Seattle Metblogs » sea_kate

The End is Nigh

sea_kate — Tue, 05 Oct 2004 09:53:05 +0000

I’m no expert on the signs of the apocolypse, but I’m pretty sure that changing the name of a street to Ikea Way, in honor of the Swedish Furniture store, is among them.
Luckily, the city council in Renton got their heads out of their collective buttocks, and realized how naming a street after a retail corporation could make them a laughing stock.

Mount St. Helens and Seattle

sea_kate — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 15:03:45 +0000

Okay, so we’ve all heard about the latest rumblings down yonder, but if Mount St. Helens were to erupt, what would it mean to us here up north? Might it trigger earthquakes? Will the skies turn gray? Or will we be merely spectators?
There’s little evidence to suggest that any eruption will do anything except alter flight patterns of aircraft, but for some reason, I still feel just a tad uneasy.

Open Mic Event: Eyewitness Accounts of the RNC

sea_kate — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 15:37:07 +0000

Want to know what really happened during the protests in NYC during the Republican National Convention? Not in Our Name is holding an Open Mic this Sunday. From their Press Release:

LIVE IN SEATTLE AFTER THE RNC: Reports from the RNC in NYC!
Open Mic Event
Sunday, September 5 at 7pm
Community Services Center
1609 19th Ave at E Pine St, 1 block south of Madison in Capitol Hill
People returning from the protests in NYC during the Republican National Convention will report on their experiences. Followed by discussion of where to go from here to further build a movement of resistance toward a whole new world!

Considering what the peaceful protestors are going through, and how it’s not being shown in the mainstream media, this is worth going to, if only to see what steps our governments (state, local, federal) will go to stifle free speech.

Fall Fecal Fest

sea_kate — Mon, 16 Aug 2004 16:18:53 +0000

For all of you looking for compost materials (in the form of Zoo Doo) at this years Woodland Park Zoo’s Fall Fecal Fest, you’ll need to look elsewhere. The Fecal Fest has been canceled due to chlopyralid.
From their press release:

SEATTLE – Woodland Park Zoo has canceled this year’s Fall Fecal Fest due to an herbicide contamination of the zoo’s highly coveted Zoo Doo. The herbicide, chlopyralid (klo-PEER-uh-lid), is commonly used on hay and wheat fields in eastern Washington for the control of broadleaf weeds (non grass-like weeds). Unlike most other common herbicides, chlopyralid does not break down in the heat of the composting process. It remains active to the detriment of susceptible plants, primarily members of the pea, sunflower and tomato families.

Zoo Doo? The twelve year old inside of me can’t help but snicker and giggle.

Whole Foods and the Broadway Market

sea_kate — Fri, 13 Aug 2004 10:23:25 +0000

A few weeks back, there were rumors in the comments that Whole Foods may be moving into the soon-to-be abandoned QFC store on Broadway. With the latest AP release below, it’s unlikely as Whole Foods now appears to be moving into South Lake Union, a mere mile away.

Associated Press
SEATTLE – An upscale hotel and Whole Foods supermarket are planned for the South Lake Union area of Seattle as part of a redevelopment.
Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts will open a 160-room hotel and Whole Foods Market will open a grocery on the corner of Denny and Westlake Avenues.

Art and Politics

sea_kate — Fri, 06 Aug 2004 14:15:22 +0000

At last, the horrible local nightmare has come to an end!
Harbor steps, local overpriced condo across from the Seattle Art Museum, made a call for submissions for local artists to create some sculptures for an exhibit titled “On the Edge” .
Ross Palmer Beecher thought this was a great idea, and entered a piece which was a little political.

Beecher’s piece is a flag made of crushed Anheuser-Busch beer cans sitting on a red wagon.
“I folded the cans to remove the ‘c,’ so they spell Bush,” she said. “It’s a flag collage of cans and burnt cookie tins and merry Christmas wrappers. On top of the flag are whirligigs.
“In front of the flag are deer jawbones wrapped in blue cans with bullet casings. The handle of the little red wagon is bolted up, to look like a Republican elephant nose. I meant it to be comic, fun and funky.”

Well, Harbor Steps threw a hissy fit, stating:

“Her work doesn’t fit, as it’s not in context with the rest of the art, which is not political. We were not looking to provide a political forum.”

Well, they all kissed and made up today, agreeing to a sign placed near Beecher’s piece saying views expressed by artists in the exhibit do not necessarily reflect the views of Harbor Properties.
If interested, head down to Harbor Steps at 5:30 today for a party on the steps that celebrate the artists.

Marking Territory

sea_kate — Thu, 05 Aug 2004 16:34:19 +0000

Okay, so here’s the deal. I’m parked above the QFC on Broadway and Pike. Next to me, three girls, roughly drinking age, come out of the QFC elevator and head to their car, which is parked to the immediate left of mine. They are dressed like…well… like 21 year olds about to head out to the clubs. Leather pants, Tattoos on the small of the backs, high heels. If you’re around Pike and Pine on Weekend Nights, you know the type.
The woman who was to sit in passenger seat, states allowed “I’m sorry, I have to do this now”, and with her car door still open, proceeds to drop trou, and relieve herself in the parking lot. Only then do they realize that they have an audience…me. The two ladies in the car, seriously perturbed at their friend, roll their collective eyes and start to yell at the one leaving a large puddle on the parking lot.
So I do the only thing I can think of. I start my car, and exit the parking space, exposing the woman for all to see.
Welcome to Seattle…where you sometimes gotta take the weird with the wild.

Laptop Battles!!

sea_kate — Tue, 20 Jul 2004 10:20:23 +0000

Looking for a new music experience? How about competitive music mashing? Laptop Battles may be your thing.
The folks over at Fourthcity.net have been doing Laptop battles for a while now, and if you’ve walked around the Capital Hill or the U District, you’ve seen their flyers everywhere. But you may not have known just exactly what goes on.
Well, it’s like this:

The laptop battle is a competitive event for laptop musicians to match their skills against one another. Battles are chosen randomly and conducted in 3 minute rounds. A panel of judges decides which contestant advances to the next round, single elimination style.
It’s a fusion of sound design, composition and stage performance, and a chance for laptop musicians to prove their skills in battle and develop techniques and strategies

They’re at Lo Fi tonight and The Baltic Room tomorrow, and they’re worth checking out.

Get yer Cameras Out!

sea_kate — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 11:00:56 +0000

Why I love Seattle:
In response to Ian Spier’s difficulties in taking pictures of the Ballard Locks (mentioned here last week), another local blogger (~~Name unknown, but~~ Myk Oleary, located at life, it is a travesty…) has taken it upon themselves to organize a peaceful protest.
What a great idea! From their site:

In response, I will be trying to organize a photo shoot at the Locks as a means of protest. Anyone else who cares about our rights as Americans to photograph interseting PUBLIC subjects are welcome to join me. If you are a photographer in Seattle, please consider coming.
If you are hesitant (and this is fair given what already happened) at least pass this on to others you know who may want to come along. Feel free to post the link to any and all boards that may have folks who would come (I’ll be posting to dpchallenge in just a few minutes after this post goes live.)
DETAILS:
Sunday August 1st, 2004
1PM – 4PM
We’ll meet at the front gates at just before 1PM, if you’re late, just look for the gaggle of tripods inside the property by the locks.
Besides being a protest of sorts, this location is a wonderful spot to just photograph in general. The locks themselves, the boats, the spill-over, the salmon ladder, the statues, the scenery, the railroad bridge; all offer a plethora of subjects.

Count me in!

Bite of Seattle

sea_kate — Wed, 14 Jul 2004 09:50:54 +0000

What once started as a get together of local restaurants saw a need to recognize culinary excellence within the industry, Bite of Seattle has now evolved into a huge corporate-sponsored behemoth. How huge? Well, it’s not uncommon for the event to attract over 450,000 in three days and hosts over 60 restaurants. Just to give you an idea, the Bite lays over 3.5 miles of gas pipe for cooking, 15 miles of electric cable for 2,000 gallons of hot water, uses 175,000 pounds of ice that will serve up an average of 12,000 gallons of soda pop and supplies 365 kegs of beer.
But has it lost it’s zing? Even the bastion of mediocre reporting, The Seattle PI has stated that it’s ‘no longer the must do culinary event‘. And with Seattle cooking legend Tom Douglas “unable” to attend this year, is this further proof, or just a coincidence?
At any rate, if you want to spend lotsa money, eat (admittedly) well, and get off on large crowds at corporate shilling events, then head yourself down to the Seattle Center this weekend to see what the hubbub is all about.
Or should ‘hubbub’ read ‘rhubarb’?