Seattle's Urban Villages

Fremont's Solstice Parade...Sideways outta the Center of the Universe!

I met up with some fellow bloggers, ARDELL DellaLoggia and Rhonda Porter to take a peek, so to speak...at The Fremont Solstice Parade.  None of us had been before and we had a fun time enjoying the weird and wonderful spectacle...what a hoot!

The Solstice Cyclists (aka Nude-Painted Cyclists) kicked off the unofficial parade beginning with creative body paint and joyful fun to celebrate the upcoming longest day of the year.

Flamingo Nude Cyclists

Swarm of Nude Cyclists

Red Dragon Nude Tandem Cyclists

Now...The Fremont Solstice Parade...no need for (many) words...just enjoy the photos!

   

Greg, who I met on Thursday and gave me a quickie tour of the behind-the-scenes of the Parade preparations, was to be one of the "Thirst People", maybe this was him!

"Hands Around the World" and "Bugs and Beasts" were some of the many spectacles that kids got to take part of...this was a joyful, cheerful, and expressive time celebrated by the full spectrum from a napping child in a stroller (in the parade!) to the older and child-at-hearts! 

If you'd like to see more photos on my other blog, click HERE .

Preview of Fremont's Solstice Parade Festivities

Yesterday I went to Seattle's Fremont, and while prowling around The Center of the Universe drove past the new Theo Chocolate Factory warehouse (formerly the old Red Hook Brewery) with a sign posted on it about the Fremont Solstice Parade .  I parked my car and checked it out.  The doors were locked so I peered in the windows beside the doors and saw lots of stuff for the Parade.  I amused myself reading the information about the classes for participants of the parade when a guy propped open one side of the door to let in some fresh, sunshiny air.  I started chatting with Greg, as he introduced him self, and we started talking about the Parade.  Greg invited me in to see what he, Carla and Leslie were working on to get ready for the parade tomorrow, Saturday, June 16 2007.

 

Greg showed me the "Thirst People " costumes he was working on, Carla was working on papermache masks, and Leslie was sewing cloth for costumes.  Greg and I chatted about the parade for awhile and I left them to work on their parade creations.  It was really cool to see some of the preparation for the parade, of course, there were no nude "painted cyclists " hanging out in the warehouse, they will appeared on Saturday with all the other fun and wacky parade entertainment!

My journey to "The Center of the Universe" the third day after I moved to Seattle....

I moved to Seattle the fall of 1994 not knowing a soul in town.   But when I arrived my best friend who had moved to Lewiston, Idaho a few years before, met me at my new apt. in a suburb of Seattle - Tukwila.   

It was in the afternoon when I pulled in the parking lot driving the huge rental moving van and pulling the trailer with my VW Bug (the late Bugasaurus).  My friend helped me unload the van, and some nice neighbor guys helped with some larger things.  The following day my friend and I unpacked and set up my home for the 15 months until I was ready to buy a home in Seattle.

My third day was the beginning of my Seattle Adventure of exploring what I now call Seattle's Urban Villages.... 

We went to Fremont, self proclaimed Center of the Universe!  There, resides the Giant Troll hiding under Aurora Bridge, a kitschy 53 foot rocket ship stands ready at launch, and a statue of Lenin is frozen mid-stride in a plaza.  Fremont also hosts it's annual Solstice Parade (June 16th) with it's wild and fun celebrants both on the street and along the sidewalks, and as the Fremont Chamber of Commerce notes, Fremont is "Far from Normal".

We explored shops like Les Amis, Deluxe Junk, and Fremont Antique Mall, that are still our favorites to stop by every time we visit.  I had my first Thai food that day and of course my first official cup of coffee in Seattle!

This funky and fun introduction to Seattle began what would eventually transform into my interest in sharing Seattle's Urban Villages to the world with blogging and, as a Seattle Real Estate Agent, allow me to help my buyer clients know where to look when buying a home in Seattle that best suits their goals and lifestyle.

The Seattle Real Estate Adventure Begins!

Exploring Seattle's Urban Villages, let the Adventure begin!

Seattle has so many interesting and unique neighborhoods, or what I like to call "Urban Villages".  Places like Ballard, Magnolia, Queen Anne, Belltown, Pioneer Square, West Seattle, Capitol Hill, Madison Valley, Madrona,  Madison Park, Montlake, Wallingford, Green Lake, and Fremont, the self proclaimed "Center of the Universe"! 

I have probably left out a few of your favorites, but we will add them as we explore what makes each one a unique place to live or visit.   

Learning what makes a Seattle neighborhood special and appealing to you (and me as a Seattle Real Estate Agent) helps to narrow down the choices when you are selecting a place in Seattle's exciting real estate market to live and eventually buying a home in Seattle.  Of course selecting a location is only part of what makes up the Seattle Real Estate market.  There is the hard data of sales figures, history and trends, the lending process, the home buying processes, marketing a home for sale and more.... 

So come with me and join in on the Adventure!