May 4, 2013

Last Monday, I was speaking with someone about the upcoming May Day festivities. “Seattle doesn’t have riots”, I told him, “we have hissy fits.” Shortly before the protests started, I explained to another person, “Seattle riots are different than most. Here, there’ll be 100 white guys with $5,000 cameras trying to make...

Apr 27, 2013

After watching the above video, you may come to the conclusion that the answer is “yes”. This is where we are as a society folks.  A point where the guy in a superhero costume officially makes more rational, logical sense than does the Mayor, the Chief of Police, and every bobble-headed human teleprompter on every “news” station in...

Jan 30, 2013

In the last few months, I’ve had a few emails, not to mention a few real-life conversations, expressing surprise that I have not touched on a subject. That subject, is the legalization of marijuana in the State of Washington. It was generally assumed (correctly) that I supported legalization, and some folks are stumped by my lack of enthusiasm over the...

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 19, 2013

It’s a depressing time to be a Seattleite. It’s a depressing time to be an American. Over the last decade, I’ve watched not only the middle-class dry up, but small businesses dry up as well. While some places in this country are still doing better than others, in 2013 Seattle, you’d either have to be insane to start a small business, or...

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...

Jan 6, 2013

Today, my hometown football team beat my hometown football team. The Seahags prevailed over the Foreskins, which means that tickets to next year’s games, as well as team merchandise, will almost certainly increase. Being the ‘Hags 12th man is a little like being an abused spouse. The team doesn’t give a shit about me, and they rip me off...

Jan 1, 2013

You know, sometimes I envy suburban tourists. I truly do. After all, they don’t have to wait 10 minutes each way for an elevator when they leave their homes; don’t have to smell what 15 people are cooking for dinner … at the same time; don’t have to listen to their neighbor argue with her partner at 2am every morning. After coming home...

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...

Nov 13, 2012

Yesterday was an exciting day for yours truly. It’s a day I had been eagerly awaiting for months. Yesterday, Pike Grocery finally opened its doors, and as soon as my ferry docked, I beat a hasty path to its doors. What I found left me quite pleased. A grocery, a convenience store, a deli, oh my. Beer, wine, salty snacks, milk, produce … Pike...

Nov 7, 2012

Congratulations Evil, you beat Stupid. You must be so very, very proud. Today, we’ll celebrate, but tomorrow, well, tomorrow, we’ll all go back to complaining about the government we just elected. After all, we’re Seattleites. Complaining is what we do. “Oh the weather is so bad, it always rains here!” … as if it’s...

Oct 29, 2012

Yesterday, “Hilloween” (Capitol Hill Halloween) was once again celebrated in Cal Anderson Park. Kids aged 1-51 got freebies from local businesses, played games, and were treated to concerts from a variety of performers … the most popular being the Recess Monkey, a children’s music group based right here in Seattle. The festivities were...

Sep 29, 2012

Today is the end of an era. The 40 year-old Downtown Seattle Ride-Free Zone is no moe. I can hear it now: “Yay! It’s about time those free-loadin’ nigras, homeless people, and all around losers start payin’ ther fayer shayer! I ain’t no socialist! With the exception of public schools, public roads, public police, public fire...

Sep 23, 2012

I’ve spent the morning reading through weather models, and forming my own hypothesis — and what I’ve found is disappointing. At least for people who like clean air, ample drinking water, and niceties like food. At this point in time, I feel that our record-shattering, 3-month mini-drought is just the beginning.   I think it’s the...

Sep 22, 2012

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a supporter of gay rights. I’ve voted, marched, donated, volunteered, and tried to reason with those who I felt were honestly misguided. It is with a heavy heart that I sit here now and realize that I was wrong. Not just wrong, but in many ways, I feel that I was a tool. Used by the “LGBT...

Sep 14, 2012

Woo-hoo. My street, Pike Street, is about to get a brand-spanking new grocery store. Soon to be located at the corner of Pike & Boren, the Pike Grocery looks to be just a couple of weeks away from launch. I for one welcome our new grocery overlords. My money will soon be theirs for the taking. Supposedly, the owner (who has a few other groceries in Seattle)...

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...

Jun 24, 2012

I just got back from the Gay Pride Parade. While there, I took these photographs. I’ll be adding more over the next couple of...

Jun 15, 2012

On this spot, last week, another cyclist was killed by an automobile driver. His name was Nap Cantwell. I actually heard this collision take place, and I’ve been just sick about it ever since. It is why I purposely waited at least one week to mention it. Had I written about it the next day, I probably would have … well, let’s just say that I...

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 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...

May 18, 2012

When I tell people that I intend to run for mayor of Seattle, they either laugh or just look at me like I’m crazy. I don’t suppose I really blame them. If they told me that they intended to do the same, I might laugh or look at them like they were crazy as well. Here’s the thing about my impending mayoral run, though … I’m fully...

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...