Of Sugar And Architects - Gingerbread Village

Every year a special kind of magic happens downtown Seattle around the holidays.  For the last 24 years the Seattle Sheraton bakers and local architects have teamed up to create amazing creations and sculptures in sugar. The level of detail and thought that goes into each structure is amazing. Past themes have included Star Wars, super heroes, video games and many others.  This years theme will take you into the world of Harry Potter!  You can visit these incredible gingerbread designs 7 days a week, 24 hours a day at the Seattle Sheraton from November 22nd 2016 through January 1st 2017.  

The Last Tee Off - Smash Putt

Update:  Smash Putt will be open until April!

If you are a fan of putt-putt, drinking, art and/or laughter Smash Putt is for you.  Smash Putt is an one-of-a-kind golf course created by artists.  In past iterations it has contained an infinite green, a hydraulically controlled impala, 

a Mission Impossible themed hole complete with motion sensors and alarms, 

a skeeball hole 

and a hole that aerates your golf ball with a drill press.

The experience of is like nothing else.  Plan on an evening of golf and fun, but plan on it soon.... Smash Putt is having its End Of Days Finale, closing down after this run.  You can get your tickets here, but get them soon!  Smash Putt's final day is January 1st.  
www.smashputt.com 

Beneath Us Something Stirs - Fremont Troll

Beneath Highway 99, at the end of the Aurora Bridge, something lurks in the dark.  The creature has called the north abutment of the bridge home since 1990.  The Fremont Troll was created by a group of 4 artists who won a contest to revitalize the area beneath the bridge.  

Approaching the Troll from Troll Ave. 

The Fremont Troll stands 18 feet tall and holds an actual VW Beetle under it's left hand. The shoulders are by far the most popular area to pose for a quick photo.  The area around the Troll can be full of of people, so if you're looking for a more private audience head there before lunch or after dinner. 

Beautifully Strange And Unusual - Nevertold Casket Co.

With the weather slowly turning and Halloween around the corner, we thought we would highlight one of our haunts.  The Nevertold Casket Co. is a purveyor of the weird, obscure and unique. 

The space is packed with incredible finds from a wide variety of taxidermy 

to vintage medical specimens and beyond. 

The owners are passionate about their collection and love to discuss the items, as well as talk about oddities in general.  So whether you are in the market for 

a vintage Ouija board, 

a Tibetan Goat Kapala, 

or a T-rex claw, Nevertold Casket Co. has something to add a certain je ne sais quoi to any home or gift.  

Nevertold Casket Co. is open Thursday-Sunday from 12-7 pm. 

Taste Of The Islands - Poke Has Come To Seattle

Incredible tuna Poke bowl from 45th Stop and Shop & Poke Bar 

Being an international hub, Seattle boasts amazing food from around the world.  Flavors from as far away as central Africa are just as readily available as more common international fare such as sushi.  With all of this incredible food, there are always ebbs and flows in popularity.  Currently Poke is rising in popularity.  

Poke is a Hawaiian favorite consisting of seasoned cubes of raw fish, usually tuna, generally served in a bowl with rice and some sort of side. The combination is not unlike sushi, but the flavor is unique to Poke.  These incredible bowls are great to share, but just know there won't be enough.  

Some of our favorite Poke places:

Poke Bowl at Seattle Fish Guys

Armchair Traveler - Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders

I am definitely more of a get out and go type traveler. (to the chagrin of my family!)  On vacation, and in my daily life, I am in constant motion. I want to see everything, taste the local food and take all of the pictures (we are especially fond of tourist traps and odd locations)...to the point that I need a vacation to recover from my vacation.  However, there are some limitations to my explorations: Money and time.  That's why I love Atlas Obscura.  Not only have I gotten new travel locales for future trips, but i have learned about hidden, unique places that are in far flung places that maybe hard for me to visit.  Which is why I was so excited to see that they have compiled a book with amazing, crazy, strange places and activities from around the world.  Broken into regions, the book reads like an encyclopedia of wonders and curiosities that makes you want to go and explore the world.  So sit back, open the book and explore!

Under The Needle - Seattle Center

 If you are going to venture to see the view at the top of the Space Needle, don't neglect the bounty of experiences available to you throughout the Seattle Center.  

 Beyond being home to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center and EMP, the Seattle Center has a personality all it's own. 

Originally built for the 1962 World's Fair, the Seattle Center serves locals and visitors alike as a major green space downtown as well as hosting annual events such as Bumbershoot, the Folklife Festival, Bite of Seattle and Pridefest. 

The best place to begin is the Armory.  The Armory building was built in 1939 for the 146th Field Artillery unit. It was reconfigured for the World's Fair and became the Food Circus, the first vertical mall.  It's name has changed to the Center House and currently The Armory.  Inside the armory you will find over a dozen restaurants providing a wide variety of food and snacks.  

Located near the restaurants a piece of the Berlin Wall is on display.  

The Armory is also home to the Seattle Children's Museum. Covering 22,000 square feet in the lower level of the Armory, the Children's Museum provides wide assortment of hands-on activities ideal for kids ages 10 months to 10 years old. 

Outside of the Armory, the Next 50 Plaza is home to an incredible play structure that is suitable for kids of all ages.  The structure rises two stories above the ground with a rope webbing surrounding the lower section and two giants slides.  

Check out the interactive art as well!

Down the way from the Next 50 Plaza is the International Fountain. With over 20 spouts, the fountain puts on an amazing show, synchronizing water and music, that makes it a great place to visit year-round, but it is an ideal oasis in the hot summer months. Built for the World's Fair, the International Fountain is a true landmark within the Seattle Center.  When you visit, run the gauntlet by running down and touching the fountain in the pause between displays.  The possibility of the fountain starting up again makes it more fun than it should be. 

The Key Arena sits to the West of the International Fountain.  Also built for World's Fair, the Key Arena is the current host to the Seattle Storm, the Rat City Roller Girls and the Seattle University men's basketball team as well as hosting a variety of concerts and events throughout the year. 

To the northeast of Key Arena lies the Vera Project. The Vera Project is an all-ages music and arts venue.  Established in 2001, the Vera Project moved to the Seattle Center in 2007.  The space includes an incredible music venue, art gallery and screen printing studio along with offering various classes. 

Circling back to the Space Needle, Sonic Bloom reaches to the sky. Installed in 2013, Sonic Bloom is a solar-powered art installation that incorporates sight and sound to provide an interactive experience.

Just remember,  if you're heading to the Space Needle take some time to explore the Seattle Center too...It's just as spectacular.