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. 

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. 

To Boldly Go - Star Trek @ EMP

To explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.  For Star Trek's 50th anniversary the EMP has opened the Exploring New Worlds exhibit. From the entry, the exhibit draws you in with the iconic opening of the original series along the stairs.

 The exhibit collects together props and displays from the entire Star Trek franchise from the original series all the way through prequel series Enterprise. The exhibit is full of fan favorites including Gorn,

Borg 

and, of course, Tribbles.

 The exhibit also features a transporter room that puts you in the middle of the action, a KHHAAANNN booth that allows you to recreate the classic scene from Star Trek II and a Borg Alcove that you can pose in.  So, whether you are a die hard Trekkie or new to the Star Trek universe, there is something for all people ready to explore new worlds. 

Come Sail Away - Model Boat Sailing @ South Lake Union Park

Have you wanted to feel the wind in your hair and the sun in your face while commanding your own ship?  Every Saturday and Sunday from May to November, The Center for Wooden Boats rents out model boats for at the model boat pond.  Sailing the boats is as easy as pointing it into the wind and giving it a little push. The hard part is running around to other side after each voyage to sail it back. Pairing sailing with a visit to the MOHAI and a picnic makes for an amazing day out! Boat rentals are a $5 per hour suggested donation and the rentals are open from 11a.m. - 2p.m.

MUSIC! MOSTERS! ROBOTS! - Experience Music Project/ SciFi Museum

Since the 1950's Science Fiction and Rock-N-Roll have gone hand-in-hand.  From the 1950's portrayal of the Greaser and Rock-a-billy stereotypes to the amazing sci-fi soundtracks of the 70's and 80's(Queen's soundtrack for Flash Gordon comes to mind) the two pop culture branches have been firmly entwined.  Which is why the EMP/ Science Fiction Museum is such an amazing place.  One half of the museum is dedicated to music with a special focus on the musical history of the Northwest (including great exhibits on Jimi Hendrix and the Grunge Era).  There are also oportunities for hands on exploration in the Sound Lab which features a variety of instruments and private recording room to experiment with.  The Science Fiction Museum contains a large collection of sci-fi memorabilia ranging from early pulp novels to current film and television.  Supplementing the permanent exhibits are rotating exhibits at both the EMP and Science Fiction Museum.  Past exhibits have included The Muppets, AC/DC, The Beatles and Alien Encounters.  Admission to one museum gets you into both.   http://www.empsfm.org/