselves, it felt a bit like being on a big cruise ship that never leaves port. When we emerged I saw this guy taking a picture of the view and thought I would capture him capturing the balmy evening's magical sky.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

My Great Grandmother's Swimming Cap

I adore the linen suit, but the 60s style deco swim cap's got to go. . . :^) Thought you might like to see what summer fashion in Seattle is shaping up to be this season. I passed this shop window at night and the great lines of the suit caught my eye. Looks like layers, linen, a looser and feminized kind of retro Annie Hall look to this ensemble. Do you remember those decorated swim caps older ladies used to wear in the pool back in the day? I'd completely forgotten about them until I passed this mannequin. Perhaps in daylight her flowery chapeau would look more appealing to me.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

From the Outside Looking in at Chihuly Sculpture, Benaroya Hall

This is a detail of one of two enormous suspended sculptures (3 tons apiece) created by studio glass artist and designer Dale Chihuly and installed in the lobby of Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony. They are similar, yet different in form, about 5 feet across and 25 feet long. The sculptures depict sea life, and here you can see details of kelp and glass floats (I think. . .strictly my interpretation). The lobby is two stories tall, a block long, and is sheathed in floor to ceiling glass, so these works are perfect for the space. I always think of Medusa when I see the spirals of kelp. . .they look snake like. Chihuly is the most famous studio glass artist in the Pacific Northwest, and his works can be found in commercial spaces, museums and private collections all over the world.

Monday, June 18, 2007

View At the Corner

A Belltown wait staff person taking a break, chatting on a cell phone, while a pedestrian across the street does the same. In the distance are the hills of West Seattle across Elliott Bay, a lovely view. Seems whenever we get a break in work, are walking or driving, we begin chatting via cell phone as if we can't be alone with ourselves. I'm wondering if we ever take moments to be idle, to see, to think, to breathe.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Father & 3 Sons

A father and his 3 sons were walking along the bluffs overlooking Puget Sound. I first saw them standing on a rise watching the sunset near a stand of old madrona trees as I was driving my car along the boulevard and this scene appeared on the hill ahead of me. It is Father's Day in the USA, and my best wishes for a wonderful day go out to everyone celebrating their dads!

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Majestic Bay Pig on Parade

This Movie Pig, complete with popcorn trousers, sits outside the Majestic Bay Theater s, the oldest continuously running movie theater west of the Mississippi. The neighborhood theater in the heart of Ballard is now a triplex and is showing Shrek the 3rd, Pirates the 3rd, and Ocean's 13. Seventy artistically adorned Pigs on Parade 2007 created by individuals and businesses are scattered all over Seattle in celebration of Pike Place Market's centennial. Rachael, the Market's famous bronze piggy bank is the inspiration for these life sized replicas.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Working Late

Viewed from the sidewalk, the office lights were burning bright after 9:00 PM. on a Thursday night in this Getty Images building window in the Fremont neighborhood. Now turn out those lights and get home, folks! Wishing you all a wonderful Friday and great beginning to a relaxing weekend. (Here in the States, this Sunday is Father's Day.)

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Rapunzel

A bit of whimsy is pretty much the norm in the Fremont district (self proclaimed "Center of the Universe"). This neon representation of the fairytale heroine Rapunzel is cleverly placed on the west tower of the Fremont bridge (a low draw bridge that is the busiest in the western US). I notice that if one is looking at her, one's face is also looking straight into one of the bridge's video monitors. On the East tower there is a neon depiction of an elephant struggling with an alligator, I think maybe from the Elephant Child story. Whoever thought to add these neon touches to the old bridge lookouts had a clever idea!

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Appealing Proportions

One of the most attractive (to my eye) homes of its era in all of Seattle. . This house and detatched garage sits on the southern slope of Queen Anne Hill with a view of Seattle Center and downtown and Elliott Bay. Whoever designed that porch and incorporated it into the roof line had a great idea.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Real Change Vendor

Out in front of a Pioneer Square cafe, a Real Change vendor waits for customers. Here in Seattle this is the "street sheet" that impoverished or homeless people can obtain for $0 .35 a copy and sell for $1.00 to raise personal income. There are 200 vendors throughout the city who make the paper available in front of popular businesses.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Evening Commute on the Interurban

The shop windows across the street cast a warm glow behind Waiting for the Interurban, a sculpture that the community enjoys dressing up. It is newly reinstalled in its old location after conclusion of street renovations that caused it to be moved down the street to Heritage House for a number of months. There, it seemed lonely and neglected, and I never saw any attention paid it. Now it is back in the limelight just north of the Fremont bridge and once again a truly interactive piece of public art.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

They All Were Given Nikons

About 20 employees of Best Buy stores were given Nikon camera kits and were outside McCall Hall at Seattle Center at an event sponsored by an organization called Blue Pixel where they were given opportunities to learn how to use the cameras. I happened upon them (who wouldn't notice 20 people all with the same cameras taking photos?!) as they were getting action shots of a juggler . Seattle is a photography dream town in more ways than one!

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Pellegrino and Wellies

She was biking home from work, bravely corduroy-skirted on a non-stepthrough frame. There is a lot to be said for not needing bicycle clips and keeping hydrated. Seen in the Belltown neighborhood.

Several people have thought the green San Pellegrino can to be beer, but it is Italian sparkling water. I tend to call any short, lined leather boots with pull grips "Wellingtons," although these probably are not, as one fellow has commented that they are more "biker boots" of a non-bicycling nature ;^). Ah, fashion in all its incarnations.

This just in: Thanks to KittyKat for the tip that these are Frye's $180 "Harness" boots.

Friday, June 08, 2007

Weekday Wedding

This bride and groom drove up to the Kerry Park Lookout at about 6:45 PM in a Flexcar (a car you share, for a monthly fee, with others in the community only when you need it). It was a Mini Cooper, too. . .nothing like a limo). They were followed by a pair of photographers and seemed to have just come from their wedding. Their attire was lovely and un-fussy, and they had no attendants with them. The couple were relaxed and smiling and they had fun smooching around with no big demands by the photographers. Everything very unstaged and low-key. They were done and on their way in about ten minutes. Tres, tres Seattlesque. The bride's veil blew in the cool breeze and she had some goosebumps, but I don't think she noticed ;^). I love the little lift to her foot. . .what was that movie? I enjoyed this serendipitous opportunity to photograph the photographers photographing the couple.

Happy anniversary wishes to all the June brides and grooms out there!

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Waiting for the Light

Three young women were waiting for a traffic light to change in the Maple Leaf neighborhood in the northeastern end of Seattle. They looked so happy and relaxed as they chatted away, I just had to capture how lovely people can be unawares. They didn't notice me at all. This neighborhood is near Northgate Mall, the first mall-style shopping center in the US, built in the 1950s. I suspect the style choices of young people who live in north end neighborhoods like Maple Leaf reflect more of the suburban American fashions available in mall stores across the nation. It's a little different feel than folks I see in other areas of Seattle.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Rusty the Opera Pig

Seattle's "Pigs on Parade 2007" is underway all over the city this month and through the summer, celebrating Pike Place Market's 100th Anniversary. Organizations, businesses, and artists created 70 unique life size art hogs. This one, Rusty the Opera Pig, has been skillfully adorned to look like rain rusted metal and sits in front of McCaw Hall at Seattle Center, home of many performance arts, including the ballet (you can see a ballet costume exhibit just beyond the glass). In fact, it looks to me like Rusty is looking longingly at the tutu the dancer in the poster is wearing and might desert the Opera to dance on point! The pigs are fiberglass models based on Rachael the Market's giant bronze "piggy bank" that helps the Market Foundation raise funds to assist local residents and market farmers in times of need. Rachel herself was modeled by an artist after a prize winning sow at an island fair years ago. You can find Rachel out in front of the fish vendor famous for tossing fish and entertaining the crowds. You can find the locations of all the artistic Pigs on Parade throughout Seattle by clicking here.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

First Hill Streetscape

A couple walks their dog in the First Hill neighborhood, an area where Seattle's first wealthy European-American settlers built their homes in the 1890s. It is now home to St. James Cathedral and Seattle University as well as several hospitals including Harborview Medical Center, Swedish Hospital, and Virginia Mason Medical Center, giving the neighborhood the popular name of "Pill Hill."

Monday, June 04, 2007

How the Magnolia Neighborhood Got Its Name

A friend told me that a European-American sailing past on Elliott Bay in the late 1800s was told he could name the area now called Magnolia. He saw the native madrona trees up on Magnolia bluff and mistook them for the magnolia trees with which he was familiar. This is one of the few along the bluffs that has not died in the past few years. The native madrona trees that have lined Magnolia bluff for centuries have been in decline and dying in the last decade. It is thought that a fungus may be the cause, further aided by the dry warm summers of the past few years.. This one is the only relatively healthy one (to my uneducated eye) left in this particular stand of trees. The color of the trunk in the setting sun's light was spectacular.

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Starting a New Book

Enjoying the evening sun after a run. All weekend long and after work on these warm evenings it seems everybody is outside. The parking lots for the beach at Golden Gardens filled and overrun parking went clear up the hillside road on Saturday evening. Parks were packed with people enjoying pleasant activities. He is just starting to read "The Tipping Point" (thanks KVWong). I wish all the City Daily Photo Family a wonderful and relaxing Sunday!

Saturday, June 02, 2007

James Dean's Current Incarnation?

This striking woman in a denim crop jacket wandered in front of me looking as poised as a Hollywood familiar, sat on the wall, and was watching some Brazilian visitors snapping photos (perhaps she was with them?). The sunset is reflected in her JackieO celeb shades. The base of the Space Needle and downtown buildings are in the background.

Friday, June 01, 2007

City Daily Photo Theme Day: The View From Your Room

"Objects in zoom may appear closer than they really are." (to paraphrase what my car mirror says ;^) ) But, this is my territorial view of glorious Mt. Rainier. Of course it is spectacularly beautiful here this week and the mountain has been "out" everyday. That is not always the case! Many days I just see those two chimneys. . .sigh. I took this shot in the late afternoon (and a seaplane just happened into the frame!. . .I love when that happens).

Now check out some "rooms with a view" from 83 other cities all around the globe.
Seattle (WA), USA - Manila, Philippines - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Toruń, Poland - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Seoul, Korea - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Vantaa, Finland - Madison (WI), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Omaha (NE), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Stockholm, Sweden - Grenoble, France - Lubbock (TX), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Arradon, France - Hyde, UK - Joplin (MO), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Kansas City (MO), USA - Naples (FL), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Manila, Philippines - Sydney, Australia - Stavanger, Norway - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - London, UK - Chandler (AZ), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Singapore, Singapore - Hamburg, Germany - Sydney, Australia - Tenerife, Spain - Moscow, Russia - Lyon, France - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Villigen, Switzerland - Anderson (SC), USA - Oslo, Norway - Evry, France - Hayle, UK - Mumbai, India - Kitakami, Japan - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Los Angeles (CA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - La Antigua, Guatemala - Paderborn, Germany - San Diego (CA), USA - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Madrid, Spain - Lyon, France - Selma (AL), USA - Shanghai, China - Baziège, France - Cologne (NRW), Germany - North Bay (ON), Canada - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Stayton (OR), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Austin (TX), USA - Hong Kong, China - Trier, Germany - Joensuu, Finland - Paris, France - Greenville (SC), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Cork, Ireland - Bastia, France - Vancouver, Canada - Brookville (OH), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Mainz, Germany - Minneapolis (MN), USA

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