Seattle's Urban Villages

Celebrate 2008...at the Space Needle!

Happy New Year Seattle!

We had a wonderful, clear evening (no rain!) to welcome the New Year, and there was a crowd surrounding the Space Needle waiting to watch the fireworks launch the New Year.  The surrounding neighboring hills allowed great vantage points to take in the sight.  Lucky are those that live in parts of Queen Anne, Magnolia, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Belltown, West Seattle, and Wallingford  where they have views of the Space Needle from their homes!

This year's theme was a Tribute to Hollywood with well known music from the Movies.  Star 101.5 was broadcasting the music so anyone watching either on TV or in person with radios could enjoy the fireworks synchronized to dramatic film scores.  The clock struck midnight and the New Year...showtime! 

The fireworks and music began, the music played on and the fireworks...fizzeled...whoops...no fireworks!  The fireworks computer had a glitch and had to be re-booted twice, when that did not work, the techs manually triggered the fireworks to ....>>>> Burst<<<< and flash.  The music had marched on to it's own drummer leaving behind the fireworks.  While is wasn't the elegant show that was planned, fireworks are spectacular and the crowds enjoyed what they saw.

The rockets roared, and the fireworks dazzled, whoooooshed, sparkled, twinkled, flashed, glowed, burst, and gloried in their "Aurora Seattlalis"! 
The Space Needle glowed and sparked in the darkness, looking even more Spaceship-like with the light show!

So while the show did not go as planned...it was an explosion of exuberant welcome to the New Year and wonderful way to celebrate 2008!

Happy New Year Seattle!

Happy 100th Birthday Pike Place Market!

100 years ago tomorrow, Friday August 17th, the Pike Place Market

opened to begin a tradition of offering fresh produce and eventually all the glorious fruits, flowers, fish

and  other vendor products; crafts, cafes, confections, coffee, collectibles and so on that can be found strolling the market.  Of course, back in 1907 it was just a few farmers selling produce off the back of their wagons, and there were no fishmongers tossing fish over the heads tourists!   

                                       To Celebrate the Markets' Centennial , there are lots of events scheduled to celebrate the Markets' 100th birthday, and we are now just a day away from wishing the Pike Place Market Happy Birthday!  The festivities began in May when the Market put its' "Pigs on Parade" .

The pigs are now scattered all over Downtown Seattle, so when you are Downtown keep an eye out for the splendid pigs. 

                        Of course Rachel the Pike Place Market Pig is still in her spot ready to pose for a photo with anyone who wishes.

The Pike Place Market is the oldest continuously open farmers market in the US, that is quite an accomplishment for a City that is well more than a 100 years younger than cities on the east coast!  While the market has had challenges over the decades fighting off developers and neglect, it has become one of the unique places that defines Seattle and makes it such a wonderful place to live and visit.

So come out and wish Happy 100th Birthday our Pike Place Market!