Ever get tired of seeing neat older buildings in once one-house neighborhoods razed and boring…read morecondos and townhouses replace them? Wonder why the City of Seattle does so little to protect them? You have not be familiar with it, but Historic Seattle shares your concern(s) and been saving buildings of historic/aesthetic value for some time now: (1) Queen Anne High School (now condos, but they saved the outside and preserved the integrity of the interior), (2) the oddly modernist Egan House (which I saw as part of a Historic Seattle-sponsored tour) above I-5, (3) Cadillac Hotel (now the Klondike Gold Rush Historical Museum run by the U.S. Parks Service), (4) Church of Christ (now Town Hall!), and (5) the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford. Both the Egan House and Good Shepherd Center are actually owned by HSP. Sometimes to save a historic building, HSP has had to actually move them! For example, it was instrumental in moving a group of 1890s-era workers' cottages from Chinatown to the Ballard Avenue Historic District. The beautiful Italianate house near Half Price Books on Capitol Hill, now an attorney's office, was originally at Pike and Boren. Washington Hall was one of the focus of its efforts (and was as of mid January 2009 was designated as a Historic Landmark by the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board), thus hopefully being saved from the demolition ball. Currently the organization is trying to save bungalow courts on Capitol Hill from being razed. The non-profit organization is housed in the 102-year-old Dearborn House mansion on First Hill and sponsors tours and lectures throughout the year. There is a library in the basement that is open to the public (which I have not had the opportunity to visit). Late this month, an exhibition on the Arts and Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest at MOHAI will open. One of the major annual events its sponsors is the Bungalow Fair (the next one, in late September 2009, will offer a tour of Ravenna bungalows as well as a contemporary Arts and Crafts exhibition and related lectures at Town Hall). Other events include tours of notable houses ("tea and tour") in the area. I am not sure how large a membership base it has, but there are a number of volunteer openings, apparently, at this very active but not very well-known--to the general public--civic organization. http://www.historicseattle.org/default.aspx http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2009197262_historic100.html http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2008609127_pacificpbuilt11.html http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/landmark-theater/Content?oid=813227 http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/01/09/washington_hall_is_now_a_histo

If you love the movie up then you're going to love visiting the Edith Macefield's house which is…read moreinspired by the movie. We have been here three times and this visit they had colored the house red and black. It kind of gave like Asian vibes. But this house is nestled in between two buildings. Parking is very sparse. So if you are doing a quick visit you could Park across the street. Or you could partake in the street parking in that area. But be warned it is a busy area. Pro tip make sure you bring some balloons to take memorable pictures in front of the house.

The house that inspired the movie 'Up.'…read more A super cute house with a great story. Wedged between two larger buildings stands the Up house and it sure is easy to miss. We actually had to drive around again because we missed it the first time. A quick stop, but worth the visit for such a powerful story and inspiration for a wonderful movie.

The first time I ever visited Seattle was to see friends who live here about a decade ago and the…read moreentire 5 days we visited our friends, the weather was crappy. I swore to myself I would never return as I hate dark, cold, gloomy and damp weather. I told myself if I returned, it would be because I was suicidal. Fast forward many years later and I return to Seattle for work reasons. I've been back several times and most recently, the last couple of times, the weather has been good. So, the trick is, come visit in the summer, you're more likely to see sun in that season. I do love this town and I like how they have some really neat architecture, but also the waterfront is gorgeous. And I would be lying if I told you I didnt enjoy Pike's Market, so much hustle and bustle here! This visit brought me jogging early morning on the waterfront and I fell in love with the place. Early enough that the tourist were still asleep except for this nutter that likes to begin the day with a nice run to clear her head. The ferris wheel is a wonderful and romantic sight to see and on a clear day, you can see far on the Sound. There's a ferry terminal here too, and I have yet to take any, but one day I will. So much rich history in Seattle and they also have one of my favorite map stores here, Metsker's Maps. Definitely come for a visit, feel the cool and laid back vibe here (unlike any other place I have ever visited). Seattle has the highest rates of college grads in all of the US, interesting. I have a hard time describing the Seattle cool, but it's part Asian cool but also part Europen sleek too. This city feels like a really satisfying long drag from a cigarette after mindblowing sex is the best way I can describe it. Definitely my kind of city, but the weather would kill me faster than any other place, so occasional visits here are the best I can do. Kind of like taking a good drug, only on certain and special occasions, that's what Seattle feels like for me.

For one day, the city united and celebrated a 2nd SuperBowl Title by the Seattle Seahawks…read more It was a big bourbon street all over Seattle, a big Mardi Gras, elation, cheers, tears, screaming, and bliss. A Beautiful day for sure to display the 12's pride and joy parading down 4th St on foot, bus, trucks, convoys and so on. Alcohol free flowing on the streets :) without malice and only good vibes. Win or Lose, we love our Seahawks, wish everyday, everywhere could have the same vibe everyday. It doesn't cost anything to be kind, spread the love. These moments give hope to humanity, in a most f'ed up world we live in right now, a day like this reminds us to always stay positive and look forward.

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.

We unexpectedly found ourselves here as a result of needing something to do later at night. We…read morearrived 30 minutes before the cut off for that night at 7:30pm. We rode up to the 73rd floor with a few other people and an "elevator operator" who was friendly. When the doors opened we were greeted with spectacular views of the entire city! We arrived before sunset and we were able to take our time moving around the 73rd floor as it wasn't crowded at all. We were able to take tons of photos at a leisurely pace and we got to see some great sites such as Mt Rainier, Space Needle and the stadium where the big FIFA game was playing. A few days later, we went to the Space Needle which is a completely different vibe. We enjoyed both experiences ultimately but the Columbia Observation Deck was especially nice because it wasn't crowded and the sunsets views were just breathtaking. We also like the relaxed feel of having drinks and bites at the observatory. The Space Needle was so crowded and much louder and more rushed. Definitely plan to come here to watch the sunset when you're in town.

My visit to the Columbia Tower Observatory on the 73rd floor was nothing short of amazing. The…read moreviews are absolutely breathtaking--truly one of those experiences where you find yourself stopping just to take it all in. Seeing Seattle from that height gives you a completely new appreciation for the city and its surroundings. What made the visit even more enjoyable was the staff. Every employee I encountered was incredibly welcoming, friendly, and genuinely pleasant. Their warmth made the experience feel even more special, and it was clear they take pride in creating a positive atmosphere for visitors. One observation I did have relates to the elevator experience. It has been two years since my last visit, and unfortunately, the elevator's video system is still not functioning. I remember when the observatory first opened, and the video played during the ride up--it added an engaging and memorable element to the experience. Without it, the ride feels noticeably less enjoyable. Interestingly, others seemed to feel the same way. I mentioned how long the video system has been out of service while riding up, and a couple riding up with us--visiting from Australia--commented that it would have been nice to have something to watch during the ascent. As an alternative, it might be a wonderful opportunity for the elevator operator to share a few interesting facts during the ride up. A brief, engaging introduction--highlighting that this is the tallest building in Seattle, along with a bit of history about when it was built and facts about its tenants--could really enhance the experience and help pass the time in a meaningful way. Additionally, with all three video screens currently not working and visibly cracked, addressing this issue would make a noticeable difference. Either repairing or replacing the screens--or even temporarily covering them--would create a much more polished and welcoming feel for visitors and help elevate the overall experience.

International Fountain was created for the Seattle World's Fair. Made of concrete and stainless…read moresteel. Sitting at what was the center of the fair. Among "The Boulevards of the World." Once the fair was over, popularity of this site overall dwindled. However, like all good things, this had a refresh. They did a rebuild in 95 where they made the fountain more user friendly and interactive. It was meant to be that way from the get go, but how it was initially designed did not really look like that. They took out the protruding nozzles and the rocks to make it look like the moon so that people could touch and play with it. Fitting, as this did replace a playground. I happened upon the place early morning and found it already had a multitude of people around it. Enjoying the weather. I took my pictures, which really did not do this justice. The fountain really wasn't magical at that point of the day.

This is an awesome fountain at the Seattle Center Park near…read morethe Space Needle. I was amazed at the water pressure and rhythm with musical accompaniment! Kids and adults were playing in it like it was a summer day. What's not to love about watching people have fun frolicking for free?!?

A fun and family-friendly activity to do in Seattle, WA...The Ballard Locks!! And, it's FREE!…read more It's a popular spot to watch boats pass between the saltwater of Puget Sound and the freshwater of the Lake Union/Lake Washington, using a system of chambers to raise or lower them. The locks help boats move between the higher freshwater lakes and the lower Puget Sound, adjusting the water levels to let them pass smoothly. Watching the water levels rise and fall to guide boats through is very cool to watch! There's a Fish Ladder with a subterranean viewing area that allows you to watch salmon and sometimes seals and sea lions as they migrate upstream. Best viewing times mid-June to September. Unfortunately, we were there too early but I saw a sea lion. Lots of green trees and beautiful botanical gardens. There's a small marina. There's paid self parking. I would definitely want to come back!

Nice public free park and watching the locks in action is very interesting. There is also a place…read moreto see the Salmons as the sweam up the current and there are a few seals around too. It's a short walk from the Sunday farmers market

My dad worked for Boeing for over 40 years and Boeing seeped into every crevice of my childhood and…read moreupbringing. I was on my way to West Seattle to do some field work as part of my project on the West Seattle Bridge and decided to take the South Park Bridge after seeing how backed up the traffic to get across the First Avenue South Bridge was. I bring up Boeing because crossing the Duwamish River via the South Park Bridge takes one past Boeing. It was fun being 'ahhh, Boeing!!!' as I drove this way. The bridge is smaller than the West Seattle Bridge and the First Avenue South Bridge. There are towers looking out over the bridge like at the First Avenue South Bridge and Spokane Street Bridge only the towers at this bridge are shorter and more red in color than at the other bridges. A fun short drive to cross the Duwamish here. Well maintained and not trash lying around on the ground when I drove across.

Rebuilt and opened this July, such an awesome new bridge. Designated bike lanes in both directions,…read morelinking two great south Seattle neighborhoods once again. Community activism and support got the powers that be to do something right for those with the least financial clout in the system. Love this new bridge.