seattle pics

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Hanging With Mom @ Work

This girl was winding up a long day of helping her mom arrange and sell flowers at a neighborhood farmers market. Her family grows those gorgious blooms and trucks them to market. Huge bouquets of fresh picked blooms range from $10 to $15. Do you remember yourself at this age, helping your parents?

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

What Will the Water Do?

Well, it will keep them cool, bu these children were exploring how water runs down a spiral channel of a giant sea shell at the water works in Ballard Commons Park. It's not been our typical summer yet, but the kids are making the most of the sunny and partly sunny days we have had. Hope you are keeping cool and enjoying summer (northern hemisphere folks :-)).

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Les Seattlennes Summer Style

So equal time today to what some segments of the female population are adopting for summer attire in Seattle. I spied these tres chic fashionistas conversing on NW Market Street.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Utilikilts About Town

Since multiple readers mistook the garment in yesterday's photo to be a skirt, I thought I'd post a few shots I've taken of wearers of Utilikilts, a contemporary take on the traditional tartan kilts of Scottish Highlands origin. These originated here in Seattle and are made to be worn as work clothes and everyday casual dress by folks who enjoy the freedom they offer. :-)

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Family Stroll

A Seattle mom and dad with their child in a stroller and their dog make their way down the crowded sidewalk of a neighborhood street festival.Typical Seattle summer vibe.

Update 2:30 PM: Dear readers, several commentors below are asking why the skirt? Sorry not to have clarified for you to begin with that this guy is wearing a Utilikilt, a brand of utilitarian and work kilts designed and manufactured here in Seattle (kilts are a tradition in Scottish Highlands' menswear--think Braveheart and Great Britain's famous Highlands Regiments). Kilts in the United States are mostly worn only for formal occasions by people honoring their family heritage, commonly made of a wool tartan woven in a family pattern. But, here in Seattle there is a company that designs and manufactures kilts for everyday and work wear. In cooler months these are often paired with ankle high Doc Martins for footwear rather than the traditional wing tip Gillie Brogues. I've seen a lot of guys around Seattle wearing Utilikilts, and I've seen some female fashionistas adopt them for their ensembles as well. They aren't cheap! I'll post other images tomorrow to illustrate how this is pretty common attire around these parts :-).

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Monorail & Needle

In the dark and almost silently, the monorail speeds overhead through downtown and back to Seattle Center under the watchful eye of the Space Needle. Next year the iconic symbol of the Emerald City turns 50! Some of the lights you see are from Sky City, the revolving restaurant, and others above are flashes from people taking photos on the observation deck. If you'd like to see the 360 degree view from the top of the Needle, click here and have some fun manipulating the live webcam to look in any direction over the city that you would like.

Friday, July 15, 2011

End of an Era

No, its not the latest prediction of doomsday. It's the poster outside the Cinerama in downtown Seattle announcing the final film in the Harry Potter series. Our daughter was in 3rd grade when the first Harry Potter book was published in the USA. Our family partner-read through the series as each new book was published. Well, we'd partner-read it after dad, who'd nab the newest edition for himself upon our return from the bookstore, finished reading it cover to cover in one or two sittings, that is :-). We also went to see each of the films together and enjoyed them very much. In a way the books and films have been markers along the stages and ages of childhood and adolescence and pleasant family times spent together. She's grown up right along with the book characters and the actors who portrayed them. So, it is with a mixture of fond anticipation and a bit of sadness that we look forward to seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 while we are on vacation together soon. Seattlites won't be waiting. They cued up for a midnight showing (as they have for most of the Potter films in the past), and this after a week long Harry Potter film marathon.

The Cinerama Theater in downtown Seattle first opened in 1963. It was saved from demolition years later by Seattlite Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft and Vulcan real estate developer) who was a patron of the theater when a kid. It has undergone major renovations and restoration in 1999 and again last year and is now outfitted to show Cinerama films, 70mm, and 3D. It has a state of the art sound system and is very popular in this town that loves films. And all things 60s (check out that tile wall!) :-)