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...

Dec 24, 2012

What better way to celebrate the birth of HeyZeus than going to Seattle’s north side to look at Christmas lights?  Why, it’s a Seattle Christmas tradition. Our first stop tonight was Candy Cane Lane in Ravenna, perhaps the best-known of all Seattle Christmas streets. As usual, the lights at CCL were quite engaging. I just wish it was possible to go...

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...

Dec 6, 2012

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Nov 23, 2012

This morning, shortly after 9am, the Seattle Christmas Parade kicked off. It looked very much like the pictures on this page. Once the parade ended, the Westlake Carousel officially opened, and I was on a maiden voyage of the 2012 season. Things got off to a rocky start when, shortly after it started spinning, the carousel began making a clank-clank-clank...

Oct 17, 2012

I still say they got the name backward. Shouldn’t it be the “Great Seattle Wheel”? Anyway, today, I finally rode the thing. I’ll probably write about it, eventually, but until then … well … here’s a...

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 23, 2012

I woke up late this morning. Probably the latest I’ve awakened in the last 5 years. When I finally got out of bed and glanced at the clock, I realized that I needed to get going … and quick. I threw some clothes on, grabbed my jacket and camera, then went into the living room where the rest of the family was already immersed in the latest Nintendo...

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 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 8, 2012

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...

Mar 17, 2012

Today, from 12:30pm to 2pm, the 2012 St. Patrick’s Day Parade made its way down 4th Avenue. Being 3/4ths Irish myself (basically a full-blooded Irishman without the alcohol problem), I went down to hang out with my fellow micks, and mick-worshippers. I’m glad that I did. The parade was quite enjoyable, and even though my shutter finger almost...

Jan 5, 2012

Ah, 2012. One second into the new year, I sat and watched the Space Needle fireworks from Capitol Hill. Afterward, I took the family back home, then headed over to a friend’s crib in Pike/Pine who had texted me for a little help. I arrived at his place to find roughly 30 people in his tiny studio apartment. About 5 of them where unconscious, and the rest...

Jan 1, 2012

I’ve seen New Year’s and July 4th Fireworks multiple times in cities such as New York City, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Seattle. While they have all been fine displays, my absolute favorite display is the New Year’s fireworks at The Space Needle, and I mean that sincerely. It may not be the biggest (that’s what she said),...

Dec 25, 2011

It seems like only yesterday I was hanging out in Westlake Park, enjoying Christmas in 2010. Here it is … 2011 … and I’m once again celebrating in exactly the same way. Running around looking at Christmas lights. Why mess with success? Now that I have a family, I really enjoy this time of year. I don’t think I’ve ever gone into details about...

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 27, 2011

Many years ago, I was born in a small town called Washington, D.C. During those years, I was quite the Foreskin fan, seeing the team play in RFK Stadium on many occasions. Over the last couple of decades, however, I lost touch with football altogether. The chaotic demands of life coupled with a deep-seated cynicism toward corporate sports meant that nearly 20...

Nov 26, 2011

Earlier this evening, myself and the extended family headed out to enjoy Downtown Seattle on the first weekend of the Christmas season. We started off at the Pike Place Market Tree Lighting Festival, and after getting some food at the market, we headed over to Westlake Park to ride their holiday carousel. Now, before going any further, I should probably note...

Nov 26, 2011

Tonight, Pike Place Market officially lit up for the holidays. Won’t you join me in the festivities:

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...

Nov 25, 2011

I just got back from the Macy’s Holiday Parade and all I have to show for it are these lousy pictures. Happy African-American Friday.

Nov 20, 2011

Beginning in January, I begin counting the days until November arrives. The point at which Christmas decorations are trotted out is, was, and probably always will be my favorite time of year. As an agnostic/atheist/whatever, one would think that I should hate all this stuff, but I don’t. I’m an absolute sucker for the aesthetic of the season. ...

Oct 30, 2011

Live.

Oct 30, 2011