Georgetown

My husband and I got to see another side of Georgetown today as we returned for a 5.3 mile walk.

The area south and west of E Marginal Way S was similar to the heavily industrial area we had walked earlier in the week but the streets surrounding S Michigan Street which were north of Marginal Way were home to the large Pacific Market Center and many other design-related businesses including Northwest Wholesale Florists.

Once again, we passed the Georgetown campus of South Seattle Community College and noted that it appeared to offer very useful trade-related courses.

South River Street does run by the Duwamish Waterway but it was not at all scenic where we passed under the 1st Avenue South Bridge.

Further east, River Street is crowded with trucks parked in front of a variety of warehouses.

The railroad tracks along E Marginal Way run in front of the large Seattle Distribution Center.

Our walk took longer than we had anticipated because we had to cross some very busy streets and spend quite a bit of time searching for pedestrian crosswalks and then waiting for the lights to change. However, this being Seattle, we were rewarded with some healthy flora popping up in the most unexpected places.

We spotted a sign for the Duwamish Trail and did pass a bicyclist

and were surprised by the lovely display in the window of the Packaging Specialties store.

We stopped to inspect the offerings of the Sawdust Supply Company, remembering the days when the floors of butcher shops were covered with sawdust. This company has a lot more to offer today.

We admired the samples outside Equinox and wondered what we might see inside Stacey's Funky Finds (but not enough to cross 4th Avenue S - another busy street).

We spotted a large mural, Tails of the City (a dog and puppy daycare)

and a working telephone booth ($1 for 4 minutes) at the intersection of 4th, River and Marginal Way.

Unless I need some home decorating material or there is an art exhibit at the Pacific Market Center, I doubt I'll be returning to these streets.

Georgetown

My husband and I saw the industrial side of Georgetown today as we took a 5.6 mile walk in the area near the Duwamish Waterway.

The streets south and west of East Marginal Way South house railroad tracks (this is Garden Street), a Cedar Grove Composting facility,

debris processing sites and the Seattle Public Schools Science Materials Center.

There appeared to have been an attempt to create a small green space along the Duwamish but it felt pretty sad on this dreary day.

Of all the things along this stretch of E Marginal Way S, the Georgetown Campus of South Seattle Community College had the most eye appeal.











Boeing Field was on the east end of our walk and quite a few planes landed while we were there. This end is also the home of the Georgetown Steam Plant which I plan to visit someday but it was not open today.

North and east of E Marginal Way, we passed the always amusing Oxbow Park (pictured in a prior post), a US Army installation abutting Boeing Field, an FAA installation, a Washington State Department of Transportation facility which appeared to manufacture road signs. There is some housing in this area and it appears to be a mix of small, older bungalows and newer townhomes.

Along the way, we observed a sidewalk painting,

a pair of tree trunks with just enough branches left to serve as poles for utility wires supporting nearby houses,

Georgetown Community Church,

the Carleton Avenue Grocery,

a decorated traffic revision,

Harbor Freight Tools (whose parking lot was almost full)

and a sign warning us not to dump on Seattle.

It was educational to learn what was there but I doubt that I will return to the streets south of E Marginal Way.

Columbia City

A yearning for the good food at the Columbia City Ale House took my husband and me to Columbia City today for a late afternoon/early evening 5 mile walk. Rainier Avenue S was active in the late afternoon and the light-wrapped tree trunks sparkled at night.

The streets along and just east of Rainier have lots of places to eat, drink, shop and be entertained including the Columbia City Ale House, Tutta Bella, Geraldine's Counter, Kezira Cafe, Lottie's Lounge, the Royal Room, coffee shops, Columbia City Bakery, Paris Bakery and Deli, Columbia City Gallery, Lem's Book Store, banks, Ark Lodge Cinema and the Columbia City Theatre. It's no wonder this area has become so popular. A convenient and inexpensive public parking lot on Ferdinand services this area where it looks as if parking could otherwise be a problem.

Homes range from older traditionals (sometimes in need of love) to modern. Lots are a decent size but sometimes quite sloped. Some have views of Lake Washington and some appear to be down in a gully.

We passed a few staircases and climbed this 80-step one on 46th Avenue S.

This area is home to the Seattle Home Maternity Service, Mission Baptist Church,

Columbia City Church of Hope,

New Freeway Hall, the Columbia City Post Office,

the Rainier Valley Cultural Center,

Consejo Counseling Services,

the Columbia Branch of the Seattle Public Library,

Rainier Playfield (which borders on the Rainier Community Center)


and a house with a big City Fruit sign which looks to be an orchard and fruit farm.




















I will be happy to discover what else this diverse neighborhood offers.









Walking at twilight is a whole new experience - neighborhoods take on a different personality. This walk brought my count to 1,800 miles (at least 60% of the city) so I celebrated with a Blackthorn cider and a tuna melt sandwich at the Columbia Ale House.