A Pink Pick for National Donut Day

 

6/5/26 Top Pot Doughnuts, Wedgwood neighborhood

My dilemma is always the same. When I go to a donut shop with the intention of sketching my treat, what kind do I choose? One of my favorites to eat (fritter [see last year's], Bavarian cream [in 2017], chocolate-glazed raised), none of which are particularly attractive, or a pretty one that I may not enjoy as much but will be more fun to draw? Since it was National Donut Day, which I look forward to observing annually, my sketchbook won the argument with my mouth: A bright pink raspberry-glazed raised ring.

Lots of families came in briefly for after-school treats (kids scarf down donuts surprisingly fast), but most purchases were for takeout. I was lucky to catch one young boy who was there with his dad to celebrate the last day of school.

Washington, DC, Part 4: National Zoo (Plus Sketch Journal Randomness)

 

3/31/26 Smithsonian National Zoo

My most frustrating time of the DC trip was our visit to the Smithsonian National Zoo. Famous for its resident pandas, the zoo is probably crowded throughout the year, but never more so than during spring break aligning with peak cherry tree blossoming. Could we have chosen a more congested time to visit?

Although I managed to sketch a few animals here and there, it was extremely challenging just to move through visitor traffic, let alone stop for a sketch. To make matters worse, temps in the low 40s during the early part of the trip had suddenly changed to the mid-80s! I wasn’t quite ready for summer!

As expected, the panda exhibit was the most congested of all, but the well-designed viewing area made it relatively easy to get a good look. Delighting everyone, this panda spent quite a while sitting on his comfy stump, chewing bamboo. (See my Instagram post for a video of this cutie.)

After an exhausting, grueling day swimming upstream through a continual river of humanity, we all needed a break. Lucky for us, the district’s best donut shop was only a few blocks away! It was the highlight of my last full day in DC.

One of the zoo's stars

Donuts make everything better!

The rest of this post is a collection of sketch journal randomness during my travels. Using DC’s excellent Metro system daily gave me lots of commuters to sketch.

3/27/26 light rail ride to the Seattle airport

Waiting at SEA

3/28/26 First of many DC Metro train rides

4/1/26 Looking for lunch at DCA before our flight back to Seattle, my brother-in-law
and I found unexpectedly good sushi at Matsutake Sushi!

Waiting at DCA

Yes, I did get some peanut M&Ms -- a "shareable"
size bag that I didn't share! ;-)

Mandatory gate sketch

Birthday Party for Wedgwood Top Pot

 

9/12/25 Top Pot Doughnuts, Wedgwood neighborhood

Although I certainly have no problem indulging in donuts in any neighborhood, I consider the Top Pot Doughnuts in Wedgwood to be my “home” donut shop. When I first began sketching in 2011, one of the first cafes I felt brave enough to sketch people in was that Top Pot. Its interior is wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor bookshelves, giving it a comfy, library-like feeling. I also love the wide windows facing the street, which gives patrons a beautiful side- or backlighting. USk Seattle even had a small gathering there. (I have often thought that it could be my “third place” if only it were a bit cozier; my only complaint there is that it’s often chilly.)

When I heard that the Wedgwood store was celebrating its 20^th anniversary, you can bet I put that special occasion on my calendar! In addition to helping myself to free Pot Holes and coffee, I got to meet one of the chain’s co-founders, Mark Klebeck. It was fun to see all the families and neighbors stopping by for the festivities.

The Wedgwood store’s iconic twin palms and giant rooftop doughnut are so much fun to sketch that it’s obviously my favorite spot to observe National Donut Day. For this special occasion, I picked out some of my favorites from past years, below.

6/1/18

6/2/16

6/2/17

6/2/23

6/5/20

Party time!

Queen Anne Top Pot

 

6/7/24 Top Pot Doughnuts, Queen Anne neighborhood

I typically observe National Doughnut Day at the Top Pot Doughnuts in Wedgwood, mainly because the twin palm trees and giant donut on the building are fun to draw. This year, for a different view, I went to the Top Pot in upper Queen Anne. Although there are no palm trees, big communication and microwave towers are all over the place. (The weird thing that I sketched that I couldn’t identify turned out to be part of an obsolete AT&T microwave system.)

It was such a lovely day last Friday that lots of families were enjoying the outdoor tables at Top Pot and Molly Moon’s Ice Cream next door. I had just as much fun observing and eavesdropping as I did sketching.

National Fat and Sugar Day

 

6/2/23 National Donut Day observance at Top Pot Doughnuts, Wedgwood neighborhood

Last year I happened to be in the small town of Centralia on National Donut Day, and I was aghast that not a single donut could be found there. I was not about to miss it this year! Kim and Natalie joined me last Friday in observing the day, which has been a personal tradition since 2016.

We started out at the Wedgwood Top Pot Doughnuts, where I resisted scarfing down more than a couple of bites of my chocolate raised until I could sketch it. Unfortunately, while seated at Top Pot’s umbrella’d tables, it’s impossible to see the marvelous giant donut atop its roof. Preferring bagels to donuts, Natalie had the great idea of moving across the street to Grateful Bread Bakery. From there, I could finish my montage with Top Pot’s giant donut, twin palms and celebratory stickers.

Color notes: Every year on this special occasion, I have the same dilemma: Choose a Bavarian crème, apple fritter, or chocolate raised – my favorites to eat but that are not very pretty? Or a bright pink raspberry, multi-colored sprinkles, or pink feather boa – all of which would be more fun to sketch but not my favorites otherwise? The easy solution is to use a secondary triad so that “real” colors don’t matter. Interestingly, I think my sketch looks more like a bagel than a donut!

Top Pot Queue

 

6/4/21 Top Pot Doughnuts, Wedgwood neighborhood

I try to observe National Doughnut Day annually. Last year, I almost didn’t; the pandemic didn’t keep me away, but shaken and outraged by George Floyd’s murder, I wasn’t feeling festive. Still, there’s nothing like sugary, deep-fried dough to (temporarily) improve one’s mood, so I went ahead with it, and I was happy that I did.

Yesterday I was feeling much more upbeat as I set out for my neighborhood Top Pot. At 8 a.m., a decent line had formed outside the door. In the past, I have enjoyed sketching the Wedgwood store’s giant donut sculpture and twin palm trees from across the street, but this time I wanted to get close enough to sketch the queue. Though the sketch itself isn’t very exciting, it tells a larger story: masked patrons standing in line six feet apart, and my vaccinated self feeling safe enough to sketch them. (A palm tree makes a cameo appearance as a shadow on the building.)

Afterwards, I got into the line myself for a classic chocolate raised ring, which I sketched at home before scarfing it down. I noticed that the store is hiring; the donut biz must be thriving. We have many reasons to feel upbeat.

By the way, like many occasions and holidays, the origin of National Doughnut Day has gotten lost over the years. It was first observed in 1938 to honor Salvation Army volunteers who gave out donuts during World War I.

Krispy Kreme

 

5/11/21 Krispy Kreme, Aurora Ave. N.

If I had to choose a favorite, it would not be Krispy Kreme. I much prefer Top Pot Doughnuts (my top pick for celebrating National Donut Day) and Milkvue Donuts, both of which I’ve sketched and enjoyed multiple times. Still, I don’t recall ever declining a free donut, so I had no complaints about visiting my nearest Krispy Kreme and proudly presenting my Vaccination Record Card to receive one.

The sky was clear, the temperature was in the mid-60s, the top was down on the Miata. Scarfing down my free donut as I sketched, I had no doubt: Life is good.

A Somber Donut Day

6/5/20 Top Pot Doughnuts, Wedgwood neighborhood

A few weeks ago when Mike Daikubara invited sketchers to sketch a celebration as the #USkTalksChallenge, I immediately thought I’d do mine on National Donut Day, which I look forward to observing every year. I even thought it would be fun to honor Mike by emulating his style of sketching both the food and the location on the same page.

By yesterday when the big day rolled around, however, the nation was mourning George Floyd’s death, and I was in no mood to celebrate. It no longer felt right to celebrate anything. But I’ve been feeling so much sadness and anger lately that I knew donuts would make me feel better . . . so I decided to partake anyway. 

Sketching Top Pot Doughnuts from my mobile studio, I noted that the Wedgwood shop (my favorite, with the funky giant donut on the roof and palm trees in front) was somber compared to most years – no banners, no festive balloons, hardly even a promotion. Still, it was busier than the previous day, when I had stopped in to pick up my donuts (I figured the big day would be too crowded for my comfort). Misery loves sugar and deep-fried fat.

Pre-Gab & Grab Doughnut Do

1/31/20 A chocolate-frosted Bavarian cream at Top Pot Doughnuts!

Before heading to Seattle USk’s seventh annual Gab & Grab, a few of us met up at the nearby Top Pot Doughnuts. The last time I sketched at the Wedgwood Top Pot was a couple of summers ago on National Donut Day, when it was warm and sunny. I never got around to sketching my donut that day, so I made up for it this time. Cold, wet and blustery, the morning was just right for sketching indoors with good friends.

A good morning for sketching indoors.

Natalie's sketch of me eating my messy, oozing doughnut!

A Forgettable Donut from Memory

6/8/19

If it hadn’t been for a chance comment made by Michele Cooper, I might have missed National Donut Day last year. I wasn’t going to take a chance this year: I marked it on my calendar immediately, and Michele and I decided to celebrate together. Unfortunately, a scheduling conflict meant that we couldn’t meet up until the afternoon, so the selection at Top Pot was slim. A pink-frosted cake donut would not have been my first choice to eat, but it was the prettiest for sketching priorities.

We had barely gotten started when we were told that Top Pot would be closing in five minutes. What?! Closing at 4 p.m. on National Donut Day? Outrageous! We bagged our donuts and vowed to start earlier in the day next year.

In my haste, I forgot to take a photo of our table, so I had to finish my sketch at home from memory. This is all I remember, and the donut’s flavor (plain vanilla) was completely forgettable. It’s a good thing I began celebrating a few days earlier with a truly memorable donut.

The donut was meh, but the company was fun!

We're starting early in the day next year!

Ninth & Hennepin Donuts

6/4/19 Regrade Farmers Market

The Seattle Sketcher’s recent column about pop-up farmers markets downtown reminded me that I had wanted to check them out last summer but never got around to it. On Tuesday, I hopped on the bus to the Regrade area, where a market had popped up right next to the Amazon Spheres. Before exploring the market, I sketched a few tents in the shadow of the Spheres from across the street.

Yukon Potato Cake Donut with chocolate ganache glaze!

As Amazonites on their lunch break poured out of nearby buildings, I started strolling around the vendors to check out their wares. Suddenly, my nose led me to the tent of 9^th & Hennepin Donuts, where two guys were making donuts to order! On the menu that day were Yukon Potato Cake Donut with chocolate ganache glaze, Applesauce-Hazelnut Cake Donut with cinnamon sugar, Filled Brioche Thumbprint with strawberry custard and vanilla bean glaze, and d’Anjou Pear Fritter with a local honey glaze. It took me a while to decide, but that chocolate ganache called to me. I considered sketching it . . . but the thought was fleeting, and I scarfed it down while it was hot.

After sketching the donut shop with the warm sun at my back (it was 68 degrees with a soft breeze), I brought home the first local strawberries of the season. I wait nine months in the year for a day like that, and it’s worth it.

Incidentally, I asked the owner if Hennepin was the one in Minneapolis (Twin Cities native Greg has taken me there), and indeed, it was. He said the shop is named for the Tom Waits song in which donuts are referenced. (Urban sketching teaches me so many things!)

And not so incidentally: Happy National Donut Day!

6/4/19 9th & Hennepin Donuts 

Couch with Palm

6/26/18 Wedgwood neighborhood

Palm trees in Seattle are uncommon enough that I always try to sketch them when I can. Most recently I sketched the pair of palms growing, strangely enough, in the middle of Top Pot Doughnut’s outdoor dining area when I was there for National Donut Day. You can imagine my glee when I discovered this one just a few blocks from the donut shop – with a couch in front of it, to boot! It’s not every day you can put a palm tree and couch in the same composition.

(As an urban sketcher, I am always “truthful to the scenes we witness,” part 4 of the Manifesto, mainly because I’m not very good at drawing from imagination; I couldn’t make this stuff up even if I wanted to. But who needs to make stuff up when reality is more entertaining?)

Sue’s People From the Outside In

6/2/18 Seattle Center Armory

Sue Heston may have scored the highest weather points of the spring USk 10x10 workshop season yesterday morning at the Seattle Center. Under blue skies and sunshine, her students worked hard practicing Sue’s concepts for “Sketching People From the Outside In.”

I didn't get to see Sue's sketch of me, but here's mine of her.

As Sue began the workshop outside the Armory, I sketched her through the “donut” sculpture. (Incidentally, when I had incorrectly thought yesterday was National Donut Day instead of Friday, the actual day, I had big plans to sketch this sculpture! But just because I had the event wrong on my calendar didn’t mean I couldn’t sketch it anyway.)

I hardly had time for this sketch, though, before she moved her students to different areas of the Seattle Center to demonstrate her techniques. In one demo, she got Jane to model for her. During another, I was in the middle of sketching her when she decided to sketch me. Apparently I was a good example as she showed how to determine which leg a standing model’s weight is on – an important element in drawing a convincing figure.

With another appointment to get to, I could observe and sketch Sue’s workshop only for a short time, but it was fun to eavesdrop on her lessons, especially in that sunshine.

Near Miss

6/1/18 Top Pot Doughnuts, Wedgwood neighborhood

HOLEY cow, I almost missed it! Yesterday was National Donut Day, but I had it marked on my calendar on the wrong day! If it hadn’t been for a chance comment by Michele Cooper, tragedy would have resulted. Fortunately, I had enough time to dash out to the Wedgwood Top Pot Doughnuts to grab a chocolate-frosted raised. By that, I mean I had enough time to sketch Top Pot’s giant doughnut flanked by a pair of palm trees, which I’ve sketched many times from different angles. Who could possibly resist putting a doughnut and palm trees in the same composition?

As for that chocolate-frosted raised? I learned last year that sketching and eating sticky donuts don’t mix, so I didn’t bother to sketch it. After all, National Donut Day comes only once a year.

Top Pot for the Big Day

6/2/17 ink, water-soluble colored pencil, sticker

For the second year, I decided to celebrate National Donut Day yesterday with a sketch at Top Pot Doughnuts. With a huge donut atop its overhang and two palm trees growing in the outdoor dining area, it’s hard to resist (in more ways than one).

Unlike the flagship store downtown, which had a line out the door when I sketched there last year, the Wedgwood neighborhood store was probably only a little more crowded than usual. I saw several customers coming out loaded with boxed donuts, so celebrations were obviously taking place elsewhere. In addition, Top Pot was using the day to collect donations for Northwest Harvest food banks, so neighbors were going in with bags of groceries to drop off.

Of course, I went inside myself to get a donut – a sticky, gooey Bavarian cream. I took one bite before sketching it to give it greater realism, and once I got the basic shape drawn, my plan was to eat and sketch simultaneously. The only problem with that idea is that my hand became a sticky mess each time I took a bite. I had to simply draw quickly so that I could get back to what really matters on National Donut Day.

6/2/17 brush pen, gel pen, colored pencil

Working on My Tan

6/3/16 inks, white gel pen, ballpoint

Friday when I was downtown for National Donut Day, I made a couple of sketches on tan toned paper (a few sheets of which I’ve bound into my regular signatures). I’m still getting used to Strathmore toned paper, which is a lot thinner than my usual 140-pound Canson and isn’t sized in the same way, so I have to be careful when I get out a waterbrush (filled with either water or ink). But otherwise, I’m having fun and learning to appreciate its values (Ha – get it?). I find myself looking for opportunities to take advantage of toned paper with subjects that have high contrast.

My first try of the day was Plymouth Pillars Park on Capitol Hill (below). The four columns used to stand at the entrance of Plymouth Congregational Church, which was demolished in 1966. I was attracted to the speckled shadows that the tall trees were casting on them.

After I enjoyed my donut at Top Pot, I was walking to my bus stop when I discovered a small park I hadn’t noticed before. Workers were enjoying bag lunches in the beautiful noontime sun beneath a statue of John Harte McGraw, the second governor of Washington State. I have to admit I had never heard of him until I just Googled his name. (Urban sketching teaches me something new every day!) However, I did appreciate the shadows I had fun with. 

6/3/16 inks, white gel pen, brush pen