The Odd Fellows Temple by Steve Bowles
If you’ve driven through Capitol Hill in the last hundred or so years, you’ve probably seen it; and if you’re a Seattle local with even the vaguest interest in books, music, or ice cream, you’ve probably been inside it. The Oddfellows building on 10th and Pine has been a Seattle institution for decades, but only since the momentous move-in of Elliott Bay Book Co. and Everyday Music earlier this year has the massive, early 20th century brick structure become the focal point of Capitol Hill shopping. What’s less known about the building is its intriguing, tumultuous, and rather odd history.
The Sounds of the U-district (and how to deal with them)
Noise Meter by AGeekMom
Whenever I am looking for apartments, I frequently ask the landlord questions he or she may not usually receive: “Can you hear the sound of traffic? How thick are the walls? Can you hear people walking above? Are the pipes iron-cased? Can you hear the sound of running water? I don’t want to know if anyone’s going the bathroom. Will I hear peeing?”
The landlord stares at me like I’m an idiot (which is accurate). He immediately rips up the application and tells me the place has just been rented by a ghost. I accept this and go see another one.
The point is that I am very sensitive to sound. I am often told I should go live in the country, but this presumes the country is within a deep silence. What about the crickets and the tractors? How thick are these walls?? If there is anyone out there who suffers this form of sensitivity, I hope to give you a little primer on what you’ll encounter in certain neighborhoods in Seattle, starting today with the U-district. Read More »