Seattle Facts

If you don't live in Seattle, or have never visited here, chances are the first thing you think of when you heard the word Seattle is........rain. Most people seem to think that it rains here every day. If you're among that number, you might be surprised to find out that it rains more in 43 other cities than it does in Seattle; including Miami, New Orleans and Chicago. While it is true that the city only has an average of 57 totally cloud free days during the year, it does NOT mean that it rains every one of those 308 other days.

So, here are some other facts about Seattle that you may want to know before considering visiting and/or relocating to the area:

• There are approximately one-half million people within the city limits of Seattle, and a little over 3 million people in the metropolitan area, which makes it the largest city in Washington State
• The average elevation is 10 feet above sea level
• The average annual rainfall is about 38"
• The average high temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit
• The average low temperature is about 46 degrees Fahrenheit
• Major industries are aerospace, computers/software, electronics, fishing, marine, shipbuilding and tourism
• Traffic congestion is BAD, and getting worse
• Parking is limited in quite a few areas, and expensive during peak hours
• But, on the plus side, the area has a good public transportation system that includes buses, commuter rail, and the upcoming area-wide light rail system
• Overall, the city is relatively safe compared to other cities of the same size and demographics
• The city was founded by the Denny party in 1852 and ultimately named after local Native American chieftain Sealth
• Amazon.com, Starbucks, Microsoft, Costco and Boeing all had their beginnings in the Seattle area (though Boeing has since moved their corporate headquarters to the Chicagoland area, they do still have a significant presence here)
• In June of 1899, the downtown area was significantly devasted by a fire and subsequently rebuilt
• Seattle was the jumping off point for gold prospectors during the Yukon/Alaska gold rush of the late 19th century

  You will find links to a number of Seattle (and other) information and events on our calendar.

Seafair Hydro Races and Air Show

Believe it or not, my friends, Seafair is almost over for this year (doesn't seem possible that it is August already, does it?). The month long festival celebrating all things nautical in Seattle will reach its high point this weekend with the Chevrolet cup and US Navy Blue Angels air show.

The fleet pulled in yesterday, with vessels from the US Navy, US Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Navy; a number of which will be available for tours by the public this weekend at Pier 91 on the Seattle Waterfront.

Take the family and enjoy the races, air show and post-race concert and fireworks on Saturday, and the final heats of the races on Sunday. With summer winding down into fall in just a few weeks, take this chance to get out and have some fun before school starts again.

Seattle Center Arts Walking Tour

Today's piece of Seattle, gentle readers, will be a walking tour of some of the 70+ pieces of public art contained in the grounds of Seattle Center. A photo gallery of the items in question is available.

Our first stop will be the Olympic Iliad. Entering the Seattle Center grounds from the corner of Broad Street and Denny Way, the first piece of art that you will notice is the bright orange sculpture Olympic Iliad, by Alexander Lieberman, placed into the Sculpture Garden southwest of the Space Needle in 1984.

This is a very large and distinctive piece, and people have been known to climb up inside of it for a closer look and/or to have their pictures taken.

Our next stop will be the Seattle Mural. Follow the walking path to its first major offbranching, which you will follow to the left around the end of the Pacific Science Center. At the first opportunity, make a right turn behind the indoor portion of the Fun Forest and into a grassy ampitheatre, called the Mural Ampitheatre.

This is because of the large, multicolored Venetian glass tile mural ahead on the right hand side, called simply the Seattle Mural by its creator Paul Horiuchi. It was placed in 1962 for the World's Fair, and had a pool of water beneath it. The pool is now beneath the stage that currently resides in this place.

Our next stop is the International Fountain. Continue down the walkway from the Mural Ampitheatre past the Center House on the right side and the Fisher Pavilion on your left, until you come to the large International Fountain.

If you happen to be making your walking tour in the summertime and the weather is warm, you are sure to see many people down in the bowl of the fountain, soaking themselves in its cool waters.
The fountain was known as one of the centerpieces of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair, being at the center of the area known as the Boulevards of the World, which ran down either side of the fountain. Today, the fountain is capable of computer coordination shows consisting of water, light and sound which are quite a sight to see.

Next we will see the nearby Neototems sculpture. Make a compolete loop around the International Fountain, just for viewing's sake, until you come upon Gloria Bornheim's bronze sculpture titled Neototems directly across the walkway from the Key Arena, on the same side as the International Fountain.

The sculpture consists of the backs of two whales, which children find appealing to climb on and slide down, as can be seen in the picture below. The sculpture was placed in 1995.

Make your way next to Ronald Bladen's Black Lightning. Wander now past the Fun Forest amusement area and the Experience Music Project Complex, in the direction of the Space Needle, where you will find the Sculpture Garden.

One of the more noticeable highlights of the Sculpture Garden is Ronald Bladen's black painted steel sculpture, Black Lightning. As you can see its picture, this is an apt name for this piece.

Also located in the Sculpture Garden is another bronze sculpture, by Doris Chase, called the Moon Gates, which was installed in 1999. This particular piece is directly at the base of the Space Needle.

Finally, spend a few moments with somewhat controversial artist Tony Smith's black painted steel sculpture Moses, also in the Sculpture Garden near the base of the Space Needle.

The piece, which is multi-angular, has been in place since 1975.