Jakob Two Trees is located along the Rainier Trail right behind/near the Issaquah Community Center…read more It's best for a quick, scenic outdoor stop combined with an easy walk. Perfect for families, a short nature break, or troll-hunting adventures around the Pacific Northwest. Ample parking is available nearby at the community center. As public art on a trail, respectful visiting is encouraged. Many people enjoy taking photos and admiring the incredible recycled-material details (like his ponytail with the Snoqualmie Tribe band and birdhouse necklace), and it blends beautifully into the surrounding forest. The short, flat, paved path is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly. Great for families, kids, and troll-hunters.

What a fun attraction in Issaquah - and a great way to learn more about the area. My friend told…read moreme about the miscellaneous trolls that are around the western Washington area, created by artist, Thomas Dambo from Denmark. So, I had to see it for myself. I took my dog on a walk around Issaquah - and we made it a point to check out Jakob Two Trees while in the area. To get here, online sources referenced the Rainier Multiple Use Trail in the old town of Issaquah. If you map to Rainier Trail, it does not take you to the entrance to the trail. However, this trail is near the Issaquah Community Center, which is where I mapped and was easily able to find the entrance to the trail. Along the Rainier Multiple Use Trail in a short distance is Jakob Two Trees. There's a sign that explains more of the artwork and artist, using only up-cycled materials to create these trolls. It was cool to see and you're able to walk all around the giant troll and get pictures up close. Although I am not Scandinavian, I do love how treasured trolls are to the Nordic countries, so now I want to find more of the trolls around the Pacific Northwest.

I mean, what can be said about this strange abandoned art installation that hasn't been said…read morealready. It's not a great area, there's currently a homeless encampment right behind it. It has a chain link fence surrounding it giving it a 'We haven't torn this down yet' vibe. Being from the Bay Area and having seen pieces created at The Crucible I personally would call it exceptionally lazy art - if you're generous with the word 'art'. It's a sign, with some pointed cylinders around it. In my opinion the painted pieces at Gas Works are more interesting. I personally think it's only a matter of time before they tear it out and make it into another park so all in all, it's an easy skip.

At one point, I'm sure The Wall of Death was a very cool public art installation in Seattle. It's a…read morepermanently sited installation located along the Burke-Gilman Trail under the University Bridge along NE 40th Street. It was designed and built by Mowry Baden and his son Colin in 1993. While the exhibit sounds ominous, it's neither a memorial or some gothic art piece. Instead, it's a tribute to the structure used to perform "the wall of death," a motorcycle and miniature automobile stunt. While it looks like it was initially quite amazing, The Wall of Death has largely fallen victim to time and graffiti and it's really that graffiti that negatively impacts the appeal of the exhibit. The exhibit includes the cylinder itself on the south side of the Burke-Gilman Trail, as well as a concrete ramp to the north of the trail, which includes a "series of stylized metal chairs mounted to the existing concrete bridge columns and serves as the stands from which the stunts were viewed. The exhibit was originally intended as interactive with skateboarders intended to use it. However, after several skateboarding accidents including one involving a head-on collision between a skateboarder and a cyclist the exhibit was adapted, by Baden himself, to include 25 concrete parking stops. At this point, the exhibit is somewhat fenced in and much more difficult to access. However, it remains one of the more intriguing public art exhibits in Seattle and is still free to see. It's listed in Atlas Obscura. The exhibit was also reportedly damaged on 11/15/20 when a homeless camp tent caught fire. The exhibit is made of concrete, steel, and aluminum and measures 16' x 65' x 30'. It's easy to access the exhibit from the Burke Gilman Trail in the University District. It's near University of Washington housing and only a few blocks from Lake Union. The trail itself is wheelchair friendly and accessible quite easily.

I started doing the stairs when I was 48 years old. A group of us from LLS would meet every week on…read moreThursday night for years, dark or light rain or shine! I don't remember when I quit but an educated guess would be at 59. The reason I started was I wanted to run the Honolulu Marathon, (that brings that educated part into question) but going on I did it that December. After that I went on to do another 16 (again, educated??) Moving on to 2025, I can still do them at 73 with very few issues, I don't run I walk, and I stop a couple of times when my heart and lungs call a meeting with me, but we make it. I really believe I can do today because of what I started 25 years ago. In the words of the late Toby Keith, don't let the old man in!

Whether you do it just to say "we did it", or you do it once, go back down, and do it again a few…read moremore times to get your legs moving and heart pumping- it's a great experience. Seattles longest staircase, 388 steps spanning 160 feet. The history behind the stairs is pretty cool. We walked an hour from downtown, enjoyed the beautiful walk along Lake Union, got to the stairs, did it three times, and then headed toward Volunteer park. A hell of a way to get your steps in! Spring was in bloom, so the beautiful flowers and colorful trees was the icing on the cake.

One of the best restaurants I ever been to. Amazing atmosphere perfect spot for d dinner date.read more

Great food and service at the Pink Door. We went late so the restaurant had emptied out by the time…read morewe were done and that that gave us a chance to wander around and admire the eclectic and fabulous collection of items there. We had the carbonara and the pork chops, both very good dishes. I liked how the carbonara was light on the sauce and prepared to perfection. The pork chop was very tender and tasty and the mashed potatoes had very good flavor. We also had the Caesar salad, which was very fresh with light dressing. My girlfriend asked for more dressing and adding more made it a much better salad. My reference standard is a restaurant which used to be in Goldendale, WA. Fortunately an Italian restaurant opened there and has a Caesar salad which comes pretty close.

Juan used to come into Bartell's at 5th and Olive when I worked there. We became "buddies". He was…read morealways really nice. Although I never really got the whole story figured out, it had something to do with his son and the Frye apartments. I moved away from Seattle a few years back now and Juan is one of those quirky things I miss about downtown. Does anyone know if he's still around doing his thing?

I forget where I heard this, but I'm pretty sure he's from Cuba…read more In the eighties there was an (unsurprising) blusterfuck between U.S. President Carter and Castro. There was a famine in Cuba, thousands of people were trying to leave. Carter tried to make the States look like some sort of magnanimous good guy and said that of course the US would take any refugees from Cuba. Castro didn't want to lose face and agreed to let anyone who wanted to go leave. Thousands of people showed up to the docks and were taken over to Florida. Castro took this opportunity to empty the jails and mental hospitals onto the boats as well. More negotiating and blusterfucking, and Cuba took back some of the repeat offenders and patients, and now the US only gives automatic citizenship to Cubans who set foot on land. All refugees caught or rescued at sea are sent back to Cuba via Guantanamo. I don't remember where I heard he was from Cuba, but what he says starts to make some sort of weird sense when you put him into that context. He has also pointed to my friend's nose and claimed he saw the devil hanging off the end of it.

I don't want to say that I was staying in a weird neighborhood while I was in Seattle, but being…read morejust over a mile away from the Bettie Page House left me no other option one early morning than to head out by wheelchair to check it out. Smack dab in the middle of Seattle's worst heatwave ever, I can still easily say it was worth the effort for a glimpse of this private residence that features an 18' Bettie Page and even more recently has added the one and only Divine. The house is located in the Ravenna district adjacent to the University District (where I was staying). Commissioned by the owner in 2006, the artwork has been vandalized once (it came back better than ever) and has been threatened by the city at one point with $100 daily fines. because of the "graffiti" on the home. Of course, no fine ever happened and Bettie Page is still alongside the home's exterior wall. Interestingly enough, the home is right across the street from a Mormon Temple. Bettie is adorned with her usual black panties and thigh-highs, a gutter conveniently crosses her chest area. The house is a little tricky to get to, though the mural is easily visible from I-5 near the 65th Street exit. As this is a private home, there is no "admission." Essentially, this is public art visible from a sidewalk or street. If you're in the Seattle area, it's definitely worth checking out and most likely a "must see" for true Bettie Page (or Divine) fans.

Add this to your list Roadside America…read more We've been to the usual Space Needle, Pike's Place Market but, if you're up for something new and unusual --- this is it. Welcome to the Bettie Page and Drag Queen Divine house! After driving around the area that Google Maps told us it was without finding it; we realized it might be across the damn freeway. So, might want to consider that if you haven't found it lol

This spring I surprised my wife with Chef Traci's Market to Table cooking class at Atrium Kitchen…read more It was an amazing experience, and I'm already wondering when I can bring out-of-town guests. Chef Traci kicked off our morning class with freshly baked pastries as we discussed what we might want to cook that day. Then we headed into Pike Place Market, stopping at multiple businesses to meet the owners and try their delicious products. I've been to Pike Place many times, and there were a handful of shops I was experiencing for the first time. It really felt like we got VIP treatment because of the friendships Traci has built over the years. We picked out a beautiful King salmon and halibut cheeks at Pike Place Fish Market, and I even got to throw and catch a fish! Traci was knowledgeable and shared Pike Place Market's complex history along the way. Once we returned to Atrium Kitchen with our ingredients, we created two beautiful mains with the salmon and halibut, plus a couple of sides with the seasonal market vegetables we had picked up. Then it was time to dig in and enjoy our feast while chatting with Chef Traci and the other guests. There is something very special about being in Pike Place Market early in the morning before the throngs of tourists arrive. I highly recommend the morning tour and cooking class. It felt like a perfect way to experience Seattle's most famous attraction.

Had an absolutely fabulous experience and learned so much about market and cooking. Finished with a…read moredelicious lunch. Would highly recommend

Secret?! i think not. ;) Although it can appear rather secretive if you consider walking through it…read morethe first time (w/o knowing it's a tunnel) and ask yourself upon exiting "I was in an underground tunnel?" Yup. And a super COOL one at that, too. :) Fine shops, great lunch options, and a jackpot of historic Seattle photos - everything from the early days of dumping Pill Hill fill into Elliot Bay to the early Boeing airplanes. Downtown? Take a stroll down this tunnel. It begins/ends in Rainier Square and ends/begins in One/Two Union Square. Happy strolling. :)

I haven't visited enough underground tunnels to know if this one deserves 5 stars or not, so let's…read morework this out, arithmetic-style! 1 star for keeping me out of the rain, cold, and wind and away from motor traffic and waiting for crosswalk signals. 1 star for neat photos of old-time Seattle 1 star for a display of upcoming shows from the 5th Ave 1 star for the convenience store selling cards and snacks. There are also some little deli type eateries, a salon, and an art gallery, though I haven't taken advantage of any of them yet. All in all, this is a pretty spiffy way to get from 7th and Union to 4th and University without having to set foot outside - always a plus when it comes to dealing with Seattle's variable weather.

KIRKLAND DOWNTOWN @ KIRKLAND…read more I absolutely love coming to downtown Kirkland. It's where I grew up, and it's a place that feels really special to me. Parking is available in their main lot and does require payment, but there's also plenty of free street parking if you look around a bit. Downtown Kirkland has had a lot of construction lately, but it's finally wrapping up, and now there are so many new coffee shops, restaurants, and cute spots to stop by. There are bakeries, ice cream shops like Serena Gelato and Ben & Jerry's, and honestly just amazing food everywhere. They also host farmers markets that are super fun to walk through. I love the lakes and beaches here, too. Everything is literally walking distance, so once you find a good parking spot, you can walk the whole downtown area in about two hours. There are always people out, the community is great, and overall it's just such a wonderful place to visit, especially if you're in the area.

Downtown Kirkland reminds me of my hometown in Laguna Beach, CA because of all the great speciality…read morestores, art galleries and restaraunts. Although there are way more gyms here. Before moving to WA I debated on living in Kirkland. I don't live here, but I have been here twice with friends and it is always a good time! Parking is plentiful and there are so many places to have a good time. From breweres, wineries, art, music, clothing, sweets, and nice wide sidewalks to walk on it is a fun place to meander and just follow the good times. On this recent visit I was here for an ugly sweater wine walk which started at the Heath Hotel. Just follow the balloons and we had a great time walking around the downtown area. Don't forget the plentiful Realtors and custom jewerly with gorgeous shiny rings a girl can dream about, lol. Lastly, the sidewalk next to the water is a great place to see views of downtown Seattle across the water. And I love being near water. Currently they have the downtown also decorated with holiday lights. I love Christmas lights! Happy Yelping to everyone and go enjoy this beautiful, fun downtown.

It's a famous line from a mediocre movie: "That's not a knife, THAT'S a knife!"…read more The movie of course is Crocodile Dundee staring Paul Hogan. It is utterly forgettable and in fact, I have forgotten everything about it, except when I visit my neighborhood's biggest tourist draw, the Wedgwood Rock. "That's not a rock, THAT'S a rock!" Standing 19 feet tall and deposited by glacial ice sheets tens of thousands of years ago, the Wedgwood Rock is a humbling reminder of just how little control we humans have over our grand Mother Earth. According to Dr. Terry W. Swanson, of the UW Department of Geological Sciences, the Wedgwood Rock has its origins on Fidalgo Island, near Anacortes, about 75 miles north of Seattle. It was carried 75 miles and by ice sheets and then deposited in little old Wedgwood as the most recent ice age ended (source: http://bit.ly/WcjCNQ). Admittedly, the Wedgwood Rock doesn't quite rank up there with Seattle's top tourist draws, but it's always a lot of fun to take visitors on a drive by and watch their eyes bulge as we round the corner to 28th Ave NE and the rock comes into view. Kudos to the neighbors of the Wedgwood Rock who have assumed the role of caretakers for the iconic boulder, from enforcing the climbing ban, to gardening around it, to making sure graffiti gets cleaned up promptly. It's a bit ironic, of course, that the Wedgwood Rock isn't actually in the Wedgwood neighborhood, which is widely considered to encompass the boundaries of NE 95th St to NE 75th St, between 45th Ave NE on the east to a combination of Lake City Way, Ravenna Ave NE, and 25th Ave NE on the west (Source: http://bit.ly/Wcm6vI). Technically I suppose it would be the Ravenna neighborhood that the rock actually resides in. Still, that bit of trivia doesn't detract from the neighborhood's love for its most famous attraction, nor its appeal to young and old alike. Tip: While the Wedgwood Rock may be the neighborhood's largest and most famous glacial erratic, it is hardly the only one. Check out the Wedgwood Rock's modest sibling located in a tiny park known as Wedgwood Square at the corner of 31st Ave NE and NE 82nd Street.

I used to live several blocks away from the Wedgwood Rock and liked occasionally walking by it…read more I wouldn't drive a significant distance to come see it, but it's still pretty cool to have this this huge rock just sitting there in an urban residential neighborhood. I've read that this rock has a pretty rich history as a landmark for native americans, a picnic spot for families, a place for hippies to hang out and do drugs, etc... right now, however, it's just a big rock on the corner with houses all around... and apparently you get fined $100 if you're caught climbing it.