“The 1950 P-I caption read: Stan Sayres’ Slo Mo Shun IV was put in to water Monday after a thorough going-over. In this photo, Anchor Jensen sits at the controls while Sayres looks on during motor tuneups at Jensen plant, Portage Bay.”

“Seafair Pirates burn two of King Neptune’s boats, a 136 former Navy ship and a 100-foot fishing tug to mark the end of the 1953 festival.”

“Sailors aboard the USS New Jersey at Pier 66, Seafair 1989.”

Related post: The Hydroplane Boats of Seafair

After about spending an hour in the store trying on and comparing panamas, I picked out one – a Stetson. (next post)

Panama hats in the front display window.

Straw cowboy hats. All of the walls are covered in wooden display cases that are as old as the store itself.

More panamas in the middle. They have a good assortment here in all price ranges (from $50 up to $450 or so for the finer ones).

There are so many hats in here that it can be difficult to move around in the store if there are too many people.

Stetson should really consider bringing back some of their old advertisements and posters for marketing.

Never steal a Stetson.

The staff is always very friendly and helpful – stop by if you ever happen to be in the area.

Byrnie Utz Hats
310 Union St
Seattle WA 98101
(206)623-0233

(picture taken early this morning)

Address: 1521 10th Avenue, between Pike and Pine. Everyday Music is right next door.

The new spot was once the location of the original Ford truck service center for Seattle.

An older helmet bag.

Some random European ones.

An old fashioned ALICE pack and frame, the type that everyone loves to hate after they’ve had to carry one fully loaded.

An ammo/protective vest.

Forgot what this first one was.

This one was made from some cheap fake leather.

Some ammo cases from different military groups.

Rucksacks. The second one is rubberized.

A map case. I believe this or something similar was the basis for Billykirk’s shoulder satchel.

A view of the rinks inside the Granite Curling Club in Seattle, the only dedicated curling club on the entire west coast.

Reading up on it later, it turns out that the game originated in medieval Scotland (and here I thought that the Canadians came up with it). From wikipedia again:

Curling is thought to have been invented in late medieval Scotland, with the first written reference to a contest using stones on ice coming from the records of Paisley Abbey, Renfrewshire, in February 1541. Two paintings (both dated 1565) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder depict Dutch peasants curling—Scotland and the Low Countries had strong trading and cultural links during this period, which is also evident in the history of golf.

Evidence that curling existed in Scotland in the early 16th century includes a curling stone inscribed with the date 1511 (uncovered along with another bearing the date 1551) when an old pond was drained at Dunblane, Scotland. Kilsyth Curling Club claims to be the first club in the world, having been formally constituted in 1716; it is still in existence today. Kilsyth also claims the oldest purpose-built curling pond in the world at Colzium, in the form of a low dam creating a shallow pool some 100 × 250 metres in size, though this is now very seldom in condition for curling because of warmer winters.

“A curling match at Eglinton Castle, Ayrshire, Scotland in 1860. The Curling House is located to the left of the picture.”

Illustrations from History of Curling, written in 1890.

Men playing on a rink in St. Moritz, Switzerland. 1947. From LIFE.

Players in Detroit, 1949. It’s too bad that the Olympic players of today do not dress up like this for their own matches.

While it’s fun to hate on the sport, you should definitely try it out if you ever get the opportunity (how often do you get to play medieval sports anyways?). If you’re in the Seattle area, the Granite Curling Club has ongoing open leagues and classes that are available.

More info:
Granite Curling Club
1440 North 128th Street
Seattle, WA 98133-7621
(206) 362-2446

In 1977 SAM presented Seattle’s first American film noir series. This spring, in our town’s premiere British film noir voyage, we visit the “Empire of Night,” where thrilling tales of love and betrayal, greed and obsession swirl in the midnight fog.

And at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, there will be a showing of some very important pieces of woodblock prints from Japan. More info.

This exhibition brings together prints from the most renowned ukiyo-e artists of the 18th and 19th centuries—including Harunobu, Utamaro, Eishi and Hiroshige—along with Hokusai’s most beloved prints, Great Wave off Kanagawa and Red Fuji. These Japanese woodblock prints demonstrate an evocative play between delicate ink lines and rich blocks of color in portraits of beautiful women and kabuki actors, jewel-like landscapes of famous places, and more. Drawn from the Mary and Allan Kollar Collection, a promised gift to the Seattle Art Museum on the occasion of its 75th Anniversary, this installation introduces the region to a remarkable collection of prints, all taken from early impressions and in excellent condition.

Taken in 1979, it supposedly shows the first espresso cart in the U.S.

Photo by Joshua Trujillo for the Seattle PI.

University of Washington, 1921. Images from the UW digital collections.

A warp dresser was the job of someone who’s duties were to prepare and manage the worsted threads for weaving.

It was the kind of plane that seemed to fit the swinging go-go days with martini-swigging travelers lingering around a bar.

First-class passengers dressed in their Sunday best made their way up a spiral staircase to get to the “flying penthouse,” harking memories of private rail cars.

It seemed the epitome of plushness when it made its first commercial flight 40 years ago today. A Times reporter described the cabin as a “luxurious auditorium some genie had wafted aloft.”

Boeing Co.’s 747 was not only the biggest plane that anyone had ever seen before — it was nearly three times larger than the largest jet flying at the time — it transformed travel in a way that few have.

Continue reading more.

Pictures like these just seem like staged press photos nowadays, but during the golden age of commercial flying people really did get dressed up.

And here’s another photo of the 747 being rolled out a hangar in Everett, WA.

More info on SAM’s website.

Sailor pins literary hopes on sexy women of maritime

A few years back, Kim Carver was working on commercial ships and looking for a way to finance the publication of her fledgling maritime magazine.

Though she worked in the traditionally male-dominated maritime industry, the Northwest native realized she was routinely crewing alongside women who were not just strong and accomplished, but downright sexy.

Taking a cue from the countless steamy calendars of firefighters, cheerleaders and other objects of desire, Carver rounded up some of her female friends working in the maritime industry around Seattle and photographed them in various stages of undress, on ships and in other locations.

And soon, the Sexy Women of Maritime Calendar was born.

That beautiful watch? It’s best left ashore

The next day, when I was able to keep it down, I ate breakfast with extra toast and coffee. Joe sat across from me, slowly sipping from his cup, his grey eyes boring holes into me, “Mate,” he said, “expensive jewelry is best kept in a drawer or on a cup hook. It doesn’t belong on a working vessel.” I slowly nodded my head – a lesson finally learned.

Today when I come aboard I remove the one good watch I own (a gift from my beautiful wife) and reach into the mahogany box. In there are three or four old, slightly beat-up Timex watches; none of them cost me more than $16.00. As long as the battery is good they keep excellent time (actually much better than I remember the Rolex ever did) and if lost due to my fumbling, there’s another close at hand.

The Market uses a wonderfully restored International truck (aka IHC, or International Harvester Co.) to bring in the Christmas trees. I’m not an expert, but this particular model was probably made during the mid 1920’s.

Picking up some ingredients for tonight’s roast and desert from Le Panier…

About mid November, the numerous flower stalls begin to offer Christmas wreaths in all varieties. I picked out one from the third picture below.

Now I’m off to go to do some Christmas shopping! :)

Address:
5465 Leary Avenue NW
Seattle, WA 98107

All RRL.

Some Pendleton goods, including made in USA Christmas stockings (I’m going back for some of those later).

Those candles on the table are from Cire Trudon, a French company that’s been around since 1643.

Alden’s.

Filson, Red Wings, and some vintage shirts.

What I picked up: a Stanley thermos, an Alden shoe horn, locally made soaps, and chocolates from England. (not pictured, Haribo gummies from the Blackbird candy shop)

Update: See more pictures on Blackbird’s blog and Wear What When.

SoDo is an interesting part of Seattle, in that it’s a bit of a bridge between our blue and white collar industries. It’s also home to many businesses both large and small, and if there’s something you can’t find up in the city then you could probably find it down here.

The giant cranes used to move shipping containers on and off cargo ships tower over the neighborhood, and the area also serves as a stopping point for the trains that run along the edge of the city. Both the port and railroads are incredibly vital to the city.

Do you recognize these eyes?

They belong to the mermaid in the Starbucks logo, which is on top of their headquarters here.


One of the random stores that dot the area. This particular one is probably the best kitchen/restaurant supply store in town.

A surplus store, of just about everything.


Outdoor Research.

Bars show up at seemingly weird places that you wouldn’t expect here.

The last stop before heading back up to the city was the new Macrina Bakery location that opened up earlier this year. It hosts its wholesale operations for many of Seattle’s restaurants and coffee shops that depend on their pastries and breads, and it also has a small cafe area.


One of their seasonal pumpkin muffins and an americano made with a special blend from Caffé Vita.

One of the several fishmongers in the market. Tip: If you want even fresher fish right off the boats and at better prices, head up to the Fisherman’s Terminal.

The main hall.

Satsuma’s are in!

Le Panier, our French bakery.

Piroshky Piroshky, our Russian bakery. Just one of these pastries could be enough food for a day.

A German deli and imports store, hidden away in one of the buildings.

View looking south.

Address:
1117 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98101

Website: http://www.jstraw.com/
Blog: http://jackstrawclothing.blogspot.com/

Coffee is for closers only.

Thursday, July 30: 10a.m.-12 noon & 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Practice Flight)
Friday, July 31: 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Practice Flight)
Saturday, August 1: 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Full Show)
Sunday, August 2: 1:30-2:30 p.m. (Ful Show)

Image from flickr.

Of course there are about a dozen other great coffee shops within a few blocks from each other in that area (Victrola, Ladro, etc.), but sometimes you don’t want to have to wait 10 minutes in line just for a single shot of espresso.

Photo by Joshua Trujillo for seattlepi.com.  See more links to coverage on CHS.