Seattle Daily Photo: April 2009

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Seattle's Free WiFi Pilot Program Four Years Old

I've heard about the city's free wi fi pilot program started in 2005, hot spots we citizen's help fund through tax $ in partnership with neighborhood business associations who help with utility costs so anyone can access the internet. I was fuzzy on where these locations actually were and happened into this one on S Rainier Avenue, which was an original location along with University Avenue, several parks, and uh, the lobby of City Hall. . .I guess our mayor and city council members need wifi access, but I wonder who else would actually go to the city hall lobby with their laptop? :-) Maybe there's a wide radius for reception around the building. I've never seen these signs before anywhere around town. I hope the merchant association in my neighborhood lobbies to expand the program out our way. Here's a link to all the details of the program and current locations and reports on how the pilot program is going and a possible broadband project.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Bike Works Serving the Community

I just thought it was a pretty little bike shop and was curious about the attractive new awning that creates dry storage space underneath for the bikes hanging on the wall. It wasn't until I looked up Bike Works online that I found this is not just any common bike shop. Their mission: "To build sustainable communities by educating youth and promoting bicycling. We teach young people how to fix bikes, reward them with their own set of wheels, and provide affordable bicycle services to the community." Wow! This repair shop cares about its Columbia City and Rainier Valley neighborhood youth and beyond. They also have ventures to benefit all of Seattle and also Ghana. They teach repair classes and riding skills as well as providing repair services, used bikes for sale and parts. They accept donations to support their youth programs and people can volunteer to help in several ways. You can see the small signs that direct you to the "shop" and "classroom," and you can see the actual shop front here. What a great business and good neighbors the folks who run this seem to be. Is there anything like this in your area?

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Cue Wind Machine

As promised, here is Les Seattlenes, weekday edition: A fashionable woman leaving work downtown was coming toward me up the hill. As if on cue like a wind machine in a fashion shoot, an evening wind tousled her hair just as the couple on the right passed out of my line of sight and I snapped the shot. Not only did a cool wind come up last evening, but rain has come in with the clouds overnight.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Field of Dreams

We unexpectedly took a drive yesterday and headed northeast to the Cascades, then west out to the tulip fields of Skagit Valley. It was a very beautiful and relaxing day. The tulips were at their peak bloom and the colorful fields were not only a feast for the eyes, but very peaceful. There was a soft spring breeze and quiet all around. This lovely woman passed in front of me and I just had to capture the image of her sari floating with the breeze against all that color.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Ready With the Bow Line

A boat makes its way westward through the ship canal to the Hiram Chittendem Locks at sunset. She was the lone vessel for this evening's operation, but I expect numbers to pick up as we near the opening of boating season next month. I loved seeing that reflected bow and fender in the calm water. (Sorry this post comes late: I thought it was scheduled for Sunday, but I just realized it was stuck in draft instead. Ah, the thechie details!)

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Sun Show

Colorful blown glass from KOBO Art Garden on display in the afternoon sun above sparkling Elliott Bay at an outdoor stall of Pike Place Market. The clouds have come in and we may have a shower or two today, but it should be bluing up again tomorrow. Perhaps the colors will entice you to come enjoy Seattle's sunny months?

Friday, April 24, 2009

Colorful Decision

She was eying the colors that might go with the purple irises she'd picked out at this flower shop at Pike Place Market. It is such a pleasure to bring home fresh flowers for the weekend from the abundance of offerings throughout the Market. The many flower stalls are a colorful feast for the eyes and easy on the wallet, too. Hey, I recognize those Frye boots from a cycling photo I took a couple years ago :-).

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Spring Commute

Cyclists are always out in numbers during rush hour, but the velocouture is changing with the season :-). Red espadrilles, brown leggings, black skirt with white lace, blue top, pinstripe blazer, red earphones,blue backpack, blue helmet, red flowers, and pink fenders were featured on the Seattle runway. I'm a bit late with today's post due to crazy busy workweek and a little under the weather. I did take the camera around on after work errands and enjoyed the bright late afternoon. Hope the sun also made your day bright.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Go Ask Alice

. . .how strange it felt to be out on an evening run after work in the bright warm sun. It has been three surreal days of absolutely gorgeous weather and everyone seems to be outdoors. All the mountains have been clear and beautiful on the horizons. Feels good to go about in sandals. I even got a pedecure yesterday and broke out my linen crop pants. Rain expected overnight and today, though. The taste of summery warmth sure seemed to set well with Seattlites. These runners and walkers were on a path in Myrtle Edwards Park near the Olympic Sculpture Garden along the Elliott Bay waterfront.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Blue Evening Sky

Blue evening light mixes with neon of sidewalk archways. This was straight out of the camera. The whole west coast of the US was bathed in warmth and sunshine today, and it was wonderful here.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Penseroso's Staircase

My Flickr friend, Penseroso (aka Ervin Vice), has made some incredible shots in this out of the way spot in the red lobby of Seattle City Hall, taking advantage of the reflection in the glass of the staircase. In fact, I think the image on his avatar was made within a few feet of where I stood for this. I didn't know where "here" was until I found myself at the bottom of these stairs and instantly recognized where I was in terms of his portfolio. I'd been in this red lobby many times before, but never off to this side. I liked the gray and red tones.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Far From the Madding Crowd. . .

. . .yet so close! The sidewalks of Fremont were absolutely packed yesterday afternoon with droves of enthusiastic people participating in the 8th Annual Fremont Troll Stroll, a neighborhood charity pub crawl that raised over $30,000 last year to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This gent was peacefully puffing his pipe in an out of the way alley nook mere feet away from the passing crowd, engrossed in his book. I hope your Sunday is this relaxing. So, what book have you gotten lost in recently?

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Sounder Cars & Safeco Field

Last night I was driving back from Alki on the Alaskan Way Viaduct and noticed the lights on for a home game at Safeco Field. When I got home I looked up the final score and was delighted to find that the Mariners defeted the Detroit Tigers by a score of 6 to 3. Safeco Field is among the AIA's 150 most notable structures in the USA for the engineering of its retractable roof, seen here on a bright "the roof is open" sort of Saturday morning. The Tigers will play the Mariners again tonight at 6:00 PM. For weekend games that start at 1:10 PM (like tomorrow's) you can make it a very stress free outing by taking the Sounder train for less than $5.00 from nearly anywhere in the area and arrive at nearby King Street Station without the hassle of driving.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Big Mack 1958 Pumper

The contemporary equipment once housed at Seattle Fire Department Headquarters has moved from its old home in Pioneer Square to a new facility a short distance away. The fire chief and staff continue to have their offices upstairs at Headquarters, but the ground floor is now home to the Last Resort Fire Department museum which features vintage fire trucks from many eras in the Department's history. This 1958 Mack 1500-GPM pumper is so amazing. It shows a lot of detailed care and is a pleasure to just gaze at. This is dedicated to my younger brother, John, and his crew who have come up from California for some of the Fire Festival competitions held at this fire station. Ain't it a beaut, bro! (And if you'd like to know who those feet reflected in the chrome bumper belong to, click here.)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Art Underfoot: Carved Faces at Qwest Field

No, that's not how my face looked after I paid my taxes! ;^) I've been doing an informal series called "Art Underfoot" for three years now. This is about #25 in the series, several of which I've posted to SDP (here was #1 which got me looking down). Doesn't seem like I'll ever exhaust the examples in this town. This offering is part of the pavement at the north entrance of Qwest Field and is a mystery to me. I would love to hear about the artist and the installation if you have any information. Thanks!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Fremont Floating Home

Living the dream in Fremont. . . Okay, the line forms behind me, guys, and I call dibs on that top room for my studio :-). Today is the due date for income taxes for US residents, and property taxes for King County, Washington home owners; so, dream or not, I'm actually thankful I don't have to contend with the nightmare of this tax bracket for the occasion. Oh, and I can hear you asking if the famous Sleepless in Seattle houseboat, which is just across the ship canal from this Fremont location in the Westlake neighborhood (I showed you here last year), is still for sale. The answer is yes (go here for tons of photos and a video tour of the Lake Union's reportedly largest and most well-known floating home, remodeled since Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, and Rob Reiner shot scenes on board for the popular 1993 film). The Sleepless houseboat has been on the market for a year now and sale price is still listed at 2.5 million. Its current yearly property taxes are $6449 USD. Makes this newer, smaller Fremont marina floating home in today's photo seem like its taxes would probably be a bargain in comparison.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Tapping His Way Through Uptown

Just when he thought no one was looking, I caught Fred Astaire having fun dancing in top hat and tails along a neon fixture in the Uptown Cinemas empty lobby. Wouldn't it be fun to see a group of seemingly ordinary people waiting at the corner for a light just break out into song and a spontaneous tap dance choreography as if in a musical, like a Flash Mob event? :-) Oh, wait, that might not be too far fetched in the streets of Seattle.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Zen Monday

This photo is in the spirit of Petrea Burchard's Pasadena Daily Photo Monday photo series, Zen Monday's, where she encourages "you [to] experience the photo and give us your thoughts rather than me telling you what the photo's about."

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Eastertide

Wishing all those celebrating it today a joyous Easter!

This joyful Eastertide,
Away with care and sorrow!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Elevator Operator

Wayne from Vancouver Daily Photo was visiting Seattle today, and we took a ride to the Chinese Room observation deck in historic Smith Tower (which you've seen here and here). This was one of the operators of the cool old elevators with their grilled gates and all brass fixtures.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Mysterioso

There's a story behind that face, but we'll never know the details. This musician looking into the sun while waiting at a light on 3rd Avenue was heading for the transit tunnel. He spotted me for this split second, then looked away, crossed the street and passed me with the crowd heading for their buses. After I viewed the shot I noticed the system he's come up with for carrying his gear, a sort of bandolero formed by his case strap and his messenger bag strap. What would you imagine his story to be?

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Pesach & Maundy Thursday

I came across this intensely red Oregon Grape leaf early in the morning while in the Eastlake neighborhood on the shore of Lake Union. I have loved seeing this Pacific Northwest plant in every season as it changes. It is in bright yellow bloom right now, but that is not what caught me for this shot. The rain on the bright leaf brought me an amalgam of thought about the significance of today, a holy day for people of many faiths around the globe. The deep red like lamb's blood on the lintel and posts, the beads of water like salty tears or water for hand washing or foot washing, or like ten drops of wine beaded on my plate, the thorny edges circling it all with a bitterness. Our family's observances this year include a traditional Passover Seder with friends and a Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service which ends in total darkness and silence. Unless you are familiar with these traditions they probably have no significance for you, in which case, here is a pretty Oregon Grape leaf with rain drops that I hope you enjoy seeing! :-)

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Things Have Changed

. . . as Mr. Dylan's song points out. At least in modern courtship and outdoor activities, things have changed quite a bit. I watched this couple take a lunchtime walk together along the beach looking out over Puget Sound, but neither of them was present to the beauty of the scene or the moment with each other. I wonder how many sociologists are studying the effect of cell phone use upon everyday life, relationships, and customs. Am I the only one who still feels a little weird when someone next to me at the market is seemingly talking to themselves, when in actuality they are wearing a phone headset and asking their roommate if 2% or whole milk is on grocery list. There is a common walking posture now that one didn't see a just a few years ago: one forearm extended, palm up holding phone, head bent down. Watch and see how many people assume this posture the moment they emerge from a building or a meeting room. It is fascinating. People with each other and talking, but not to each other.

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Students in Rain of Petals

These students were photographing each other with the soft backdrop of cherry blossom petals falling all around them in the Liberal Arts Quadrangle at the University of Washington. The Quad is famous for the 30 mature Yoshino cherry trees transplanted around its periphery 42 years ago after being removed from the arboretum for a roadway project. People from all over the world visit the campus to see these trees and experience their lovely magic, like all these cute guys from Kabul you may remember from last year.

Monday, April 06, 2009

No Extra Charge for Laughter

Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

I'm riding shotgun with a teen driver quite a bit these days, and it offers me opportunities to nab candid shots in passing. We were going past Rudy's, a popular haircutters with a few Seattle locations (this one on Phinney Ridge). The stylist's and client's animated smiles immediately caught my eye, so I offer you this series. She didn't spy me until the last shot. Was your last hair cut this much fun? I got a cut last week at my regular salon across town and it's a great cut and my stylist is pleasant and very skilled, but I don't recall haircuts having this kind of fun factor. At least not since a cut I got a long time ago at an out of the way salon on Taravel Street in San Francisco from a guy named Rudy (coincidentally!) that a friend had referred me to. He had so much fun while he was cutting my hair, he was literally dancing around the chair and singing along to booming music as he worked. He was great, too, and not as high priced as some of the downtown salons. I had quite a mane and he worked magic with it. I remember people on the streetcar and in a restaurant stopped me to ask where I got my hair cut. Maybe when you are really good at what you do you are extra happy doing it? Rudy was, and this stylist seems to be I hope whatever you are working at today that there is a bit of fun factor involved and great things to smile about.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Ring the Bells That Still Can Ring

. . Forget your perfect offering
There's a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in ~Leonard Cohen

I passed this huge roofed gate in front of a private residence in the Hawthorne Hills neighborhood. Next to it was a lovely small shrine (photos here), and the parking strip was landscaped with stone benches with inscriptions, fountains, trees and grass plantings. An unexpected and serene offering to the neighborhood.

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Okay, I'll Stop Whining Now

So after the dreariness of the week and our drenching the day before, yesterday decided to be warmer and spring-like, and today followed suit. I took a two hour photowalk in the Hawthorne neighborhood. The birds were singing, neighbors were chatting as they gardened, cats greeted me on the sidewalk, and the spice of plum blossoms and other spring flowers was on the breeze. I got some lovely territorial views from streets at the tops of hills and enjoyed seeing all the mix of architecture and neatly kept yards. So, here they are, spring blossoms in the sunshine, just for you.

Friday, April 03, 2009

Iron Work Runners

This custom shop door of a pet supply store in the Madrona neighborhood echos the graphics of the shop's sign. Dog bone shapes are cut out of iron mesh in the upper portion while a painted metal girl tossing a stick to a running dog adorn the diagnol iron bars of the bottom. I love seeing this much thought given to artistic expression, using the talent of local artisans to make something truly unique and with a sense of place.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

On Hold

It's April, but Seattle is not setting up warm weather outdoor seating at cafe's quite yet. We haven't put away our snow shovels yet. . .would you believe we had snow falling yesterday morning? It didn't stick, but the low gray rain clouds did. All day. So, were on hold with the patio gear just yet. Stay tuned. Those of us finishing up our taxes are kinda glad we're not being teased by beckoning blue skies.

Thanks to everyone for coming by yesterday to help celebrate. I had a lot of fun pulling out yellow shots from each year, so thanks for the kind feedback and fave picks. Did you spy with your little eye my self portrait from one of our long ago theme days? :-)

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Theme Day: Yellow

This is my 1000th consecutive daily post. Perhaps you will remember a few of these (click thumbnail mosaic to go to Flickr where you can click any shot for a complete view). I invite you to explore the 2006, 2007, & 2008 archives listed in the sidebar for images of Seattle you may have missed.

Today City Daily Photo Bloggers around the globe are Fools for Yellow! Follow the yellow brick road city to city via our visual portal to enjoy the many interpretations of this month's theme, and leave folks a note if you can. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants. Have a fun April Fools Day!

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