April 20, 2010 - Always Good For a Smile (Sorry We're Clothed)

Update April 20, 2011 - While the Lusty Lady closed its doors June 27, 2010, the marquee, whose last sign read "Lusty Later", was acquired by Seattle's Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) where it will be housed along with other Seattle icons such as the running Rainier Bottle, the pink Lincoln Towing Toe Truck and the hydroplane Slo Mo Shun IV.

Downtown Seattle will be a little less punny with the pending closure of the Lusty Lady peep show and their always entertaining marquee. (The opposite side reads: Clash of the Tight Buns.) Dwarfed, by new high rise (and high priced!) condos, and located across the street from the Seattle Art Museum, the now out of place Seattle landmark will shutter its doors in June. A victim of a poor economy, and a product readily available on the internet, the 24 hour live dancing, 365 days a year will end after 27 years. What will amuse the Hammering Man, seen in the background, and those many folks who pass by the 1st Avenue landmark each day?

April 20, 2010 - Reverse View

A behind the scenes view of an iconic Seattle view - that of the Public Market Center sign designating that one has indeed arrived at Pike Place Market. Pike Place opened in 1907 and is one of oldest public farmer's market in the US.

The more often photographed view.

April 17, 2010 - Twilight Ferry

The Washington State ferries Puyallup and Spokane pass each other on the Kingston-Edmonds run under a crescent moon.

April 17, 2010 - Sunset Ferry

The Washington State Ferry Puyallup coming from Kingston prepares to dock in Edmonds as the sun prepares to set over the Olympic Mountains.

April 3, 2010 - Twenty Foot Equivalent

A Hapag-Lloyd owned container ship heads north from Seattle (partially obscured by rain on the horizon) on its way out of Puget Sound via Admiralty Inlet.

The Hapag-Lloyd name is an amalgamation of two 19th century shipping companies Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft (Hapag / Hamburg-American Line) and North German Lloyd (NDL) that merged in 1970. They are one of the largest container shipping companies in the world with over 130 freighters in operation carrying over 5.5 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) of cargo a year.

April 3, 2010 - Swamp Tulips

The fields surrounding Mount Vernon might contain prettier blooms with their acres and acres of daffodils and tulips, but they can't hold a candle to the smell of rotting meat generated by a swamp full of Skunk Cabbage in bloom like these on Whidbey Island. Truly, a blossom best appreciated by an ogre.

April 1, 2010 - Commuter Escort

A pair of USCG Defender-class boats enforce a security zone around the Washington State Ferry Kitsap on its run from Seattle to Bremerton as it passes by the South end of Bainbridge Island. The Defender-class boats are 25 feet long, are armed with machine guns and their twin 225hp Honda outboard motors can move them in excess of 50 mph. The response boat - small (RBS) series was introduced by the Coast Guard in 2003 and are used for port security, search and rescue and law enforcement operations. The Defender-class boats are built by SAFE International of Port Orchard, WA. Up to 700 of these craft will eventually be deployed by the USCG.

March 31, 2010 - Seattle at Night

Downtown Seattle as viewed from Kerry Park, a small park on W. Highland Drive of Queen Anne Hill just North of Seattle Center. The park was donated to the City of Seattle by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sperry Kerry, Sr. in 1927.