Dec 22, 2012

After an aborted attempt to ride the new Seattle Ferris Wheel (or The Seattle Great Wheel as it’s officially called), in late October, we finally headed down to Pier 57 for another attempt. A slightly more successful attempt. As the sun was hanging low over Elliott Bay, about 45 minutes before it officially set, we walked up to the ticket booth and...

Jun 30, 2012

Yesterday, the “Seattle Great Wheel” (shouldn’t it be “Great Seattle Wheel”?) opened, and today, I planned on giving it a go myself. Not just for my own amusement, but to satisfy my civic blogging duty by promoting the neighborhood’s newest attraction. Without support from locals, new endeavors face a precarious future. ...

Jun 3, 2012

“World-Class” It’s a term that is invoked quite often in Seattle, and it’s a term that draws equal amounts approval and ire from the city’s inhabitants. Most of the approval comes from real estate types, Chamber of Commerce boosters, and assorted carpetbaggers who are more than eager to turn whatever goodwill the city may have into...

May 23, 2012

The wheel is now assembled. All that’s left are the gondolas and the ticket booth. It looks as though the July target is on track…. maybe even ahead of...

May 18, 2012

Posted 5/18/2012 1:34pm Updated 5/18/2012: 9:05pm – Today, workers began assembling the wheel portion of the new Seattle Ferris Wheel. It was the first opportunity I got (or anyone got, really) to see the size of the wheel against the backdrop of Downtown Seattle, and I am happy to report that it doesn’t look as out of place as I had feared that it...

Apr 5, 2012

The Seattle Waterfront is a place where I spend a great deal of time. As a matter of fact, I’ve walked down to the waterfront on four of the last five days. Ivar’s, Crab Pot, the Aquarium, Waterfront Park, Olympic Sculpture Park, Miner’s Landing, the Ferries … even though it’s not on most resident’s list of places to...

Apr 5, 2012

The Space Needle Company is in the process of adding a new attraction to the Seattle Center grounds called “Chihuly Garden and Glass”. What is a Chihuly? Dale Chihuly is an artist who was born and raised right here in the Puget Sound region. Dale’s work is included in more than 200 museum collections worldwide. He has been the recipient of...

Dec 2, 2011

What can I say about the Hat n’ Boots that hasn’t been said before? In Oxbow Park, in the neighborhood known as Georgetown, sits a giant cowboy hat and a pair of boots. Wikipedia gives the following explanation: Hat ‘n’ Boots is a roadside attraction and landmark in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Built in 1954 as...

Nov 25, 2011

It’s been a busy day in Downtown Seattle. Parades, trees, stars … face it, this is the place to be when Christmas kicks in. We’ve got our own Manhattan thing going on, without being surrounded by obnoxious New Yorkers. If only we could build a moat at the Oregon/California border. Ah well, when I get voted in as first president of the great...

Aug 3, 2011

These photos were taken from Victor Steinbrueck Park.

Jul 17, 2011

Download Video: MP4 After the Bite of Seattle on Saturday, we decided to do some tourist stuff, and what Seattle attraction is more touristy than riding The Ducks? Unfortunately, for whatever reason, nothing ever goes 100% smoothly for yours truly. After paying for our tickets, a lady at the base of the duck insisted that some of our folks line...

Jul 10, 2011

On Saturday, I walked from the nerd cave to Alki Beach via the West Seattle Water Taxi. The Seafair Pirates were landing in West Seattle, and I didn’t want to miss the excitement. Shortly after 12:30, the pirates made their way across the Puget Sound and began their assault on Seattle as 5,000 onlookers stood silent and emotionless. The only thing I could...

Jul 5, 2011

Today, I checked out the Lions Clubs Parade of Nations. This event was billed as the “Largest Parade in Seattle”, so of course, I had to go and see it. Now, I wish I could say that I had a good time, but unfortunately I did not. Instead, I argued with old people for about half an hour before giving up and leaving. The conflict started as soon as I...

Jul 5, 2011

I just got back from the fireworks at Lake Union, and it was a great show. As a matter of fact, this particular show is one of the top rated displays in the entire nation. It’s late (it took nearly an hour to get a streetcar at the park), so I’ll just throw up the video for now and type something up tomorrow. Happy 4th. Enjoy the...

Jul 3, 2011

Ack, I stayed up all night rendering a super-long video. Why? I just don’t know. Below is about 80-90% of the entire Seattle Zombie Walk. I included the entire thing out of respect to the walkers who may want to see themselves. The mainstream news generally provides 10-15 second excerpts so it’s a crap shoot as to whether or not the zombies will...

Jun 28, 2011

After chasing gay men around on Sunday, and chasing gay men around yesterday, today I decided to do something completely and unambiguously heterosexual. I rode two ferries. Just try to misconstrue that. I rode one ferry for half an hour until my face was dripping wet with moisture, and just when I thought I couldn’t take any more, I jumped back on and did...

Jun 18, 2011

Fremont, Seattle. The self-proclaimed “Center of the Universe”. Home of Getty Images, Adobe Systems, a statue of Lenin, and Nirvana’s “Bleach” album. It’s also the location for one of the more unusual parades in the USA. Even though it was wet and a bit cold today, thousands of people turned out for the annual Fremont...

May 27, 2011

I recorded this two days ago after narrowly avoiding two terrorist attacks at Pike Place Market. Download Video: MP4 After the Space Needle observation deck, the fish throwers are perhaps the largest single tourist attraction in all of Seattle. I am fortunate to get to see them several times each week, and I often stop to watch for 10-15 minutes...

May 9, 2011

After hanging out at the Broadway Farmer’s Market yesterday, I turned right on Pike Street and walked the short mile to my other official “home” market: Pike Place Market. Yesterday, Pike Place was hopping. It was Mother’s Day and “Flower Fest” was in full bloom (corny pun intended), and it was hard to look anywhere without...

May 8, 2011

Today, I visited the Seattle Gum Wall. What is the Gum Wall? I assure you that it is exactly what it sounds like. On Post Alley, under Pike Place Market and next to the box office for the Market Theater, sits a wall literally covered in chewing gum. The gum-sticking “tradition” began in the early 90′s when audiences for “Seattle...

May 1, 2011

Before Donkey Kong, before Asteroids, before Pac Man … heck, before Pong … there was pinball … genesis of mainstream electronic gaming. Few people are aware of this, but ever since I was a young boy, I played the silver ball. From Soho down to Brighton, I must have played them all. However, I’ve never seen anything like it in any amusement...

Apr 20, 2011

When I got back to my scooter at Seattle Center today, I realized that I had a full hour and fifteen minutes left on my parking sticker. Not wanting to hand the money over to the parking gods for nothing, I decided to roll down the hill and spend some time at one of Seattle’s great parks … Olympic Sculpture Park. Olympic Sculpture Park is at the far...

Apr 18, 2011

From 1991 to 1994, Nirvana ruled the airwaves, Seattle became the capital of the universe, and the world hasn’t been the same since. In my opinion, it’s been all downhill from there. A video at the EMP this weekend said something to the effect of “There hasn’t been another geographically based music genre to emerge since grunge. We’ve all been...

Apr 16, 2011

While looking for Thomas Wales Park today, I made a turnout in error and was greeted with this totally unexpected view of Gas Works Park. Only in Seattle can a wrong turn have such inspiring repercussions.

Apr 12, 2011

Built in 1985, the Columbia Center is the 7th tallest building in the USA, and at 932 feet, it is the tallest building in the entire Pacific Northwest. The building has 76 floors, 46 elevators, and the antennas on the roof bring the total height to 967′. While the Space Needle is Seattle’s Statue of Liberty, the Columbia Center is our Sears Tower. ...