I love this empty lot in Old Ballard. It’s so cool looking that you almost miss how cool it is … until it’s a bunch of CONDOS! Go there and roll around in the grass. Or, if you’re like me, bike ride there on Fridays with your brother and drink tea and eat a baked good @ Cugini Cafe—actually walk next door to the empty lot and sit on the covered patio. It’s even better in the rain.
These are official bike routes so it’s not exactly secret, but they do feel like you’re getting away with something:
- Terminal 91 trail by the railroad tracks—runs N/S between Myrtle Edwards Park and Magnolia
- Rattly Bridge over the train tracks from the Magnolia side of the Locks to Government Way—the north end looks like it’s someone’s driveway, and the bike route sign seems to get knocked over occasionally
- 22nd ave SW to West Seattle Bridge—tiny little sidewalk trail that looks like a backyard garden
- MOHAI bridge—over 520 between Montlake and U District, avoiding the busy part of 24th. There’s a concrete barrier between the MOHAI driveway and the real street so cars can’t use it as a shortcut, but there’s a gap for bikes.
- Interlaken between 19th and 23rd—through Interlaken park partly on a road and partly on a trail. the trail is pretty dark, in the winter I’ve been surprised by piles of gravel and fallen trees.
A few places I took my mentor group this year and last year (either just me and two teenage girls or a group of 10-ish mixed gender adults and teenagers):
Frye Art Museum: free, open late on Thursdays. Their special exhibits are usually pretty accessible contemporary art.
Asian Art Museum: free first Thursday nights when the main SAM was closed, now I think their free day is different. When we went there was a big Dia De Los Muertos event and it was a bit crazy.
Canoeing at the UW:
http://depts.washington.edu/ima/IMA_wac.php
$8.50/hr per canoe (fits 3 people), a lot cheaper than renting kayaks, and more user friendly.
I’ve built a calendar to keep track of cool events for kids and families taking place in Seattle. If you’re interested you can take a look: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=r5uoaeuc4fm2lgmaucl1p7earo%40group.calendar.google.com
The iCal feed is: http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/r5uoaeuc4fm2lgmaucl1p7earo@group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Brooke and I will be going to a church picnic at Carkeek Park in a couple of hours. I’ve just been told by my neighborhood barista that it’s a lovely park, and usually not too crowded. Other than being slightly nervous about the whole “church picnic” thing – I’m fairly new to churches, and this is my first ever gathering with these folks outside of an actual church – it sounds like a fun time will be had.
We’re moving very close to Green Lake next week, so there’s one cove of wholesome fun right there. It might not be so secret, but it’s there and we’re going to enjoy it.
Charles Redmond is a DC transplant who loves to discover and write about his new hometown of Seattle. Check out this recent entry for a “series of descriptive essays on 13 city parks of exceptional noteworthiness.”
Walk due west past the brass pig and flying fish until you arrive at the public seating area. I think it has one of the best views in the Market. I used to eat there at least twice a week when I worked downtown. I went this past weekend and was reminded what a great public area we have there. One thing to note—it used to be enclosed as a small room with windows. They’ve removed the walls so it’s open to the actual market. Not sure if this is better or worse.
There also used to be a small public sitting area in Post Alley on a deck above the street. That was another little gem in the market.
I guess the goal, for all its cuteness, might be considered a little vague. I’m trying to figure out what it means for me personally, and hopefully I can get a few hints from what you folks are looking for.
I’ve gotten so accustomed to not doing much of anything besides working that I’m kind of at a loss.
Oh, but the Woodland Park Zoo was nice. I’ve been there a few times when I lived across the street from it.
Driving south on Raineer, just after the big intersection before you get to Genesse … on your right in the abandoned lot with the stacked wooden frames holding up the carport roof. Right there is a taco bus. The back half is the kitchen, the front have is a diner-style restaurant. Ingenious use of space.
There are plenty of buses that serve Mexican food all over the west coast (like Benny’s Food Wagon in Anchorage, AK) but this one struck me as uniquely unique. I think it’s definitely a SCOWFIS. The setting alone is worth the trip, and I thought the food was great.
