Results tagged “mountrainier”

                 

Following a friend's gorgeous tearjerker wedding at the summit of Crystal Mountain Saturday, we awoke Sunday morning mildly hungover, but excited nonetheless, because we were going to visit the Sunrise Visitor Center at Mount Rainier National Park for the first time. The air was warm with a slight breeze, the sky a bright blue, with only a few lonely clouds passing by. A more perfect day could not be asked for.

                        

So last Tuesday we took the day off and took advantage of our drought *koff koff* for a non-cloud-enshrouded trip to Mount Rainier. At 8:30 a.m. we were driving south down I-5, to 405, to 167, to 161, which took us through South Hill and Eatonville, and then it was 7 to 706, which drops you right at the door of Mount Rainier. The door costs $15 per car, or $5 if you're a person. Either way, it's the best damn money you're likely to spend in your life.

       

Our day trip to Mount Rainier yesterday was capped off by an exclusive photo shoot starring some of the mountain's more publicity-shy and fluffy residents. On our way out of the park, we saw four fox kits and a parental unit enjoying the evening sunshine on a hillside. With our telephoto lens, we could shoot from far enough away that they didn't trouble themselves with our presence. What followed was totally candid. And totally magic.

CAJUN BLUES: Wow, who forgot to clue us into this one until the last minute? We'll have to fire some interns over this, but that's what they get. Tab freaking Benoit is playing two sets at the Tractor tonight. It would be a real shame if the place wasn't crazy packed. The man is a legend. Bar none. Be there. We're going to do our damnedest to cancel our plans and join you.

A new visitor center makes its grand debut today at Paradise on Mt. Rainier. The new eco-friendlier center took three years to build and will replace the original space ship-esque Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center. While this Center won't offer the panoramic 360-degree view or the hot showers after a long hike to the old center, it will cost 77% less to operate and offers new exhibits on the mountain's history, geology, and flora and fauna. If any of you fine readers are heading out to the Mountain to check it out, report back to us and take some photos!

--Mount Rainier will remain washed away until some time in the spring.

If you thought Southcenter was a massive blight of consumption run wild (chill out, commie) at 1,326,218 square feet you ain't seen nothing yet. From Abercrombie and Fitch (regular and kids) to Zales Jewelry, there are 193 flavors all told so if it's mass produced and it's for sale, you'll find it there. Heeemongus sometimes isn't big enough, though. Southcenter (actually Westfield Southcenter, now) is adding $200 million worth of new stores and restaurants.

Attention! Attention everyone! Seattlest would like to call to your attention the fact that Seattle Public Utilities is launching an initiative called Wasteless in Seattle, with the visionary goal of "zero waste." (Yes, the quotation marks make us nervous, too.)