Today I woke up with a desire to see Seattle on foot much in the way I might see any city on my travels. Naturally, when in U(niversity) District it is best to start your search for me at Cafe Solstice. And that is exactly where you would have found me as I started my morning. From there I headed down to downtown Seattle via East Lake. While the sun was not out for much of the day, still I found bits of it was I passed through Westlake Center to Pike Place Market. After grabbing a bit of fresh fruit to revive myself, I swung back north to Seattle Center. I thoroughly enjoyed a lazy hour there watching the kids and kids at heart run around the water fountain. From there I hoofed it up the hill to Queen Anne, relaxing with a short Medici at Ladro Cafe. If you not been to Ladro Cafe then I highly, highly, highly recommend you do so now. Why are you still reading this? Get to Ladro now! Okay, now that you are back aren’t you glad you listened to me? Good. I then ended up in Fremont at the Sunday Market which is always a treat, no less so than the fact U District Street Fair was up and running at the same time. After Fremont I finished my 11+ mile trek back to U District to finish off my day once again amongst the stalls and throngs of people.
How much better can Spring in Seattle be than to start off with a half-marathon (12-mile) run from Green Lake to Volunteer Park? The morning started out at something hovering south of 40 degrees Fahrenheit but quickly warmed up into the 50s by the time the pack got back to the Bathhouse Theatre at Greenlake around 9am. The small pack of three did a very solid 9-minute-mile for the entire run. I have come to appreciate myself and others who have the knack to set a pace and just keep it mile after mile: time just flows by effortlessly at these times. But what I really love about running in a pack is just the chance to spend time with strangers who, within 15 strides, become newly found friends; the conversation starts up and does not really end till well after the run is over.
I got home and cooked up some bacon and brown eggs which I followed up with with some slices of fresh, organic tomatoes (and yes, when it comes to tomatoes organic and especially organic heirloom makes a difference) topped by fresh basil leaves and aged Canadian cheddar (and yes, aged and Canadian do make a difference worth noting). After downing a pot of freshly burr-ground Seattle Coffee Works roasted beans in French press (and yes, as a foodie all these details about what I had in particular matters … to me … and because you read this to be amused by sense of specificity, right?) Once the gastronomic feast had been had, I got dressed, walked into the bedroom, and immediately feel to the bed to rest for an hour.
By noon I was at Cafe Victrola for quad-shot of espresso and a bottle of Pellegrino. If you have never had espresso with sparkling water then you are missing out on one of the more sublime experiences of espresso culture so oft overlooked in North America. The Italians, as far as I have experienced, have this aspect of life perfected and we should, like their suits, not hesitate to imitate immediately.
A few hours later a friend and I walked over to Volunteer Park. Yes; I was there last week. Yes; I went to the Conservatory. And yes; I got even more pictures. And this time I returned to the top of the water tower to get a view of the city and mountains beyond. If you know Seattle then you will appreciate that a person could see as far as the eye might imagine — well to Mount Rainier, Cascade Mountains and even to the Olympics which seemed sharper than the nearer Cascades, if that is possible. And while last week I enjoyed the rehearsal of As You Like It, this time they were actually performing it for reals [sic].
Today was, well, one of those magical, bizarre, sad and wonderful days all wrapped in a bow and smothered in Seattle sanguine sunshine. Oh, how to begin? Maybe it is best to begin with where.
We begin our story on 15th Avenue NE heading south at approximately 9am. I am stopped at the intersection of 75th Street near the now drained water reservoir. While waiting for the light to turn green, I notice two cars turn the corner onto 15th Avenue, all the passengers laughing uproariously. Odd. I look to the left eastward to see the upper-half of man, he is wearing no shirt. He moves ever so slightly and I notice that I can see his hip bone. Odder. He turns and starts walking to the intersection, revealing to me and everyone else watching that he is stark raving naked (and likely mad). He is a face of calm; there is nothing more normal than a Sunday stroll in one’s finest for we Seattle-ites. He notices me, well, how can I put this mildly, gawking. He becomes suddenly self-conscience and decides that maybe a bit of hands over his Adam’s snake and apples may be in order. I cannot imagine why now makes him feel the need for some modesty. He then walks in front of my car heading west at a leisurely pace, his head blissfully enjoying the sunny Sunday morn. So began today.
I first stopped in at Cafe Solstice to begin my adventure today; and yes, for the observant reader, this should come as no surprise. I got a slab of a slice of poppy seed bread which, when coupled with a quad-tall Americano—now known as a “Ward” at the cafe—the best thing to a slice of heaven that I know of. Grabbing a second “Ward” to go I head over to the University of Washington. It is an amazing campus; to this day I also wish I spent even more time on it when I was a student. The blue skies, clouds and cherry blossoms were all tossed and played with by parents and kids alike. With my hiking boots laced up I walked south to Capital Hill to stop in at Volunteer Park. I had originally thought of visiting of Seattle Asian Art Museum but between the weather and the fact it is in-between exhibits I instead walked over to the Conservatory; it is the best little place to go on any day of any week of any month of any year. And maybe the best part of the day? Behold! Who is on the lawn but none other than a student actors troupe practicing As You Like It.
As you like it? As I like it.
My "Ass Spot" at Cafe Solstice, University of WashingtonCherry Blossoms & Brothers, University of WashingtonSucculent plant (macro), Volunteer Park Conservatory
A few days ago a good friend of mine, Casey Muldoon, asked me to tag along for a trip up to Fort Casey on Whidbey Island to capture some photographs. For anyone who knows me, I am always game for a road-trip especially when it includes an opportunity to do two of my favorite things: walk and photograph. While the weather report indicated Sunday was to be sunny, there is no such thing as putting the words “Seattle”, “weather” and “cooperating” in the same semantic structure unless one is trying to be ironic. Nevertheless, whatever rain we encountered did not extend all the way to the park itself. We started by walking along the bluff trail south to the gun embankment. There are some spectacular views of the Puget Sound along this path and I look forward to returning when there is better visibility to capture even more photographs. In particular, the shape and distortion of the trees along the bluff are quite striking; they struggle to grow outward against the prevailing wind that bends them up and backwards inland. By around lunchtime we decided we need a bit of food to replenish ourselves and followed Mister Garmin’s advise 3.2 miles due east to Coupeville. Upon arrival into town we immediately concluded we had discovered a gem of a town. So it was with some understated excitement when I write we were ecstatic to discover they were celebrating the 25th Annual Penn Cove Mussel Festival. For a George Washington each we were able to sample five different mussel chowders stationed throughout the town. The ticket include free shuttle out to Captain Whidbey Inn to sample even more chowder and where we incidentally found a wonderful locale for more photographs. We ended our day at Toby’s Tavern which is, in all reality, a respectable pub disguised as a biker dive-bar. For two more George Washingtons we enjoyed two pounds of steamed mussels and toasted bread; I can honestly say I was musseled-out of my appetite. (I suspect that pun is much funnier in my head than it is to you, dear reader.)
I happened to have the great pleasure of reconnecting with a good friend, Dave, who I have not conversed with, at least in person, in over 15 years while visiting Berkeley. In many ways Facebook has been a great way to stay connected with folks I knew from my days at Kanazawa University who are now all scattered across the globe, but there is nothing quite like seeing a friend again after so many years apart. Even though Dave has been at UC Berkeley for much (all) this time, it was not till yesterday that he and I actually got to sit down over coffee to chat. I am certain we have changed in many ways, but for me I could not discern any marked differences in Dave.
Once we parted our ways, he to continue work on his doctoral dissertation and I to wander the campus of UC Berkeley, I found myself trying to get a better view of the cumulus clouds I glimpsed in the distance. I recalled Dave reminding me that a short drive to the Lawrence Hall of Science afforded a good view of Berkeley. I am glad I listened to him and timed my drive to coincide with sunset. I almost left before then in order to make back to SFO for my return flight, but fortunately the allure of catching this rare combination of locale and event persuaded me to remain; the result are the below exposures. Note, all the images are composites using 3 exposures bracketed +/- 2 stops. This composition of exposures allows the creation of single exposure with a greater dynamic range than any single exposure thereby better mimicking what the human eye is able to perceive unaided. In some instances I tried to mimic natural light and in others I intentionally selected parameters that emphasize the vibrancy of colors. For those wondering, Berkeley and Oakland are in the foreground and down San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge are in the background.
