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. 

Shop For the Obscure - Archie McPhee

Do you often find yourself in need of a zombie torso, a pink Gorilla costume and alien finger puppets, but you don’t know where to go?  Then you haven’t been to Archie McPhee.  Since 1983 Archie McPhee has been Seattle’s and, through mail-order, the World’s supplier of oddities, unique gifts and little Devil Ducks.  Whether you are looking for the perfect compliments for your Zombie Apocalypse party (Brain-flavored mints, Zombie Finger Puppets for impromptu Apocalypse Theater, Brain gelatin mold, and so much more!) or you just need underwear for the squirrels in your neighborhood, Archie McPhee has you covered.  http://www.archiemcpheeseattle.com/

Go Back In Time - The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire

Knights, mythical creatures, majestic Queens … everyone has, at one point or another, been enamored with these images in their lives.  The charging horses and clash of metal of the joust or the quick wit and merry tune of the bards have been a part of so many of our stories and games throughout our lives.   I’m happy to tell you there is a place to experience these things in person…a sort of time machine if you will.

The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire will whisk you back to the 1570’s where Mary, Queen of Scots, holds court and knights clash in combat for the favor of the Queen.   Beyond the sounds of battle, merchants of all kinds, from clothing and weapons to food and ale, peddle their wares to the various attendees.  The Village of Stonehaven is alive with more than fighting and commerce, bards and traveling troupes of entertainers perform during the course of the day on the various stages throughout the faire and magicians entertain young and old alike with their otherworldly skills.   

Perhaps the best part of the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire is the people watching.  Beyond the performers, merchants, knights and the Queen herself is a dedicated group of people who attend the faire to celebrate their passion for all things Medieval.   Many of the fairgoers have created amazing costumes and personas for the faire into which they transform as soon as they cross the castle gates.  Dressing in period outfits and speaking Ye Olde English isn’t necessary to enjoy the fair, but by the end of the day you may have a hard time walking away without envisioning your next visit as a nobleperson from the quaint shire of Seattle.  Huzzah!  http://www.washingtonfaire.com/

Play The Game - Card Kingdom

In this digital age the classic board game has slipped somewhat in popularity, which is unfortunate as there is a multitude of fantastic card and board games available now with more being released every month.  From gaming staples such as Settlers of Catan and Magic the Gathering to new classics including like the incredibly fun, zombie inspired Last Night on Earth or the RPG on a board, Runescape, the spectrum of games out there is varied and growing.   In Seattle there are a few places to find these gems but none better than Card Kingdom and with their recent move and expansion, they are the ideal location to try your hand at creating your own civilization or delving deep into a dungeon.  The new location is open and spacious, with plenty of gaming tables available to try a game from their library.  The expansion also allowed them to add a larger tournament area in the back, gaming tables for miniatures, and Café Mox, their new place to grab a drink and a bite to eat.  The staff, as always, are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable with game suggestions at the ready based on your inquiries.  The only downside of a visit to Card Kingdom is trying to figure out which game to play first. 

Card Kingdom  5105 Leary Ave. NW, Seattle, WA 98107

 

Become A Bibliophile – Friends of the Library Book Sale

There is something about a book that an “e”version can’t replace.  The tactile feel of the pages, the slightly musty smell of old books aged like a fine wine.  If you have a visceral connection with books and you like them cheap, the Friends of the Library Book Sale at Magnuson Park is the place to go.  The sale is a biannual event, generally occurring in Mid-April and Mid-September, with over 100,000 books for sale at around the $1 range and an entire section of “Better” books at a slightly higher price for the more discerning palette.  The shear volume of literature available for purchase is nearly overwhelming and you can easily spend hours poring over titles in every genre from the classics to textbooks.  The event is well attended so be prepared to rub elbows with other bibliophiles (and book sellers) but it’s all worth it in the end.  The rewards far outweigh the effort. http://friendsofspl.org/booksale

Get Your Geek On -Emerald City Comicon

Once a year thousands of people gather under one roof downtown Seattle and wave their Geek Credentials proudly.  I am one of those people.  Emerald City Comicon is a destination not to be missed.  Since 2003, Emerald City Comicon has been hosting world class artists and celebrities for a weekend of shopping, sharing, exploring, cosplay, panels, and of course autographs.  This year was no different as the organizers of the Comicon continued to bring the big guns. William Shatner.  There I said it. I attended the Comicon, he attended the Comicon.  I didn’t get a chance to see him but then again he didn’t get a chance to see me either, so I think that makes us even (although we did see an amazing Captian Kirk circa 1967).  Other than celebrity sightings, the Comicon has an astounding array of vendors for everything from Golden Era Comics to custom-made fangs while you wait, with vintage toys, various games and collectables also being heavily represented.   DC Comics, XBOX, Image Comics and Dark Horse embodied some of the bigger names there, but they were far outnumbered by the smaller, independent publishers, web comics and of course the artists themselves.    We spent a single day roaming the exhibition hall, seeing old friends, playing games and meeting the incredible talent, and in that time we realized eight hours just may not be enough.   http://www.emeraldcitycomicon.com/

Smell The Ocean Air - Seattle Waterfront

 There is something about the waterfront of any city on the ocean.  Each has its own character that shines through. The Seattle waterfront is no different.  Packed full of restaurants, gift shops, tour groups and activities, the waterfront is an easy place to lose an afternoon.  We began at Pike Place Market and descended the stairs through the “Down Under” region and continued down along the Pike Place Hillclimb to the piers.   

Our first stop was the Bay Pavilion (or Miners Landing depending on your preference) at Pier 57.  Starting at the back of the pier, we watched the vintage carousel spin round, entertaining young and old alike.  In the arcade area, the sound of calliope music mixes with the more modern soundtracks of the assorted video games. At $1.50 per ride the carousel is worth a ride if you have the time.  

From Pier 57 we headed to Ye Old Curiosity Shop located at Pier 54.  No visit to Seattle is complete without a visit to this amazing collection of curios and gifts. The Ye Old Curiosity Shop was established in 1899 and is still going strong today.  Inside you will find an astonishing assortment of the weird and unusual ranging from fleas in evening wear and antique scrimshaw work to genuine shrunken heads and mummies.  Amidst the curious collection is perhaps Seattle’s only landmark gift shop or rather gift shop turned landmark.  The Curiosity Shop carries an eclectic array of knick-knacks and souvenirs to cover the entire spectrum of gift giving for every event ...or perhaps just for yourself.   

After a long look through Ye Old Curiosity Shop, the logical next stop is next door at Ivar’s restaurant.   If you have the time you can head inside for a nice sit down meal, but the true experience is outside at the walk-up windows.   They do things a bit different out here.  Once you know what you want, approach the window, get the workers attention and shout out the fried items of your order.  Don’t worry, they seem to have steel traps for minds and will not forget your order even if there are dozens of people yelling out.   When your items are cooked the cashier will add anything not deep-fried (drinks, coleslaw, chowder, etc.) and then get you on your way.  Around the corner from this chaos are rows of benches, tables and a covered eating area. The covered area is great for the rainy days, but if it's nice out you are denying yourself part of the experience:  Seagulls.  As you eat, these scavengers of the sky will creep ever closer until they are nearly sitting at the table with you.  As opposed to most of the areas in the city, feeding these wild animals is encouraged, with the sky filling with the sound of beating wings as soon as food is presented.  If you’re feeling daring you can hand feed these scavengers of the skies…Just count your fingers afterward.

http://www.seattlewaterfront.org/ 

http://www.pier57seattle.com/

http://www.yeoldecuriosityshop.com/ 

http://www.ivars.com/

Get Inked – artCore Studios

What better way to enjoy a city than to permanently mark yourself while there. On a night when we had just planned to have a nice dinner, we found ourselves sitting down in a parlor and letting a fantastic artist permanently mark us. Georgetown, once a largely industrial fueled area, has metamorphed into a burgeoning artist community complete with a Vegan Bar and Tattoo/Art Gallery.  When we visited the former only to be told their stove died, we found ourselves at the latter talking to Chris about possible artwork.  Chris is an easy-to-talk-to, laidback professional who eschews the standard "too cool" attitude so prevalent among most tattoo artists.  He listened to our semi-vague ideas about what we wanted and came back with great art that we’ll be proud to show off.  The shop also doubles as an art gallery with the current artist, Sullivan Giles, displaying her amazingly detailed hand-cut stencil spray paint artwork.  All in all, artCore delivers more than your average parlor, both in personnel and personality.  http://www.artcoreseattle.com/

Be A Tourist - Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market is alive.  Just standing on the edge of the pathways you can feel the ebb and flow of the people around you moving like a pulse.  The quantity and quality of merchandise is what draws both local and tourist alike.  From the legendary flying fish and the unique shops and stalls on the main floor to the boutique stores in the Down Under area, the market is a shopping oasis in an urban desert.  With the press of humanity all around you, people watching is an ideal way to take a break between browsing. The best part is that, after you peruse the multitude of venders’ goods and exhaust your people watching urges, you can grab some fresh fruit, cheese and sweets for an impromptu picnic.   http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/