rss feedCitylife and the living is easy (Seattle)
As I ran errands on Saturday, my wife and son strolled along the Seattle waterfront and basked in the sun’s warm rays.
Later, we met off Post Alley at 84 Union St. to head home.
Before I hopped back in the car, I looked up and saw the scene which is photographed above.
I liked it: Tall buildings, interesting angles, two people looking at Puget Sound.
Captured in the image, too, are Seattle buildings that have history – at least in terms of recent times.
You might recognize the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences in the foreground. It offers sweeping views from its rooms as well as fine dining in its restaurant.
Not that news is everything to everyone these days, but the building has made headlines in recent months. If you are in the market for a luxury condominium, it looks like units are available.
In the background of the photograph stands what used to be a skyscraper owned by Washington Mutual, also known as the WaMu Center. JPMorgan Chase took over WaMu and later sold the building to Russell Investments, The Seattle Times reported last year.
In the lower left-hand corner of the photograph is an apartment building that once housed bunk beds for Hostelling International. It is the building you see photographed below.
Hostelling International opened its new hostel last year in the city’s International District.
If you live in the Seattle area, I know you’re familiar with Post Alley – a popular walking path for visitors and residents to and from Pike Place Market.
If you walk up the path (and under the sign), you’ll find an art wall with gum. Photographer Dan DeLong of Red Box Pictures made this image of the famous place late last year.
It’s interesting that after I’ve covered news events after all these years, that stories and facts behind buildings and places enter my mind when I see them. I also try to keep up with current events in the Seattle area.
So, after my family and I left 84 Union St., we headed to the International District. Earlier in the day, when I was grocery shopping, I spotted this image below.
There was something peculiar and practical about what I saw.
It was hot. The person inside might have needed space to hang some wet clothing – and well, this was in the scope of possibilities.
By the way, this apartment sits on top of Jade Garden, the popular dim sum restaurant in Seattle.
Across the street, if you’re interested, is the Amitabha Buddhist Society of Seattle.
Note that Buddha name chanting takes place each Monday. Buddhism recitation occurs each Saturday.
The Buddhist group has its meeting center in one of the Kong Yick Buildings – the West one, which is seen above.
Just up the street sits the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience. The museum resides in the East Kong Yick Building.
In 1921, a Chinese lion dance team performed nearby.
In the future, I think I’m going to try and drive my family directly home – and not think too much about the buildings that I see and stories that I remember.
It would be much faster.
I think I’ve treated each physical location – and the stories behind them – in the same way that Google, bing and other search engines enable users to click on a link and learn about them quickly.
New times. Huh?
