Jan 20, 2013

This afternoon, Easy Street Records in Lower Queen Anne opened one last time to auction off its remaining inventory. Armed with $50 or so, I went down to pay my final respects, and to perhaps pick up an item or two as well. I figured that I might pick up a poster for $15, a rare record for $20 … or something along those lines. I would soon find out,...

Jan 10, 2013

In case you haven’t heard, speculation has begun to run rampant here in Emerald City about the possibility of the Sonics returning to Seattle, by way of the Sacramento Kings. Rumor has it that they would play in Key Arena for two seasons before moving into a new arena in SODO. While this is technically still a rumor, started by a single tweet, it’s...

Nov 28, 2012

Another day, another SPD scandal. There have been several in the past few months, but for the most part, I’ve tried to just ignore them. Nothing can be done, really. There’s little probability of change. There’s little support for change. John Diaz remains Chief of Police, and Mayor McGinn … a mayor I used to support … is...

Aug 17, 2012

I just got off the ferry, and this morning’s ride was slightly less than typical. As we were nearing the middle of the Puget Sound, a voice came over the speakers: “Would the captain of the Tacoma please come to the bridge …” Not the biggest deal in the world, as I’ve heard this request at least a couple of times before. About 3...

Jul 25, 2012

City Target is now open for business, and it’s kind of a big deal in the Rex household. As a matter of fact, we dropped more cash in this store today than I am comfortable counting. Located only a few blocks from my home, it very well may be the first “big box” store I frequent. Ever. People sometimes look at me with disbelief when I tell them...

May 30, 2012

It’s an unfortunate statement to make, but I’m used to violent crime. Over the course of my life, I’ve lived in Washington DC, New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Seattle. In each of these cases, I lived in what would be considered the “inner-city”, where violent crime was, sadly, a routine occurrence. This being the case,...

May 19, 2012

I know, I know, department store updates aren’t sexy, and most people don’t understand what the big deal is, but Downtown Seattle’s new “City Target” is somewhat of a big development for those of us who live down here in the core … places like Downtown, Pike-Pine, First Hill, Belltown, etc. It will change our shopping...

May 10, 2012

For the second time in 8 months, the streets of my neighborhood are blocked off for a presidential visit. Oh, thank God, the president is on his way to inner-Seattle. Surely he’s coming to save lives, right wrongs, and fight for the rights of the average citizen. Right? Wrong, and … see, that’s the thing. That’s why I, and some of my...

May 9, 2012

I had my doubts, but it looks as though Target really is planning to open a Downtown Seattle store in the near future. The windows are being prepped and everything. Apparently, it will be called “City Target”, although how this will differ from a regular Target is not entirely clear. If I had to guess, I would speculate that regular Targets mean...

May 2, 2012

I spent most of yesterday in Westlake Park, hanging out, observing, and talking with people. For the most part, it was actually quite enjoyable. Say what you will about the Occupy folks, but 99% of the people I encounter at their gatherings are really nice, intelligent people. I don’t necessarily agree with everything written on their signs, but the...

May 1, 2012

What started out as peaceful has taken a turn for the, well, less peaceful. There are several splinter groups roaming Downtown Seattle breaking things, while the crowd in Westlake Park has swelled to around 500. Niketown: American Apparel: More photos from May Day in Westlake Park:...

Apr 23, 2012

I love the SLUT. I love the SLUT so much that I ride it at least once a week, and usually more often. The SLUT is so fun and satisfying, that I have a huge smile on my face each time I get off. I also ride the South Lake Union Trolley on a frequent basis. South Lake Union Park, The Guitar Center, Scoot About, Whole Foods … it goes to a lot of places...

Apr 19, 2012

In honor of the Space Needle’s 50th Anniversary, the owners of the famous landmark have taken it upon themselves to paint the roof of the structure “Galaxy Gold”. Why Galaxy Gold? Because this was the color the roof was painted when the Space Needle was first introduced to the world during the 1962 World’s Fair. While I think the retro...

Apr 10, 2012

Remember this article? http://www.seattlerex.com/the-reddest-of-states/ Well, I just learned that the “Rob the Poor to Feed The Rich” film initiative has passed. Christine Gregoire, the woman who is slashing assistance to the working poor and just-plain-poor across the state, just handed the wealthy film industry a 30% rebate of our hard-earned tax...

Mar 30, 2012

After being called upon to investigate abuses by the Seattle Police Department, four months ago, the Department of Justice released a report which excoriated the SPD over its civil rights violations. This week, Mayor Mike McGinn finally issued his response — a response which consists of a 20-point plan designed to address the DOJ’s concerns. Those...

Feb 26, 2012

On Friday night, I fell asleep with the TV on. Early Saturday morning, while still in twilight sleep, I heard a news story being repeated over and over from the talking picture box that I had left running. I must have heard the same piece three or four times in the course of an hour. Figuring that I was missing out on something very, very important, I finally...

Feb 5, 2012

Two weeks ago, the Seattle Weekly ran an article which I thought was possibly their best piece … ever. It’s called ‘Ripped Apart’, and you can read it here: http://www.seattleweekly.com/2012-01-18/news/ripped-apart/ Not long after that article was written, today, Josh Powell, a man denied custody of his two children, a man who clearly...

Jan 17, 2012

Remember the shooting referenced in this post? Well, as it turns out, the man who was shot by a Federal Way police officer last week did not have a weapon. Supposedly, unidentified “drug paraphernalia” was found in the car, but no actual drugs or weapons. Another civilian has died because an officer supposedly “feared for her life” in...

Jan 13, 2012

First King County, and now The Feds. Federal prosecutors said Friday that they will not prosecute a Seattle Police Department officer who was involved in the August 30, 2010, fatal shooting of a Native American woodcarver in downtown. The woodcarver, John T. Williams, was carrying a knife and a piece of wood in Seattle. He was ordered to put the knife down by...

Dec 19, 2011

“Bitch, give me some water!” “Don’t you dare speak to me like that!” I turned around to find a man and a woman yelling at each other, mere inches from each others’ faces, like two boxers before they touch gloves. “Ah, yet another lover’s quarrel”, I thought to myself. On this morning, last Friday morning to be exact, I stopped by the Queen...

Dec 16, 2011

Nearly a year ago, the Department of Justice was called in to investigate allegations of abuse and civil rights violations at the hands of the Seattle Police Department, and today the DOJ released its report: http://www.king5.com/home/related/DOJ-press-release-on-Seattle-PD-civil-rights-investigation-135742463.html Their conclusions? • Seattle police officers...

Oct 15, 2011

Today, security at Westlake Center committed assault and battery upon a man photographing today’s Occupy Seattle Rally. Please read the following account: http://rippdemup.visibli.com/share/wgJF7F I am a person who lives mere blocks from Westlake Center, and I spend a fair share of my meager disposable income in the place – but I will not spend...

Oct 5, 2011

I just heard the news. As the owner of three Macs and a metric buttload of Apple-branded peripherals, I got to know Steve’s handiwork over the years, and I grew to be one of his biggest critics. Steve was a “genius” because he learned quickly how to run his company like a religion, and in a P.T. Barnum kind of way, he’ll go down as the...

Sep 29, 2011

This is where it all started. On September 28th, 1851 … nearly 160 years ago to the day, the Denny Party landed near this statue, and two years later, the area was named “New York Alki” or “New York, Someday”. Since West Seattle was surrounded by water and was hysterically penis-shaped just like Manhattan, the settlers had...

Sep 25, 2011

For the majority of the morning and afternoon, I was prevented from leaving my home. Why? Because the president of the “free” world, Barack Obama visited Seattle today, and lucky me … I live behind one of his stops, the Paramount Theatre. Early in the afternoon, I made my way down to Pike Street, at which point I was immediately scolded by a...