1. Make reservations for dinner out.  Ok, all the really great spots may be booked up (or maybe not given the economy right now).  I’d suggest taking a look at Open Table and see what is available.  (This is a great site for reservations any time of year.)
2. Fireworks at the Space Needle.  You may still be able to get reservations for dinner or for one of the parties held there, but the real party is outside and it’s FREE.  The fireworks display at midnight attracts tons of viewers both in person and on television.  It’s great fun, even though it’s going to be cold, to be out on the street with friends and strangers welcoming the New Year.
3. Area casinos offer a variety of entertainment and parties, and although nowhere near as elaborate as what you’d find in Vegas, it should be fun for those willing to take a gamble on 2009.  Many have adjacent hotels, allowing you to stay close.
4. Check Ticketmaster for tickets to various venues around the city.  There’s comedy, music, and a variety of other performances, so chances are you’ll find something to snag your interest.  There are tickets to many performances still available, and if you can’t find decent seats, consider the General Admission option (standing only) at the Paramount for Presidents of the United States.  There is also reserved balcony seating available.
5. Catch one or two of the end-of-year new movie releases.  Fandango allows you to buy your tickets online in advance letting you avoid at least part of the lines. 
6. For the kids (grades 2-8), there’s a sleep over at the Pacific Science Center.  It’s a little bit science and a lot of excitement as 2009 is welcomed in.  At midnight the kids can watch the fireworks at the Space Needle from a kid-safe environment.
7. First Night in Tacoma is family friendly and alcohol-free, with a variety of events planned at downtown venues.
8. For a more reflective transition from one year to the next, many area houses of worship have special services and activities.  Giving thanks and praying for a better 2009 is not a bad idea.
9. Make hotel reservations, and combine a couple of these ideas for a festive night out.  If room rates seem a little high for your budget, and you don’t mind selecting an area to stay in without knowing the name of your hotel, Hotwire delivers great hotel bargains.  I use them a lot when I book a room downtown, and have never been disappointed.
10. Stay home.  Whether it’s by choice or because you didn’t plan early enough, there is a lot of New Year television programming.  Movies, sports, and you can watch the fireworks at the Space Needle or the ball dropping in Times Square all from the comfort of your own home.  And go ahead and go outside and bang pots and pans, or shout Happy New Year’s to your neighbors.  After all, it’s only one night of the year.

Image credit:  flickr

__________________________________________

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

But, on the off chance that this snow melts quickly, put the Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park (Tacoma) on your must-see holiday lights list.  The two mile lighting display along Spanaway Lake is the the largest drive-through holiday lights display in the Pacific Northwest.

With over 300 displays, including animation, the bring a smile to light up even the coldest moment.

Tune the car radio to FM 93.7 for accompanying holiday music as you drive through to make it a complete sensory experience.

Location:  Spanaway Park, Bresemann Boulevard & Military Road, Spanaway (map it)

Date & Time:  November 27th, 2008 – January 4th, 2009, 5:30 – 9:30 pm

Admission:  $13 per vehicle.  Discounts tickets ($10) are available at Lakewood Community Center, Sprinker Recreation Center, and Garfield Bookstore at Pacific Lutheran University.

There are normally very lines and wait times for this popular community event, especially on weekends.  The snow may reduce driving traffic, so if you’re able to get out and around safely, it may be a good time to plan a visit. 

The display will be up through January 4th, and the snow has to be gone by then!

Photo credit:  flickr

_________________________________________

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

Details:  Qwest Field, the home field advantage for the Seattle Seahawks, is a recognizable part of the Seattle skyline.  With a seating capacity of about 67,000, the noise generated by fans can often be heard throughout the downtown core.  Seahawk opponents claim the stadium noise make it one of the ultimate home field advantages.

Seattle is known for originating “The Wave",  a fan cheer that has the audience standing and waving their arms as the cheer rotates around the stadium.  It was invented at a 1981 University of Washington football game, with yell king Rob Weller (later a co-host of Entertainment Tonight) leading the cheer.

A week after its debut at Husky Stadium, “The Wave” made its appearance at a Seahawk game in the Kingdome, and it’s been a regular part of fan involvement, both here in Seattle and around the country, ever since

Qwest Field is located at 800 Occidental Avenue South (map it)

Photo credit:  flickr

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

. . . get away from the city with a drive to the Columbia River Gorge, home of the Maryhill Museum where you can catch the final days of the Andy Warhol and Other Famous Faces exhibit.

The Maryhill Museum is a castle-like structure on a 6,000 acre site overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, and is home to a collection of art ranging from early 20th century European art to more current Native American art.  The setting also includes beautiful gardens and grounds.

Famous Faces features many of the diverse personalities that Warhol captured, and many of the images have become iconic representations of the 60’s – when everyone was famous for 15 minutes.  You’ll find portraits of  notables, including Marilyn Monroe (in photo), Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, The Beatles, Liza Minnelli, Queen Elizabeth II, and Jimmy Carter.  You’ll also see his famous Campbell’s Tomato Soup Can.

Other artists represented in the exhibit include Jasper Johns, Chuck Close, Robert Rauschenberg, and others.

Location:  Maryhill Museum Drive in Goldendale, Washington (map it), about a three and half to four hour drive from Seattle.

Hours:  Daily from 9 am – 5 pm through November 15th.

Admission:  $7 adults, $6 seniors, $2 children ages 6-16.  Parking is free.

Also at the museum you’ll find a selection of sculptures and watercolors by Auguste Rodin.

Image credit: Andy Warhol (1928–1987), Marilyn (Announcement), 1981, screenprint.  Courtesy of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his family foundation, © Andy Warhol Foundation.  Used with permission.

__________________________________________

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

Details:  The Smith Tower (located at 502 Second Avenue, between James and Yesler) is right in the heart of Pioneer Square.  For nearly 50 years after it was completed, it was the tallest building west of the Mississippi.  You can take an elevator to the 35th floor observation deck for an impressive view of the city.

Photo credit:  wikimedia

_______________________________________________

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

If you’re coming to Seattle for such an event, chances are good that you’ll be spending some time at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown.  Located right next to I-5 (in fact it goes over the freeway), the convention center opened in 1988, and later doubled in size to over 200,00 square feet of exhibit space.

Home to events as small as a couple dozen (housed in break out rooms) to full trade shows (covering multiple ballrooms and floors), the convention center was the location for the infamous 1999 WTO Meeting.

Entering the convention center puts you into a glass enclosed atrium, surrounded by greenery and a waterfall.  Wandering, or rushing, about the area are local business people and neighborhood shoppers in addition to convention attendees.  As much as possible, the design of the convention center has been an attempt to bring the outdoor beauty of the Pacific Northwest indoors.

As beautiful as the convention center may be, you’re going to want (need?) to get away from the place sooner or later, and when you do take advantage of the Concierge Center located on the first level near the south escalators.  Here you’ll find a kiosk full of brochures and information about things to do and see in the area, along with a staffed help desk to assist with information, tickets, transportation, and reservations.

Seattle in a great convention city, and if that’s what brings you here, I hope you allow for a few extra days to enjoy just a few of the things that the city has to offer.

Photo credit:  Washington State Convention & Trade Center

_______________________________________________

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

For those of us growing up in Seattle, especially during the 60’s, J.P. Patches was “The Man.”  I remember watching him every afternoon!  He lived in the city dump, and had crazy friends like best pal Gertrude and Ketchikan the Animal Man, Sheriff Shot Badly, and Boris S. Wort (the world’s second-meanest man).  J.P.  had an I-C-U-2 TV set, and wanted me to be a member of the Clean Plate Club.  Everyone in my neighborhood wanted to be a Patches Pal. 

The show (which aired from 1958-1981) was one of the first non-news shows to be non-scripted.

As I got older, I would see J.P. at special events – SeaFair activities, parades, and grand openings, as well as visiting area hospitals.  I came to learn that their was a person behind that makeup.  A person with a big heart who loved children.

Although the show has been off the air for over 25 years, J.P. and Gertrude have continued to make public appearances and raise money for children’s charities.

This past summer a statue was erected in Fremont to honor J.P. and Gertrude (Bob Newman) in Fremont.  A fitting tribute for two special Seattle heroes.

Location:  Solstice Plaza at North 34th, Fremont (map it)

Note:  Who remembers what J.P. stood for? 

Answer after the jump.

J.P. stood for Julius Pierpont.

Photo credit:  Both from flick, statue; real life

_______________________________________

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

The downtown Seattle core, and many of its neighborhoods, are quite walkable.  In fact, it’s the best way to take in the city.  Yes, there are hills, but you can go at your own pace, stopping frequently, and if you look up at all the great buildings and sights around you no one need know that you’re secretly out of breath and resting.

While it’s fun to just pick a direction and set out, a little planning and research may make a walking tour of Seattle more productive.  And, if you have limited time, a little bit of organization will help make sure that you see and experience all the things on your to-do list.

Seattle Architecture: A Walking Guide to Downtown is a great place to start your research.  The author is Queen Anne resident Maureen R. Elenga.

The book is a great planning tool for walking around and learning about Seattle’s history through its buildings and architecture.  In addition to some of the sexier and well-known buildings in town (like the Smith Tower and the Space Needle), you’ll also learn about some of the more obscure Seattle buildings like the Dexter Horton building with the terra cotta exterior and the Alaska Building in Pioneer Square (the city’s first steel-framed skyscraper).

Full of photos, both current and vintage, the book also includes walking tours of nine downtown Seattle neighborhoods.  These suggested tours include maps along with buildings of interests and a few factoids as well.

Since the book is huge (over 300 pages), you won’t want to take it along with you, but its a great historical reference book and a wonderful resource to map out some time in Seattle. 

Oh yeah, and as you’re walking about Seattle — don’t forget to look up!

Image credit:  Amazon

________________________________________

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

Post from: The Seattle Traveler

Details:  A mixed bag of Seattle weather this weekend.  Moments of sun, sure, but mostly cloudy skies.  And let’s just forget about the rain!

Photo credit:  flickr

___________________________________

Post from: The Seattle Traveler