A while back while we were having that string of lovely weekends, dear husband and I were exploring and came upon the Des Moines Marina and Creek. It is a lovely area with a marine (you might have guessed), a large parking lot, some public art (including a way cool mural) and to the north end trails and beach. The Fish/man in the mural is also a statue elsewhere in Des Moines.
I talked dear husband into coming with me to take sunset photos at the lovely Saltwater State Park, but when we got there the road was closed (seriously!). Well, ok, there must be other places around to see the sunset. So we drive around and find Redondo, which is a neighborhood community in Des Moines and Federal Way. Wikipedia tells that the area was originally designed as a resort, but over the years became a middle class residential community that centers around the lovely Redondo Beach. In addition to the residential homes, there is a Salty’s Restaurant, a marine museum, another restaurant which was closed at the time and some great public art. The beach features a fishing/viewing peer, boardwalk (above the beach), a diving tour, some amazing sunset views of Poverty Bay. The area is rumored to be named after the more famous Redondo Beach in California, which is famous for its surfing and beach volleyball.
The YES WE CAN mural by Mindy Barker is located at the Tahoma Associates Building, 1545 Tacoma Ave. The mural, which features an elk in front of an abstract Mt. Rainier, is located near the site where the local Indian tribes would welcome the Winter Solstice. More information on this wonderful neighborhood addition can be found here.
The mural is part of the Tacoma Murals Project.
First Night 2014 Tacoma was a joy! One of the Live Spectacles was this year’s World Record Attempt, the Largest Gathering of Brides Blowing Bubbles at One Time! We also watched the opening parade, Stephanie Jackson (love her), Uncle Bonsai (every year we go) and strolled the entire length of the event several times. We caught the link to Freighthouse Square and made it back home in time to bang some pots and pans (sorry neighbor people!).
“Beyond the Bluff, Beneath the Bay”, by Janice Lee Warren is part of the Tacoma Murals Project. More work by Ms. Warren can be found here. It was painted this year along Stadium Way and replace another mural that had been in place. That mural, featuring sailboats on the bay, had been extensively tagged. The house shown represents the home of “Skookum” Smith who made history by bringing the Northern Pacific rails into Tacoma just one day before the line’s charter expired. While I was out and about, I noticed the mountain was out 🙂
I’ve been wanting to go visit Capital Hill again to see Elliot Bay Books and just walk around. So dear husband and I visited with the goal of capturing the statue of Jimi Hendrix. It’s good to have goals. Jimi is situated outside of Blix Art Supplies. The statue was sculpted by Daryl Smith and was originally installed in 1997 in front of AEI Music Network, Inc. at 900 E. Pine St., though they have since moved.
After a lovely time having coffee with my friend and then the two of us going to visit another friend I found myself near Cloverleaf Pizza. While waiting for my to go order, I drove around in the area behind Kmart on 6th Avenue and enjoyed the lights. Here is a sampling of the sights. While snapping the large manger the owner’s son (I think) came out. I congratulated him on the display and he said his parents were very proud of it. Kind of a nice moment.
While Poulsbo was indeed settled primarily by Norwegians and other Scandinavian immigrants, sadly the Vikings did not make an appearance. But perhaps now they have through James R. Mayo’s humongous mural on Boehm’s Chocolates on Front Street. The mural was painted in 2011. I was surprised to learn that until World War II Norwegian was the dominate language in Poulsbo.
While visiting the small city for a seasonal day trip, I also captured a few Christmas photos.
I wandered off to revisit the lovely leaf mural on S. 43rd Street (310 East 43rd Street). But it was gone! Of course the bridge is still there, but there is a new mural. I had to consider it a while before I decided that although it was very different from the leaf mural, I really like it. My first impression when I drove over the bridge, is that it was swirls of colors, but when I took the time to get out of the car, I realized that it was words that said “No One Else But You Can Feel Along the Grooves”. The mural was created in 2013 by David Long.
To see the previous mural, go here.
I finally stopped to snap a photo of one of the bicycle racks on Sixth Avenue. I love that an individual, Kassie Mitchell, has taken it upon herself to share some joy through yarn bombing. To read more, go here.
