DECEMBER FUN IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, Guest Post by Caroline Hatton

Living giant sequoia growing at 4th Ave & Olive Way, Seattle, WA

My friend Caroline Hatton, a children’s book writer and frequent contributor to this blog, visited Seattle and took the photos in this post in December 2022. I thank her for her sharing her many travel experiences.

Deer, two stories tall, on 4th Ave near Spring Street .

After spending two sparkling days walking around Seattle with my husband during a December escapade away from home, the three experiences below ranked as my favorite.

 THE ARTWORK BY DENNIS EVANS AT THE SHERATON 

This is a free, indoor, permanent exhibit inside the Sheraton Grand Seattle hotel. Named “The Four Philosophical Elements,” it is a four-part evocation of the four compass points and seasons, created by Seattle artist Dennis Evans in 2013.

This book representation drew my attention to the art of Dennis Evans.

What hooked me as a book lover was the book representation in the “South” panel. For each compass point, four aspects were described.

“South is Midday and Summer.

Color is Red.

Its element is Fire and is called The Phoenix.

South rules Passion and Sensuality.”

“East is Dawn and Spring.”

“East rules the Intuitive and the Philosophical.”

I love the overall concept and the execution in every detail, the mixed media, textures, colors and mini paintings strongly suggestive of glorious or moody weather. What a rich and satisfying offering! 

The Sheraton Grand Seattle is located at 1400 6th Ave in Seattle, five and a half blocks from the Pike Place Market big clock. If driving, park in one of the public pay parking lots across 6th Ave or Pike Street. After entering the hotel lobby, go left toward the Fountain bar entrance, then right down the hallway to see the artwork on the right-side wall.

THE SEATTLE CENTER WINTER TRAIN & VILLAGE 

The mini Winter Village (knee-high) at the Seattle Center .

As an amateur miniaturist, I enjoyed this free, indoor, daytime, annual opportunity to gawk at a model, quaint town of knee-high buildings ringed and crossed by moving toy trains with cars roughly a foot long. 

Click here to watch the merry-go-round and train in action.

A merry-go-round spun endlessly. A hot air balloon gave two dolls a ride. A rare treat for my petite self was that I could always see over the heads of other visitors, because most of them were young children. Some walked around and around marking their scavenger hunt sheet as they spotted the sasquatch and other amusing details.

This display was on the Seattle Center campus, inside the Armory Food and Event Hall building, where visitors could also buy tickets to enter a nature-themed playground offered by the Seattle Children’s Museum and hear live stage entertainers while exploring the food court for lunch options.

Space Needle and International Fountain on the Seattle Center campus.

After lunch, we wandered outside around the campus garden, past the International Fountain, in and out of the Urban Craft Uprising, a free-entry indoor craft market, and skipped the Space Needle, which we had visited previously, once upon a July Fourth.

THE GREAT FIGGYPUDDING CAROLING COMPETITION

The 2022 Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition took place at Seattle’s Pike Place Market.

During this free, outdoor, annual event, which took place on Friday evening, December 2 in 2022, caroling groups lined a pedestrian street at the iconic Pike Place Market, belting out holiday songs and welcoming charitable donations for the Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank.

The spectators listening to any particular choir stood back to back with those listening to the next choir, so occasionally we could hear more than one song at a time. Wandering from one group to the next didn’t take many steps. We didn’t stand in the long line waiting to buy hot spiced apple cider, available in several flavors. 

The Evergreen Cabin Choir singing in Japanese.

The Evergreen Cabin Choir sang a song in Japanese, then a traditional American one. Some middle school and adult groups sang so quietly, I could not hear them. An adult group sang “Hanukkah in Santa Monica,” the song by Tom Lehrer. One Starbucks Chorus song was about lattes and caramel shots, to the tune of “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.” 

The performance I liked best was by Mount Vernon High School singers. Their energy was contagious, their precision thrilling. They sang a polyphonic arrangement of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas“ flawlessly, especially after four people carrying clipboards appeared and identified themselves as official judges, motivating the performers to deliver their very best.

We had fun sampling the holiday spirit in Seattle.

All text and photos, copyright Caroline Arnold. www.theintrepidtourist.blogspot.com