Waterfall Garden

If you're looking for a natural respite from the city life, you can sneak into this man-made oasis in the middle of Pioneer Square. So, let's say you stopped by Salumi or Tat's and got something to go, is there a better place to go than Waterfall Garden? Apparently, other people feel the same way too.







This is what it looks likes from the outside.













Once you walk in, you're in a different world.

What? Am I at Snoqualmie Falls? Niagara Falls? Did I fall asleep and wake up in Twin Peaks? Did you spike my iced tea again?

Other people had the same idea. But do they know what kind of lunch I had in my bag?

Some people throw coins in and make a wish. They probably wished that someone fish out their own bus fare.

Chinatown Seafair Parade

What better to do on a sunny Seattle evening than to attend yet another festival? This time, it's the Chinatown Seafair Parade brought to you by The Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The Seattle Police Department's Motorcycle Unit started the parade off with synchronized motorcycle maneuvers.







Just in case you were wondering about the Chinese characters. From left to right, in this case, the first three characters means (Xiyatu, 西雅圖) 'Seattle.' The next two mean (Zhonghua, 中華) 'Chinese.' The last two mean (Shanghui, 商會) 'Chamber of Commerce.'








This little girl was wanting cotton candy in a really bad way. She was waving dollar bills at this vendor and eyeing the bags of cotton candy with bulging eyes.











Here's the drill team.













Here's one of the obligatory dragon dance teams.













Here's a princess.













Here's another one.

Another drill team.

A band . . .

I'm not sure who this guy is but don't you think he's a little weird and creepy? Is that vehicle even allowed on city streets? At least, he's patriotic.

Behind McCoy's Firehouse

This empty lot is in Pioneer Square. I heard there was a building that used to be here until the Great Seattle Earthquake of 2001. I mean, really, who calls it the Nisqually Earthquake and actually know where that is??? So, they fenced it in and put murals on the outside. You might see it after you leave McCoy's Firehouse, which is right in front of it. Have you tried their Blue Plate Special? Maybe one of these days.





So, you look in there and think what could go in there instead. A theater, a playfield?












Well, the Seattle Design Commission has a program called Holding Patterns that tries to partner property owners with people who want to find some interim use for the property. The typical plot of land is some sort of stalled construction project or a lot after an earthquake or something like that.







Here's someone pitching an idea.













Here's a property owner worried about insurance. Or better yet, worried about the cost of the permits.












Here's a city worker providing the necessary information.












Here are two Canadians pitching an idea to use an empty lot to play hockey.

Nord Alley/Globe Building

I noticed that there was some sort of construction going on inside the building that housed the old Elliott Bay Bookstore so I decided to go in. Before I went inside, I noticed this truck in the alley showing the Tour de France on a large big screen TV in the back of the truck. I liked the way that everyone is sitting there, like it's normal. I heard that there was a similar event with the World Cup, which drew more people.





Maybe this will become normal. Everyone will stop typing on their laptops at cafes and become social and watch TV with their neighbors in some alley. Imagine all the people, watching TV. You might say I'm a dreamer . . .

I've heard of black lung before, but I've never envisioned them as a mossy alley . . .

So, I walk into the old Elliott Bay Bookstore and it's all empty and they are having some sort of ice cream social there and that's just intensifies how much I miss the bookstore. Then, I get over it. There's ice cream after all.

If you walk downstairs, the Elliott Bay Cafe is still open. Don't be looking for Frasier. He's going through a tough divorce and he never was really in Seattle. Now, it's your turn to get over it.

Tat's Deli

Everytime I show up at lunch hour during the week, there's always a long line at Tat's. If you don't want to wait in line, you can check the line out on the webcam on their website or go before the lunch crowd or show up on a Saturday. You are usually safe if you try to get there around 11:15 am or so. They've relocated around the corner to the Interurban Building. It's a larger place than before and this building is cooler.

The Interurban Buidling is just another one of those historically preserved buildings in Pioneer Square. Supposedly it's a haunted building. Haunted by cheesesteaks.

There's all sorts of things on the menu, but I'll never know. I always order the cheesesteak. Don't tell anyone. I'm supposed to be a vegetarian! I usually order the beef cheesesteak with provolone, wit' (onions), mushrooms. Today, I went for the combo and got small fries and a lemonade. The fries are not consistent. If McDonald's fries are like Felix Unger, these fries are like Oscar Madison. However, you got to get them anyway.

They have this thing about ordering. So, practice before you get there. They're really not that strict, but they get a hoot out of it anyway. They're just trying to hold onto whatever fleeting East Coastness they have. That's why they sell Tastykakes too, whatever those are . . .

Seattle Square 'Saturday Market'

Today was the opening day for Seattle Square (Saturday Market). Lots of interesting things to see and buy. It's not a farmers market so it's a little unique. They did sell food here and there. I ran into a redhead named Marilyn who was selling nut butters.










Lots of artsy and deviant decor.













These people were smiling and laughing until I asked them to take a picture. Then, they got into their serious pose. After I took the picture, they were frolicking about. They were selling cool stuff too.









Just in case you were hungry, there were some food trucks around.












I think I'll have a scoop of that one. And that one. And that one. And that one. And that one. And that one. And that one. Well, maybe not that one. I'm not a vegan, you know.










This nice woman used to own a West African-themed nightclub and restaurant just up the street. It was a lot of work and we're all looking for balance in our lives, aren't we? So, that led here. She must have been talking about Wazobia?














I forgot to ask her if she made these things herself. They look really nice.












This booth was selling dog sweaters in the summer. She should also sell dog iced tea or dog swimsuits.

















I told this guy to 'give me some love.'

Chinatown/International District in Literature

I always think it's cool when Seattle is in a movie or on TV or in a book. Well, that's usually the case. When I was on a non-stop flight to Beijing I encountered the endless loop of 'Sleepless in Seattle' and I thought I was going to die. Was I worried about any sudden turbulence that was going to cause my plane to nosedive into the Pacific Ocean? No, I didn't know if I could stand Meg Ryan stalking Tom Hanks again and again. Was this a comedy or a prequel to Stephen King's Misery?




Anyway, so my friend casually mentioned this book to me a few months ago and finally I got around to reading it and I discovered that I knew all the places he's writing about.

(The characters on the gate are: 中華門, Zhonghua men, literally, 'China/Chinese Gate.')








I won't spoil the book for you (because I know I'd hate it if you try to spoil it for me!). I'll just share with you a few things, just in case you're not in Seattle.
















There are some things that he writes about that makes me think he's local. Then, there are things he writes about that makes me wonder . . . . But if he was local, why would he say such and such and so on? Okay, it's a piece of fiction. It doesn't have to be accurate, right? Then again, if you go out of your way to try to sound local, why don't you just have a local read it first and see what he thinks about it. Anyway, I'm on the corner of Disappointment and Acceptance. That's nowhere near 6th and Jackson.

One time, I was watching an episode of 'Will and Grace' and Karen said that she took the monorail to the game. Yeah, right! You can take the monorail to Westlake Mall or take it to Seattle Center, but not to the game! That's like saying you're having a mooncake and you can't decide between carrot or chocolate! Yeah, right! Anyway, there is a hotel that they're talking about in the book.



Is this the hotel they are talking about?


















Doesn't this window remind you of another novel, 'Snow Falling on Cedars?'












This is a great teahouse. And it's a hotel too. I booked a famous friend into this hotel and she thought I was crazy. I guess she was expecting the Fairmont Olympic Hotel or something. At the time, there was an article about it in a famous travel magazine and I thought she would get a kick out of it. She got over it.

This place was also mentioned in the book. I bought a humbow here before.