A fun experience, a bit off the beaten path in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle…read more We ventured from downtown to check out the troll. Very easy access via a city bus route. After a short stroll down a well-designed dirt path, we found the giant troll. The troll is great for photos and has a sign that describes the history of the troll. My kids enjoyed climbing around the area, too. Facing the opposite direction from the troll is a very cool bridge that creates some awesome cathedral-like architecture. There is lots to do in Fremont, and even though the troll is kind of a one-and-done deal, it's worth checking out simply to explore the rest of the neighborhood and awesome surrounding businesses. Enjoy your troll hunt!

A visit to the Fremont Troll under the Aurora Bridge is a fun and quirky Seattle stop. Sculpted in…read more1990 by four artists after a competition launched by the Fremont Arts Council to help combat the garbage and clutter that had been collecting under bridges, the troll has become one of the city's most iconic public art pieces. It's a great destination to bring out-of-town visitors--like me--to check out another troll! As a fan of the whimsical trolls created by Thomas Dambo, this was a must-see. Street parking is available nearby, making it an easy stop while exploring the neighborhood. I'd personally recommend not climbing on the troll due to safety concerns, although many people were doing so when we visited. Either way, it's a unique photo opportunity and a classic Seattle experience.

I don't want to say that I was staying in a weird neighborhood while I was in Seattle, but being…read morejust over a mile away from the Bettie Page House left me no other option one early morning than to head out by wheelchair to check it out. Smack dab in the middle of Seattle's worst heatwave ever, I can still easily say it was worth the effort for a glimpse of this private residence that features an 18' Bettie Page and even more recently has added the one and only Divine. The house is located in the Ravenna district adjacent to the University District (where I was staying). Commissioned by the owner in 2006, the artwork has been vandalized once (it came back better than ever) and has been threatened by the city at one point with $100 daily fines. because of the "graffiti" on the home. Of course, no fine ever happened and Bettie Page is still alongside the home's exterior wall. Interestingly enough, the home is right across the street from a Mormon Temple. Bettie is adorned with her usual black panties and thigh-highs, a gutter conveniently crosses her chest area. The house is a little tricky to get to, though the mural is easily visible from I-5 near the 65th Street exit. As this is a private home, there is no "admission." Essentially, this is public art visible from a sidewalk or street. If you're in the Seattle area, it's definitely worth checking out and most likely a "must see" for true Bettie Page (or Divine) fans.

Add this to your list Roadside America…read more We've been to the usual Space Needle, Pike's Place Market but, if you're up for something new and unusual --- this is it. Welcome to the Bettie Page and Drag Queen Divine house! After driving around the area that Google Maps told us it was without finding it; we realized it might be across the damn freeway. So, might want to consider that if you haven't found it lol

I mean, what can be said about this strange abandoned art installation that hasn't been said…read morealready. It's not a great area, there's currently a homeless encampment right behind it. It has a chain link fence surrounding it giving it a 'We haven't torn this down yet' vibe. Being from the Bay Area and having seen pieces created at The Crucible I personally would call it exceptionally lazy art - if you're generous with the word 'art'. It's a sign, with some pointed cylinders around it. In my opinion the painted pieces at Gas Works are more interesting. I personally think it's only a matter of time before they tear it out and make it into another park so all in all, it's an easy skip.

At one point, I'm sure The Wall of Death was a very cool public art installation in Seattle. It's a…read morepermanently sited installation located along the Burke-Gilman Trail under the University Bridge along NE 40th Street. It was designed and built by Mowry Baden and his son Colin in 1993. While the exhibit sounds ominous, it's neither a memorial or some gothic art piece. Instead, it's a tribute to the structure used to perform "the wall of death," a motorcycle and miniature automobile stunt. While it looks like it was initially quite amazing, The Wall of Death has largely fallen victim to time and graffiti and it's really that graffiti that negatively impacts the appeal of the exhibit. The exhibit includes the cylinder itself on the south side of the Burke-Gilman Trail, as well as a concrete ramp to the north of the trail, which includes a "series of stylized metal chairs mounted to the existing concrete bridge columns and serves as the stands from which the stunts were viewed. The exhibit was originally intended as interactive with skateboarders intended to use it. However, after several skateboarding accidents including one involving a head-on collision between a skateboarder and a cyclist the exhibit was adapted, by Baden himself, to include 25 concrete parking stops. At this point, the exhibit is somewhat fenced in and much more difficult to access. However, it remains one of the more intriguing public art exhibits in Seattle and is still free to see. It's listed in Atlas Obscura. The exhibit was also reportedly damaged on 11/15/20 when a homeless camp tent caught fire. The exhibit is made of concrete, steel, and aluminum and measures 16' x 65' x 30'. It's easy to access the exhibit from the Burke Gilman Trail in the University District. It's near University of Washington housing and only a few blocks from Lake Union. The trail itself is wheelchair friendly and accessible quite easily.

Cool Landmark in Seattle, Washington…read more.. I've had "The Center of the Universe" bookmarked for a while. It's a good thing to look at the bookmarked items on the Yelp app once in a while. I totally forgot about this novel and unique piece of Public Art! I should have visited it when I saw the Troll and the blue Fremont Bridge yesterday... darn! Anyway... I parked across the street and got a good shot of this directional sign! As I drew closer, I saw places on the sign that I would like to see - such as Machu Piccu and Rio de Janeiro. Other interesting places include The North Pole and The Milky Way. What a fun tourist stop! Check it out when you have time! It's free, quick, and a good break from daily routine!

One of the few photo ops (like the Rocket, dinosaurs, the Troll, etc) in Fremont…read more I saw the sign. It opened up my eyes. Life is demanding without understanding. To reiterate, I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes I saw the sign. No one's gonna drag you up To get into the light where you belong But where do you belong? Now if you excuse me, all that she wants is another baby, and she's gone tomorrow, boy.

I thought long and hard about this review…read more On on hand, I think the plaque is a little misleading. They mention flames and firearms surrounding Lenin and I can only see flames. Very disappointing. I'm still giving the statue 5 stars because I think it perfectly encapsulates the oddness that is Freemont. I can't think of too many places that would have a statue of such a controversial figure and be able to place in actual historical context.

Why, Seattle? [Seattle WA]…read more The walkable Fremont neighborhood of Seattle has many artworks in easily visible outdoor settings including this statue of Vladimir Lenin located just west of Fremont Avenue. His larger-than-life statue looks over N 36th Street... can't miss it (intersection of Fremont Place North and Evanston Avenue North) Not sure if there was one but I did not see a bronze marker with a description about the statue. I did see an interpretive sign that explained about a man named Lewis Carpenter who wanted to preserve the statue (toppled during the 1989 revolution) and brought it back to his home in Issaquah... I suppose that's how it made it to a Seattle neighborhood. The statue is privately owned. The statue had some graffiti written on it and, also, a thick coating of bright red paint covered his open hand. Also, he hasn't stopped celebrating Halloween as he still has a pumpkin over his head ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Review #3621

We visited Frankie 2 years ago, we wished the museum was open when we visited but it wasn't but was…read morestill cool driving around trying to find him! Found 3 that year, 2 last year and plan on visiting more this year!!

If you are troll hunting there is one right in front of the National Nordic Museum. Overall, I…read moreliterally only had time to take this photo, but maybe next time I will actually go inside this museum to check it out! The statue is big and has its two hands curled up. Frankie also looks like he is smiling. I don't know what material it is made of but since we are in a rainy city like Seattle it seems like it is holding up just fine. It looks like a lot of work to complete Frankie and it is interesting to be looking for these trolls all across the world and the United States! I also went to the one in Oregon and each one is different and unique just like people are!

I find the locks so incredibly fascinating. You can do a self-guided tour, but doing the daily free…read moretour at 2 PM is so much better. It's led by a park ranger and is really informative. You won't learn al this stuff walking around on your own. The fish ladder viewing room is the most crowded and can get super loud. But when you do manage to squeeze your way around all of the unsupervised screaming children, it's awesome to see the salmon so up close. Again, the whole thing is just a fascinating process. There's much else to see and do besides just the locks and ladder. The whole place is just beautiful grounds. Great for walking around on a nice day. There's also events and whatnot that happen on the grounds here. Parking can be difficult. But there is hourly parking nearby. Just bring some patience and drive slowly through the parking areas. All in all, we had a fantastic visit here. Even the teens enjoyed it. And it's officially on my list as a place I want to go back to and spend more time.

Amazing to see how the salmon jump across these ladders. A truly remarkable sight that you witness…read moreonly in certain parts of the world! Parking is little limited so you need to have some patience circling the lot.

Seattle ReCreative is a cool place to browse for odds and ends that you need for your latest…read morecrafting venture. Need a few Scrabble tiles? This is the place. Want just enough Modge Podge to finish that decoupage project? Go here. Need some rubber stamps to make homemade cards or gift tags? Definitely go here! They have a big selection. The place is rather messy and hodgepodge and had an odd smell when I was there. If you're someone who likes their shopping experience to be clean, well-lit, and orderly, this ain't your joint. But it's fun to go through the shop to inspire yourself and see if any treasures call out to you. Some things were a great buy and some were not, so shop wisely. Staff were welcoming and friendly, and I support the reuse and upcycle mission of Seattle ReCreative, so I'll be back.

I love this place! It's like a thrift store for your crafting needs. Yarn, fabric, art supplies,…read morestickers, papers, embroidery, needlepoint, used stamps, vintage photos, international paper money, etc. They also have used books/magazines for crafts and plastic containers. I found some themed collage packs - valentines and Disney themed and a plastic container to store my washi tape! Everything is super affordable too.

I'm so glad I found Rabid Hands Tattoo! I have been looking on yelp for a new artist that does…read moregreat overall work, and especially in Japanese style. After going through several portfolios on different websites, I discovered Bryan's and emailed him to make an appointment. I was able to get two appointments in, but 6 months far ahead. It was worth the wait though! He helped to finish my sleeve that wasn't done very well, and I am definitely going to make another appointment in the future for my next tattoo. He is very friendly, accommodating, professional, and skilled at his craft. I have been in when there were two other artists (the two women) and they friendly as well. I felt very comfortable here :) Additionally, the interior is pretty awesome. The artwork covering all the walls provide great eye candy to distract you from the pain of getting tattooed.

I've been going to get tattooed by Doc for several years. He's such a good artist and brings our…read moreideas to life in the coolest most original way. Why I keep coming back- He's very conscientious about cleanliness. His tattoos look new even years later (seriously, he is a master of color). He's meticulous about his work. He also makes fast work of getting tattooed. I've brought so many people here from my nieces to my son. I trust him and his work and more importantly, his work stands the test of time!