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.

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!

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 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

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.

Only in Fremont can you see dinosaurs in your very own city... They well groomed Ivey beast lurk…read moreneed the banks of the water by the Fremont Bridge. Relax folks you can approach the beasts they won't be harmful to your health. But you can most definitely snap your selfies with the mother and baby dinosaur. But don't climb on them, unless you must and then ride these beasts like your in a Texas rodeo.

Fremont has a bunch of photo ops: a big Troll, a tall Rocket, a strange Center of the Universe…read moresign, a Lenin statue (I LOVED Double Fantasy), and this: a 66-foot-long, ivy-covered mother dinosaur and child. Go around 5:15am to see the feeding. OK, it's automatic sprinklers, but still.

The ambiance here is great. Lots of quirky art and posters, as well as community events posted. One…read morerule though - no phones! The food was super tasty. I got a butternut squash dish and it was amaaaaazing. Had to make sure to try a seasonal dish in case it wasn't there next time I was in town. Staff was super attentive and helped us with any questions we had about the menu.

We were seeking for a good Italian spot and the bartender from a few streets down recommended the…read morespot but warned us there may be a wait because it's that good. This place is makes an impression as soon as you open the door. The funky decorations make you and your date want to play eye spy. The waitress and hostess were friendly and welcoming. Helping with recommendations on the menu. My poblano cannellini dish was incredible. The drunken clams is why I'm leaving a 4 star. Sadly it was really acidic. You could tell they had super fresh ingredients but there was something off with the broth. All in all we had a great time. The drinks were great (Bees Knees and Old Fashion) and the tiramisu was a delicious way to finish our meal.

It's a famous line from a mediocre movie: "That's not a knife, THAT'S a knife!"…read more The movie of course is Crocodile Dundee staring Paul Hogan. It is utterly forgettable and in fact, I have forgotten everything about it, except when I visit my neighborhood's biggest tourist draw, the Wedgwood Rock. "That's not a rock, THAT'S a rock!" Standing 19 feet tall and deposited by glacial ice sheets tens of thousands of years ago, the Wedgwood Rock is a humbling reminder of just how little control we humans have over our grand Mother Earth. According to Dr. Terry W. Swanson, of the UW Department of Geological Sciences, the Wedgwood Rock has its origins on Fidalgo Island, near Anacortes, about 75 miles north of Seattle. It was carried 75 miles and by ice sheets and then deposited in little old Wedgwood as the most recent ice age ended (source: http://bit.ly/WcjCNQ). Admittedly, the Wedgwood Rock doesn't quite rank up there with Seattle's top tourist draws, but it's always a lot of fun to take visitors on a drive by and watch their eyes bulge as we round the corner to 28th Ave NE and the rock comes into view. Kudos to the neighbors of the Wedgwood Rock who have assumed the role of caretakers for the iconic boulder, from enforcing the climbing ban, to gardening around it, to making sure graffiti gets cleaned up promptly. It's a bit ironic, of course, that the Wedgwood Rock isn't actually in the Wedgwood neighborhood, which is widely considered to encompass the boundaries of NE 95th St to NE 75th St, between 45th Ave NE on the east to a combination of Lake City Way, Ravenna Ave NE, and 25th Ave NE on the west (Source: http://bit.ly/Wcm6vI). Technically I suppose it would be the Ravenna neighborhood that the rock actually resides in. Still, that bit of trivia doesn't detract from the neighborhood's love for its most famous attraction, nor its appeal to young and old alike. Tip: While the Wedgwood Rock may be the neighborhood's largest and most famous glacial erratic, it is hardly the only one. Check out the Wedgwood Rock's modest sibling located in a tiny park known as Wedgwood Square at the corner of 31st Ave NE and NE 82nd Street.

I used to live several blocks away from the Wedgwood Rock and liked occasionally walking by it…read more I wouldn't drive a significant distance to come see it, but it's still pretty cool to have this this huge rock just sitting there in an urban residential neighborhood. I've read that this rock has a pretty rich history as a landmark for native americans, a picnic spot for families, a place for hippies to hang out and do drugs, etc... right now, however, it's just a big rock on the corner with houses all around... and apparently you get fined $100 if you're caught climbing it.

Fiddlesticks! I saw that because I'm finally getting around to writing a review of the park which…read morehas been the closest to my heart, since I was born here in Seattle. Why you ask? Because I grew up here just down the street, and it is basically the park that makes me feel most at home. Yes, there are other parks in the area, but this one is the best. Let's discuss... there is a beach, there is a railroad bridge that is sketch as heck, but absolutely a blast of hot air (literally), because it's just a you, above the train, and a chainlink fence... so safe, probably, fun, absolutely. The beach, when the tide is out, is great tide pooling, lots of things to see, from little crabs, all sorts of starfish goodness. Up near the parking lots, there is a large field, and playgrounds. There are plenty of things for the kiddos to do, but the gem, is a concrete slide, in the shape of a salmon. Yes, a long time ago, there was a metal slide that ranks as the hottest things short of flying into the sun... when it was a sunny day. There are reservable picnic tables and prep areas with water... good stuff. Honestly, there are so many wonderful things about this park... did I mention the trails? There are lots of trails that have viewpoints. So recommend, yes.

Another peaceful place to get away from traffic, yet still remain in Seattle. A nice one-mile…read moretwisty-turny rally course track, so if you are not familiar with hairpin turns, keep your speed way down. A lot of popular Piper Creek trails to follow that make you feel like you are over the water at Olympic National Park--here is the ONLY deciduous rain forest in the entire Northern Hemisphere. Beautiful. Enjoy hundreds of species of birds here, marked trails and a mile-long beach with Golden Gardens to the south and the Highlands to the North. There is a large play area here some 30,000 feet for the kids and small barbeques, and a bench looking out over Puget Sound. If you want to get a birds-eye view of the trains passing by, if you aren't acrophobic, you can walk over to the overpass bridge with it's see-through deckplating that puts you literally right on top. The bridge leads another forty steps down to the beach area which is just as beautiful as Golden Gardens. Lots of driftwood and shiny things for the kids to collect, shells and the like. And a few beer and soda tops from decades past.

We had a late dinner reservation here. It wasn't too crowded and staff greeted us upon walking in…read more The inside isn't too big and we got sat at a two top table. We ordered a round of cocktails to start. I got the Loosen Mai Tai while my dining partner got The Professor. My drink was refreshingly sweet and my friend enjoyed his. For food, we shared the Burrata as our appetizer. It was creamy and everything in it paired so well. For my main, I got the Scallops and my friend got the Pappardelle. These were some of the best scallops ever. The flavor of the whole dish was wonderful and I loved the decadent mint gremolata. My friend's dish had plenty of short rib and was super tasty. Such a lovely place and I can't wait to come back.

I really did have a lovely experience here. The food was delicious and the service was fantastic,…read moreBUT I do feel like I need to set expectations correctly about the "family style" description. Coming from New York City, when I hear family style I'm picturing big shareable plates for the table to be going back for seconds (maybe even THIRDS). The dishes here were quite small and very pricey, which made it hard for them to function as true family-style portions. That said, the food itself was excellent, very unique and the service was genuinely wonderful. The staff were attentive, warm, and made the whole evening feel really welcoming. I can't say enough about the staff, just SO lovely. So if you go in expecting beautifully prepared small plates rather than true family-style dining, you'll probably have a great time. Just adjust expectations on the portion sizes!