Elliott Bay Book Co. (by request)

As requested by a visitor, here is a streetscape view of this great independent Seattle bookstore. It is located in the Pioneer Square area, so if you've visited Seattle, there is a great chance you've ducked into Elliott Bay Book Co. for a browse, or into the cafe on the lower level (entrance is just around the corner) for a little something caffeinated. That lovely clock is one of the historic clocks that can be found around town and honors history enthusiast Earl Layman (click the link for more info and a Seattle clock walk map). My suggestion for a really lovely, lazy day would be, enjoy a good long browse at EBBC, pick a selection or two for purchase, then amble down to the ferry dock, pay for passage, walk aboard, get a cozy booth and read all the way to Bainbridge Island, get off, amble up to a lovely nearby cafe, order a little something, sit and nosh and read and sip for hours, then amble back to the ferry at dusk for a return trip to the city and enjoy the approaching Seattle skyline with all its sunset lights on to greet you again.

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What Are You Reading This Summer?

Leave me a comment on the book(s) you are reading right this minute. We will all get a good recommendation for our end of summer reading.

Seattle is a great literary city, and Elliot Bay Books is a hub of it all. If you are a book lover, this is the place to come browsing on a rainy day or to take in a favorite author's in-store event. There is something for absolutely everyone's interests including a great children's section. Unlike Powell's Books in Portland (another must visit bookstore in the Pacific Northwest) it is a generalist's dream yet it does not take three days to peruse all the sections. Elliot Bay's used section is excellent for bargain reads (I'm just finishing a used copy of Robertson Davies' "The Cunning Man" that I picked up there. You can also find first editions and rarities that will delight you. The old wooden floors and mazes of bookcases, great signage, and helpful staff all make it so enjoyable. EBB is my favorite independent bookseller on the west coast except for Black Oak Books in Berkeley. Remember the TV show Frasier? The fictional Cafe Nervosa in which the characters on the show conversed over lattes was modeled on the Elliot Bay Cafe on the lower level of the bookstore. It's a great place to sip a little something and plunge into the opening chapter of your newest find.

Yes, that's me peeking at you in the reflection. This was my runner-up photo for the self portrait in a place you love theme day photo.

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Urban Honor System

Buddy "The Ladybug Guy" sells ladybugs to urban gardeners from a brightly painted, if rather derelict, building on Elliott Avenue. Jenny of Sharon Daily Photo posted a gorgeous shot she took last weekend of an unattended farmer's roadside veggie stand that worked on the honor system (click here to see it). It was a self-serve stand from which you could pick from the luscious tomatoes or beautiful fresh picked flowers or variety of onions and leave the asked for price for what you took. Here in Seattle we have this urban example that there is still trust in human decency even outside of small town rural America. The instructions on the door ask you to slip the specified amount under the door, then take your container of ladybugs from the basket. You've gotta love folks in any setting who encourage trust in our better natures, especially when they risk being victims of our not so better natures. To see more of the Ladybug Guy's amazingly interesting and colorful "store front" click here.

Okay, Which One of You Put Metro Up to This?

So I'm walking along and this bright poster across the street catches my eye. I cross to find someone is putting personal messages to me on government posters! Hey, I already ride my bike to work. ;^)

Looks like METRO has a campaign afoot to increase ridership of all kinds. It's easy to use the bus system in conjunction with bicycling--there is a convenient bike rack on the front of each bus.

(It's Monday, and we can all use some fun to start the work week!)

Strip Pieced Wall at Sunrise

I photographed these tall, thick iron strips at sunrise. They comprise an award-winning sculptural wall by John Fleming next to the Gehry-designed EMP at Seattle Center. It was installed in 2002 and entitled The Grass Blades, but to my eye resembles strips of exposed film. The yellows and golds are rich and saturated, banded in black. I love the way the colors look with the silver of the EMP roof line. Each "blade" also very much reminds me of a rapid quilt construction method known as strip piecing where precision cut long strips of fabric are sewn together, then recut crosswise into segmented long strips for various design uses (click on the link and pass your mouse over the thumbnails to get a sense of how this is used).
the+grass+blades grass+blades Seattle+sculpture Seattle+Center EMP Experience+Music+Project Gehry

"First There Is a Mountain. . .

. . .then there is no mountain, then there is. " ~Donovan

Mount Rainier absolutely dominates the Seattle landscape, looming large in the skyline when its view is unobscured by rain clouds, summer haze, or the shroud of its own mists. Some visitors to Seattle don't even get a glimpse of it during their stay in the city. It has a habit of playing "peek a boo." On clear winter days when the air is pristine, the mountain's image is sharp and huge against the blue sky. On clear summer days a haze can minimize it. When I was driving in the University district at sunset one afternoon this week I noticed a clearer view than I had seen in days and snapped this shot for you from a freeway overpass. When you visit Seattle, be sure to include a visit to the mountain and the spectacular Mount Rainier National Park in your plans. Mount Rainier is in the Cascade Range and is an episodically active volcano. Unlike its southern neighbor, Mount St. Helens, it has not had any eruptions since the 1840s, and before that it is thought not to have had any for 1000 years.

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Bruce Cockburn at the Moore Theatre

I had a lovely evening out at the Moore Theatre (corner of 2nd & Virginia), which hosted Canadian performing songwriter Bruce Cockburn and opener Sarah Harmer and their bands in concert. Bruce is a musician of immense talent and great heart, noted as a virtuoso guitarist, poetic lyricist, and a world traveler who regularly incorporates reportage, social concern, and spiritual longing into his art. He has toured the world over. Perhaps you've heard him in concert where you live. His live shows are fantastic. I've been very fortunate to live on the US west coast where Bruce tours regularly, but this was my first time hearing him play this 1400 seat venue which has, I'm glad to report, a great sound system. The house was full and the audience very receptive and appreciative. I got to visit a bit with fellow longtime Cockburn fan Daniel Keebler who is ranger at Mt. Rainier National Park . He has published Gavin's Woodpile, the Bruce Cockburn Newsletter, for many years. Sarah Harmer has a superb voice, and is an excellent songwriter and performer. She came out during Bruce's set to add gorgeous harmonies to "Waiting For a Miracle," a Cockburn song Jerry Garcia once covered. Her current self-penned repertoire is featuring roots and alt country style sounds. With that voice, though, she could sing in nearly any style. She was supported by a great band featuring a guitarist/mandolinist, a stand-up bass player, and a keyboardist/vocalist. Bruce's set featured excellent drummer Gary Craig and keyboardist/vocalist Julie Wolf (who I'm familiar with from the SF Bay Area and her tours with Ani DiFranco's band, but who studied at Cornish here in Seattle and worked in the jazz scene here for many years). I very much enjoyed both artist's sets.

Someone affiliated with the venue mentioned to me that when the Moore Theatre was built in 1907 it had separate entrances and seating for "colored" and "white" people. No trace of those segregated days is left except a stair/corridor that kind of goes nowhere. All has been remodeled a couple of times, leaving intact the theater's interior ornamental charms while providing comfortable seating and great sound.

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Lewis & Clark

Last year there were Lewis and Clark expedition bicentennial celebrations and museum exhibits in Washington and Oregon. This huge lighted sign must have served its purpose and ended up in a junk yard I pass frequently. I often wonder what lies ahead where they are pointing. On my darker days this scene sometimes seems like a metaphor for the impending outcomes of the American experiment. But, enough of that. . .Quick, can you name all the (then future) US states the Lewis and Clark expedition passed through?

Seattle Daily Photo would like to welcome the newest members to the City Daily Photo family (now exceeding 140 members) and invites you to check them out by clicking on their links in the list below to the right: Santiago CHILE, Kyle TEXAS, Vantaa FINLAND, and a third Washinton DC photo blogger, John, who joins Jenni and Pasante in covering the city whose license plates read "Taxation Without Representation."

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Coming In For a Landing

I was enjoying the beauty of the veggies and flowers at the P-Patch (yesterday's photo) when this little visitor zoomed into the frame. I had no idea until I looked at the photo that some types of bees have curved nose-like probosci ? or whatever it is termed. Its little face looks like something an animator would dream up. Not a great photo (I didn't have the camera on stop action) but I loved the little guy's energy! For fun, click on the photo to enlarge or here for a much closer look. It reminded me that Seattle has a very active and dedicated beekeeping community. Many folks keep hives in their backyards to aid in urban gardening and have a source of organic honey. I know nada de particular about bees, but you can find out a little something interesting about Seattle's bees and beekeepers here.

P-Patch Community Gardens

There is no place quite as beautiful as a garden in Seattle in high summer. I was enjoying feasting my eyes on the abundance of flowers, veggies, and fruit in one of the 44 P-Patch community gardens that can be found throughout Seattle. They are amazing places where neighbors use city land in common to raise food and make lovely places of flowery sanctuary for those with no room to garden at home. Food raised in these gardens is donated to Seattle's food banks, supplying much needed fresh, organic veggies. This lovely tile mural, complete with cups and saucers, adorns a wall by the garden shed at the East Lake P-Patch.

Bon Voyage

Almost 200 huge cruise ships to Alaska come into port here each year. I took this photo at the Terminal 30 cruise facility which is at the southern end of Seattle's waterfront, just past the sports stadiums, near the container loading facilities for commercial freighters. That taxi nearly ran me down, he was in such a rush. There were two enormous ships docked here (click here to see the other). There is also a cruise ship terminal at Pier 66 at the foot of Bell Street in the very heart of the downtown Seattle waterfront. When a cruise ship ties up there, it absolutely towers into the skyline like another high rise building. Sales clerks at the Pine Street Nordstrom have told me they know exactly when the ships come into port and are prepared for the influx of shoppers at those times. If you click on this photo to enlarge it, you can wave to the passengers looking out from their cabin balconies. Wishing everyone lovely summer holidays!

Rowing

Rowing is a very popular activity on Seattle's waterways. I took this early morning shot from the dock of the Pocock Rowing Club.

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There Were Five Volvos In A Row

I was driving down the street and had to stop to snap this scene. The Raffi song, "Eight Piggies," began to play in my head. . . "There were five Volvos in a row. . ." Lined up the sunset light, yet they refuse to die. Perhaps they are remembering the countless kids in the backseat, the ski trips, rainslick pavement, black ice, major Costco hauls, moving whole apartments full of furniture. The glory days before the odometer read 250,000 plus. So, what DO you call a gathering of Volvos? And what was the highest milage on YOURS? This is the last post for Nordic Week at SDP.

Signs of Nordic Pride in Seattle

Nordic Week at SDP brings you signs of Nordic pride from all over Seattle. From cheesy 1950s-60s apartment building names to commercial signs, they are everywhere. Today is a big bonus day: I'm posting 14 images. Enjoy!

You Don't Have to Be Swedish

. . .to get medical attention here. Swedish Medical Center has grown from it's founding by Nils Johanson and ten other Swedish-American physicians in 1910 to become the largest non-profit healthcare provider in the Pacific Northwest. They have three separate hospital campuses in Seattle, and many specialty clinics in local neighborhood locations. As other heathcare organizations have had economic difficulties, Swedish has successfully brought them under their own banner. More of Nordic Week at SDP tomorrow!

Seattle Daily Photo welcomes the newest City Daily Photo family members, Nelson NEWZELAND, and a second daily Seattle (and surrounding areas) blog by Susan called Not Strickly Seattle . Check them out, as well as the other DCP and City Photo sites listed below on the right. You can tour the world through the eyes of all these wonderful cities' inhabitants.

Nordic Colors and Commerce

. . .And now, back to our regularly scheduled program. Continuing with our Nordic Week theme at SDP: look closely and you will see proudly displayed at this common grocery store and this bank the flags of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. And if you look even closer at the bank, you'll notice it is named the "Viking Bank"! It is common to see these flags on businesses and even in windows and yards of private homes, especially in the neighborhood called Ballard where these photos were taken. Besides seeing the colors of Nordic countries flying proudly an a big American city, it is also common to hear local people in coffee shops, bakeries and other gathering places conversing in Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, or Danish. Click here for lots more photos.

Daily City Photo Bloggers Self Portraits

Today city daily photo bloggers from around the globe are posting self portraits of themselves in a favorite place in their city. I chose the Experience Music Project designed by architect Frank Gehry, a weird and wonderful building that you really must see. Reflected in the iridescent building tiles you can see the Space Needle and a wave overhang from another portion of the EMP. The hands-on music museum this fantastic free form building houses is so much fun and very interesting for fans of 1950s-current American popular music and music culture. Since I'd featured my feet in a previous self portrait, I thought I'd keep the tradition :-).

Click on these links to see my fellow photo bloggers around the globe today: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28