Category Archives: Places to See

Destinations worth the journey

Skagit Valley: Tulip fever and antique sleuthing

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I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.
– Claude Monet, founder of French Impressionist painting

A sea of Skagit Valley tulips.

A sea of Skagit Valley tulips.

April 1st marked the beginning of the month-long Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Kathy forewarned me that seeing the fields of tulips would likely be marred by tourists – from Canada, other parts of Washington, and far-flung places – who would create a parking lot out of the two-lane road to the picturesque town of La Conner, our eventual destination. We were “saved” by the rain, which never really let up most of the time I was visiting. While the rain deterred us from taking hikes along the waterfront or in the mountains, it not only kept the tourists at bay in the tulip fields but it was ideal weather for catching up with good friends over mugs of hot tea.

Farm workers harvesting tulip bulbs.

Farm workers harvesting tulip bulbs.

It was a little early for the tulips’ full glory, but the rows of vibrant colors – red, yellow, purple, and pink – were still breathtaking. We didn’t have to fight any crowds over the views while snapping photos. And we had a little respite from the rain as we stopped at one of the gardens on display, Tulip Town. I didn’t know that the area was known for its tulips, which were first grown in 1906 with Dutch bulbs. The tulips became part of the seed production industry that included beets and cabbage. Taking advantage of the increasing crowds that were coming every spring to view the spectacular colors, the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce created the festival in 1984, and in 1994 it became its own entity.

Nasty Jack's Antiques' impressive building.

Nasty Jack’s Antiques’ impressive building.

Visiting La Conner
Along the way from Mount Vernon to La Conner, we were treated to fields of yellow daffodils in full bloom. We had a nice leisurely late lunch at the La Conner Brewing Company (117 South First Street, 298257, 360.466.1415) – enjoying a hummus plate and wild coho salmon filet sandwich with thick-cut fries and coffee and tea, of course. We meandered in and out of the myriad rooms that comprise the large building that is Nasty Jack’s Antiques (103 East Morris Street, 360.466.3209). If you’re looking for old magazines, unusual vintage furniture, steel and wooden type set blocks, and reproduction badges, bottle openers, and key chains, this antique shop is for you. It’s also a great place to window shop.

Bold and beautiful earrings handmade by Miao Chinese artisans.

Bold and beautiful earrings handmade by Miao Chinese artisans.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to go to the La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum housed in the historic 1891 Gaches Mansion (703 Second Street, 360.466.4288) before they closed, but this museum will be a destination next time. To help celebrate the tulip festival, the museum hosts a quilt or fiber art piece tulip festival challenge, a fundraiser that benefits the building of its Commemorative Brick Pathway. One of Kathy’s favorite shops is the Caravan Gallery (619 South First Street, 360.466.4808), which has an unbelievably large and colorful selection of jewelry, handicrafts, and artifacts from overseas adventures – from multi-colored beaded cuffs and long, multi-strand, gold-beaded necklaces crafted in Bali to silver earrings and bracelets handmade by the Miao Chinese, and ethnic minority living in the southwestern mountains in China. The shop features a garden patio and waterfall, which is a great place to sit down, take a deep breath, and relax.

The soothing waterfall and garden at Caravan Gallery, La Conner, Washington.

The soothing waterfall and garden at Caravan Gallery, La Conner, Washington.

Antique sleuthing
We ventured to a few more antique shops in downtown Mount Vernon, particularly Dilly Dally Antiques and Collectables (501 S. First Street, Mount Vernon, 98273, 360.336.8930). On the lookout for chatelaine pieces, Kathy spotted a pencil – with the lead intact – in a slim silver case that was attached via a very thin, working retractable chain to a round silver pin with an etched floral design. The tag described it as a sales clerk’s pencil, which was approximately 3 ¾ inches long. It was quite an unusual find, as we’d never seen such an item. When we got back to Kathy’s house and were on opposite sides of her dining room table, our respective laptop and tablet before us, we began a spontaneous quest, trying to find out more about these pencils.

Vintage pencil pin: Who used it? A librarian, sales clerk, or gal on the dance floor?

Vintage pencil pin: Who used it? A librarian, sales clerk, or gal on the dance floor from yesteryear?

Kathy had introduced me to Pinterest the day before and was looking at images on that platform. She found a handful on Etsy and eBay, some with different descriptions – 1940s dance card pencil and librarian mechanical pencil – both of which made sense to us. While the one at Dilly Dally did not have any markings on the back of the pin, many that we found were produced by Ketcham-McDougall, of East Orange, NJ. One had a patent date of February 24, 1903 (coincidentally, that’s my birth date!) and was manufactured in 1910. It definitely looked like an antique, whereas the silver pencil pin had a sleek mid-century sensibility to it.

Personally, I subscribe to the more romantic description of the dance card pencil from the 1940s and 1950s. Perhaps Violet Bick used it to try to get George Baily to sign her dance card the night that he laid eyes on and instantly fell in love with Mary Hatch in It’s a Wonderful Life. It is imagining who had this item, what they were like, and what kind of life they led that makes learning about, collecting, and appreciating vintage and antique items so enjoyable, particularly from a writer’s perspective. It was a fun exercise spawned by a vintage find and made special by having shared it with a dear friend.

A respite from the rain in the tulip fields.

A respite from the rain in the tulip fields.

When it rains in Bellingham, antique shops beckon

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The best mirror is an old friend.
– George Herbert, Welsh-born English poet, orator, and Anglican priest

Kathy and me, Village Book Café, Bellingham, Wash., April 2013.

Kathy and me, Village Book Café, Bellingham, Wash., April 2013.

The last time I saw one of my best friends from high school, Kathy, was five years ago, when my kids were seven and five years old and we spent their spring break visiting with Kathy’s family in Mount Vernon, Washington. My kids are on their spring break now, but while they are back home with David, I am on a much-needed girlfriend trip to uplift my ragged spirits. It’s been five years, but really good friends pick up the conversation as if no time or distance has separated them at all. Such is the case with Kathy and me.

The heart of Old Fairhaven in Bellingham.

The heart of Old Fairhaven in Bellingham.

We have always shared a love for books and reading, writing poetry and fiction, art, the lost art of letter writing by hand, and thoughtful conversation. That has certainly not changed. But through the years, we – Kathy earlier than I – have developed a love for vintage and antique objects. She shared with me a beautiful Art Nouveau cast-iron inkwell, which was an earthy green color, with women with flowing long hair on either side of the inkwell, and the trademark sensuous curves and lines. There were other treasures, too, including pieces of a chatelaine for housekeepers, which date back to the 1700s – a miniature notebook with an Art Nouveau stamped silver cover on a chain and a silver needle holder that both attach to a brooch or belt – and vintage books.

Fairhaven Antique Mall in Old Fairhaven, Bellingham, Washington.

Fairhaven Antique Mall in Old Fairhaven, Bellingham, Washington.

We drove to Bellingham to have a nice meal with her youngest, Patrick, who is a freshman at Western Washington University and who was in eighth grade when I last saw him. We had planned a nice long scenic walk along the waterfront, but during our meal at the Village Books café the light drizzle turned to rain and then a downpour. That determined the remains of the day – seeking shelter in some of the historic buildings whose shops showcase local artists. And then Kathy took me to the Fairhaven Antique Mall (1201 11th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225, 360.922.7165), which is run by owner and buyer Lisa Distler and features more than 20 dealers. A lot of antique malls can be overwhelming, but Fairhaven Antique Mall was fairly well curated. (You can check out its Facebook page here.)

Art Nouveau hand-tooled handbag.

Art Nouveau hand-tooled handbag.

Distler has been in the antique business for more than 15 years and knows her stuff, having researched brands the old-fashioned way through books. I love hanging out in an antique store when the people who work there talk knowledgeably and lovingly about the treasures you fall in love with – because they love them, too. And in true antique spirit, Distler said her family hasn’t had a TV in the house since the 1980s, doesn’t have a computer, and writes out receipts on one of those thick and heavy steel boxes with a window and a slot to pull the receipt out of. For one fantastical moment, I considered this four-foot-plus trophy with a golden woman standing atop an open sphere with a base of long, blade-like mirrors and also a pink alarm clock with double-bells on top made in West Germany.

The etched cover of an antiqued compact purse.

The etched cover of an antique compact purse.

If you recall the hand-tooled purse from Feathers in Austin, you will understand my immediate attraction to a similar purse, which Distler explained was from the Edwardian era (1901-1910), though the Feathers purse was supposedly from the 1930s or 1940s. You can definitely see the Art Nouveau decorations on the front. It is missing its matching mirror, which the Feathers purse has, but this beauty was in excellent condition, from lining to latch to whipstitch. There were other beautiful purses, as well, a 1940s beaded purse with a hard frame and floral needlepoint, a flapper-era beaded purse shaped like a drawstring bag, although the opening was a metal cap that when lifted allowed the steel accordion frame to fan out and allow you to access the contents, and a sweet, small, beaded ivory purse with a kiss-lock metal frame that sported a ring, which women wore while whirling around on the dance floor. Another beauty was an antique compact purse, with slots for nickels and dimes, powder, and calling cards, and a mirror. I began imagining removing the chain and replacing it with another chain.

The inside of the antique compact purse.

The inside of the antique compact purse.

Whiting and Davis gold mesh purse.

Whiting and Davis gold mesh purse.

It was raining even harder when we left. We returned to Mount Vernon by way of the Red Door Antique Mall (111 Freeway Drive, 360.419.0811), where Kathy got her inkwell. There were a lot of interesting and beautiful items in this mall, including an old-fashioned percolator that I imagined could have a second life as the base of a lamp, a 1950s mint-condition Samsonite luggage, a pleather (though now it would be described as vegan) very shiny bright burnt yellow rain coat with wide lapels from the 1970s for only $19. I tried this coat on a few times but eventually put it back, unsure if I could pull off cool rather than kitsch. Buyer beware, as in one dealer’s display cabinet one silver metal trinket box had a Ross-like store tag on the bottom that listed it as $6.99, but this was priced at $42. Hmmm. But you can always trust well-known markings, such as this gold Whiting and Davis mesh purse and a brand that I now know – Crown Lewis purses, which were made in the 1930s and 1940s.

Crown Lewis fabric handbag.

Crown Lewis fabric handbag.

Vintage glass perfume bottle.

Vintage glass perfume bottle.

The antique malls in the area have incredibly reasonable prices for both vintage and antique. Kathy knows, having gone through antique shops in Los Angeles, and I know having compared prices from antique and vintage goods from the Bay Area with those in the Central Valley. While you’ll find a lot of similar and therefore uninspiring items no matter where you are in the country, it’s especially sweet to stumble upon really unusual pieces such as the antique compact purse. At the end of the evening, Kathy and I looked at one another, smiling and content: Today was a really fun day poking around in antique shops with not only a dear friend, but a partner in crime. The trip thus far is definitely uplifting my spirits. And yes, I’m still thinking about that super bad rain slicker – so bad that it’s rad.

1970s, wide-lapelled, gold-buttoned, shiny rain slicker: So bad it's cool. Or not?

1970s, wide-lapelled, gold-buttoned, shiny rain slicker: So bad it’s cool. Or not? Cast your vote!

March is National Women’s History Month

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My idea of feminism is self-determination, and it’s very open-ended: Every woman has the right to become herself, and do whatever she needs to do.
– Ani DiFranco, American singer and songwriter

Cream and black, linen and lace for a beautiful spring day. Vintage handbag from Secondi (Washington, D.C.).

Cream and black, linen and lace for a beautiful spring day. Vintage handbag from Secondi (Washington, D.C.).

When I first started my lifestyle blog, The Dress at 50, I envisioned it to embody its tagline – “live the creative life.” I still follow that maxim. Striving to live the creative life touches on every aspect of my life – marriage, parenthood, friendship, career, fiction writing, blogging, fashion and interior styling – and my topics have covered that wide range. I’ve also focused on women, regardless of where they are in their lives, and their creative endeavors.

Since the launch, I’ve become fascinated by women entrepreneurs – why and how they got to where they are today with their businesses. Creativity definitely factors into many of their decisions and choices. As I’ve interviewed women whose shops I patronize, I’ve found an interesting theme of going from one career to the one of their calling – hence the category Transitions and Transformations. The one thing I’ve learned from all of these women is to truly follow your heart, taking risks along the way. And for this former non-risk taker, it is a lesson I’m still learning. But their stories are so inspiring, I come away invigorated and ready to welcome opportunities and the chance to open new doors.

Accessorizing creamy lace with a Gorgeous and Green statement reclaimed vintage necklace (Berkeley, CA), End of Century cicada ring (NYC), Alkemie scarab cuff (Los Angeles), and Paz Sintes textile earrings (Spain).

Accessorizing creamy lace with a Gorgeous and Green statement reclaimed vintage necklace (Berkeley, CA), End of Century cicada ring (NYC), Alkemie scarab cuff (Los Angeles), and Paz Sintes textile earrings (Spain).

I’ve also realized I want to celebrate women who have done amazing and courageous things in their lives. I have already met two incredible women – very close friends for more than 30 years – whose story will inspire you to stretch your boundaries of giving and living life to the fullest. Peggy and Tenny’s story will be posted this Friday, March 22nd.

March is Women’s History Month. It seems appropriate at this time to reiterate the focus of my lifestyle blog as the celebration of women at any stage of their lives who are living a full, creative life and making a difference in their communities, both local and global. I looked up the provenance of Women’s History Month: In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress designated the month of March as Women’s History Month. Since then, every year Congress has passed resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March as Women’s History Month, which continues to be done.

Mixing linen and lace with carpet-bag floral and textile, reclaimed vintage, and vintage-inspired jewelry.

Mixing linen and lace with carpet-bag floral and textile, reclaimed vintage, and vintage-inspired jewelry.

The 2013 National Women’s History Month theme, Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination, honors “women who throughout American history have used their intelligence, imagination, sense of wonder, and tenacity to make extraordinary contributions to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields.” Certainly this year, I hope to feature women who have made contributions in this area, and have lived fully and creatively along the way.

My mother – as an immigrant mother who sacrificed her life to ensure that her daughters were participants in the American Dream – was a role model to me for her perseverance and her unconditional love. When I look back at my formative years, I can’t recall other female role models who influenced my life or remember studying in school women in history who made an impact on me. Whatever the reason or reasons, it matters little now. At any age, women can adopt female role models and become role models themselves.

Confidently put on that new dress and be a role model for your kids, your family and friends, and your community. And live the creative, meaningful, and full life!

Confidently put on that new dress and be a role model for your kids, your family and friends, and your community. And live the creative, meaningful, and full life!

Turning 51, with gratitude

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I will go anywhere, provided it be forward.
– David Livingstone, Scottish medical missionary and explorer

Mixing textures with faux fur, faux suede, creamy lace, patterned tights, vintage brooch, and red leather boots!

Mixing textures with faux fur, faux suede, creamy lace, patterned tights, vintage brooch, and red leather boots!

Yesterday I celebrated my 51st birthday, which was no less momentous than the milestone of reaching 50. This is a new mode of thinking for me. At a certain point in adulthood, I didn’t think much of making a celebration of birthdays. Not that I was thinking of getting older at that time. It was more a feeling that birthday celebrations were for children. When I had my own children, that philosophy was validated, as I focused more on their yearly milestones – the parties, the presents, getting excited for them, and sharing and basking in their genuine happiness.

With the vintage Weiss brooch as the main attraction, keep earrings and rings simple.

With the vintage Weiss brooch as the main attraction, keep earrings and rings simple.

When the 49th birthday came and went, fear set in, and you know the rest of the story (if not, you can read my blog bio and my first post, “Welcome to the Dress at 50”). Celebrating birthdays has taken on a different meaning since last year. I face a new year, grateful to be alive and healthy and to have my family with me. I also return to the two things that motivated me as a child and young adult – tapping my creative juices and being inspired by other peoples’ creativities and visions, and opening up my heart and unleashing generosity for the greater good, for social justice. I look to them as presents to receive and give with each birthday.

Variation on the lace dress: different-colored faux fur scarf, canvas drawstring jacket, vintage-inspired lace-up booties, flowery tights, and vintage Weiss earrings and brooch.

Variation on the lace dress: different-colored faux fur scarf, canvas drawstring jacket, vintage-inspired lace-up booties, flowery tights, and vintage Weiss earrings and brooch.

Birthday weekend
My birthday celebration started on Friday when I finalized an interview earlier in the day with two amazing women for the following afternoon in Los Altos. We ended the evening with a casual dinner out with good friends of ours and their kids, who are friends and classmates with our kids. It was a busy, deadline-driven week at work for me, so winding down after dinner and sharing a bottle of wine and David’s brother’s homemade beer in front of the fireplace with friends was very welcome.

Toughening up the lace dress with yet another faux fur scar, snakeskin print leather jacket, industrial-looking brass and crystal necklace, and chocolate textured tights and booties.

Toughening up the lace dress with yet another faux fur scar, snakeskin print leather jacket, industrial-looking brass and crystal necklace, and chocolate textured tights and booties.

When I had found out that my interview on Saturday was going to be in Los Altos, I contacted my old college roommate, Susan, who lives in Los Altos. Being spontaneous was never my thing (back in college a former dorm floor mate was trying to coax me to go out dancing one evening, and I begged off, with the excuse: “I’m not spontaneous!”). To this day, I try to be more spontaneous, which is still a work in progress. Happily, Susan was available for brunch, and she suggested a terrific very child-friendly, farm-to-table restaurant called Bumble (145 1st Street, Los Altos, CA 94022, 650.383.5340), which is housed in a quaint 100-year-old cottage and serves meals – very good ones – made from organic, locally sourced ingredients. The owners, a married couple, both came from farming families. (I think this concept would be well received if some enterprising entrepreneur could find a venue with character and execute on the concept. Hint, hint, local entrepreneurs!) What was really nice was to be able to sit back and eat and catch up in a leisurely fashion. This is a rarity for me. It was a gift to allow myself to not clock-watch (it helped that we had given adequate time for getting together before our respective appointments).

What to wear after the horse ride: shades of gray and comfortable pieces to relax in.

What to wear after the horse ride: shades of gray and comfortable pieces to relax in.

After brunch, I met two women who have known each other for 40 years and who were introduced to me via e-mail by a good friend of mine whom I’ve known since 2005 through my work in the healthcare information technology world. You will read about their very rare and beautiful friendship, as well as their inspiring and tireless philanthropic work, in March. I only hope that I can do justice to their story through my writing. What they’ve gone through and what they’ve done in their lives to this date compels me to want to be as big-hearted as they are. The evening ended with dinner at another good friends’ warm and bustling home and enjoying my friend Raissa’s homemade chicken curry – the best, hands down.

Favorite cicada necklace from Lava 9 (Berkeley, CA), Carmela Rose earrings, and Sundance rings.

Favorite cicada necklace from Lava 9 (Berkeley, CA), Carmela Rose earrings, and Sundance rings.

On my actual birthday, the only things I was anticipating was David’s Sunday special, his breakfast sandwich and protein drink, and my daughter getting up to join me as I walked Rex in the morning. It was a beautiful, sunny albeit cool day, so doing something outdoors was a given. Nothing came to mind immediately; I only knew I was not going to clean or do work. This was going to be a day to enjoy with my family. My daughter, who has been fancying horses and horseback riding for more than a year now, was lobbying for a horse-themed activity in Walnut Creek. We owed her a horseback-riding family event in lieu of a party with her friends, which was at her request (from this past December). Though horses are not my thing, I voted to contact the riding stable near Point Reyes, upon the suggestion of the Walnut Creek horse ranch that didn’t have any openings for us on such short notice. Hey, I was being spontaneous again.

My horse drinks water while the rest of the family mounts their horses.

My horse drinks water while the rest of the family mounts their horses.

So we drove the 1.5 hours to Olema on the winding Highway 1, listening to Morrison Boomer‘s CD, Down the Hatch, which we had purchased after listening to them play at Pikes Place in Seattle a few weeks ago. For all my driving of late, I have had the pleasure of enjoying their music while on the road. We ended up at Five Brooks Ranch (8001 Highway One, Olema, CA 94950, 415.663.1570) and we took an hour’s ride through the coastal woods. When we had to command our horses to trot or gallop, I erupted in laughter, not unlike the laughter that lets loose when I try to scream on the roller coaster and instead laugh with my mouth frozen wide open. I couldn’t stop laughing because I was bouncing around so much. As I mentioned, I’m not a horse person, but my daughter was in heaven, and my son had a good time. To have her hug me long and hard made all that bouncing around and walking bow-legged for a few minutes upon dismount worth it all.One of our family traditions is that on our actual birthday, the birthday person picks a restaurant of his or her choice for dinner. I had originally hoped that we could attend the Academy Awards party at the Cerrito Theater (10070 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, 510.273.91020), but the show was sold out. I deferred my birthday dinner until later in the upcoming week, as I usually don’t cook on weekends and do cook on weekdays. And for me, one of the perks about having a birthday is not cooking. We toasted to family and health over dinner while watching the Oscars, but not before granting my son’s wish to play a game of Monopoly.

My disheveled western look, accented with brass and crystal necklace, and studded belt and crossbody purse from Sundance.

My disheveled western look, accented with brass and crystal necklace, and studded belt and crossbody purse from Sundance.

Engaging in family activities that my kids requested on my birthday was a gift to me. It warmed my heart to see them so happy, to see them enjoying themselves in such a carefree way. It was my gift to them. Being with friends and spending leisurely time with them were also priceless gifts. Meeting new people, learning about their goodness and being inspired by them were wonderful surprises and unexpected but gratefully accepted gifts. It is not so much the material gifts that are given to me that I value, though I appreciate their thoughtfulness, but it is the family and friends, their love and their friendships, as well as the experiences, that make birthdays memorable and worthy of celebration. Welcome 51 and beyond!

Seattle’s Chihuly Garden and Glass

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I love to find the beauty in everyday objects.
 – Dale Chihuly, American glass sculptor

A boat filled with glass globes against a black backdrop.

A boat filled with glass globes against a black backdrop.

Last Saturday, when we were purchasing our tickets for the Space Needle, a package deal was also offered for the Space Needle and the Chihuly Garden & Glass (305 Harrison Street, Seattle, 206.753.4940). Without thinking, we went ahead and got tickets for both venues, which are next door to each other. When I asked our friend John who Chihuly was, he stopped in his tracks and said, in an incredulous tone of voice, “You’ve never heard of Chihuly?” Um, no, but I’m always up for learning about people I’ve never heard of. I was all ears.

An Education on Dale Chihuly
Dale Chihuly was born in Tacoma in 1941 and graduated in 1965 from the University of Washington with a degree in interior design. While at school, he had to take a weaving class as a requirement and decided to weave bits of glass into a tapestry, which spawned his interest in glass and led him to build a studio in south Seattle. One night he melted glass between bricks in an oven and blew it into a bubble, and from that moment on, Chihuly said he wanted to be a glass blower.

Suspended sea sculpture.

Suspended sea sculpture.

He went on to the University of Wisconsin, enrolling in the country’s first glass program, and afterwards went to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). In 1968, on a Fulbright Scholarship, he worked in a glass factory in Venice and then returned to found a glass program at RISD. “I like to work on a team and that’s how they work in Venice,” he said in an interview, which I found on YouTube. “I saw how important teamwork was to glass blowing, and that’s the way I taught glass blowing at Rhode Island.”

Close-up of the sea sculpture.

Close-up of the sea sculpture.

He elevated glass as a fine art after he and a couple of his friends cofounded the Pilchuck Glass School at Washington State in 1971. Whereas at the time Seattle had few glass blowers, now the city boasts more glass artists and glassblowers than any place in the world, according to Chihuly. In 1980, when sales from his galleries exceeded his income as a professor at RISD, he quit teaching and returned to Seattle, where he said he’s been ever since. Chihuly rarely blows glass himself, which is a result of having gone blind in his left eye from an automobile accident in England in 1976. Having lost peripheral vision and depth perception, he relied on team members to blow the glass. By not being the head glass blower and not having to focus on finishing the piece at hand, he’s been able to enjoy watching his team and participating in the entire experience. Some teams numbered as high as 18, though he had more than 100 artists and craftsmen working to produce his visions.

Filaments and drops of glass and light.

Filaments and drops of glass and light.

Chihuly has many well-known works of art, but at a certain point he began to expand into doing large architectural installations and commissions for residences, hotels, and casinos around the world, including Venice, Dubai, London, and Jerusalem. His garden series has been exhibited in London, New York, and Chicago., among other cities He has done about 15 to 20 different series of works in the span of 40 years. His glass baskets series, for example, was inspired by his collection of Native American woven baskets, but his series of seashells began as a result of a piece that unintentionally turned out looking like a seashell.

Glass rods and what looks like eggplant bubble up from the earth.

Glass rods and what looks like eggplant bubble up from the earth.

Chihuly is no longer actively blowing glass. Instead, he has devoted his time to painting. The Chihuly Garden & Glass includes his paintings, as well. “I want to have a good time,” he said, of painting. “And then I want to work. Hopefully, if I work for two or three hours, I might come up with something I haven’t drawn before. A lot of it is just working. If you’re doing it, things just happen. It should feel good while you’re doing it. If it starts to feel like work, then I’ll stop.”

Standing beside a glass yucca tree in the garden.

Standing beside a glass yucca tree in the garden.

Amazing exhibition hall, glasshouse, and garden
I didn’t have any expectations going into the Exhibition Hall, which is the best state to be in when you’re going to view an exhibit or see a movie or attend a concert. His work is pretty astonishing, and they are expertly lit and properly displayed against lacquered black walls and floors. The colors are deep and rich, and the patterns intricate. The shapes are the result of amazing control. He could not have achieved these works without a big and talented team. I recommend this exhibit, especially the Glasshouse, a 40-foot-tall, 4,500-square-foot structure made of glass and steel, which houses Chihuly’s 100-foot-long suspended sculpture resembling flowers in reds, yellows, oranges, and amber. The Glasshouse is where I’d want to have a grand party. The Garden exhibit is equally enjoyable, with glass plants and flowers mingling with live flora.

The suspended 100-foot-long glass structure hangs inside the glasshouse. The Space Needle is to the left.

The suspended 100-foot-long glass structure hangs inside the Glasshouse. The Space Needle is to the left.

Afterwards, we ate a late lunch at the Collections Café, which is part of the exhibition hall. The menu offers fresh and local ingredients and food that is inspired by Chihuly’s travels. The restaurant is a long rectangular shape, with 36 of his large drawings backlit on the wall facing the wall of windows. I got a kick out of the shadow box tables that displayed Chihuly’s collections of vintage and antique wares, including cameras, radios, wind-up tin toys, mercury glass, Christmas ornaments, and shaving brushes, among other old items. Tall shelves house carnival chalkware, and suspended above the ceiling were more than 80 accordions. What a great concept and way to display and share his collections. This vintage lover certainly appreciated it.

From the Chihuly Bookstore, a 1914 globe pocket watch with optical lens and skeleton key (Corter, handmade in New England).

From the Chihuly Bookstore, a 1914 globe pocket watch with optical lens and skeleton key (Corter, handmade in New England).

Café tables display Chihuly's vintage and antique collections.

Café tables display Chihuly’s vintage and antique collections.

Accordions are suspended from the Collections Café ceiling.

Accordions are suspended from the Collections Café ceiling.

The Space Needle, seemingly intertwined with the glass structure, viewed from inside the warm Glasshouse.

The Space Needle, seemingly intertwined with the glass structure, viewed from inside the warm Glasshouse.

Exploring Seattle’s Space Needle and Pike Place Market

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In wisdom gathered over time, I have found that every experience is a form of exploration.
– Ansel Adams, American photographer and environmentalist

From Austin, I was supposed to head to Los Angeles and then Seattle on my five-city business trip, but I didn’t end up going to the last two destinations because of rescheduling issues. Still, since David and the kids were slated to join me this past weekend, we decided to stick with our original travel plans, and we flew just for the weekend to visit with good friends of ours, John and Kris. John and David have been friends since nursery school, and John was one of the groomsmen at our wedding. It’s a testament to their enduring friendship, though we haven’t seen them in two years and it’s been several years since we have traveled to the Pacific Northwest to visit them.

I’ve been to Seattle seven times. When I was on assignment in Seattle and Portland to cover an article on venture capitalism (VC) in the Pacific Northwest many years ago, I was able to conduct research on my novel. My father, his cousins, and many of his fellow compatriots traveled by steamship from Manila and entered the United States at the Port of Seattle. If the Filipinos didn’t have relatives already in the States to pick them up, most of them stayed in hotels in the International District, home of the citySeattle’s Chinatown, only to be conned by foremen into signing away their lives to migrant farm work. After my VC interviews, I was lucky enough to be in that area of town and found a couple of the infamous hotels where the men were given room until they were carted off to various parts of the country to pick whatever fruit or vegetable that was currently in harvest.

My view of the Space Needle through a web of tree branches.

My view of the Space Needle through a web of tree branches.

Atop the Space Needle
In all the times I’ve been to Seattle, I’ve never been to the Space Needle (400 Broad Street, 206.905.2111). It’s something you do, though, when you have kids, and after the fact, I’m glad that we went. I knew that it was built for the 1962 World’s Fair and celebrated the young city’s vision for its and the country’s future in space exploration, but that’s pretty much the extent of my knowledge of the iconic symbol of Seattle.

Of course, once there, I learned more. The theme of the World’s Fair was Century 21. This was the time of the Cold War, and the U.S. was in a race with the Soviet Union to determine who would dominate the space program. President Kennedy was supposed to attend the closing ceremony on October 21, 1962, but canceled due to a “cold,” which later turned out to be a cover for his having to handle the Cuban Missile Crisis.

A view of downtown Seattle from the Space Needle.

A view of downtown Seattle from the Space Needle.

After several attempts at finding the right centerpiece that would define the city long after the event was over – in the same way the Eiffel Tower did for Paris after the 1889 World’s Fair – Edward Carlson, president of Western International Hotels and chairman of the fair, found inspiration in the Stuttgart Tower in Germany. Several architects and versions of drawings later, as a result of trying to make the model structurally sound, the Space Needle’s current form came to be. Finding a location and financing – at a cost of $4.5 million – became the next obstacles. Both were obtained, and the Space Needle was constructed in just 13 months – just in time for the opening of the World’s Fair.

Every day nearly 20,000 people took the elevator to the top of the Space Needle, for a total of 2.3 million visitors for the duration of the fair. The Space Needle paid for itself in short order, and continues to be Seattle’s number one attraction. It takes 41 seconds to reach the top via the elevator, and your stomach definitely drops during both the ascent and descent. The 360-degree view of the city is wonderful. While we didn’t go to any of the other venues in the area such as the Pacific Science Center and the Experience Music Project (though we did go to the Chihuly Garden, which I’ll highlight in Wednesday’s blog entry), you could easily spend a day in the area.

Wandering around Pike Place Market at night.

Wandering around Pike Place Market at night.

Wandering through Pike Place Market
After a late lunch, we headed over to Pike Place Market, which has always been a destination every time I’ve come to Seattle. I enjoy walking up and down the stalls, sampling the jellies and other goodies and admiring the various goods crafted by local artisans. We also returned in the morning after Sunday brunch and were entertained by two street musicians, Whitney Monge and Morrison Boomer, whom we really enjoyed. Monge has a soulful voice, and the band had a kick to their music.

Kicking it up a notch with street band Morrison Boomer.

Kicking it up a notch with street band Morrison Boomer.

We picked up a salve that is supposed to clear up eczema, which my daughter has, and skin irritation, which David has, so we’ll see if the product by the Fay Farm – “handcrafted natural body products” – works (913 Tomchuck Lane, Greenbak, WA 98253, 360.222.3036, soapmaker@thefayfarm.com). Claudia Rice Kelly (Claudia Kelly’s Collection, 1916 Pike Place #12-341, Studio 253.941.2665) made some beautiful scarves, bow ties, and velvet jackets made of silk and velvet. Micks Peppourri (P.O. Box 8324, Yakima, WA 98908, 800.204.5679) had an overwhelming number of tasty pepper jellies, namely lime, pomegranate, and the cabernet. David and the kids went crazy over the Woodring Northwest Specialties spicy pickles and pepper and specialty jellies.

Admiring the scarves while being chatted up by the scarf lady.

Admiring the scarves while being chatted up by the scarf lady.

As usual, the weekend was too short, but John and Kris let us know there is plenty more to Seattle we’ve yet to see, including the Boeing Museum. So that just means we have to come back, which is always a good reason to me.

Drawn to an Art Nouveau-style scarf that had different colors on either side.

Drawn to an Art Nouveau-style scarf that had different colors on either side.

One thing I’ve embraced is that wherever I go, especially if I’ve been there before, I want to find something new to see, appreciate, and learn about. Whether it’s a vintage shop or a historical landmark or a novel destination – a hidden gem – suggested by a local or a visitor, find something new. It makes the usual special again and our world ever more expansive.

Seafood does not get any fresher than this at Pike Place Market.

Seafood does not get any fresher than this at Pike Place Market.

In search of Sunday brunch at Pike Place Market.

In search of Sunday brunch at Pike Place Market.