So this is summer.....and what have we here....(silently hum the song, to the tune of John Lennon's "So This Is Christmas," as you read through this, really go it, if you think you can handle it..) Another winter over and the busy season just begun. The sun it is a shining and the fish it is a flying, without any fear. So this is summer.
Summer season started with the 33rd annual Market Festival - a huge, mellow success (all the super-turbo hyper hippies seemed to gravitate toward Folk Life). Attendees happily enjoyed the "just rightness" of it all. The Market Foundations inaugural oversight was grrrrreat!!! People paraded around, poked about and piled through, drinking in the unique sights and sounds of the Market in accelerated motion: more performers, more food, more people, more cruise boats, more, more, more...with more to come. Kudos to Marlys, Michele, Erica, James, Rainelle and all the fabulous foundation folk who worked so hard to make it all work! Woo hoo!
Throughout June it seemed everyone turned up at the Market at one time or another: The Opera Man, the human video game man, the cowboys, celebrities, cruise boat couples, a balloon-blowing-clown from Florida; the Cat Man, Japanese tourists photographing the oldest Starbucks, that one guy who walks around talking loudly to himself in the mornings; Horse-Drawn-Carriage Guy, the ducks, the dazzling dancing Diamonte, magicians; Midwesterners seeing fish fly for the fist time, Boot Boy, Plankton, my brother, a several-hundred-person Utah Choir and you!
(Keep humming)
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Further Down Under, loads of beautiful people turned up for la Fiesta de Aniversario primero de Cintli. Owner/designer Beto Yarce threw a proper, one-year anniversary celebration complete with champagne, strawberries, beautiful little snacky things, Kristian Dews on the harpsichord and all his amazing jewelry. His mother Maru was there from Guadalajara. Stop by Cintli, third floor DownUnder next to Christopher's Lamp, and explore the amazing collections: everything from la virgen en silver to any necklace you could imagine.
Also Down Under, Magic Shop Marvel Mr. Ruben Barron is in the running as Seattle's Best Local Celebrity, nominated by Seattle Weekly. This comedy magician does it all: comedy clubs, magic shows, tours, festivals, corporate events and more. VOTE FOR RUBEN, category #12, Best Local Celebrity, at http://www.seattleweekly.com/bestofseattle/.(Keep humming)
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...And the buskers!!
Artis "The Spoonman" is headed to Europe, on a brief tour including shows in Germany and Sweden...mycket brD! Hopefully, we'll see a few shows at the Market before he goes. (Will special Spoonytoons' spoons make it through airport security?) Artis helped organize a wee tribe of buskers to walk resent in the Fremont Solstice Parade - he said the experience was AWESOME. He said it was a great rush walking the route and playing spoons on the human surfaces of the crowd.
The hell-a swella fellas of Au capella, a.k.a. A Moment in Time, unveiled their most recent DVD. The film is a collection of shots of the group playing around the Market. In front of the world's most famous Starbucks and all over. Ask Levi or one of the gang for more melodious information.
With all the diverse talent, the FOURTH annual Busker's Festival, the week of September 18 will be awesome!
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In TV News: Regis Philbin's hit TV show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" asked the question, "What US city is it where they 'throw the fish'" ...and the contestant, a lady from New York City, answered it right... Seattle! Of course!!!
The amazing Miss Sheila Lyon's new book "Palms Up: A Modern Guide to Palmistry," will be released July 7, Penguin Publishing. Besides the book and the shop, Lyon does her famous ghost tours, performances at corporate events and an elusive "night job." Miss Lyon is working on a possible deal with the (cable television) Food Network to do CHOCOLATE READINGS. To do a reading, the person having their chocolate read blindly picks a piece of chocolate from a source and Miss Lyon explains the meaning. All is still tentative. Pop in for more info.
Speaking of the Food Network... drum roll please... the "Gum Wall" is slated to be featured sometime soon. The details are TBA, but according to the troupe at the Market Theater the footage has been filmed. You don't know the Market's infamous Gum Wall, you say? (What??!!!) See if you can find it, legend says it all started in the 80s. Just be careful what you lean on.
The last subterranean jazz continues at Patty Summers' Cabaret. Summers is staying through the summer. Though still in the process of selling, Summers is stickin' around for a few more weeks. Stop in Wednesday Nights for jam sessions, Sunday Nights for soliloquies , the eclectically experimental entertainers she books on the weekends and everything in between, while you still can.
A certain Space Needle promotional posse, too, was spotted filming in the Market (up and around the famous sign and clock) compiling footage for feature as part of an interactive kiosk, to be installed atop the Space Needle, for tourists (and locals) to learn more about what is happening around town.
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Speaking of sights around Seattle, the Imax Theater sadly closes this month, due to expansion of The Seattle Aquarium. Opened in 1979 as the aquarium theater, the OMNIRAMA (later changed to Imax Dome Theater) was one of only seven OMNIMAX theaters, in the world at the time of openeing. Being so exclusive, few films were produced for showing on the unique dome screen. In 1984, The Eruption of Mount St. Helens (May 18, 1980) generated so much attention the theater began staying open year-round, also showing The Living Sea, Whales, Dolphins, Into the Deep, and currently Ocean Oasis. General Manager Phyllis B. Gordon says she is happy the Aquarium is expanding, but it is a shame Seattle has too lose another waterfront attraction. The Aquarium wasn't able to raise funds to erect another pier so they elected early eviction as their plan. The Imax hopes to relocate but a new building is financially out of the question. July 18 is the last day, pop down Pike Place Hillclimb to Pier 59 for one last Imax experience.
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Another tragic story - On May 28 the urn containing the ashes of Tammy Stump's daughter, Tiffany Lynn Sweet, disappeared from Victor Stienbruek Park. It was a bronze urn with little Tiffany's picture on it, February 11, 2003 to November 18, 2003. On top of the urn is a dove, with the words "At Peace," and on the side is a poem about dancing butterflies. The urn was in a duffle bag when it disappeared and Stump doesn't suspect any wrong doing. She just wants her daughter back. If you have any information please call (425) 351-0437. Por favor ayuda la familia.
The Scallion heard 'twas Neil who 'installed' the [suspiciously] dumpster-green marks on the driver's side of the recognizable Pure Food & Fish truck. The one always spotted double-parked around the Market. Deliveries, allegedly. Hmmm... Harry, the one with the recognizable mustache, said he's been driving the truck for years, without a scratch. Now, look what's happened.
Speaking of mustaches - Uli, at Uli's Sausages next door to Pure Food & Fish, not only offers an array of sausages that might even tempt a vegan, he sells wonderful trademark T-shirts and sweatshirts. They are great souvenirs for tourists and locals. Sehr gut!
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Celebrity spotting: Alyssa Milano was spotted playing the antique fortune teller machine down at F & J's Great Western Trading Company, Down Under. Rosie McGowan shopped by. Farhad said members of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers too passed through and almost bought a mysterious skull, left by the shop's previous owners.
Marrimekko and some of the businesses on First Avenue, across from The Showbox, stay open later (til about 8 p.m.), and are great places to spot rock stars. Ula, of Marrimekko, says all the rock and rollers come though Marrimekko. After it all, it was Marrimekko striped-shirt first made popular by the Beatles. Check out the modern Scandinavian designs (including a select few local designers. (Keep humming.)
And, if you're ready for the really wild action go check out Mr. D's new place, [the old] Lemuiex's, on First and Lander, especially on a Thursday or Friday night. OPA!!
(Are you still humming?)
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In celebration of the new later hours (including in the bar, now open 'til 10 every night) Lowell's has new napkin dispensers on the third floor, among other innovations. They are sweet, check it. Also, the "Tom Hanks Ate Here Wars" have begun: The new signs appearing in Lowell's windows say (really big) "TOM HANKS," then really small "ate next door." Mark and the gang say they always overhear tourists authoritatively saying, 'Tom Hanks ate here in Sleepless in Seattle.' When, actually, it was at the historic Athenian where Hanks and Rob Reiner had their (now infamous) lunch.
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Elvis Report: [auuuhem] The Market's own (former) Elvis - a.k.a. cab-Elvis and the Reverend David Vernon Groh, who left Seattle for the sunny shores of Waikiki - (though unrelated) both sold Mick's pepper jelly to Elizabeth Taylor and nipped his espousement escapade in the bud last month. His Waikiki wedding is off, but he is still performing them. (For details talk to Rikärd or Lee Anne at the Athenian. I've gotten myself into enough trouble already.) The bottom line, girls of Seattle, he is still on the market (just not in the Market)...thank-ya thank-ya vury much.
Wow, what went wild and wonderfully wacky when wandering? What waxed? What waned? Warm, whimsical or wasted, we want word! Pop by the Merchant's Association Office or email your gregarious "gossie" to ppmnewsdonkey@hotmail. Da kine.
Happy Scallions!
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