Join us for an evening of entertaining yet erudite edification at Seattle’s Town Hall, 7:30 PM, this coming Friday! Historical whimsy mixed with a whiff of sulfur and a touch of elysium.
Also, come early (or stay late) to explore the redecorated North Lobby, jam packed with Now and Then comparisons hot off the presses. Reception follows the (very) illustrated lecture.
Paul and I visited the spanking new Museum of History and Industry a couple of days before its grand opening and explored this Northwest treasure. Photos follow from both of us, in no particular order:
(as always, click to enlarge photos)
Notice what these palms contribute to this Wallingford box.
While searching The Seattle Times for something completely different, we came upon this revealing link between the principal cities we often blog about. This appeared first in the Times for Oct. 26, 1930. It can be read if you click it – probably twice. The sculpted illuminations of the page include a novelty that suggest that the art for it may have been arranged far away. Seattle’s skyline is flipped.
(Click TWICE to Enlarge)
DON SCOTT IS or was one of the Seattle artists, with Rolon Bert Garner and Ken Leback, responsible for EQUALITY, a piece – or several pieces – of sculpture dedicated in 1996 in Sturgus Park at the north end of Beacon Hill in the early afternoon shadow of the Art Deco Marine Hospital, more recently home to an internet distribution company. I photographed this detail from the piece sometime soon after the ceremony.
Driving to Tacoma on old 99 you may miss Secoma, except for the signs, and of the two showing here the bowling alley survives although with mix reviews. (They may have a new sign.) In 1982, the approximate date, there was no exposing media like YELP to broadcast the range of criticisms about almost anything that amounts to another roadside attraction. The complimentary ones seem written to form. The critical reviews make the reviewers seem insulted by the place – their foolishness for paying six dollars for a beer in a place that takes only cash. You wonder if either or both were written by the lane’s owners or its competitors. The winter day we drove to Tacoma was too cold for the feeble heater in the VW Karmen Ghia. Secoma was new to me and the signs big enough to read from a distance that allowed a quick stop. If it is the motel that is having the grand opening then it may be new owners that are celebrating, for the big sign is weathered, although still somewhat grand. There survives a listing for a pubic phone in Secoma, which I imagine is the one set here near the base of the motel sign. It must take enough calls for the tel. company to keep it around. I remember trying the alternative, “Tattle” or perhaps Taatle.” (Click to Enlarge)
