11/05/2014

Like many here in the Rain, I love a good book. I look forward to Autumn because in early October I'll be going to the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair. I’ve been a big fan of Frank Herbert and Tom Robbins for years. Both great writers and I’m sure part of the pull for me is the local connection. Frank was born in Tacoma, attended the University of Washington, lived in Seattle for a while and did a stint at the Seattle Star... I’ve read almost everything he ever wrote and of course loved the epic Dune series. Yet, one of my favorite stories is his 1972 novel, Soul Catcher. Tom Robbins and I crossed paths in the early 80’s a few times in Seattle via the arts organization And/Or. He moved to Seattle in 1962 to attend the University of Washington. Later he worked at the Seattle Times as an ar... 10/18/2014

The two level Veer Lofts Penthouse is available! Inspiring South Lake Union Penthouse with sun-drenched floor to ceiling windows & 18 foot ceilings. Urban luxury living at its best has exciting spaces including open hip kitchen & floor plan, beautiful master bed/bath, & flexible spaces for guests/office. Enjoy your outdoor entertaining spaces & Space Needle VIEWS! Look at the property here. 3 decks with hundreds of square feet of space! A block to streetcar, 2 blocks to Lake Union Park, near Amazon, storage, 2 Parking spots, 2 approved bike racks, + this unit can have a BBQ!    For more information, please visit our Veer Lofts page, South Lake Union Real Estate page, or the Cooper Jacobs Real Estate web site. For your own private showing:   Molly Cartwright at 206.841.6800 or Courtney C... 11/13/2013

My friend Dave and I enjoyed an afternoon at the Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair last Sunday, October 12, 2013. It’s our annual trek and get together for something we both love, books. There were vendors from all over the Pacific Northwest; Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho. 88 exhibitors altogether from 16 states including several from Canada and as far away as the United Kingdom. I had a wonderful time. The books exhibited were indeed rare and wonderful. Yet, I thought to myself that these exhibitors must think the recession is over and well behind us. Everything I was attracted to was way above what I could afford. Maybe it's just my taste for the rare is further refined? There were more first editions hand signed by the author than I think I’ve ever seen here at the Fair before... 10/20/2013

My iPhone buzzed at me this morning while I was shaving. I looked down, it's a calendar alert to remind me this year's Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair is just around the corner! I’ve had it on my calendar for several months and I wanted to be sure I didn’t miss it. My good friend Dave Hoskin and I have attended for several years. Well, except last year, I messed up and double booked myself (no pun intended) and couldn’t go. I had to laugh. The first thing that came to mind was my Activerain friend, Endre Barath. He too is a great lover of stories well told, literature, mysteries and rare books. I really enjoy his reviews and the events like the one he shared when he attended the live interview of Ken Follett with Karen Grigsby Bates. Aldous Huxley’s 1st book, The Burning Wheel, 1st editio... 09/27/2013

One of the more controversial buildings in Seattle is the EMP. The Experience Music Project was inspired and commissioned by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen. This unusual building designed by architect Frank O. Gehry will bend your eyes away from any common understanding of structure, especially those that tip a hat to the past. The EMP is dedicated to Jimi Hendrix and opened in 2000. It’s larger than it looks at 140,000 square feet with all kinds of popular culture exhibits, histories, and interactive installations. Current exhibits include the Rolling Stones with 37 photographs by Jim Marshall from the legendary 1972 tour for Exile on Main St. Also, Icons of Science Fiction with artifacts from Doctor Who, Star Trek, and the Matrix Reloaded. There’s more, if you were (are) a fan of the ... 10/20/2012

It kind of blows my mind it’s been 50 years since the Century 21 World’s Fair in Seattle. This Sunday, October 21st will be the closing day ceremonies of the 6 month celebration, The Next 50. I’ve blogged about Century 21 in the past, the legacy of its architecture, and it’s looking into a future that included not only technology but embraced the arts and humanity. I’m amazed I remember the Seattle World’s Fair of 1962 as well as I do. Seattle’s premiere icon, the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, and the Key Arena remain timeless to me in appeal. They've aged well and don’t look like old relics from way back in the day, a long time ago. Seattle has had 6 months of events and celebration and this last day event will highlight the Seattle Symphony, performance artist Laurie Ande... 10/17/2012