Or - There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight..
We headed downtown for the Firefighter Combat Challenge today. It's an open competition kind of like an endurance race. I don't quite understand where the, "Combat" comes in, but it was a grueling competition…one I would not care to try. It's part of the celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the Great Seattle Fire which destroyed much of the then-current downtown and led to the City we know and love today.
So, we were off on our Magic Carpet…Da Link, Boss!!
With our first…
SELFIE!!
And soon we were downtown. We got off at the Pioneer Square (hereafter known as Pi2 - Pioneer Squared) and ran into these two examples of some good street art.
They were painted onto some street level windows right by the entrance to the Link Station.
Not bad. It's nice to see some artistic art(?) about the City rather than some of the metal monstrosities we've seen here and there. Hahaha, I have some serious questions for some of these things they're passing off as, "art" around the City.
But not these. I rather enjoyed these two paintings. Not bad at all for something painted onto a window.
My City is such a kick. It is, well, beautiful. This is the scene right outside the entrance/exit for Pi2. See the flowers to the right? Hanging from the lamp post? They have these ALL over the City. A great touch for the urban scene.
The painted windows you saw previously…they're just to the right from where I took this picture.
The Smith Tower. One of my favorite pieces of Architecture. See the lamp post in the previous picture? I went up next to it and shot up for this shot. And, lucky me, happened to get a plane coming in towards SeaTac in the shot. Didn't even see it when I was 'composing' the shot.
And then there was this. This mural is painted on wooden siding put up around an abandoned building. I liked the juxtaposition of the urban truck and hydrant against the underwater scene painted on the wood siding.
The kicker is that the building these panels are covering up a really beautiful and unusual building. It's constructed of what appears to be stone blocks with rough-hewn facades. It is almost like a flatiron building, kinda built to fit into the oddly shaped lot.
Hahaha, thought you'd get away, eh? No way, Man.
Gotta endure a couple of flower pictures. But, these aren't that bad, are they?
Hahaha, doesn't matter…you got 'em.
The Challenge and Festival was being held in Occidental Park, just a couple blocks away from the Pi2 Link Station. Up to the Interurban Building and turn left and, BAM, there we were.
Love the tree-lined streets. Seattle does trees well. Especially nice in the Autumn months when the leaves change color. I'll show you what I'm talking about in October.
But, there, just to the left you can see where the Challenge will be held and the park just beyond it.
Hahaha, The Pig. It's Seattle, Man, it's tradition. First thing we saw as we neared the Festival was this large, blue pig. He was there plugging something called Fuel. Don't ask…don't know. I do know that some savvy advertisers have used pigs in many different and creative ways to tap into this unique Seattle quirk.
Leaving the pig, we headed to the Festival. The tree decorations are permanent, I think. In other words, I don't think they were put up just for the Fire Festival.
It started at 1100 but I think, while we were there at 1105, we were still waaaay too early. I got that impression from the obvious lack of any kind of a crowd there in the park.
It's really a pretty park set there in the middle of a great urban City. The only drawback is that it is one of the favorite haunts for many of our Valued Homeless (VH). Hahaha, we passed a couple still sleeping off the night before.
Look up…see the ivied covered building on the left in that picture? It is really nice and looks dignified and stately…a perfect backdrop for some wedding pictures.
These kids thought so and they were there with their wedding party getting some memories made.
One of those Happy Accidents…camera didn't focus properly before the shutter snapped and, they are slightly out of focus.
But, given the subjects, it works. Well, I think it does.
Kinda romantic fog, eh?
Damn skippy it is!!
Here's the rest of the party, getting their shots.
Good luck, you guys.
And then we came to the…Antique Fire Engiines.
Like this beauty. They have something called the Last Resort Fire Department (LRFD) that collects and restores these old engines.
They do a pretty good job.
All it needs is a Dalmatian Puppy.
An original bucket seat along with some snazzy bling.
A detail from one of the engines.
"Let's see…it as pull this and punch that…or was it punch this and pull that!?! Oh, this isn't good."
I just HAD to take this picture even if they did misspell the name. Evidently, Seagrave is quite a big name in fire trucks. You can get yourself a brand-new Seagrave Pumper with a Stainless Steel Cab and Body for only $439,627.
Honest!! Check it out on the Internet and, like Abe Lincoln said, if it's on the Internet then it must be true!!
Things were not so simple back then. I like that they included a CB radio on this unit.
Hahaha, my Dad had a CB mounted in his truck when he and Mom traveled America's Highways. His handle? Okie Bear.
Here they all are. It was fun looking the old engines over.
SELFIE!!
It's a Fire Festival so we did the Red Shirt thing.
We're cool that way.
BONUS SELFIE!!
Hahaha, now we're getting creative.
And the fun don't stop here, Bucko!!
The FireFighter Memorial Statues.
Very nicely done.
Just over from the Memorial were these and I get this close-up from about 30 feet away. Love the Zoom Lens. Love these little beauties.
And this rascal. He was on a ledge of a nearby building and willingly posed for me.
Interesting side note: Adult seagulls have a red dot on their beaks so that the chicks know where to tap in order to get their parents to regurgitate partially digested food.
Hahaha, and you thought my Blogs were all just about fun!!!
Hah!!
Entertaining AND educational.
OK, this Festival was commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Most Destructive Event In Seattle's History (at least until the election of Kshama Sawant).
The National Park Service had a booth set up and had pictures on display of Seattle 125 years ago when the fire struck.
Here's some before and after pics.
A shot of the fire as it began to grow and get out of control.
Today every single person in this picture would be holding up their arms with a cell phone taking their own picture or video. Hahaha, you know I'm right!!
This map shows the limits of the fire.
Poof!! There goes the downtown!!
But it did have it's dividends…Seattle rebuilt, bigger than before. The also moved their streets up one floor and created Underground Seattle and added another facet to this already interesting City.
A look at a city street after the fire.
Some things never change, eh? This picture shows two of those immutable things...
One: Looters - There are scummy people in EVERY age.
Two: The National Guard - Folk still rely upon them in times of emergency.
Here we go!! Rebuilding the City and making it even better. One thing I will opine about is that they did this, the rebuilding of Seattle, with very little aid. They did it themselves and did it quicker and better than they could do it today.
And, just a bit over from that tent there was…another spirited game of Ping Pong.
I just wonder where they get the paddles and balls?
Oh, and they had the Giant Chess Set up and ready for play.
An antique pottery barn. This City has the doggonest shops.
That shop is next to the Collectible Art Pottery shop. Or, maybe they're one and I just couldn't see that. Or, maybe … oh, I don't know.
And this.
With Piss & distilled Vineger!!
Yeah!! They really do sell that!!
Ahhhhh, Seattle.
"You want some Martyr Sauce with them fries?"
Remember I mentioned Underground Seattle? It's really a thing and they even have tours now to see the unused parts of this underground world. When they were rebuilding, they didn't have a lot of electricity for lighting, so they put glass, plugs (?), in the sidewalk every so often to allow some light down into those dark areas.
And they're still, pretty much, here in the City.
Like these.
Can your City say it has anything like this?
Hahaha, I didn't think so.
Now this is a relic. A throw back to when Cigarette Companies could advertise. Won't see any more of these babies around.
Along the same street, First Avenue.
Classy, eh?
Then we saw a sign for a book store and it was…underground.
Down we went…love bookstores…and came into this open area. This is a part of Underground Seattle that is still in commercial use. Pretty nice.
I think brick walls are great. The bookstore was right behind me in this picture.
And it looked like this was a store with a sense of humor. I read this and was ready to ask the clerk for a little Fake French Accent but when I turned and looked at him…I changed my mind.
You know how it is when you see someone and you know, right away, they aren't going to want to play with you. Well, this guy was definitely giving off that vibe. And when I asked him about my backpack my first impression was confirmed.
If he's depending on personality to help sell his books he will be out of business in about 6 weeks or so.
Frosty.
But a funny sign.
And then I saw this book and wondered, as I am wont to do, "Does the name of the store have anything to do with the name of this book? Hmmmmmm…"
A little research shows there is a city in England named Arundel and a city in Maine by the same name. And this book, which is historical fiction about the move by Benedict Arnold to attack Quebec.
I didn't try and ask Frosty about this. But I'm gonna say it is because of the book. Yeah, that's it, the book is why it's named Arundel.
It was a great shop with plenty of old books. I got this one picture but, you know, it might be fun to go and get some pictures of these old books. Some great artwork there. And, look at that book, with it's leather straps used as binding.
Tres cool, y'all!!
Across from the book store was this touchy-feely, totally Seattle Herb Shop. Fits into the persona of this City.
Good morning, Starshine. The Earth says hello...
Wandering around, we saw this display on the rear side of the book store. It's an interesting display and runs about 25-30 feet along the rear of the store. Hanging sheets of paper…a book, I think. All lit from below. Quite unusual.
The building on the left still stands and is a landmark historical building on Pi2. The really neat flatiron next to it was torn down in the 70s and is now…a parking lot.
It's destruction was one of the spurs to kick into action the historical preservation groups that sprung up then to save Pi2 and a lot of the beautiful and original architecture of the City. Just a bit too late for this Grand Lady.
I got the above picture from all the old pictures they have lined along the wall. There's Carol taking a small break on a bench in the hallway.
And, looking through the doorways leading to other stores and shops.
When we finally emerged from the Underground we ran into a novelty store where the owner was having a, "I'm ready to retire so I'm putting all this stuff on sale" sale.
They had a lot of these, knick-knacks. I got those two pictures for the lighthouses. My daughter, Michelle, is a big fan of lighthouses.
And they are cute.
Yeah, I know. I said they're cute. I stand by my words.
Like this sappy character. Cute.
'Nuff said.
Next to this shop was a large open area that opened onto First Avenue and Occidental Park. There were several tables and on one wall this painting.
It's Pi2 and the pergola.
I have never, ever seen the traffic as light as it is shown here. Both foot and vehicular traffic. That's the beauty of painting…you get it the way you want to see it. Can't always do that with photography.
Then, just a few doors down we found ANOTHER bookstore just as nice and quirky as the other one with one notable exception. This clerk was warmer than 32 degrees F.
Again, I could have spent some time there, getting shots of all the old book covers, but I didn't.
I did, however, get this shot of the Judy Bolton Mystery Stories. Judy was a busy young lady. At least 26 times I know of anyway.
Same hairstyle but different hair color…Hmmmmmm, odd.
And my favorite building, The Smith Tower, showing its Seahawks Pride.
12
Well, we'd wandered around here and there and up and down and it was getting to be time for the Firefighter Challenge.
Back to Occidental Park we went to grab a good seat for the competition.
So, this whole thing is very, very long. I'm going to break this into two different blogs. The one right after this one will be Part II, the Saga Continues.
For now, we've been to the competition and seen all the action AND we even saw a new World's Record being set.
And after all that action it was time to find both a bathroom and a restaurant. So, what other choice could we make?
We went to McCoy's Firehouse!!
Flame on, Firefighters!! Flame on!!
Let's grease!!
At McCoy's, the Firehouse Place.
You get the idea, right? Very FireFighty and very Sportsy.
And, to proclaim its Firefighting Creds, there was this sign, with real axes, greeting all the patrons coming into the establishment…since 1990.
We've been here before and gotten a lot of pictures of the inside. It's nicely done up with a firefighting theme. Along one wall are a WHOLE bunch these…patches. There's a lot.
Take my word for it.
A lot.
And there was also, us.
SELFIE!!
And why not? We're a good looking couple for a pair of old goats.
And we ate well. The fries were really good.
I had the barbecue pork sammie, and...
Carol went for the ol' standard, a greaseburger, er, I mean, a Cheeseburger.
And they have their own glasses, too!!
Class act!!
I held my picture taking down, cuz we've been there before and, I do believe, there is another blog with a lot more pics of the place on it already. Go on, go back and look it up. I know you want to.
G'wan, I'll wait.
All good things must, unfortunately, come to an end and so did our meal.
Back to the real world and…Ta, Da!!!
Pottery.
I just thought it was a nice arrangement.
I don't know why and I don't know, exactly, what this means, but there it is…
"just be your selfie"
Okely-Dokely, I will!! I most assuredly will!!
You be your own selfie, too, Braw!!
Still working on getting a GOOD picture of the Pergola at Pi2. Maybe I should come early one day and spend a good part of the day there. Exploring the angles and light.
Yeah, I should.
I really should.
Hahahaha, but I'm too lazy so I won't.
Another shot of the oldest continually operating Cafe in Seattle, the Merchants Cafe. Constructed in 1890 and designed by W.E. Boone (a direct descendent of Daniel Boone), this cafe is one of the oldest operating restaurants at its original location in Seattle and, possibly, on the West Coast. When it opened its doors as a saloon, they served five-cent beers to miners waiting to visit the upstairs brothel. Gone today are the five-cent drinks and the working ladies but the old cafe remains a historic gem of the City.
And, it is rumored that the Old Girl is haunted by the ghost of one of the former working ladies.
Here's the Old Gal back in her Heyday.
The sign, "Merchants Cafe" is still the same.
It's on my list of place to go and eat at.
Definitely.
One of the original Tiffany Lamps hanging in the Cafe.
And, right next to the Merchants is this alley. Not bad looking for an alley. You should see some of the others in the City…dicey.
Nope, this one is kinda nice and connects Pi2 with Occidental Park.
Going back to Pi2, Carol spotted this interesting angle. The fence along the 1st Avenue side of the Park.
And a shot looking up 1st Avenue. It's a busy City. But, hey, let's take some of these lanes and make them into bike lanes. Cuz the bikers pay so much of the road tax and …what's that? They don't pay a thing? And traffic is already being routed differently to accommodate them!?! Well, that doesn't make sense.
(Can you tell I am a bit angry about the street rezoning for bike lanes they did in front of my place. And around the City)
We slowly began making our way back to the Pi2 Link Station. (Slowly cuz it's seriously uphill)
And came upon this bit of original artwork. Again, don't know and, other than seeing it and going, "Ah", don't care.
Is that wrong?
Smith Tower!! What a great building.
And today we did it!! We went in with the purpose being to go to the Observation Deck. I remember it as if it were yesterday…it was just five minutes after four on a beautiful day.
We went to the young man at the counter and, with excitement in our voices, asked for two of the 'Senior' tickets up to the 32nd Observation Deck!!
Imagine our chagrin and disappointment when he sadly shook his head and said, "Sorry, Oldies. The Deck closed at 4 O'Clock." grinning evilly, "Can'cha read!?!" and jerking his thumb towards the sign posted with their operating hours.
Alas, we were late.
Bummer!!
But we will return and we will soar up into the clouds to see the City from above.
P.S. The young guy was very pleasant to us. I was just mad.
It was built by a guy named Smith, think Smith-Corona, and he did things right. From the elevators to the entryway
And here you can see the hallway with the elevators and…
MIRROR SELFIES
Hahahaha, ain't we clever.
Here's a detail of the doors to the elevators…and some of the janitorial closets.
Nice detail, eh? The Ol' Boy knew how to build typewrites and buildings.
His name was Lyman Cornelius Smith
Here he is, here's Lyman. He died just before the Smith Tower was completed.
Well, we'd had enough adventure for that day. It was time for this couple to head for home and, also, time for just one more…
SELFIE!!!
It was a good day and we had some serious fun. Got to see some of the Underground Seattle, watch what firefighters do and learn a bit more about this beautiful City.
It was a good day…
and a good life.
Hooah!!
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