Seattle Twist

Set your Tivo’s to see my interview with Jenny Cunningham, a reporter with KCTS-TV (9) in Seattle tomorrow morning, Sunday 2/10 at 10:30AM on Channel 9. She has been working on a segment called, “Googie versus Goliath,” and it’s a look at the landmarking process in Seattle and the controversy surrounding the Ballard Manning’s/Denny’s battle. She invited me to add my two cents to the proceedings, as I’ve been documenting Googie architecture in the Seattle area for several years on www.SeattleGoogie.com.

Folks have asked me what prompted my interest in Google and I have to think it was looking at the Space Needle most every day outside my window. We’re living here with the largest known monument to Googe Architecture right in our backyard. What’s not to love?

Googie Architecture is most closely associated with the popular architecture and culture of 1950’s and 60’s Southern California, but the Seattle area had it share as well. Though quicky disappearing, there are still some remnants of this modern and space-age look around Seattle, and this Ballard Mannings building is one of them, and that’s why it’s so important to try to preserve this building.

Googie Architecture features bold angles, sweeping cantilevered roofs and pop-culture design. It was a way to grab and hold the attention of a budding car-culture, as we sped by on the freeways. It was a glimpse of the future, Today.

Knute Berger has a great series of articles about the controversy at Crosscut, our local online magazine of news from the Great Nearby.

Denny’s fans hunger for a historic grand slam in Seattle (Los Angeles Times)

Seattle real estate agent Sarina McDonald aka “Ravenna Black” stars in this week’s episode of the ABC reality show “Wife Swap”. The show takes two women — whose families have vastly different values — and asks them to switch places for two weeks. Each episode documents the drama that results when the husband and the kids are forced to adjust to a new matriarch in the family.

For this show, Sarina went to upstate New York to live with the Robarge family. They are involved in lumberjack competitions, and their family’s activities revolve around husband Wally’s professional lumberjack competitions, where the McDonalds’ lives revolve around Sarina’s trips around the country to burlesque events.

Sarina saw this as a great opportunity to highlight some of the charity work she does with The Pin-Up Angels.

Do you love this girl or what?

Wife Swap - Wednesday, January 30th at 8pm PST on ABC.

Agent fired for extra-curricular activities

Ravenna Speaks!

Real Estate and Sexual Politics

Without any ado….so long old friend!  You’ll be missed!

Sweet Capitol Hill restaurant “Coco la ti da” closed its doors on Tuesday. The owner, Sue McCown, the former pastry chef at Earth and Ocean restaurant in the W Hotel said in a statement that she shut down the restaurant to pursue other opportunities.

We’re so sad.