Merchants Cafe

Today, Merchants Cafe celebrated their 120th anniversary. Not many restaurants make it to this milestone. They had been celebrating the entire weekend and some.










There were a few people in there who came in for the first time. There were some who seemed like they've been there forever.











Just in case you didn't want to take my word for it, here's a little banner.












The manager was making a few remarks and the musician had asked the crowd if they were properly caffeinated. And they all looked at each other and said, 'Caffeinated?' as in they were drinking something, but not coffee. So, I came up with a new word: beerinated. So, the lunch crowd wasn't properly caffeinated. They were properly beerinated.













Here is the live musician singing Sheryl Crow's 'Strong Enough,' and some of her original compositions, one about Seattle and a few probably about her exes.











Here's Frank, the owner, holding the Mayor's Proclamation that says today is Merchants Cafe Day. The young woman next to him dresses that way all the time.
















I had a burger and fries and one of the cookies that young woman gave me. There must have been something in that cookie because I sure would like another one. Or maybe it was the fries . . .

Snowboarding in Pioneer Square

If you're the type of person who works in Pioneer Square during the week and never think to go into the neighborhood on the weekend, then you would have missed something very unusual. Snowboarding! That's right, they were snowboarding in the middle of Pioneer Square in October. Now, how does that happen you wonder? Since it rarely snows in Seattle and when it does, it's never in October and it usually melts unless it's some sort of freak of nature. Well, they trucked it all in.




This is annual Downtown Throwdown event and this is the second year it's been in Occidental Park. There was media, a DJ. The certified Neapolitan pizza place took out the oven and set up outside and all the typical audience you would find at these events: young, excitable and slightly high.








So, it took awhile for the set-up, but when they set up, it was all action, with some talking here and there. I guess the last twenty minutes were the juiciest.










Despite the off-and-on rain, it still drew a crowd. Now, it would have been really weird if there was a Christmas tree or something.

Belltown Fire Station

It's not very often that I visit fire stations. I guess if you were a parent and your son wanted to become a fireman, you would take him here, especially if they were giving out free food, like doughnuts, or at least stickers. On the day that I went, there were no doughnuts. Maybe the police ate them all? In any case, there was a dedication, a man in a kilt played bagpipes and all that jazz.






The first thing that pops into mind when I'm at a fire station is the fire pole. Maybe I watched a little too much TV as a child, but I wanted to find that pole and ride it down.










Much to my dismay, I found the pole, but I couldn't ride it down because it was a fall hazard.

















No cookies here.

Farmers Market at City Hall

If you have ever been to City Hall, you will realize there is really nowhere to eat. Okay, fine, you can go to some weird floor and find a vending machine, but that's not really food. You can buy a sandwich and a cup of coffee at a stand called City Grind. Okay, fine. I've bought a few cups there myself. Or you can go to the bagel shop downstairs. For a few days in the summer, there's also a farmers market at City Hall. Doesn't City Hall make an interesting background? On the day that I was there, all I could see were flower vendors. Not my idea of a good lunch.

Neon Art Installation

It's not everyday you walk around and find signs that capture your mood, especially not in neon. I mean, you happen to be in a mood and these objects were made so that when you come upon them they seem to coincide with everything you're feeling. Then again, if you happen upon them and they don't capture your mood, then you could ponder their meaning and wonder if that's art in action. Personally, if you want to get the full effect, get into a crappy mood and THEN seek out the neon. We'll have that in common and you will feel like you're part of a larger community.


If you're having a hard time getting into a bad mood, try thinking about a relationship you had many years ago, perhaps exactly ten years ago and dwell on that for a minute. Think of all the good times that you had and imagine them etched into your mind forever because you took ecstasy together and it made what was probably just okay into something incredibly special. Then, imagine that person just smashing your heart into bits. Are you feeling crappy yet??? If so, then maybe you are ready to look at this neon.



Then imagine that for some odd reason this person contacts you and all the minute details of all those years seem to melt away leaving behind
all the good memories, like a city celebrating a new year together and you feel bound to them and bound to your relationship by long bouts of kissing and hugging in the middle of the dance floor and you walk away knowing this couldn't last forever, but hoping it would and you find solace in the sound of soft water flowing in a fountain. You ignore all the bad things because there is always hope.



And here, all anew, after all these years, a new opportunity to re-live it in new ways because you have grown and matured and all the wisdom you've gained since then will lend itself to a better go around this time. And all the things that didn't work last time, you discount them thinking that maybe you were too harsh, but now you are more tolerant. And you think maybe this is what's been missing in your life. And what a story it would make because everyone loves a happy ending, right?




Then the door is slammed in your face and the bubble bursted, this utterly desperate feeling of rejection returned and you wonder where all this emotion is all coming from? This is all old news and you already dealt with it and moved on, yet it's registering in the way you talk to people, the way you view the world, and God forbid it doesn't get cloudy or starts to rain. You lose your appetite or maybe you start to eat more or you need to take a long, long walk. Maybe you'll sneak into your clinically depressed friend's apartment and make off with a few anti-depressant pills.





Well, great. Now you're ready to find this neon and pretend it's one big coincidence. You can become the art and marvel at the simplicity or how impractical they are for a window of a diner or how utterly useless they are for any commercial endeavor. You do become the art or you are the art coinciding with the art. You knew there was reason why you had to walk by, perhaps not to stare at your reflection, wondering if there are tears falling down your face, but maybe learn to smile that others have felt your pain and maybe it's about time you felt better for yourself and no one else.

Oh, you discover that it's a way to fill up space and you think at least you do more than fill up space. You have stuff to do. You will get over this. You're already onto the next thing. Your brain is already finding ways to make you feel better and to heal you. For a moment, those memories burned into your brain can be there because they will be surrounded by other goodness that you will generate in a natural, organic way. You've got some living to do and you're not going to run out of smiles today or ever.

President Obama's Visit

Okay, I was off to Grand Central Bakery for my daily croissant and coffee when I noticed a lot of police officers and yellow police tape. Was this a scene of a crime? No, silly, the President of the United States of America is coming for a turkey sandwich. No, really. I must say if I knew this ahead of time, I would've called the White House warning President Obama not to order the sandwich on their artisanal bread. As much as I love the bakery, the bread is very hard and difficult to chew. Get me through to the president. He must get the potato bread instead!!!


Alas, alas. I didn't get through. Actually, I didn't even try. They might have thought there was something wrong with me. Maybe, I'm too hard on the bakery? Nah, Many people agree. Maybe if you order soup with the bread, you could dunk it and eat it that way. Just stick with the pastries and coffee. While you're there, you can take in the historic building and the park.






Crowds were gathering and it was beautiful, sunny day.


















Right at 11:4o AM, a motorcade arrives, President Obama gets out and the crowd starts to cheer. Most everyone is waving or gently jostling try to get a picture. He waves a little and goes in for his turkey sandwich. This is SEATTLE, Washington. Not Washington, DC, okay? Is this like Oprah making a run for some of Ezell's Fried Chicken?







Just like that, he was inside, but everyone was still happy. Maybe they were waiting for him to come out. Maybe they were wondering what he ordered or if he liked it or not. Who knows?










I'm not worrying. Everything will be back to normal and I'll get in line for my pastries and coffee and people will ask if I saw the president and they will tell their friends if I had. I'll just eat my pastry and sip my coffee and I'll be glad I was able to get in.

Seattle Founders Day

Somewhere along the way, I walked into a time warp. The last normal thing I saw was the information booth for the 1st Annual Seattle Founders Day. The next thing I knew, people were walking around in full, period costumes in the long, hot day which peaked at 95 degrees.








Here is someone right now. The umbrella helps in so many ways.

















Here's Doc Maynard. No, not the actual Doc Maynard and not the establishment either.

















I got there in my contemporary clothing drinking an Italian Soda from Bedlam Coffee.












It's not even close to Halloween so you can imagine how the bar denizens just waking up might feel.











I'm not sure if they are supposed to be in period costumes or if they are just people off the street in Belltown.











And here are some Chinese dragon dancers. The Chinese have been around these parts for many generations. So these costumes go along way during festival season.

Rappelling Down Rainier Tower

Rainier Tower, that architecturally interesting skyscraper, usually catches the eyes of tourists. However, the day I happened to walk by, it was more interesting than usual. They were holding a fundraiser where participants got to rappel down the building.














There were times where I thought this person wasn't going to make it. His feet were not even touching the side of the building. I'm sure the window washers really appreciated that. Imagine showing up at work and discovering someone had tracked mud all over the place.














I guess I don't understand the logic of this. You pay other people so you get to rappel down the building. Me, I'd take the elevator down or if the elevators were broken, I'd walk down. Now, if they paid ME, I'd consider it.















Imagine if you were attending a seminar on getting over hallucinations and this guy shows up outside your window. At least he wasn't dressed like a clown or something like that. At least, right?

Bocce

So, this is the first time I ever witnessed people playing bocce (bah-chee). I can't really say I understand it, but it reminds me of bowling mixed with shuffleboard, maybe? All I know is that as I'm watching it being played, 'Volare,' a popular standard, back in the day, pops into my head for some reason.







Now, this reminds me of planets or meteors, if they vaguely resemble Skittles. I have no authority talking about bocce, but I do know my candy.










Here's the scoreboard. It looks like the game just started. For some reason, it reminds me of one of those carnival games where you pound a hammer that pops up a piece of metal that you hope will ring a bell so you can get a cheap, stuffed animal and walk away proud as if you really accomplished anything and hoping the entire time that you won't feel anything the next day because you usually do. For some reason, I have a hankering for cotton candy.











Did she carry the ball ten yards? Not quite. Third Down and Goal? Okay, I'll shut up now. If you know how to play, please tell me. We can meet there and play or get some coffee. I have nothing to prove.

Belltown at Night

If you happen to be hanging out in Belltown late at night on a weekend, you will see hot dog vendors out. For the hungry, the smell of grilled onions wafting in the air is enticing. Then again, you would probably eat most anything that late at night. Heck, I remember a time when I took a trip to 7-11 for those things that pass as a microwave burrito. I don't even want to know what's in that. Or a late night craving for apple pie led me to McDonald's for what should've been apple pie, but looked more like another burrito. Or a late night craving for Taco Bell led to a few hours sitting on the toilet. Not to say that I wouldn't go back . . .

Hanging out near the parking lot are some club-goers next to another hot dog cart. Here, there is a black sports car with the door open and the car stereo blasting, that is, until a policeman approached and the volume went to zero and the car quietly drove away. The car left before I could take a picture, but trust me, it wanted to be seen, for awhile.






Here is an example of an overzealous cabbie. He must be from Las Vegas. The most insane cab ride I ever took was going from the airport to a hotel on The Strip. What was the rush, dude? I found an empty bottle of alcohol in the back seat. I'm sure it wasn't the driver's.








Here is an arrest in progress. Their friend is in the back seat of a police car and they are wondering what is going to happen to their friend. That's what you get when you're caught drinking and driving. However, if you're stuck here late
at night, make sure you have enough money for a cab ride because there is no public transportation. Don't waste your last dollars on a
juicy, tasty hot dog or otherwise.