Walking Seattle Again

 A few yards decorated with hearts greeted my husband and me today as we returned to the Laurelhurst neighborhood. We walked through Laurelhurst Playfield and  some streets from 43rd to 48th Avenues NE between NE 35th and 41st Streets. We enjoyed water and mountain views and spotted a house with its own pickelball/basketball court. We observed a whimsical bench setting ... ... before heading into the well-kept and well-used Laurelhurst Playfield . We saw children and mothers playing on the play structures, tennis players, and walkers outside. Inside the community center, we noted Mahjong players and toddlers. We finished our walk by completing the .44 mile Laurelhurst Loop around the playfield. On the north end of the loop, we spotted a pedestrian bridge to Laurelhurst Elementary across the street. We passed one Little Free Library along our almost 3 mile walk. It contained children's books (including one in German) and a HR certification test prep book.

 A friend and I were treated to some welcoming sights this cold, sunny morning as we walked in the Bryant and Ravenna neighborhoods. We took a 3 mile walk along the streets between 30th and 39th Avenues NE from NE Blakeley Street to NE 50th Street. Streets west of 35th Avenue are in Ravenna; those east of 35th are in Bryant. Both sections felt like one cozy neighborhood. Some Ravenna streets had views of the UW campus. Both had tree-lined streets. Bryant may have had more brick Tudor homes and Ravenna more wooden cottages but both originally had modest sized homes on small lots. Some have been (or are being) replaced with larger homes but we did not notice any multiplexes. We did notice some fairy gardens and this gnome garden ... ... as well as this interesting device ... ... and this captivating table and chairs in a front yard. There was a second set in the same yard and both appeared to be set up to handle a drop-in grill and/or cooktop-type device. I hope someone is enjoying outsi

The weather was dreary so Fremont felt a bit sad this morning as I noted the housing density between 36th and 39th streets from 3rd Avenue NW to Evanston Avenue N. This is where the streets change from NW to N but the whole area has seen the disappearance of modest cottages on small lots and the appearance of two and three story multiplexes. The area is still the home the Statue of Lenin and Dave Page Cobbler but there is a new store, Sfingiday,  selling  handmade artisan goods. 36th is still a commercial street but there are now outdoor eating spaces which were not there 12 years ago. Some of the businesses still have a funky vibe. This sign is outside Collector Plants by peaceloveandhappiness.club . I noticed a few gyms and pubs which may not have been there 12 years ago. I spotted some new murals. Including a new Henri. Homes are still being replaced by multiplexes giving the area a mish-mash-y look. During my 2 mile walk, I passed one Little Free Library  which contained novels a

The Laurelhurst neighborhood was the location of today's walk. I opted to walk the streets closest to the water in its southernmost area. The streets curved around and I went off track a few times. I covered a few of the streets more than once. walking six miles (and climbing a few hilly streets). This part of Laurelhurst probably hasn't changed much in twelve years. This is still an area of expensive homes on well-kept streets with sidewalks and curbs on both sides of the streets. My walk started at the Center for Urban Horticulture where I noted an area of boardwalks through an eastern portion of the UW Botanic Gardens which abut this neighborhood. Heading south and east, ... ... I came to the Belvoir Place shoreline access. Continuing south and east, ... ... I came to a basketball hoop at 43rd Avenue NE and NE 35th Street. Proceeding to West Laurelhurst Drive, I walked to the southern tip and then turned north onto East Laurelhurst Drive. I observed quite a few large, waterf

The sun was shining today as my husband and I took a 2+ mile walk in the Windermere neighborhood. We walked streets south and east of 60th Avenue NE and NE 60th Street. The neighborhood has not changed much in 12 years. Perhaps a few remodels and, maybe, a knock down. We did see a large construction site on the water side of Windermere Road. This neighborhood slopes down to the lake and we caught water views in many places. We saw a few groups of people out walking; they all smiled and wished us a good afternoon. I don't know if the demographics of the neighborhood has changed. We spotted a massive hedge and noted the large, well-tended lots, curbs on both sides of the avenues, sidewalks on the west sides and underground utilities throughout the area. We pass three Little Free Libraries. They contained Children's books, Young Adult books, novels, a Bible, an AA Text and a publication about the differently abled.

Rain, sleet and cold temperatures resulted a short walk today (2 miles) in the Wedgwood neighborhood. As my husband and I walked streets from NE 80th to 85th between 31st and 35th, we admired some streets ... ...tall trees and ... ... wider than expected streets. This once affordable, middle class neighborhood has seen many second story additions, remodels and ... ... more recently, total replacements of small homes with expensive, large, new ones. This home has 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and a 2 car garage. We spotted four such sites in the few blocks we walked today. There is still a spot of whimsey on 85th. The QFC location is vacant. The Wedgwood Broiler and dental offices are still on 35th. I reported on housing changes along 35th in an earlier post. Along the way, we spotted two Little Free Libraries. They contained novels, a few Children's books and a book for nursing mothers.  

Yesterday's walk through the Ravenna neighborhood (NE 65-75 from 16-20 NE) was especially pleasant because a friend came along and we chatted as we admired the neat sidewalks, curbs and gardens. Many of the homes were Tudor style, some large, some small, some street-level, some at the top of steep rockeries. This home had a unique roofline. We passed a Reformed Presbyterian Church and Third Place Books . We admired trees ... ... and shrubs. There were some changes from 12 years ago. We noticed an electric car charging station at the base of a rockery; I guess electric car owners without garages have to improvise. We could see Roosevelt High School and some large apartment complexes which had gone up near the new Light Rail Station. We noted what looked like an auxiliary dwelling unit going up in a backyard. I was so caught up in conversation that I lost track of where we had walked. We exceeded 5 miles but had walked some of the same streets twice. Along the way, we passed five L

Yesterday's 4 mile walk in the rain started at 35th Avenue NE and NE 70th Street. Winding my way to 36th Avenue and turning south, I noted vegetation-lined sidewalks. At 68th, it appeared that the shingled houses to the north had been built by one developer and the Arizona brick houses to the south had been built by another. I wonder how much longer the distinction will be evident because many of the original houses have been replaced or remodeled and are no longer "modest." Turning east on 65th, I noted a lot on 37th that now houses three new homes. At 40th, I entered PCC and was shocked by the prices - inflation has really hit. The Little Free Cookbook Library out side contained only two books. Across 65th, I walked through the puddles of the empty Bryant Playground . Then, continuing east on 65th, I passed the Mikvah at 43rd. I don't remember if it had a children's outdoor playarea 12 years ago but it does now. Having already passed through or along side Wedgwo