Vintage Rides

 

8/2/24 Maple Leaf neighborhood

Walking in a direction that I hadn’t been in several weeks, I was delighted to spot these two vintage cars parked near each other. With fancy, shiny wheels and lovingly pampered bodywork, these rides had a proud owner.

As I was drawing the Impala, the owner came out of his house and got in. I finished hastily, but he sat in his car a while looking at his phone. Although I stood right across the street, he never seemed to notice (or acknowledge) my presence before driving away.

As I alluded to in my post yesterday, this is what usually happens when I could be caught sketching – but I rarely am. My preference is to keep a low profile, so I’d rather not be caught. Still, I always wonder: Are most people not observant enough to notice someone standing across the street, staring at their car, scribbling in a sketchbook? Or they do observe it, but they don’t care or aren’t curious? Or they do observe and maybe are curious, but like me, prefer to avoid the conversation (further perpetuating the Seattle Freeze)? I guess I’ll never know, because I’m too busy perpetuating the Freeze myself.

Technical notes: Although it’s a simple thing, I’m super pleased with the way the box I drew partway around the Impala ties the two cars together into a story when two separate sketches would not have. I’m also laughing at the wonkiness . . . but still, not too bad for less than 10 minutes each (and I almost lost the Impala before finishing).

Moriyama Sushi

 

8/2/24 Moriyama Sushi, Eastlake neighborhood (Although this is hardly worth mentioning, if I have anything critical to say, it's to question that small compartment in the center of the bento box that was left empty. It seems natural that the ginger and wasabi would go there, but the generous servings came on a separate plate. The sketch kit organizer in me wants to fill that space!)

The Seattle Times recently gave a favorable review to a restaurant that was new to me – Moriyama Sushi. Even though Eastlake is only about four miles away, during rush hour (which is apparently all day except maybe midnight), it can take half an hour or more, so I rarely go that way for a meal. I had another errand in Eastlake, though, so I decided it was my opportunity to give Moriyama a try.

As noted in the Times review, it was pleasantly quiet on a Friday for lunch. After ordering, I used the restroom, then thought I’d still have plenty of time to sketch the sushi chef making my bento. He was so fast, though, that I barely caught him before my food came!

So lovely! A sketcher like Mike Daikubara would do this colorful
bento justice. Me? I was too hungry to do more than scribble hastily.

Though pricier than I would typically spend for lunch, the Deluxe Chirashi Bento Box was a splurge that was absolutely worth it – and beautifully presented, too. I was so eager to dive into it that my sketch is a quick, wonky mess (as all my food sketches tend to be). The server, however, made a bit of a fuss, which is how I came to be photographed with sushi chef Richard (for their Instagram).

I’m happy that they like the sketch, but honestly, I felt a bit like I had blown my cover. Seriously! I have never yet been caught sketching an individual, and I rarely get caught sketching my food, either . . . I must be getting cocky. Still, that fantastic meal was worth it!

Sushi chef Richard and me

If you’re not a sashimi fan, you probably wouldn’t want to go, as I don’t recall seeing anything on the menu that’s cooked. However, considering that, they have an impressive number of vegetarian and vegan sushi options that looked lovely. I might even try one next time (unless they have otoro bluefin on the menu again, in which case, forget it).

Across the street, I added a tiny sketch of some orange public art that looked like Calder having a bad day. Suddenly, the Blue Angels roared overhead, prompting me to stop and hold my hands over my ears. Ahhh, summer in Seattle!

I like a restaurant with a sense of humor.

Wedgewood Rock Tree

7/23/24 Wedgwood neighborhood

One day I was running errands in the Wedgwood neighborhood, when I came across an unexpected sight: An enormous boulder in front of house! That was back in 2016, and a little research informed me that the 19.5-foot-tall rock, known by locals as “The Wedgwood Rock,” is actually a glacial erratic. “Deposited more than 14,000 years ago by the Vashon Glacier, it was a landmark for Native Americans in what was once a dense forest” (Wikipedia).

At the time, I didn’t pay much attention to the trees growing next to the rock, but it turns out that one, an Atlas cedar, is documented in Taha Ebrahimi’s book, Street Trees of Seattle. (The second tree is not looking very well; refer to the linked post to see what it looked like in 2016.) I think it’s notable mainly because it is growing right next to the huge rock, but I still enjoyed sketching it along with the rock again, all these years later. It’s still remarkable to find something like that in a residential neighborhood.

More Ravenna Street Trees

 

7/15/24 Ravenna neighborhood

When I think of the Ravenna neighborhood, I assume it’s the area a bit too far south and east to walk to and back home within 60 minutes (my typical daily walking duration). However, according to the neighborhood boundaries indicated in Taha Ebrahimi’s book, Street Trees of Seattle, many trees technically in Ravenna are in easy walking distance. Last time I drove to the area where several trees were, but I was able to sketch these by walking directly from home.

While sketching the old Yoshino cherry tree (on the blue page), I had a nice chat with a nearby resident who was watering her garden. I had noticed that this Yoshino wasn’t alone; the whole block was filled with old cherry trees. Indeed, she confirmed that they are gorgeous in spring. Duly noted for next year!

The western hemlock below is the second-widest hemlock street tree in Seattle.  

7/25/24 Ravenna neighborhood

7/26/24 Ravenna neighborhood
(My "negative" note on the edge refers to testing negative for COVID that morning.
I had heard that numerous Sketcher Fest participants had tested positive after the event;
I was relieved to have dodged the bullet.)

Leisurely Sketchwaiting

 

7/29/24 Capitol Hill neighborhood

A favor to a friend gave me a leisurely sketchwaiting opportunity in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, where I rarely make time to simply wander. Walking the mile or so between the main business area on 15^th Avenue East and Volunteer Park took me past many classic Seattle Craftsman bungalows and old trees. Eventually I ended up at Caffe Ladro, where I enjoyed a relaxing Cortado and coffee cake.

Capitol Hill Caffe Ladro

The older sketches below were more of the usual sketchwaiting type – just filling moments while waiting for someone or something to happen. With a sketchbook in hand, a minute is as good as two hours.

5/2/24 Meridian Park

7/9/24 Green Lake

5/8/24 Aegis Living, Maple Leaf

Only One Rip

 

7/26/24 Maple Leaf neighborhood

It had been so long since I last sketched an urban couch (nearly a year!) that I thought my mojo was gone. But it’s back! I bagged this lovely specimen during a late-afternoon walk. Other than one large rip, the couch is in better condition than the one in my livingroom right now. Fortunately, I’m downsizing, so I was able to resist.

South Lake Union Saturday Market

 

7/27/24 South Lake Union Saturday Market

In the heart of South Lake Union, the SLU Saturday Market is in the shadow of Seattle’s newest skyscrapers while also enjoying Denny Park’s oasis of trees. USk Seattle had the benefit of both – shiny, glassy architecture (for those who like to sketch that) and plenty of shade.

I sketched a page of the market activity itself (the colorful entrance flags were a popular subject for many sketchers that day) and another page of thumbnails of the new skyline.

Architecture visible from the market

For lunch, I had garlic pancit bihon from 88 Cues, a Filipino food truck. I scarfed it down too fast to sketch, but I slowed down enough to sketch my turon, which is a banana-based dessert lumpia sprinkled with sesame seeds and tiny orange flower petals.

Lunch and dessert from 88 Cues

New to USk Seattle, the SLU Saturday Market offers a fun mix of urban glass and steel, local produce and flea market fashions. We’ll be back!

Denny Park offered comfy shade to sketchers.

SLU Saturday Market in the shadow of Seattle's newest skyline