If you do a Google search for "weird things to do in Seattle," inevitably one of the things will be to visit the Gum Wall. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against giant walls of spit (actually a spitball wall sounds pretty awesome), but the Gum Wall is not really that weird, nor is it unique to Seattle. Sure, it makes a great background for a selfie. Yeah, if you lick it, it's delicious. But "delicious selfie" was not what I was searching for. Although maybe I should have, since I found this article when I used that search phrase, and that's much more along the lines of what I was looking for.
I'm a Facebook admin for a friend, so I spend a lot of time running search queries I normally wouldn't and "strange Seattle" is always up there on the list. So before I go off on a tangent, let me just say that I would love to hear from you about any weird landmarks/destinations/secrets you've found in the city. Feel free to scroll past the rest of this cofefe and drop those gems in the comments. Or, if you just like messing with me, just comment "Gum Wall" and know that I'm shaking my fist at the universe in existential rage. Okay, here comes the tangent, scroll, baby scroll.
If I was going to write an article for a day of sight-seeing, it would probably look something like this:
1. Take Highway 99 from Downtown Seattle headed North.Be sure to stay in the left lane as you cross the Aurora Bridge. Actually, don't because it really is dangerous. This is where the Ride the Ducks crashed in 2015. This bridge is known to be unsafe, with narrow lanes, no median, and drivers (cough, cough, me) exceeding the speed limit.
2. As you continue up 99, keep an eye out for Matilda on the right side of the road. She is employed as a sign spinner at a pawn shop, and she's pretty good for a mannequin. Make sure you stop and take your picture with her.
3. Feeling explosive? On fire? Excellent! Let's head on over to Greenwood, the neighborhood that survived a string of arsons only to be blown-up in a gas explosion a few years later.
4. If you're feeling a bit peckish, wander down to the bend when Greenwood jogs into Phinney. Step into that cute little Mexican restaurant by the side of the road and OH MY GOD, IS IT ALWAYS DIA DE LOS MUERTOS IN HERE? (Sorry 'bout the yelling, but someone turned on the juke box and all the tracks are metal.)
5. Hopefully you manage to hit the community center on a night where they're having Contra Dancing. There's something just fascinating about being passed down the line from a cowboy to a man in a frock. So if you like your hippies mixed well with Southerners and don't mind someone yelling dance steps at you over live string music, this could be the perfect night out on the town.
Speaking of string music, I've just posted another chapter about a particular fiddle-playing wolfman. I finally organized the page a little more so you can easily navigate between chapters, as well as adding a character list in case you forget who someone is. Anyway, there's some stormy seas ahead for Tate:
I'm a Facebook admin for a friend, so I spend a lot of time running search queries I normally wouldn't and "strange Seattle" is always up there on the list. So before I go off on a tangent, let me just say that I would love to hear from you about any weird landmarks/destinations/secrets you've found in the city. Feel free to scroll past the rest of this cofefe and drop those gems in the comments. Or, if you just like messing with me, just comment "Gum Wall" and know that I'm shaking my fist at the universe in existential rage. Okay, here comes the tangent, scroll, baby scroll.
If I was going to write an article for a day of sight-seeing, it would probably look something like this:
1. Take Highway 99 from Downtown Seattle headed North.
2. As you continue up 99, keep an eye out for Matilda on the right side of the road. She is employed as a sign spinner at a pawn shop, and she's pretty good for a mannequin. Make sure you stop and take your picture with her.
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| The other day she was missing and the only thing I could think was that she took me money and run Venezuela. |
3. Feeling explosive? On fire? Excellent! Let's head on over to Greenwood, the neighborhood that survived a string of arsons only to be blown-up in a gas explosion a few years later.
4. If you're feeling a bit peckish, wander down to the bend when Greenwood jogs into Phinney. Step into that cute little Mexican restaurant by the side of the road and OH MY GOD, IS IT ALWAYS DIA DE LOS MUERTOS IN HERE? (Sorry 'bout the yelling, but someone turned on the juke box and all the tracks are metal.)
5. Hopefully you manage to hit the community center on a night where they're having Contra Dancing. There's something just fascinating about being passed down the line from a cowboy to a man in a frock. So if you like your hippies mixed well with Southerners and don't mind someone yelling dance steps at you over live string music, this could be the perfect night out on the town.
Speaking of string music, I've just posted another chapter about a particular fiddle-playing wolfman. I finally organized the page a little more so you can easily navigate between chapters, as well as adding a character list in case you forget who someone is. Anyway, there's some stormy seas ahead for Tate:
"I’m not playing this game with you, Tate Harper,” Amber's eyes flashed like cut sapphires, “You put me in a double-bind. So guess what? I unbind you. Go have your little fling. Just don't come crying to me when things don't work out.”