Life In The Pacific Northwest
My friend Mike was a DJ at KJET, a progressive radio station from back in the 1980s. Lots of wave, groups like The Clash, etc.
Here he’s pulled together a show based on this classic 80s tunes. Check him out on Mixcloud and follow him if you’re a fan of that platform.
Music has been a core part of my life for decades. I have no real memory where music wasn’t a core element of my soul. Surrounding myself in Seattle’s music scene certainly made that happier and more fruitful. I had a wide range of organizations supporting performers and a plethora of opportunities. This is something that’s particularly delightful about Seattle.
Like many kids, I started band in elementary school. It was just “something I did” through junior high. High school, though, offered something different. I had the opportunity to study with Paul Cobbs, now with the Everett Philharmonic. Dr. Cobbs opened my eyes to a whole new realm of musical possibilities. Besides diving deeper into classical and orchestral music, Dr. Cobbs introduced me to jazz. Life-changing, with ripples through my life to this day. It was jazz that got me into poetry. Jack Kerouac, I’m looking at you.
Throughout my high-school career, I performed with a dizzying array of organizations. Besides my school’s myriad ensembles (concert bands, jazz ensembles, backing up the choir, orchestra), I played with the Seattle Cascades Drum Corps, Cascade Youth Symphony, State Band amongst the formal organizations. There were plenty of small ensembles and workshops I also got to work with. This region has always been a great place to be a young musician.
Now it’s better. Or at least I’m far more aware of what’s out there, as the parent of a musically inclined child. Just a few orgs I can rattle off (besides the above):
Add to these some excellent programs to grow the dedicated young musician:
Our region’s music scene has long been dynamic and energizing. No matter what style you dig, there’s someone playing it live nearby. That spills over to our kids. Music kept me sane as a boy and young man. It delights me deeply to see that opportunity continuing and growing.
The greater Seattle area has been dealing with unhealthy air quality for the past few weeks. Smoke from wildfires, first from California then British Columbia has choked us. So Cliff Mass, a well regarded climate scientist from the University of Washington, coined the term”Smokestorm“.
The air quality has impacted most of us. I don’t have any asthma issues, service felt the impact. Mostly that my chest has felt congested, and I get winded far more easily. People in vulnerable looks have her but much, much worse.
The rain over the past few days, though light, has been welcome. Most of us, though, wanted a good, solid rain. First to clean the air, but also to help extinguish these fires.
How have you dealt with the smokestorm? Hopefully you’ve been able to find ways to make life pleasant. I’d like to hear what you’ve learned, seen, felt.
As relief arrives
Stars twinkle through the high smoke
As it fades away
Watching land prices rise around Puget Sound and western Washington, I think I see the future. Land costs extending beyond the reach of all but institutional investors.
Our economic engine will continue to bring people here, demand for housing will continue to rise, the Growth Management Act will limit supply, so we will be forced to move vertically. Up will be all that’s left.
We’re already seeing this in the downtown core. Most housing in the Seattle neighborhoods are multifamily. With exceptions, of course. But I’m sure those will succumb, too.
I don’t view this negatively. More than its simply the way of things, especially in places that people want/need to live. This city won’t be my grandmother’s Seattle, but it will be Seattle.
Lately I’ve been considering growth. Seattle’s been growing in a huge number of ways: jobs, cost of living, rents, population. This growth changes things: traffic, greater economic fragility, more economic stress on nearly everyone. I
I read an article yesterday saying that San Francisco’s poverty line income was a bit above $114k. Seattle is getting close.
With this growth and pressure on finances, I see this region’s density increasing. I expect the single family home will slowly vanish as land costs continue to climb. Eventually, multi-family will be the only way to earn enough return on land investment for builders.
I expect well see lots of Seattle neighborhoods becoming predominantly multi-family, actually a region of apartments condos stretching from the center out to the burbs.
I do wonder if there’s an equilibrium. Will we get to a point where things will stabilize?
What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
This release came into my inbox this afternoon. Holy Smokes! This will be messy!
Short and simple summary: avoid I-5 south of Seattle this weekend. With that, whatever the detour route will be, everything around that route will be torturous.
May the Force be with you if you need to head into this.
Washington State Department of Transportation – NEWS
Northwest Region – 15700 Dayton Avenue – Shoreline, WA 98133 – 206-440-4000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2018
Contact: Tom Pearce, communications, 206-440-4696
Revive I-5 returns: Northbound I-5 closed all weekend in Seattle, July 14-15
Lane reductions begin near Southcenter, all traffic must exit at the West Seattle Bridge
SEATTLE – The second of two full weekend closures of northbound Interstate 5 at the West Seattle Bridge is quickly approaching, which means people to need to plan ahead and avoid the highway again this weekend, July 14-15.
Washington State Department of Transportation contractor crews will begin closing lanes on northbound I-5 at 8 p.m. Friday, July 13. This weather-dependent closure will give them room to safely replace expansion joints and repave the roadway as part of the Revive I-5 project. The work will wrap up by 5 a.m. Monday, July 16
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During the first full weekend closure, June 2-3, backups on northbound I-5 were minimal because drivers avoided the highway and used alternatives to get into Seattle.
“What traffic looks like this coming weekend is up to travelers,” said WSDOT Assistant Regional Administrator Amir Rasaie. “We need people to adjust their travel plans again this weekend so we can minimize backups and keep traffic moving around the Seattle area.”
Lane closure details
Crews will begin reducing northbound I-5 traffic to two lanes at the I-405/SR 518 interchange near Southcenter in order to replace half of an expansion joint on the Duwamish River Bridge. Expect lane reductions to continue all the way up to the West Seattle Bridge/Columbian Way/Spokane Street ramp, where all traffic must exit.
West Seattle and Beacon Hill
Those coming from West Seattle or Beacon Hill will be able to enter northbound I-5 from the West Seattle Bridge/Columbian Way/Spokane Street on-ramp to head into downtown Seattle. This traffic will shift onto the northbound I-5 collector distributor, where drivers can exit to I-90, James or Madison streets, or continue through to rejoin the northbound I-5 mainline. All lanes will reopen near Olive Way.
Ramp closure details
7 p.m. Friday, July 13 to 5 a.m. Monday, July 16:
9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday:
10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday:
10:30 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday:
11:59 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday:
All northbound I-5 off-ramps between the I-405/SR 518 interchange and the West Seattle Bridge will remain open all weekend.
Southbound I-5 work Sunday morning
In addition to the northbound Revive I-5 work, WSDOT maintenance crews will reduce southbound I-5 traffic to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge between the University District and SR 520 from 2 a.m. to noon on Sunday, July 15, to repair parts of the aging bridge deck. The Northeast 45th Street on-ramp to southbound I-5 will also close during this time.
Closures will affect the entire region
The full closure of northbound I-5 means there will be heavy traffic on all highways and roads around the region. Travelers should expect long backups on northbound I-405, State Routes 99, 509 and 599, as well as on city streets. To limit congestion, people should:
Know before you go
Before heading out the door, travelers can get real-time traffic information about Revive I-5 on their phone with the WSDOT traffic app and by tracking #ReviveI5 on the WSDOT Traffic Twitter feed.
Hyperlinks within the release:
Death Cab for Cutie has it’s origins in western Washington. This song does a great job of capturing the current ethos in Seattle and the Puget Sound region, as this song is about Seattle (though this video was filmed in Los Angeles).
Anyway, I’ve had many moments of late like what Ben Gibbard’s lyrics describe. I lived nearly 10 years on Capitol Hill and First Hill. Anytime I’m there, now, I’m struck by how unfamiliar it all is. Yes, I celebrate progress, but also miss what once was.
Yesterday’s heat slept
Now another day of warmth
I stare at a screen
With the gloom clearing
Patches of blue sky eastward
Yet more rain’s coming
Weather, especially in June, can be quite fickle. Such is today. I guess.