There was smoke in the air so I decided to wear a mask and walk commercial streets rather than view streets today. NE 65th Street and 35th Avenue NE constituted most of my route. These streets have sidewalks and curbs. I noticed quite a few new curb cuts.

My walk started at 20th Avenue NE and NE 65th Street at Third Place Books. Twelve years ago, the bookstore hosted a book club. The club shut down during Covid and has not restarted.

I veered off 65th at Ravenna Avenue when I spotted Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center but was disappointed that it wasn't open because today is Indigenous Peoples Day. Heading back to 65th, I spotted McCarthy & Schiering Wine Marchants. It was closed today (Monday) but has been at this location for 42 years.

Walking east on 65th, I noted that the Varsity Restaurant had moved into a new building across from where it had been. A sign in the window indicated that they were hiring. I was to see similar signs many times during this walk.

65th Street is home to quite a few restaurants, a bakery, a bagel shop, a yoga studio, a natural medicine facility and a few other businesses. Some are new, some were here 12 years ago. I did notice outdoor seating which was not common before Covid. It has probably increased due to this year's longer, warmer, drier summer.

I passed one Little Free Library on 65th - it was inside an old microwave oven and contained a few novels.When I came to Assumption/Saint Bridget School, I walked around it and Assumption Church, passing another Little Free Library on the way. This one was near a garden dedicated to a science teacher. It did not contain many books.
Coming back to 65th Street, I decided to walk around the new development on the 3.7 acres where The Children's Home Society once stood. This development includes townhomes, detached homes, condos or apartments (I'm not sure which) and ground floor shops.

This tasteful development covers the land between 65th and 68th Streets from 32nd to 34th Avenue and includes garages and an inner common space.

Back out on 65th, Stadium Cleaners has closed.

On the corner of 65th and 35th, I spotted the Wedgwood Mart and a sign for a Chinese Book Store where a Jewish Library or book store had been. Just north at 68th, I passed the remodeled Northeast Branch of the Seattle Public Library (closed today) and Veraci Pizza which has replaced Dominos.
Top Pot Doughnuts and The Grateful Bread are still at 35th and 70th. I passed a few cafes including the new Grand Central Bakery and Cafe at 75th.


 

35th is the home to many dentists, banks and churches. The churches include: University Unitarian Church and its newly enlarged parking lot (I think two houses were demolished), Congregation Beth Shalom and their Early Childhood Center and Little Free Pantry, Messiah Lutheran Church (and school), Wedgwood Presbyterian Church (with NEST offices) and Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church (and school).

I saw Wedgwood banners telling me to "think big" and ...

... that I was welcome.

Even the Wedgwood Post Office had a sign that they were hiring.
Next to the post office, Hunter's Tree Farm was letting Boy Scout Troup 151 use their property to sell pumpkins on the weekend.

I passed a Safeway but noted that the QFC has closed. The property where it, the Wedgwood Broiler and a few other shops are located may be redeveloped for housing.
A large apartment house appears to be able to house more people than the numerous new claustrophobic looking town homes I passed along my walk.


At 35th and 90th, I spotted the first USPS mailbox (not on Post Office property) of these walks.

During my 5 mile walk, I stopped at an ATM (the bank was closed and most banks don't appear to want to hire tellers anymore) and at Luu's for a bubble tea (I had not had one in years and probably won't for a few more because of the calories - but it was good and Luu's has other offerings I may try in the future). I also noted lots of Halloween decorations, more barber shops than hair salons, a few yoga studios and a new floral and gift shop that was closed today. I didn't notice any work on the Wedgwood Pocket Park. I did notice that 35th had been redesigned with less parking and only one lane in either direction and that the speed limit had been reduced.



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