Seattle Daily Photo: October 2008

Friday, October 31, 2008

Seattle Halloween Jellies

I came across the most inventive costumes of all that we saw tonight in our wanderings around Seattle (and there were some DOOOSIES!). These five women had designed and engineered their original gossamer jellyfish costumes, fashioned from bamboo rods, paper, translucent fabrics, bike helmets and plastic food containers, and ribbons. Everything was illuminated by blue hue LED lights which they had strung along the canopies and clipped to the streaming parts. They seemed to be floating down the street toward a costume party when we spotted them in Fremont. Check this out if you want to see some details of how these fab five friends created their graceful floaty jellies.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Masquerade

A child-sized masked mannequin on display in Molbak's sported a black cat Halloween party hat. A small girl of three or four years wearing a Snow White costume (who declined to be photographed) was eying it carefully, not quite sure why it had no arms or if it might speak to her at any moment. You know what's REALLY scary? Just a few feet away from this pleasant fellow were about a dozen separately themed areas of thousands of Christmas ornaments! AHHHHHHaaahhhh! It's all coming at us too fast! ;^)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Autumn's Bizarre

These caffeine assisted patrons at a nearby farm market were carefully selecting colorful gourds, probably for table display in their homes. I think you might enjoy seeing these in a different light as one of my readers in Stillwater, Oklahoma does. She has created a small gallery showcasing nature's amazing gourd art here. It gave me a whole new perspective on their forms and unique beauty.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Harbor Island

The lights of busy Harbor Island across Elliott Bay are glowing golden in the incandescent blue light of the evening, illuminating this view of the West Seattle hills from 8th Avenue West. Completed in 1909 and expanded in 1967, it was once the largest artificial island in the world. It is still busy night and day and is the sight of many industrial, scientific, and shipping companies. You can just see the red-orange container cranes that line the mouth of the Duwamish Waterway to the left.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Festive Taqueria

The building on the corner is jackolantern orange all year, but right now at the Roxbury Ave. Taqueria Guaymas all the windows and doors are looking spooky and festive too, festooned with spider webs and ghosts. All the colors coming together at this White Center neighborhood intersection grabbed my eye and yelled "urban autumn."

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Can a Wasp Make a "Beeline"?

We went out to a pumpkin patch in Woodinville yesterday. Most of the sunflowers nearby were brown and dried and bowed low to the ground, but there were a few hold outs. This one attracted a wasp. I'm afraid all the red winged black birds had eaten most of the dried sunflowers' seeds. For the first time since our fam started its tradition of pumpkin patch visits, we didn't end up getting a pumpkin. For years the rule was you could only choose a pumpkin you could carry from the field by yourself (which helped little people with bigger eyes than our budget in check). We stopped at Minea Farms Cider Mill and bought fresh pressed cider, spiced cider, Fuji apple butter that had just been made and was still warm, and blackberry honey in a bear shaped glass jar. What treats! Hope you are enjoying your fall Sunday! (Or your spring Sunday down there in the SoHem ;^) .)

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Saw This When Leaving the Bridge

I had finished taking photos up on the Ballard Bridge and was walking back to my car parked near the Maritime Pacific Brewery when I passed this new offering that appears to be by Spacecraft. You may remember these I photographed in the same location last summer. Well, those old Obama posters on the pillars under the north end of the Ballard Bridge have been painted over in gray and this new giant sticker just went up (it is probably almost as tall as me). I think I'll call on Slightly North to curate this exhibit (I've already had a question about the familiar logo of the snow vehicle on the front of the costume).

Friday, October 24, 2008

They That Go Down To The Sea In Ships

I took this shot of fishing boats from the Ballard bridge last night. I spent quite a long while looking at the jumble of boats that were safely nestled in the docks of Fisherman's Terminal in Salmon Bay, home of the North Pacific Fishing Fleet. But not all the boats are home in fall and winter and Seattlites have learned the sad story of the Katmai, a head and gut cod processing boat, that left this peaceful Ballard scene, went out through the locks, out Puget Sound and up to Alaska's Bering Sea. On Wednesday, in hurricane force winds and two story tall waves, first reports indicate that the Katmai took on more water in her stern than her pumps could keep up with. She lost her ability to steer into oncoming waves and her crew donned survival suits. She rolled in a huge trough and went down. Seven crew were in one life raft, but they were cast into the frigid sea by a huge wave and only four managed to climb back in. These four were rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter pilot and divers in perilous winds after 17 hours on the brutal roiling sea. The other life raft was found partially deflated and empty. Five other crew members' bodies have been recovered from the sea, and two crew are still missing. Many of you have watched the crab boat crews featured on "The Deadliest Catch" and have seen the types of hardships fishermen off Alaska face. Many of those boats' home base is Salmon Bay in these serene docks. This is the Seattle neighborhood that brings you the deadliest catch and much of the salmon, cod, halibut and crab you eat if you live in western North America. The folks who make their livelihood fishing know it is dangerous, grueling work to bring home the catch. All the crew of the Katmai are from the Pacific Northwest except her captain. There will be flowers and photos at the permanent memorial at Fisherman's Terminal this weekend, and many thoughts continuing to go out to the fishermen of the Katmai and their families.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

In Step

A couple on an evening stroll along Alki seemed lost in an animated conversation and in perfect step with one another as I caught their silhouette against the setting sun.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Heading South

Looking south from downtown down 2nd Ave. toward Pioneer Square and the International District. Traffic making its way slowly through the lights within gaze of lovely old Smith Tower .

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Seattle Autumn Night

Chilly and clear autumn night with the Seattle skyline viewed from across Elliott Bay.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Rozella Building in White Center

Business was buzzing at Platinum Cuts and Cafe Rozella on a bright autumn afternoon in the historic Delridge Triangle area in the White Center neighborhood of West Seattle. White Center's population is working class and culturally diverse, a place where immigrants from many regions of the globe have come for jobs in agriculture, shipping, and aerospace and put down roots. You can read a bit of the neighborhood's history here, including how it got it's name from a coin toss between Mr. Green and Mr. White.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Urban Village Nearing Completion

I hadn't been out to the Northgate area much in the past couple years, so when I was in the neighborhood recently and saw this mammoth, gargantuan, behemoth hive of construction going on I had to wonder what it was. Well, it's name is Thornton Place (click for layout). The tall building in the right foreground of this photo will be 143 residences for seniors. You can just see the third floor and roofs of the gray buildings housing 121 condominiums. They are in two semicircular rows The outer one will face a small greenbelt and man-made creek using diverted water from a formerly culverted portion of the Thornton Creek watershed. The other two six story buildings you see are at either end of the two horseshoes of condos and the adverts say they will contain 266 apartments. There will be a common plaza area between, and the tallest building at the back (yellow visible on the left) will be a 14 screen IMAX cinema and 50,000 square feet of new retail space. The development comprises 6 acres, and it is thought will house about 600 people and be "green" certified LEED Silver. It is across the street from the newly expanded Northgate Mall and adjacent to the Northgate Transit Center (yesterday's photo). It is also within view and sound of I-5 and mere yards from its north and south freeway on-ramps. I will be curious to see how this urban village experiment pans out for its residents, and how it shapes the existing neighborhood. A few things occurred to me, but may have already been thought through by the developers and the surrounding community that aren't readily apparent. Except for the small greenbelt and creek, there do not appear to be any spaces where children might play, and for people of any age, the exterior quarters appear to be quite close. Two car households might find parking their second vehicle nearby a challenge. And, if you ever wanted to open a grocery store or quickie mart, this might be an opportune moment to look for space in the Northgate area, as there is currently only one large food market within a several mile radius. Come next year, about 600 new folks are gonna need to stock their new fridges ;^).

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Transit Center

This is part of the distinctive Northgate Transit Center, built in the early 1990's as a hub for Metro bus routes in the north end of Seattle. Seen in passing from I-5, the transit center's design looks futuristic with a 60's flair. Perhaps the design elements remind me most of those found at Seattle Center and the legacy of the 1962 Century 21 Expo. This hub may eventually tie-in with a proposed 12.5 mile extension of the light rail system north from the University of Washington if it is approved as part of the Mass Transit Expansion Proposal before voters on November 4th. More available transit couldn't come too soon to this area, judging from the nearly completed development next door, Thornton Place. It's a huge six acre project of 109 three story condos, 278 apartments in two multistory complexes, and 143 senior residences in another multistory building, a new 14 screen IMAX theater and 50,000 square feet of retail space at Thornton Plaza. Talk about your urban density model! Photos of those tomorrow!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Gold For All

I thought I would offer to share these riches I found. We could all use a little splurge of abundance right about now, even if its only natural rather than legal tender. I think the exchange rate remains constant across any border. ;^) We are being promised an ideal autumn weekend in Seattle, so I look forward to doing some photowalking. Happy Friday everyone!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Dark Day, Rich Colors

Even mundane street scenes seem rich in color under cloud cover on autumn days. I saw the flaming yellow and orange of the background trees in the Ballard neighborhood and stopped to photograph them. Then I noticed the blue-green peeling paint of the rusting fire hydrant and thought how lovely the colors might look together. The vivid green of the lawn turned out to be a bonus.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Last Debate

Federal and state political campaigns dominated the airwaves this evening in Seattle. We had to run an errand to Northgate Mall and as we were leaving noticed a couple dozen people had gathered around four TV screens to catch the last debate between presidential candidates McCain and Obama. Young, old, men, women, workers, shoppers, it was generating attentive listening and animated conversations. We listened to the remainder on the car radio. At home afterward we listened to the Washington State gubernatorial debate between Governor Gregoire and challenger former state senator Dino Rossi.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Cloudburst Yesterday Afternoon

Wow, you didn't want to be out riding your bike without rain gear yesterday afternoon! We had just been admiring the fall foliage in the Lake City neighborhood (small photos) before we went indoors for a bit, and by the time we came back out the sky was super thick with dark clouds. About halfway home the fingers of showers descending from low clouds we could see at a distance reached us, and it poured! Rain or shine, it is just beautiful here right now.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Late Night

A window on a lot of Seattle students' world right now, down at the all night coffee house, living by screen light, cranking out assignments and catching up on reading in a relatively safe late night public place frequented by police on break. This was in Capitol Hill last night.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Heinmot Tookyalakekt Still Larger Than Life

That is the name of the person depicted beyond that corner, better known as "Chief Joseph" of the Nez Perce tribe of the Wallowa, one of the last peoples forced away from their original tribal lands to reservations. Only about 150 of those that did not flee to Canada survived the government moves. This is a sample of the mural spray paint art of Andrew Morrison, an immensely talented young Seattle artist whose family on his father's side are Haida and on his mother's side are Apache. I was passing Wilson Pacific School on Wallingford and 90th when I spied these huge murals that beckoned me to come closer. I walked the entire school grounds and found many enormous murals depicting American Indians of all tribes (see the murals sections on Andrew's website). Each filled a two story high wall exquisitely capturing fine detail using spray paint. To give you some idea of the size, my head would only come up to the top of that earring on the left.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Peeking Duck

This duck came in close as I was squatting at the edge of Green Lake taking some photos of water lilies. Trying to capture a shot of it moving at close range proved impossible. For some reason the shutter button on the little pocket camera was being finicky and enough time elapsed between my press and the click that the poor duck was beheaded in the frame. But as I looked at the shot, I noticed her eye glancing at me out of the reflection, then the whole image flip flopped in my brain and she was swimming upside down. Fun! It's a gorgeous, sunny fall day here. Hope you are enjoying a bit of the outdoors this Saturday wherever you are.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Dali's Needle

Surrealistic, twisted effect in this night shot of the Needle's reflection in the "Purple Haze" wall of the EMP. It reminds me of a mushroom, or perhaps something once described to me by my surfer friend, Jim, who lived in a tree house on Kauai and experienced strange psilocybin mushroom induced visions of waves and plants and structures. The Purple Haze wall is one of the first stops every photographer seems to make while in Seattle. You might remember this self portrait I took for one of our theme days. It is so fun and the effects for interesting shots seem endless. Hope you are having a good weekend!

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Fired Up & Ready To Go

Well, here's something one doesn't see everyday: a whole garage door devoted to a candidate's support. It was the curvy lines of the classic car that first caught my eye from a distance, seen on a residential side street in the Crown Hill area. As I got closer I saw the hand lettered door, then noticed the car's license plate reads "NO HUAC," referring to the infamous House Unamerican Activities Committee of 1938-1975. I guess we could assume some things about this resident's political views. ;^) Look at the car door handles. Which direction do you think that back door swings open?

Update: thanks very much to Wayne in Vancouver, BC for identifying this as an early 50s Studebaker and that those back doors that open backwards were called "suicide doors." I looked through a few classic car photos after getting Wayne's information, and indeed he is right and I believe this car is a 1951 Studebaker Champion. Although the photo didn't capture it, the car has a distinctive bullet nose.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Local Farmers Markets Throughout Seattle

Seattle is a fresh fruit and veggie paradise with eight seasonal and four year-round weekly neighborhood farmers markets besides the giant daily one at Pike Place Market. Two organizations run the local markets. Seattle Markets sponsors the original year-round Fremont Market with farmers' produce, local foods, flea market, artisan and craft goods, and its spin off sister market in Ballard; and May through September markets in Queen Anne, Wallingford, and Madison-Madrona neighborhoods. Seattle's Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance sponsors year round produce and local foods only markets in the University District and West Seattle, and May through October markets in Columbia City, Broadway, Phinney, Lake City, and Magnolia neighborhoods. I'm regretfully saying goodbye to berry season (these were at the Wallingford Farmers Market a few weeks back) and welcoming the apples, pears, figs, and pumpkins of autumn.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

The Hutch

Which of our lives has not been touched by cancer? Each of us has a loved one, colleague, or friend who has dealt with hearing that dreaded word, cancer, uttered into their lives. Perhaps you have had your own physical battle with it. The buildings you see in this photo comprise the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, or "The Hutch" as most Seattlites refer to this renown biotech complex. The researchers inside this unassuming little fortress on the east shore of Lake Union are attempting to mount effective attacks against this common enemy in all its forms. My husband died at a young age last year from glioblastoma mutilforme, a fast growing and particularly nasty form of brain cancer which at this time, sadly, is nearly always fatal. In time new treatments may be forged through the hard work and investigation of folks at the Hutch and other of Seattle's labs and medical centers. Or breast cancer! October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the USA. My best wishes are with everyone who is dealing with cancer in their lives, and with those seeking to eradicate it.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Full Moon Over I-5 Colonnade Park

Almost-full moon rise over Capital Hill and I-5 Freeway through Eastlake. This long exposure shot is straight out of the camera except for the border and copyright text. The blue lighting you see under the freeway is part of the art installation "Seventh Climate (Paradise Reconsidered)" at the newly opened I-5 Colonnade Park. This reclaimed bit of turf under the freeway is called "the first ever urban mountain bike skills park" by its creators, the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance (formerly Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club). A joint project of EMBA and Seattle City Parks, I-5 Colonnade Park's bike skills facilities were built by volunteers who donated over 7000 hours of labor to create the city's newest, and possibly most unique park. I took this shot three nights after the park's grand opening in September, and that line across the moon was a jet in flight.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

To The Summit

This photo may not immediately give away my whereabouts on Sunday, and that's because I spent the day enjoying a grand tour with a fellow CDPBlogger who took me to places frequented mostly by locals. The city is beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, Canada where I was attending a lecture and benefit concert Saturday at the University of Victoria concerning forging an end to child soldiering around the globe. I had a wonderful time discovering much more of Victoria on Sunday with Benjamin Madison, whose Victoria Daily Photo I have greatly enjoyed for quite some time. It is so fun to not only go visiting favorite photo haunts of someone whose work and writing I admire, but to discover through conversation a depth and breadth of life experience and common threads of interest and influence that seem uncanny. Thanks again, Benjamin! I took this shot at Mount Douglas, a small peak that gives a grand overlook of Victoria and the southern portion of the island and beyond. The young girl scrambling to the summit spoke to me of freedom and positive movement and the joy of life.

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Earth Air Water Fire

I'm not in Seattle at present but visiting another beautiful, rainy Pacific Northwest city for the weekend. Can you guess from this street fixture where in the world Kimmie could be today? I'll be meeting another City Daily Photo Blogger tomorrow for a photowalk, and that will be fun!

Friday, October 03, 2008

Watercolor Inspiration

After yesterday's action shot I thought you might like to see a still life, just after a rain. This is among some houseboats in the Eastlake floating home community of Tenas Chuck. Care to pour a cup of coffee and join us on the deck? Happy Friday!

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Great Blue Heron in Flight

I caught sight of Seattle's official city bird winging its way west along the shore in the Fremont neighborhood. The Blue Heron's wing span so large and its movements graceful, I always love watching them.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Theme Day: Lines

". . .So, you come here often?"

Our monthly theme day is lines (please, don't shoot me for this broad interpretation; I just HAD to post this image of a couple chatting at the Cyclops in Belltown ;^). So, what's the best line YOU ever got or used? To see how other City Daily Photo Bloggers around the globe interpreted our theme, click individually on your fave cities below or click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Auckland, New Zealand by Baruch, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Ilse, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Cape Town, South Africa by JSB, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Edwardsville (IL), USA by Mdflores, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Franschhoek, South Africa by JSB, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hangzhou, China by zoe, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Islip (NY), USA by Bettye, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, La Antigua, Guatemala by Rudy, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Hilda, Manila, Philippines by Anthony, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milton, New Zealand by Milton Daily Photo, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Scott, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Muizenberg, South Africa by Pentaxjunkie, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Elsa, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Andrew Foderaro, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Prague, Czech Republic by kakna, Quezon City, Philippines by ann pablo, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Roanoke (VA), USA by Tanya, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Schenectady (NY), USA by Buck, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, South Pasadena (CA), USA by Laurie, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Test City (MA), USA by , Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

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