chasBlog - a journal of discovery and exploration

Seattle's Gemstone Parks

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:35:37 -0700

This entry consists of a series of descriptive essays on 13 city parks of exceptional noteworthiness. The parks are Alki Beach, the Arboretum, the Burke-Gilman Trail, Camp Long, Carkeek Park, Discovery Park, Golden Gardens Park, Gas Works Park, Green Lake Park, Lincoln Park, Seward Park, Magnuson Park (formerly Sand Point Park), and Volunteer Park. In these essays I describe the park's location, it's major and supporting features, any special characteristics which lend the park its own unique flavor, how to get there by public transportation, and if there are any decent local eateries or coffee shops in the area.

The residents of Seattle city can thank a periodically inspired local leadership and the efforts of the Olmsted Brothers to map out and plan a series of parks and connecting boulevard s in the city. Seattle has one of the finest parks and recreation systems of any city in North America. These essays only highlight the "gemstone" parks, parks with significant acreage and/or significant and unique features which would draw visitors from anywhere in the world. The city also has three major-league golf courses, minor-league class stadiums and ball fields for a variety of sports, and such a plethora of neighborhood parks and playgrounds that the only way to really make sense of it is to visit the Seattle Parks and Recreation website.

Growing up, urban style

Tue, 21 Jun 2005 12:54:56 -0700

This essay explores the growing pains of the Northwest's largest city - Seattle. I examine a number of events which have happened here lately and relate them to the relative youth of the city and the angst with which its citizens and residents are experiencing while trying to continue to grow their city the way they would like. Not always possible, but Seattle has a long history of deferred decisions and tempered acceptance of solutions. As one who lived here in a previous era and who now has a vested interest in how things go, I offer some "insider" and "outsider" views on Seattle's urbanization and densification efforts, activities, and discomforts. [5059 words, 6 embedded URLs]

States of ethical and moral parity, and other musings...

Wed, 25 May 2005 20:19:01 -0700

This essay takes a look at some similarities between certain states and draws some parallels from the history and experience and vision of the citizens of those states. It's another in my series of sociological-anthropological-demographical-psychological assessments of life on Earth. I have some further thoughts about where I live - that is, specifically where I live in the city. And probably more by the time I post this.

Aperiodic update ...

Tue, 17 May 2005 22:46:19 -0700

This posting was composed over a couple of days - interrupted by the rest of what has become my non-stop, busy, life. This post spends a few paragraphs describing some recent observations and a lot more on some completely random thoughts about life, the universe and everything. It's just over 3.000 words - modest by my recent standards but certainly long enough to give an inside peek into what I've been up to lately and what's been on my mind.

More observations from a transplant...plus Photos

Sat, 16 Apr 2005 13:26:58 -0700

This posting continues with my observations of the Northwest now that I've been out here for 19 months. It rambles on about the region and some of the aspects of the Northwest which tie together a wide and diverse group of states, cities and towns. Mostly, these aspects have to do with the natural environment - that which we see and that which we use for food. Recreation will probably be dealt with in a future post. There are also a few recent photographs which express the grandeur of the environment.

Text equals 5,400 words and includes no breakers, sub-heads,
pretty-colored text, or any other visual elements. There are
pictures at the end, though, feel free to jump directly there.
Warning_Will_Robinson>

Catching up, Photos of Mobiles

Tue, 05 Apr 2005 00:04:32 -0700

Nineteen months into the West, what've I done, seen, accomplished, nixed, thought of? Some photos of two mobiles I've got hanging - one old and one new. Three years ago I left the work-a-day world and entered what seems to be another dimension. Some thoughts on this other dimension. More than anything this is an excuse to write about nothing in particular and to post some photos of another visual passion - mobiles.

Photos from CoCA "Help Wanted," Belltown & Vulcan

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 12:05:36 -0800

This entry consists mostly of photographs downtown and from the Center on Contemporary Art's current exhbition - "Help Wanted: Collaborations in Art." The show is sponsored by Born Magazine and runs through April 23. Some photographs show off the quarky personality traits of Belltown and highlight a few of the interesting elements of a part of town which is rapidly evolving. The photos were taken on a very cloudy and drizzly day - so don't expect to be blasted back from your monitor by the brilliance of the colors. Also, although I've taken the liberty to capture some of the collaborative works of art at CoCA, all the works are copyrighted by the artists/writers/producers involved and probably also by Born Magazine. Use of the photos for anything but personal or educational purposes must be cleared with the artists or Born Magazine. I've tried to capture the feel of at least one of the works.

Northern Exposure, New China, Entropy

Tue, 29 Mar 2005 20:55:53 -0800

This post collects a set of disparate recent experiences and/or observations. Other than perhaps being associated with art and me, they have nothing else in common (of course, you know that isn't true, don't you?). The items include an interesting random encounter with a former television show cast member and more on the Seattle Art Museum's current exhibition of Chinese photography and video. Plus a few ramblings on other topics.

Photos from Pike Place, waterfront & Pioneer Square

Tue, 22 Mar 2005 08:49:54 -0800

With the weather we've been having up 'til a few days ago, when much needed rain finally arrived, it's been a photographer's dream around here and so what I've got here are a couple dozen (actually more) photographs from Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square and along the general waterfront area. I've been so pre-occupied with some of the art projects that I must admit to thinking about very little else. This week is also a "public" gallery art walk which on Sunday had me and two friends visiting the Frye Art Museum. Tomorrow we'll hit up Seattle Art Museum and on Thursday the Center on Contemporary Art. I'm posting my comments on these art walks at the "other" blog - <http://spaces.msn.com/members/chasblog2> - which gets updated a bit more frequently owing to the fact that that I don't post photos there.

Unusual accident at Pioneer Square Photographs

Sun, 20 Mar 2005 22:33:52 -0800

I was coming home from a jaunt to the Frye Art Museum (First Hill - and FREE) and whilst sitting in the back of the bus saw an unusual assortment of emergency vehicles on Yesler Way and a wreck which was so compelling I got off the bus just to stick my nose in it. I'll say upfront I'm not sure of the physics of this accident - so far, even after looking at the scene in person from three different angles and taking photos and examining the photos I still can't figure out how that much force was generated. Check the images out. This apparently occurred about 2:00 pm Sunday. I was busing by about 2:30 pm and the recovery was well underway but no where near complete. The humans involved were not around and as of 10:00 pm Sunday there's still no mention on any of the local paper/TV websites - despite a TV camera crew being planted at the Second and Yesler intersection.