Pike Place Market is celebrating all things local. January 28th started it off with a shopping bag (love it!) giveaway for the first 500 shoppers who spend $50 or more at the shops and restaurants in the Market area. Entertainment was showcased too.
There will be weekly prizes throughout the month of February.
So, go and experience the Pacific Northwest vibe and shop local. See the charms, the gum wall too. Participate. We did.
pikeplacemarket.org
So, 2020 wasn’t what most of us had hoped for or planned. With COVID-19 restrictions, your well-thought plans were more than derailed. A goal at the beginning of the year was to do something notable every month of the year. That’s didn’t happen but I suppose that was by choice.
Did you attempt to experience nature, the beauty of the pacific northwest?
Did you get out and about to support your local businesses?
At some point, most of us were asked to stay at home. I was one of those… working longer hours and spent much of the time in our household bubble. And then for a few gatherings with friends and family, stayed six feet apart #wearamask. Throughout this post, you’ll see words or hashtags in bold that may have described 2020. The Tag section for others that may seem familiar. 20 highlights for 2020 were:
Maybe there are a few listed here that can brighten your 2021. Where will we go then?
May we continue to acknowledge those that we’ve lost this year.
What were some of my favorite things in 2019? Did you travel within four hours reach of the Seattle area? Check out the 19 highlights…
What are you looking forward to in 2020? I am looking forward to the movie Top Gun/Maverick – oh yeah!
What makes for a fun outing to prepare for a Mother’s Day feast? Head to downtown Seattle to Pike Place Market’s annual Flower Festival ~ that’s what! Whether you make it for a few hours or all day, grab a bite and support the locals. Flowers. Halibut. Broccolini. Shiitake Mushrooms. Pork Hom Bow. Chocolate. Sunshine. Check it off your list of May events. Done.
On this last day of 2015 and you look back on the year, what was your favorite part of it? Was it a vacation or trip? A new person (or pet) in your life? A chance at a new career path? Did you run your first half marathon? Spent more time outdoors in nature?
As I update my 2016 calendar for the new year ~ Question: what was my favorite experience of 2015? Answer: in May… a 5-night trip to Las Vegas. We did it up VERY well!!!
My Top 16 list of other 2015 outings (in no particular order) are:
And being thankful for other places and people not mentioned here.
What is on your list for 2016?
It’s December and there is much to do. Do you send cards? Do you have many people to buy for? Have you decorated yet? We all have our own story and experience and what is tradition for one may not be so for another. Or maybe you’ll start your own tradition. There are options for fun this time of year whether you’re on a strict budget or you’re not. I have already done some of these on the list below. Others I won’t. Here is a list of possible holiday options this month:
Visit a local nursery – Swansons, Molbak’s, Wight’s, Squak Mt., and more – the gift shops and decorating possibilities abound
Put up your own decorations – a little outside light with the indoor poinsettia and/or tree
Seattle Center – a sample itinerary might be 1) Space Needle 2) Armory – grab a snack and check out the train 3) see a play at the Bagley Wright Theater (Seattle Repertory Theater). I can attest that The Hound of the Baskervilles is a great choice – open till Dec 15th 4 & 5) enjoy a dinner at Collections Café. Chihuly exhibition is extra special this time of year 6) walk the grounds to view the lights and take to ice skating to celebrate Winterfest
Woodland Park Zoo or Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium– lights! Note: Bellevue Botanical Garden is still under construction and they are having a smaller display this year. And don’t forget the Issaquah Reindeer Festival at the Cougar Mountain Zoo
Bake cookies, spiced nuts or other holiday treats
Get a jump-start on your healthy New Year’s resolution and hit the gym, go ice skating or head outside
Watch a holiday movie (or one that is popular this time of year) – Sound of Music, It’s a Wonderful Life, Holiday, Christmas with the Kranks, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Andy Williams Christmas, or catch one on the Lifetime or Hallmark channel
Make a point of getting together with friends
Check out Snowflake Lane at the Bellevue Collection with its 7 pm nightly show
Take in the theater, ballet, symphony, orchestra. This is an especially good time of year to check out a local company
Shop Downtown Seattle – the lights, hustle and bustle are especially fun. Snowflakes at Pacific Place, the Holiday Carousel, Argosy Christmas Ship Festival, Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Hotel, take a Ride the Ducks tour or take a whirl on the Seattle Great Wheel, check out Pike Place Market, and there is a new attraction this year – SnowGlobe Live! Step inside the globe and get your picture taken – what a treat!
It is April 1st and it is a time to think ahead to sunnier days and the upcoming festival season. Have you started getting tickets to the plethora of summer concerts? Did you know that this March was the 3rd wettest on record for March in Seattle history? Why am I thinking Summer when it is Spring? It’s the time of year to Spring ahead, right?
Looking for something to do this month? Here is a sampling of ideas:
Downtown Seattle is a must see during the month of December.
Ride the Ducks of Seattle, known for a tour of Seattle by amphibious landing craft, does a Holiday Lights Tour during the holiday season. Go with a participatory attitude and you’ll likely have a good time. Meg “Nog” was our wacky driver. The music played was a mix of fun holiday music, 1999 by Prince, and what really made it for me was the Rock N Roll All Night (and party every day) by KISS – Whoo Hoo! Awesome! They provided warm blankets, bell ringers, and a duck quacker to add to the festive ride. Bundle up. It is a short tour (30 minutes) and would suggest that they could go to/around the Seattle Center/Space Needle for more “lights”. Find a coupon. If you want more Seattle history and landmark discussion, take the regular tour. It was a fun addition to the season. http://ridetheducksofseattle.com/
See the December 4, 2010 post for more fun things to do during the holiday season.
On a surprise sunny day on Memorial Day weekend, an essential Northwest tradition was experienced by spending the afternoon at Pike Place Market, the Seattle waterfront, and Tillicum Village.
At Pike Place Market, we hit a few of our favorites…DeLaurenti, had a BBQ pork hom bow at Mee Sum Pastry, walked through the market and stopped by La Buona Tavola, where a jar of fig preserve with balsamic vinegar was purchased www.trufflecafe.com. La Buona Tavola specializes in truffled products, Italian specialties and wines from Italy and Washington State. See May 2010 post for more Pike Place Market fun. The water glistened as we walked along the waterfront. Stops were made at the Ye Old Curiosity shop and Exclusively Washington (Pier 54 next to Ivar’s) www.exclusivelywashington.net.
Tillicum Village is a fun trip for visitors and locals alike. You will be welcomed aboard an Argosy Cruises boat with a narrated look at Puget Sound area Native American history, with a focus on Alki Beach and the Blake Island area. Did you know that Blake Island is only reachable by boat? Argosy Cruises have two runs a day to Tillicum Village (with three on Saturdays during the height of summer). Check out http://www.tillicumvillage.com/ for a schedule and more information. The cruise is approx. 45 minutes and seating is available indoors and out with a bar for beverage service on each level. Upon arriving at Tillicum Village, you are greeted by a gentleman in Native garb and offered steamed clams as an appetizer (in mugs). They encourage the dropping of the shells on the already shell made pathway (stomp away!). I love the smell of a campfire! View a whole salmon being cooked on a cedar stake above an open fire. Then it is off to enjoy a buffet dinner…with berry cobbler to finish the meal off (see link for menu specifics). The dinner concludes with a show of storytelling and dance of Coast Salish tribes. The storytelling itself is done by Roger Fernandes, also known by his native name Kawasa, a member of the Lower Elwha Band of the S’Klallam Indians from the Port Angeles, Washington area. Note: the storytelling is presented via video and the dance, by three live performers. After the show, you are given 30+ minutes to tour the gift shop and to wander the grounds/beach of Blake Island. A very nice trip overall!
Rachel the Pig has been in surgery to repair damages after a car accident (taxi) at the Pike Place Market in February. The life-size bronze pig will return to the market at the end of the week. In the meantime, Rachel is on tour as the full-time fundraiser for the Market Foundation (i.e. piggybank). Yesterday she began making appearances at some of her favorite places around town.
Rachel’s schedule is:
March 14 – Colman Dock, 2 – 6 p.m.
March 15 – City Hall, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
March 16 – Seattle Art Museum, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
March 17 – Occidental Park, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
March 18 – Westlake Plaza, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and then…back home at the Market
Good to have Rachel back on her feet!
(Picture from MinkStudios album)
Within 4 hours reach... 