Closing Out the Year at Westlake Center

 

12/27/25 Overlooking Sixth Avenue from the walkway connecting Nordstrom to Pacific Place

Westlake Center tree and former Macy's building

Despite temps in the low 30s Saturday morning, a hardy group of sketchers showed up for the USk outing at Westlake Center – and some even sketched outdoors! BRRR! All I could stand was five minutes to sketch the big Christmas tree in the central plaza and the former Macy’s star (at left). The latter was always a symbol of downtown Seattle’s shiny past. These days, the star still shines, but much of downtown sadly lacks luster.

After that, I decided to spend the rest of the outing indoors. Joining several other sketchers at Nordstrom’s Ebar coffee shop, I discovered a dazzling view of – not much (below). The blahness of the view, however, gave me an opportunity to try out an unusual color palette I have begun experimenting with (more on that soon).

While there, I learned that if I went up to Nordstrom’s top floor, I could walk across a sheltered walkway that connects the store to Pacific Place. As promised, the walkway’s floor-to-ceiling windows offered unique views overlooking Sixth Avenue near Pine Street. Although architects would have had a field day sketching the skyscrapers on both sides of the street, I chose Nordstrom’s corner where the deep awning was decorated by huge ornaments (top of post).

The last outing of 2025 for USk Seattle, it was a fun morning to close out the year and look forward to the next one!