Seafair Opening Weekend
Since 1951, Seattle has celebrated summer with the annual Seafair celebration that lasts for the entire three months of the season. There are parades, community festivals, air and boat shows, pirates, and more. The 2008 festivities kick off during the July 4th weekend with four separate family friendly activities.
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Starting July 4th through July 6th (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.) The Center for Wooden Boats (1010 Valley St.) and South Lake Union Park will be hosting The Lake Union Wooden Boat Festival. The festival is exactly what it sounds like all types of boats that are wooden will be on display. There are also children’s activities including a make-your-own boat session.
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On Saturday the 5th, The Milk Carton Derby will take place at Green Lake. In its 37th year, the derby features five different race categories and a boat parade. Prizes and fun abound. (http://seafair.com/events/mcd/)
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On Sunday, Hispanic Seafair will be at the Seattle Center from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. “The day-long festival will feature live music & entertainment, various food, craft and information booths, art exhibits and children's activities all reflecting the diverse Hispanic community in the Seattle area. The festival also serves as a venue for the scholarship presentation to the Hispanic Seafair Queen and her Court.” (http://www.hispanicseafair.com/)
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Also on Saturday, is the Pirate Landing on Alki Beach. Even though Seattle is nowhere near the Caribbean and has never really known the true scourge of pirates, this family friendly event attracts many. There is usually a mock sea battle before the pirate’s ship turns towards shore and lands. There are also booths, contests, and live music at the beach the whole day. Finding parking on Alki is often difficult, so either take the #56 metro bus straight from downtown to the beach or ride the Water Taxi across the bay and take the free shuttle to the beach. (http://seafairpirates.org/)
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Top 5 Seattle misconceptions
Every city has certain reputations some of which are completely true and others that are only loosely based on fact. Knowing which ones to believe or toss out as bologna are what separate the locals from the visitors.
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It is always Pike Place Market and never Pike's Place Market. The addition of the apostrophe S will get you pegged as a non-local faster than you can say flying fish.
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Starbucks is not Seattle's mascot. Seattle's coffee snobs all have their preferred local independent coffee shop that still hand presses their espresso. On the other hand, Seattleites generally don't hate Starbucks either. They are mostly indifferent.
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No one hangs out at the waterfront except panhandlers and tourists. Sure locals will pass through there on their way to a ferry, but they don't dawdle. If you must have seafood with a view, a superior experience can be had at Ray's Boathouse in Ballard.
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It doesn't really rain in Seattle everyday. In the winter, yes, it does rain quite a bit, but that's while most of everywhere else is getting snow. In the summer the city is sunny and mid to upper 70s. What one might call a delight. We are however, close to one of the few remaining temperate rain forests in the world. The Hoh Rain Forest is located on the Olympic Peninsula and is well worth the trip.
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A lot of movies and tv shows have been set in Seattle. Most of them take liberties with the geography. Biggest culprit? Grey's Anatomy. It helps that they film a total of maybe 15 minutes worth of location in Seattle every season. Also? One can't follow a boat in a car from Lake Union to Alki Beach, Sleepless in Seattle. You can get a map of notable movie locations from the Mayor's office though.
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2008 Music Festivals
Memorial Day is fast approaching. The holiday signifies many things to many people, but here in Seattle one thing it definitely means is the kick-off of the music festival season. With its strong musical ties, musicians routinely stop through our fair city, this coupled with our amazingly beautiful summers, mixing great tunes with sunshine is very easy to do. Here is the run-down of this year's can't miss festivals:
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May 23-26, 2008
http://www.nwfolklife.org/
Celebrate ethnic and traditional music, arts, and symposia.
Free.
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May 24-26, 2008
http://sasquatchfestival.com/2008/
The Gorge Ampitheater's annual musical extravaganza. This year's highlights include REM, The Cure, The Flaming Lips and many many more.
$76.50/day or $154.50/weekend
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August 30-September 1, 2008
http://www.bumbershoot.org/
Cap the summer off right. Labor day brings the granddaddy of them all. Born in 1971, Bumbershoot has weathered the years well. Bringing national and local acts together in one behemoth of a festival. Music, dance, comedy, literary arts, you name it, it's there. And for storied festivals it is CHEAP.
3 days for $80 until Aug 16.
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June 13-14, 2008
http://www.georgetownmusicfest.com/
New kid on the block, this fest brings local indie bands from all over the Pacific Northwest in one nice little setting. What Bumbershoot used to be, way back when.
$15
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July 12-13, 2008
http://www.subpop.com/channel/news/sp20_festival_details
The famous local independant label turns 20 this year and has scheduled this 2-day shindig to celebrate. Aigned artists old and new will perform.
$50
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July 25-26, 2008
http://www.thestranger.com/blockparty
Another indie rock showcase, this one sponsored by local pop-culture rag, The Stranger. If you are hip in Seattle, this is your scene.
$18/day
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