The first thing that people probably assume about an experience involving the examination of, and close proximity to, preserved bodies is most likely that it is for ghoul loving Goths and assorted weirdos. I happen to have a rather morbid curiosity and don’t find myself squeamish around blood and guts (except smells, I can’t do smells, taking out the trash makes me want to vomit. But I digress…..). So when I was offered the chance to attend the pre-opening media event for the Bodies exhibit currently in town, I was actually very excited. Continue Reading…
From Bainbridge Island’s decades’ old annual Paint Night to countless pictures chalked on sidewalks during local festivals, the Seattle area is no stranger to so-called guerrilla-art. In January 2001, for example, someone even placed a 350-pound steel slab nicknamed the “monolith” in Seattle’s Magnuson Park only for it to be stolen and relocated to Duck Island in the middle of Green Lake.
Seattle’s most recent guerrilla-art is a papier-mâché collection left at Gas Works Park. Unofficially dubbed “The Spirit of Awakening” for words inscribed on upon it, the Seattle Parks Department has announced it will allow the art pieces to remain until Labor Day unless proper permits are obtained.
According to The Seattle Times, a plaque attached to the sculpture reads “Anew is gifted to the citizens of Seattle in the spirit of awakening. Each of us has shells to break through, parameters to look past and wills to exercise. Arise and stand and then start moving.”
Originally displayed at the Critical Massive annual arts event in July, the Awakening’s artist wishes to remain anonymous according to the event’s organization Ignition Northwest.
Photo Credit - Mónica Guzmán at seattlepi.com
Starbucks is planning on making some of its Seattle stores more like your neighborhood coffee shop. Several Seattle locations, including the 15th Ave East store on Capitol Hill, will be remodeled, sell beer, and have live music. The locations will also be renamed to reflect the neighborhood and may not have any indicator that the location is in fact a Starbucks. While having a beer and catching some music at Starbucks is something that I would enjoy, does Starbucks really need to pretend it’s not a Starbucks? The full story from the Seattle Times.
YouthCare’s prom at the Vera Project on June 18 was like any other high school prom celebrating the end of the school year, filled with teens dressed to the nines and dancing with friends. However, there was one key difference: These youth are homeless.
As one of the teens, Sarah, made her way to the dance floor, she shared her excitement. “We’d never been in a limo before!” she said with a smile. Continue Reading…
The West Seattle Summer Fest starts this Friday at 10am and ends Sunday at 7pm. The annual event is a hodgepodge of music, food, and arts and crafts vendors. One of the main highlights of the festival is the 8:10-9:10pm performance by the classic Seattle Grunge band Mudhoney on Friday night. There are also two prominent beer gardens, and judging by the sponsor list, beer will be provided by Elliott Bay Brewery & Pub, Pyramid, Miller, and Georgetown Brewing (makers of Manny’s Pale Ale). Official festival site.
Turns out it’s never too later to get that diploma. Carol Heyser, a 62 year old grandmother from Deming, WA (near Bellingham) finally got hers more than 40 years after she dropped out of high school.
Continue Reading…
The last bastion of old Ballard, Olsen’s Scandinavian Foods, will close later this summer as its current owners tire of running the store. The store was a neighborhood icon of Ballard and its Scandinavian heritage since the 1960’s, when it was opened by Einar Johnsen. The current owners, the Endresen sisters, have run the store for the last 14 years.
Olsen’s Scandinavian Foods is located in Ballard on NW Market between 22nd and 24th Ave NW. There is currently a 25% off discount sign posted in the window – this may be your last chance to get lingonberry sauce and lefse grills from somewhere beside Ikea, so don’t hesitate to visit soon.
PETA announced plans to demonstrate against using salmon “corpses used as toys” during a fish throwing demonstration being performed for The American Veterinary Medical Association’s annual convention here in Seattle by the famous Pike Place Market fish throwers. PETA also threatened each individual veterinarian with demonstrations back in their home towns if they participated in the event. The AVMA plans to go ahead with the event, calling the fish throwing a “cultural icon in Seattle.” Read more in the article in the Seattle Times.
George Spady Jr, a 31-year-old little league coach in Arlington is accused of using some of his players, including his son and nephew to burglarize an Arlington shop. George admits he had a lapse in judgment, but his family claims the police have it all wrong – according to police, George encouraged the boys to steal things from the shop. The full story from King5.
Should George, who has two prior misdemeanor convictions, be allowed to coach little league ball? Little league players look up to their coach as a role model and an inspiration, and should not have a man of George’s criminal past as their coach. Misdemeanors are minor, but statistically I’m sure many people who go on to commit more serious crimes start with a few minor crimes.
A time capsule from the Norwegian Center, which later became the Mountaineers Club was opened this past weekend. The capsule was only 60 years old and revealed copies of local newspapers, magazines and a few other documents. The Seattle Times article made participants sound like they were amazed by the capsule’s contents. Surely most of the loot is available at select antique stores. Is the idea of a “time capsule” to open it less than one lifetime after it was buried? Can we put a moratorium on impatient time capsule openings until at least one hundred years after they were buried, so perhaps the contents would seem rare or exciting?
Washington prison officials have a penny-pinching idea: deport inmates who are illegal immigrants back to their home countries instead of supporting them in state prisons. Though originally brought up in front of the state legislature, the assembly adjourned and the topic was shelved. Now, the Department of Corrections is asking the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorney and the Supreme Court Judges Association to approve the deportations.
While my pragmatic half applauds the move, the more suspicious half wonders if this strategy will be used to further other agendas. Also, whatever happened to the concept of serving American justice on American soil? Aren’t we the ones who are always looking for the extradition of prisoners hiding in other countries? Read more on the topic on the Seattle Times site.
Let’s talk salmon – 20,000 pounds of Copper River salmon arrived on Friday, May 15, on Alaska Airlines. Steve Sarkisian, Huskies coach, was recruited by the airlines and seafood companies to throw the first ceremonial fish of the season; he in turn presented a football to the pilot of the 737 freighter.
The popular salmon, famous for it’s distinct nutty flavor, and richness in Omega 3 oils, will soon be available to consumers. Form a line at your local grocer now – last year’s catch went fast.
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