Lets have an abstract today. In a light industry and commercial zone along the ship canal I came upon a truck bed parked in the median of the road, full of colorful materials. It reminded me of some real life cubist vision. Seattle is full of art and design at every turn, even the unintended. For a fascinating cognitive neuroscience perspective on why artworks and colorful patterns like this hold our interest, click here.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
This period piece barber shop in Ballard, Smitty's, seemingly hasn't changed a thing since the day it opened long ago. It's no Rudy's, but there's a big plate glass window revealing two chairs, clients and barbers at work. You might expect Andy and Barney to come in looking for Floyd.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
Here in the USA today it is Super Tuesday. It's also Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday. So that makes it Super Fat Tuesday! (sorry :-} couldn't resist). Neither of these facts has major bearing on Seattle today, though. It's just a cold windy February day here that started with showers. Still, we get out. This couple in Belltown even makes sure their dog has a bit of extra warmth. There did used to be a well attended celebration of Mardi Gras sponsored by bars, clubs, and eateries in the Pioneer Square neighborhood. It became a yearly event, attracting big crowds starting a little over 30 years ago. But in 2001 the big party turned way ugly with multiple sexual assaults, random beatings, and a full on riot. A horrible chapter in Seattle history punctuated a few hours later by a major earthquake that destroyed the brick facades of many of the buildings in the area of the riots. The 6.8 Nisqualy quake was such a shock it sort of granted the community partial amnesia about the rioting in which one man who tried to help a woman being beaten was himself attacked and died. A few bars in the area today are advertising Mardi Gras events, but there is no more huge party. And as for Super Tuesday, Washington is not one of the states with a primary today. Ours is on February 19, and our caucuses are this coming Saturday the 9th.
Now if you'd like to see THE city that IS celebrating Mardi Gras in a big way today, take a look at my buddy Steve's New Orleans Daily Photo.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
A common sight (and noise) for those living on and around Lake Union is floatplanes that take off and land there. This very familiar plane to Seattle television viewers came into view above some houseboat roofs in the Eastlake neighborhood while I was out shooting. It's "Maggie," the KING 5 TV Evening Magazine plane. Kind of funny how it is lifting off in front of market rival KCPQ 13 Fox TV headquarters visible behind that line of boats on the west shore.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
This bright tile sign is for a pocket park in the Eastlake neighborhood. The park features a bench that overlooks a bit of Lake Union and some houseboats. Each of those tiles is so interesting and captures a bit of the way of life in the neighborhood. A definite day brightener under gray gloom.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
Tenas Chuck is the original name of Lake Union. It is from the Chinook trading language and means little waters. This houseboat community is called the Tenas Chuck Moorage Historic District. Each of the mailboxes has a design as unique as the houseboat it belongs to.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
. . .well, the Space Needle, usually, but that's already in view on this page. Ah then, here is something else folks think of: Houseboats , like Tom Hank's portrayed living onboard in Sleepless in Seattle. Lake Union is a body of water in the center of Seattle that hundreds of people call home. They live on the water in houseboats (really floating houses) or really snugly in liveaboard sailboats and such. Houseboat communities form around long docks/walkways jutting out into the water from the shore. There are still a few funky artisan and gypsy-like houseboats out there, but most now are quite elaborate and I've seen some with near million dollar price tags. Outside most houseboats/floating homes you will see a small boat such as a kayak, canoe, dinghy, or motor boat. Visitors to Seattle might enjoy this tour given by an insider (I've not taken it and don't know the person, but it looks to be fun and informative). The community pictured here is in Eastlake, and that's the I-5 Bridge in view beyond. Now, 135 other City Daily Photo Bloggers around the globe would like to show you what their cities are known for. Start your trip around the world by clicking the links below:
