US: Cool Playgrounds

The 5 Coolest Playgrounds in the U.S.

• Clemyjontri Park, Fairfax County, VA
• The Geometry Playground, Exploratorium’s Traveling Exhibition
• Franklin Square, Philadelphia, PA
• Adventure Playground, Berkeley, CA
• Powell Barnett Park, Seattle, WA

SEATTLE: Gauguin & Polynesia

W H A T :    Gauguin & Polynesia: An Elusive Paradise
W H E N :    February 9 through April 29, 2012
W H E R E : Seattle Art Museum

CULINARY ITINERARIES: Locavore Cities

Summer travel: best U.S. cities for localized food lovers

C I T Y : SEATTLE

36 Hours in Seattle | Slideshow

SAAM: A Painter’s Painter in Contemporary China

W H A T :    Wang Huaiqing: A Painter’s Painter in Contemporary China
W H E N :    through April 10, 2011
W H E R E : Seattle Asian Art Museum

M O R E : The Forgotten Garden: Wang Huaiqing’s Chinese Art In Seattle | Writing About Art: Wang Huaiqing

SEATTLE WALKING TOURS

Seattle Public Art: Walking Tours
+ Downtown Walking Tour: Western Front

+ Seattle Outdoor Art

DWELL SLIDESHOW: Seattle

• Seattle, Part One
• Seattle, Part Two
• Olympic Sculpture Park

SAMkids: PICASSO FAMILY DAY

W H A T : Picasso Family Festival
W H E N : October 16, 2010, 10 am–3 pm
W H E R E : Seattle Art Museum

M O R E : Picasso is Coming to Seattle!
WATCH THE TRAILER

SANTA ITINERARY

NORAD Tracks Santa

SEATTLE: M O D E R N I T I N E R A R I E S

Modernicus: Seattle Modern: Mid-Century Furniture and Accessories Road:
M A P of the most exquisite places where to shop for or just enjoy fine modern or mid-century furniture in the city of Seattle, WA.

Most of these stores carry classics like: Eames, Bertoia, Saarinen, Aalto, Nelson, Noguchi or Florence Knoll and new modern pieces by the likes of Bensen, Didier Gomez or Patricia Urquiola, just to mention a few.

It is a must to visit stores like Egbert’s to enjoy a showroom that combines classic, timeless Mid-Century pieces with more exotic accessories with a tribal flair. It is a very pleasant combination that makes a home feel home.

Other stores to go to are Velocity Art and Design and of course the more established chains like Inform Interiors, Ligne Roset, Current or Diva.

A few more places to shop in Seattle:

Chartreuse International (2609 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121)
A mix of new and used furniture and accessories (Vitra, Alessi, Marimekko). Good place for accessories but for furniture its hit and miss.

Area 51 (401 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122)
New furniture. Reproductions of classics and mid-century modern inspired contemporary pieces. Prices are good but without getting into an authorized versus non-authorized reproduction debate the quality does not compare to what you will find at the stores called out above (Inform, Ligne Roset, Diva etc.) that carry either thier own lines or Herman Miller, Knoll etc.. Dwell bedding.

TUULI of Finland (1407 1st Ave, Seattle WA, 98101)
Products from Finland. Even though the only thing mid-century here are the Marimekko fabrics I really like the store. The owner (I assume) is really great and will not only sell you the fabric but will frame it for you for a reasonable rate if you are intereseted in mid-century fabric wall hangings.

DWR (Seattle and Kirkland)
Shouldn’t need any further description. Anyway unless you are buying one of the small number of pieces exlusive to DWR you are better off shopping online at highbrowfurniture.com (no tax or shipping) or Inform were you will get a lot more color and fabric choices and help sifting through them. Historically DWR has gouged on delivery/shipping charges and thier is no pick up option (shiping prices are getting a little bit better). The Seattle showroom is bigger but I’ve found the Kirkland staff friendlier and more knowledgeable.

Alchemy Collections (2029 Second Ave, Seattle, WA 98121)
Reproductions and furniture ‘inspired by’ modern classics made in China I think as the rest of the store has an Asian modern feel. Mostly reproductions of the classics but also surprisingly some knock offs of contemporary pieces (B&B Italia for example). Quality of reproductions seemed really low to me. The pieces that I didn’t recognized seemed better quality. I think they have opened up another store on Western Ave just down from Inform. I’d recommend Area 51 or Velocity art and Design over Alchemy in terms of quality reproductions.

Urchin (1922 1st Ave, Seattle, WA)
Mostly modern accessories but also a small amount of furniture and clothing. Call it a euro-’boutique’ of modernism. Cute little store but selection is very limited.

Retrofit Home (1419 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122)
Another mostly accessories store although they have some furniture (Blu Dot and the like). Has more of a pop 60s feel. I prefer “Velocity Art and Design” and Chartreuse.

Collective (5323 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107)
Vintage (used) mid century furniture. You generally won’t find the iconic Herman Miller and Knoll pieces here but what you will find is unique, well above average in terms of design quality, and in very good to excellent condition. You will also pay top dollar for it. In their defence if you’ve tried hunting down interesting vintage pieces at garage sales, goodwill, etc. you’ll know how time consuming it can be. If time is money its probably cheaper to have the folks at Collective hunt it down for you. If Collective’s prices make you choke the next easiest alternative is craigslist.

Antika (8421 Greenwood Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98103)
Antique store with a Danish modern room in the back. I’ve been here a couple of times but haven’t been impressed with the stock. Prices and condition are reasonable but none of the pieces stood out as representing exceptional design. It’s Danish modern but you won’t find Wegner, Fritz Hansen, Jacobsen, Ib Kofod Larsen, etc. here.

Crate and Barrel (University District and Bellevue)
Might not come to mind for mid-century or modernism but quality is light light years beyond Ikea (or Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware etc.). Prices are reasonable for the quality. They have a mid-century inspired furniture line, re-issues of Eva Zeisal dinnerware, etc.. I prefer the architetcure at the University district store otherwise they are the same.

Tottini (259 Yale Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109)
Modern furniture, accesories, and toys for kids. Build that inspiring environment for your ‘future architect’. Just down the street from Velocity Art and Design so take one trip and check them both out.

Artemide (310 Occidental Ave S, Seattle, WA)
Full line of Artemide lighting located in the pioneer square area. Love the products but they’re not cheap. There is a another very cool lighting store on Western near Inform which I like to but can’t remember the name of (either Highlights or Lightform).