Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Top Pot


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Supposedly the best doughnuts in all of Seattle. I'm afraid they are lost on me. When I was in college, someone told me to hold a doughnut in my upraised fist and squeeze until the grease ran down to my elbow. Some people really know how to spoil a good thing. . .sigh. This fave hangout of the wifi set is in the Belltown neighborhood.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Smith Tower in Fire House Window


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Seattle Fire Department Headquarters has banks of massive red doors on two sides of the building. I caught this reflection of the old and the new scenes in Seattle skyscrapers (Smith Tower & BofA building) on a bleak winter day.

Monday, January 29, 2007

I Couldn't Believe I Was Seeing It!


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

I clicked the shutter in horror as this seaplane drew closer and closer to a condo high rise in the Belltown neighborhood. My heart skipped a beat. To see the next shot, click on my More Seattle Stuff page. Best viewed large (click photo, click "All Sizes," click large).

Sunday, January 28, 2007

A Bookstore to Linger In


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Elliott Bay Book Company is a much beloved institution in Seattle. Although one could run in and pick up a selection and be off in a moment, this is a place to savor at length and let one's mind wander through all the offerings. The cafe downstairs beckons you and your newly purchased tome to spend even more time enjoying the atmosphere. This is a partial peek at one section. Enjoy a relaxing Sunday. . .perhaps with a good book!

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Egret & Ferry


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Best viewed large (click on photo, chose "All Sizes," click large).
An egret sits atop the farthest post, surveying the water traffic of Elliot Bay. A ferry is coming into the terminal. Although there were clouds when I took this shot, it's a sunny, wonderful Saturday to get out on the water. Of course with a bit of winter chill in the air, the inside of a comfortable ferry is just the ticket. Makes it a cozy trip for an outing to explore one of the islands.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Sunset Dreamboat


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Best Viewed in Large Size (click photo, click "All Sizes," choose large) This fully restored late 1920s wooden "Lake Union Dreamboat" is heading out the ship canal toward the locks and Puget Sound beyond during a beautiful sunset. That is the Magnolia neighborhood pictured behind. Happy sailing into the weekend!

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Market Pig


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Rachel is the giant bronze piggy bank at Pike Place Market (just in front of the popular fish tossers' market under the clock). You can see some of her hoof prints embedded in the pavement, engraved with donor's names. The Market Foundation collects $6000 to $9000 in change and bills each year, which it distributes to recipients of its health, education, housing and social welfare programs, and the farmers emergency relief fund. During the floods of last November, many market farmers' crops were wiped out. Contributions on line to the fund are much appreciated (click on the link then click on the Donation Form link in left column. To celebrate the Market's 100th anniversary this year, artists will be adorning replica's of the pig for display all over town, some with video screens. Watch for Pigs on Parade 2007!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Market Capital


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

This ornamented cast iron capital sits atop a column holding up a lower level ceiling of the Market. Pike Place Market is 100 years old this year, and the decorative motifs here reflect that.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Magnolia & Olympics


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Best Viewed in Large Format (click photo, choose size). The Magnolia neighborhood is essentially a hilly, short peninsula just to the north of the Elliott Bay waterfront. It is surrounded on three sides by water: Elliot Bay to the south, Puget Sound to the west, and the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Salmon Bay to the North. Discovery Park is a huge and beautiful natural area on Magnolia's crest and down its western slope to the beach and is very popular for hiking and outdoor activities. This shot of Magnolia's eastern slope was taken standing on the west slope of Queen Anne Hill. Beyond Magnolia's ridge you can see the snow capped Olympics which lie beyond the Sound.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Sunset Ducks & Geese (My 200th Post!)


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

There is a public access dock and launch ramp into the ship canal at the end of 24th Ave. NW in Ballard. These geese and ducks were hanging out there at sunset. The colors of the sky and clouds reflected in the water seemed dreamy to me. BTW, this is SDP's 200th post! Check out the archives if you are a new visitor.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Ancient Future: Peek-A-Boo #4


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

This is a 1912 statue by James Wehn of Seattle's native leader, Sealth, for whom Seattle is named. I shot this 4th "peek-a-boo with the Space Needle using his image to serve as a new visual foundation for the city's current symbol. The surrounding contemporary communication dishes seemed to pull down something important to say. Surely we are tuning SOMETHING in with all those sattelite disks and the Space Needle's reception. What greeting would we hear from Sealth today on this spot at Tilikum Place near Seattle Center if he could see how the setting has changed since his day when it was a meadow with a wide path from one village to another running through it. Would he have cooperated with European's who relegated him and the other natives to reservation land away from their birthplaces? Could he have possibly seen that Grey's Anatomy would film exteriors here?

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Bittersweets Play the High Dive in Fremont


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

To see this sign lighted at night, see my More Seattle Stuff page. If talented alt bands are your kind of fun, check out the Bittersweets in a late night show at the High Dive in Fremont tonight, Saturday night. Yes, this is a shameless promotion for this SF Bay Area band I love who only make it up this way once or twice a year. They played the Tractor the last couple times they were in town, and those were great shows.
Saturday, January 20th, 2007, High Dive
Full Band Show - 10:00pm
513 N 36th, Seattle, WA
Price: $6
With Korby Lenker and Anna Coogan and North 19. They play first.

And for our friends further north, they are coming your way, too.
Sunday, January 21st, 2007
Nightlight Lounge
Full Band Show - 8:00pm
211 East Chestnut St., Bellingham, WA
Price: $5
Opening for Korby Lenker

Check out their link above or in the righthand column to hear samples, but do yourself a favor; go hear them LIVE.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Calder From A Moving Car


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Sunset view of Eagle (1971 Alexander Calder). I've abandoned hope in shooting while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, but my daughter picked up the camera as we were driving past in this lovely light. The Olympic Sculpture Park opens Saturday January 20 (click the link for Flickr photo group preview shots). Tomorrow I will post a suggestion for a late evening music outing in the Fremont district to top off your Saturday plans if you are up for more fun in Seattle and like really good bands.

Seen on a Garden Walkway


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

While out walking Tuesday morning I spied these colorful faceted art glass lamps topped with caps of snow. Four inches of snow turned to slush yesterday and is all melted today. Signs of spring are starting to show in swelling buds and rising bulb leaves.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Sylvester


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved including reproduction or republishing.

Since so many folks registered the "ew" facttor about the gum wall featured yesterday, I thought I'd show you another uniquely Seattle sight that might seem distasteful. "Sylvester" is a supposedly naturally mummified murder victim found in the Arizona desert in the late 1800s (click on the link to learn the more likely scenario). No matter his origin, he has most certainly resided at Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on Seattle's waterfront for many, many decades. Chances are if you've visited Seattle you've seen him. . .right next to the mummified woman's remains, two headed sheep, and the shrunken heads. The curio shop definitely lives up to its name and was opened in the late 1800s. It has traded in curios, legal, illegal, real, fake, amazing and for the most part as distasteful as a side show.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Market Theater Gum Wall


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republication.

This is the box office window and entrance to the Market Theater. You are not going to believe the "ew" factor of this tradition that has become a living art installation sought out by photographers the city over. The Market Theater in Post Alley at Pike Place Public Market has given up cleaning the gum it's patrons began sticking to the alley's brick wall while they were waiting in line. It's a habit that has stuck. Originally coins were pressed into the colorful gum blobs. Some people still affix a penny, but those quickly disappear. After two complete removals and cleanings, they realized the futility of trying to keep the gum off. It is now become a de facto public art installation, and a participatory one that grows daily. For a view of the full wall, click here and for a another detail click here for shots on my More Seattle Stuff page.

Monday, January 15, 2007

There's a Calder On The Rise


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Today there is a preview of the Olympic Sculpture Park for Seattle Art Museum members, and I hipe to take some interesting photos this afternoon when I go. I shot this view of Calder's "Eagle 2" three days ago. It sits atop a walkway over Elliot Ave. and is one of the most easily seen pieces in the park. My POV was from the sidewalk below.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Baby, It's Cold Outside


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reporduction or republishing.

Another dusting of snow and still below freezing temps--not usual for Seattle. I spied this red old school VW Beetle in the South Lake Union area and it reminded me of a strawberry with powdered sugar on top. If you click on the link you can find out a bit about this redeveloping neighborhood slated to become a hub for biotech businesses with the encouragement of Paul Allen, an influential property owner in the area.

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Wheeeeeeeeeee. . . .


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

I heard some people ask, "What is that?" I remember my mom had one in her desk drawer. They went the way of the typewriter I'm afraid, but now this one is enjoying retirement wheeling down a snow-dusted hill in the Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park, opening this month. The whole town is abuzz about this new outdoor art venue.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Snow & Cold Return


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Below freezing temps and lovely dry powder are ours again for a couple days--and the kids in town got yet another snow day. I went out Wednesday amid snow flurries and yesterday's 29 degree sunshine, and my fingers may never recover, but I got some fun shots. I'm especially excited to show you the new Olympic Sculpture Park that will open January 20. I could only shoot a couple pieces today. We were given memberships to the museum recently and I hope to go to the members preview on the 14th to see and snap more (for now there are fences up to keep the public out). This whole town is very excited about it!

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Seattle Center Totem: Peek-A-Boo #3


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Playing with the Needle again. This totem was carved on the premises in 1970. I can't find info on the carver/s.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Keet Hatchcover: More Art Underfoot


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

You might remember the artistic City Light manhole cover photo I posted in August. I came upon this one near Pioneer Square and was really taken with it. This is one of 32 hatchcovers commissioned in 1976, carved in wood by Tlingit master carver Nathan Jackson, then cast. "Keet" is Tlingit for killer whale. "Nathan Jackson, Master Carver and a Chilkoot Tlingit, has been working in native arts since 1959. He attended the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he specialized in fabric design, silkscreen, and graphics. Since 1967, he has been a freelance artist doing traditional style woodcarving, jewelry, and design. Jackson has completed numerous totem poles, screens, panels, and restoration projects. He has instructed woodcarving and design at several colleges, museums, and cultural centers." ~ info from Southeast Alaska Discovery Center

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Colors of the Wind


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Life speeding by on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, viewed from a Belltown sidewalk one day at sunset, just after the windstorm. Ferry on the water, West Seattle in the distance. The pinks, turquoise and grays in this photo appealed to me.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Seattle City Hall


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

No, it's not the architect's model; this is the city hall seen from the top of the Smith Tower (thanks Josh). I've shown you other features of this complex, but this gives you the full picture of this "green" campus. Yes, that is grass on the roof (the same architects helped plan the Ballard branch library, which also has a grass roof).

Sunday, January 07, 2007

With The Wedding Planner


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

This couple was scoping out the Chinese Room at the top of the Smith Tower for their reception. Love is so beautiful and hard to find. I wish them the best. Photographically this shot stinks, but the moment was a serendipitous one I wanted to show. This room is one of the most popular for small receptions due to it's historic setting and it's amazing 360 degree view of the city, sound, and mountains.

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Epiphany


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

While most Seattlites who celebrate it have removed the Christmas decor from their homes, and a blue and white flag has taken the place of the lighted outline of a Christmas tree atop the Space Needle, some are celebrating Christmas today (Epiphany) with observances around town. So, here is the last hurrah of the season. This was the space-age (early 60s George Jetson feel) Christmas decor inside the top of the Space Needle's observation deck. It has just been put away for another year.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Peek-A-Boo #2


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

I've been playing with different compositions using the ever watchful Space Needle which peeks out at me from all kinds of perspectives around the city. Last Friday you saw it peeking over McCaw Hall (if you looked closely enough) , and you've seen my first "peek-a-boo" take on it, "Split Rectangle," which I use as my Flickr site avatar. I'll be sharing a few more of these shots with you. Here the Needle is peeking at me over the top of a huge tile mosaic installed for the World's Fair in 1962 on the grounds of Seattle Center.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Very Deco


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

The top of the multi-story Harborview Medical Center on 9th Ave., viewed from 6th Ave. below the rim of the freeway. The building's west facing exterior is an amazing period piece. Harborview is a huge complex consisting of several large buildings and a heliport atop a parking structure, and is the city's major trauma center.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Sunset Triptict


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Three windows on Shilshole Ave. catch the day's bright goodbye on a cold winter evening. I loved the blues and yellows of this shot.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Pike Place After Market "Snow"


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

I happened to be at the Market after hours and came upon the fish sellers' display case ice which had been tossed out into the street. Don't eat fishy snow! Just hours earlier two "FREE HUGS" people had been standing in this very spot spreading warmth to the braver of the curious passers by.

Monday, January 01, 2007

Theme Day: Seattle Daily's Best Photo of 2006


Photo & Text Copyright 2007 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

52 City Daily Photo sites around the globe are participating in the 1st January theme, "My best photograph from last year." Please use the links to below to visit them. Remember time zones vary for these sites. Enjoy the best of City Daily Photo Bloggers photos of 2006!

"Drop" was the close detail of this photo published earlier this year. When I took this photo of rowers returning to the dock at Pocock Rowing Club on the ship canal near the east side of Lake Union, I hadn't noticed the perfect water drop splashing up from the surface of the water under their oar. I received very kind comments at the time that the entire photo (posted at my More Seattle Stuff site) was "post card" worthy.