Travelocity wastes an inordinate amount of my time every single time I attempt to use their site. Like an amnesia patient I return over and over just to be reemed once again. I have a feeling I'm not alone. more ›

Over at TechFlash, John Cook reports that Alaska Airlines misspoke when representatives gave what many interpreted as an announcement that they'd be offering free wi-fi to Alaska travelers at SeaTac gates. The airline will be extending the offer to travelers in Oakland for the three-month promotion, but not here. Seriously? Seattle would be the perfect place to run that deal. This reminds us to ask why we don't already have free wi-fi available at our airport. Anyone have a compelling explanation for this pitiable situation? more ›

Lowell's APP program might be splitting up along North/South lines. Sable Verity dives into the controversy surrounding KUOW's coverage of one APP student's description of how she was treated in the program. Over at HugeAssCity, it's mourning time once again for the loss of the Ballard Dennys, now that the monstrous development plans for that space have been revealed. Lake City Live did a bad news (frowny face) round-up, and CHS has an interesting piece on what the light rail ride from Capitol Hill to the airport will really look like (eleven stops...!). Reverb has an update on Renton's Jimi Hendrix Foundation involving a comic book character named Captain Strata. Hmm. more ›

We just got back from biking downtown, and even the flats felt like uphill because of the wind gusts. If they had been sustained, we're pretty sure we would have ended up going backwards. The B-Town Blog, sharing our surprise, has a post up about the 43-mph wind gusts they've recorded at Sea-Tac today. Maybe this is that windstorm from the other week that never showed up. Cliff Mass calls this a "modest Pacific disturbance," which we're not sure we entirely agree with. Anyway, watch out for loose branches and umbrellas for the duration. UPDATE: Also, try not to get sand in your eyes--in the wind canyons of downtown, we hear pedestrians are getting pelted by sand, which is also migrating into buildings. more ›

The B-Town Blog has an ominous Port of Seattle bulletin regarding Sea-Tac operations: "Airport is open--two runways are operational. There are many airline-initiated cancellations. Backlog of stranded passengers awaiting rebooking. Travelers are advised to contact their airline for flight status and to attempt to rebook from home." We're having trouble pulling up the flight status link, and we heard via Twitter earlier this morning that Alaska Air's phone wait was 149 minutes. As you might expect, there's no room at the inn, and many travelers are sleeping in airport. It gets worse: airport stores haven't been getting deliveries, so supplies are scarce. more ›

There are fewer worse feelings in the world than missing a flight thanks to a traffic jam on the way to the airport. Believe us, we've been there...on Thanksgiving weekend. Missing a flight due to a traffic jam you could avoid or plan for? We simply won't allow that for our dear readers. So if any of you are heading to Sea-Tac, prepare for an even larger traffic clusterfuck than usual. Due to light rail construction, there will be only one lane to the arrivals area, the northern entrance to the parking garage will be closed, and there is a detour from the cell phone waiting lot. So basically, whether you are coming, going, or just picking someone up, schedule a little extra time for your trip to Sea-Tac. more ›

Yesterday the Port of Seattle invited a rag-tag crew of media, runway protesters, environmental activists, local residents, and assorted schmoozers on a tour of Sea-Tac's third runway, a project about 20 years in the making, and set to open on November 20, 2008, pending final FAA certification. more ›

Untitled photo by Joshua Longbrake
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Not too long ago, we were attempting a trip to San Francisco. As soon as we got to SeaTac, we found that our flight was somehow already an hour and a half late. The employees at the ticket counter, civil without being friendly, couldn't get us on another flight, so we got some food and a drink and watched our delay get longer. Eventually, it was time to board (on what was now the last flight to SF), and of course, we ended up sitting on the plane for an hour while there were refueling issues. The pilot announced that the fuel switch could be fixed, but by that time, the crew would be "illegal," and so our flight was now canceled. Lovely. We exited the plane to deal with another unfriendly employee who literally rolled her eyes when we asked for something more than a mere refund of our tickets. All in all, those five hours at the airport were a nightmare. Surely, we thought, there's got to be a better way. more ›

When Seattlest worked closer to Pike Place Market, the obvious lunchtime choice was between crumbly, delectable tamales or hearty gyros. Now that we find ourselves in Sodo 40 hours a week, we've had to venture out and blaze a new lunch hour trail. Our heart, mind, and friend's recommendations led us to Smarty Pants, only five minutes away (plus a few, due to an inconveniently placed train)... more ›

Moving Under Sea-Tac by Seattlest Flickr Contributor, Grundlepuck more ›

There's a nice little piece over at Crosscut this morning about Georgetown's Rainier Cold Storage Stock House (and the demise of), but just like the neighborhood opposition to the building's demolition, it's too little too late. To be fair, the building's owners broke their way through many walls (a much beloved building that defines a neighborhood, an official Seattle Landmark) with the wrecking ball of public safety: it's going to collapse onto Airport Way, they said. Demolish away, they were told. Demolish away they did and not enough people knew or cared beforehand to do much of anything to stop it. more ›

If you're the Port of Seattle, you spend it on all kinds of stuff! Woo hoo! It's a mad-money third runway! more ›

Seattlest watches as a S.L.U.T. is born and Seattle Flickr users go nuts over a local art installation. A restaurant critic demands a Diner's Bill of Rights over a gnat next to her drink, and, in lieu of a Portlandist, Seattlest debates with itself over the identity of the Northwest's crown jewel. Seattlest also joins the guys from Fantagraphics for an ill-fated gun party in the woods. more ›

This weekend Seattlest was standing outside of Jules Maes in Georgetown trying to explain to someone which part, exactly, of the Rainier Cold Storage compound across the street was about to be torn down. It's the Stock House which is north of here a bit--it's, uh...no. Ok, it's down there near the...no. Not thirty feet from us and directly across the street there's a sign that says "Stock House." Yep, that's it. more ›

They're actually doing it. The Port is getting King County Airport (AKA Boeing Field) in exchange for an Eastside rail corridor and a bag of baseballs. A bunch of Agreements were signed today making it so, with the other interested party being King County. When this deal was first floated to the public in October it was made clear that the rail corridor would be transformed into a recreational trail, something that we found to be kind of neat but also kind of wasteful, although we didn't really shed many tears for the Spirit of Washington dinner train that was going to be displaced in the process. In the press release this time around the recreational possibilities of the corridor are downplayed somewhat, but that's still the intended use. The County promises to do some research into making it a transit pathway, although they insist that such a transit line isn't currently needed. more ›

MUSIC: In a case of perfect billing, Math and Physics Club are taking a break from puppy petting and hand-holding to sing some songs for the kids as part of Town Hall's Saturday morning concert series. more ›

ART: OKOK's move to Ballard has been good for them. The new space puts more focus on the art, separating it a bit from the (still great) retail. Free Parking, a new group drawing exhibit, opens today with works from ten artists. more ›

The American Institute of Architects asked 1800 Americans to name their favorite buildings in the US. After further refinement and surveying, the AIA compiled a list of the top 150 and released it on Wednesday. more ›

Well, guess what? The tide has turned once again in the War On Christmas - The Port of Seattle has decided to replace the trees it removed from the main passageway of the airport over the weekend. Rabbi Bogomilsky withdrew his suit, but we're guessing the reversal had more to do with the national attention the Port got than any actions on the part of the rabbi. more ›

Comic Book Party: Fantagraphics celebrates the grand opening of their new retail & gallery space with an opening reception. Live music by The Rhaes. There's also an exhibit around the corner at Belle & Wissel, Co. to make the trip a twofer. more ›

There's a national transportation bigwig in Seattle today pledging flood relief and the like. Transportation secretary Mary Peters is a Bush appointee, though, so if the rebuilding of NOLA is any indication Rainier will probably erupt before the flood-damaged areas around it are repaired. more ›

Washington State Ferries is cancelling free WiFi and attempting to convince us that they never actually offered free WiFi - That was a beta program..that lasted for a year. Starting next month, WSF will be charging for access to the internet. WiFi Networking News has more: more ›

The Port of Seattle just knocked on Seattlest's inbox with news that six computer disks that contain information on over six thousand airport workers are missing. First of all, who the hell still stores information on "computer disks?" Hopefully, that means "DVDs," but still. When are we going to hear the first report of a thumb drive containing critical homeland security data being stolen? more ›

After seven years, drumcentric rabble-rousers the Infernal Noise Brigade have called it quits. This weekend offers you two last chances to see the politicomusic group in action. more ›

About three hours before the quiz started at the Old Pequliar last night, we realized we'd written a really difficult slate of questions. Congrats to the winners, who earned their cash. We'll let you know next time we're hosting -- Charley, the regular quiz guy, should be fully operational again by next week. more ›

Comcast Channel 117 normally shows a live video feed of the departures drop-off at Sea-Tac Airport, but for some reason they've decided to reach out to an audience other than aviation enthusiasts and broadcast the World Baseball Classic. Every game that's tape-delayed by ESPN can be seen live on Channel 117, which is also digital channel 7.2. more ›

The guy who pulled a hit and run on an MD-80 at Sea-Tac over the holiday weekend was suspended pending the results of an investigation after the plane suffered an in-flight depressurization. We're curious as to which route he's going to take: Will it be the "I didn't feel anything" classic? Maybe the old "That was already there" excuse? Perhaps "I barely touched it - That's what bumpers are for" standby? Any way you slice it it's difficult to imagine how he comes out of this with a job. Of course, one guy careening around the runways knocking creases into airplanes may not be the whole problem at Alaska. What about the rest of the Alaska Airlines baggage handling scabs strike breakers contractors? more ›

-When you hear that an experimental plane has crashed you expect to hear that some kind of ninja plane from Boeing Field ditched into the ocean. This time it's a DIY job, though. We're guessing the flight itinerary didn't read "Garage, Chehalis Airport, trees, Harborview ICU," but that's unfortunately what happened. more ›

-The two high school kids who were killed by a train this week in Pierce County were apparently listening to a boom box when they were struck in the back. Man, that thing must go to eleven... more ›