In town this weekend? One of my personal signs that summer is right around the corner is the U District Street Fair, running May 19-20. This, to me, marks the beginning of Seattle’s summer festival season and this year is the 43rd annual edition, making it the longest running street festival in the country!
Eats are always good here; hot hogs, pizza and regular street fair food share equal billing with ethnic, vegan and more unique choices. Food vendors and craft booths will number close to 350 for 2012. Expect to see glassworks, jewelry, ceramics, art prints, handmade toys and more as you browse the artisans. Combine food and art with street performers and live music on three different stages spread throughout the venue, and this makes it a great, and FREE, event for the entire family. Always crowded, always fun. There is a reason it has lived on for 43 years.
The fair stretches from 41st to 50th along University Way and runs from 10-7 Saturday and 10-6 on Sunday. Parking is either very expensive or non-existent, so take the bus or park in the neighborhoods surrounding the District, and walk in. From downtown Seattle, buses to the U District run frequently from 3rd and Pine.
When King Tut was last in our area in 1978, it was one of the biggest hits of the art/archeology/history worlds to visit Seattle EVER. In four months, 1.3 million people viewed that exhibit of 55 items from the tomb of the boy king, and it is still one of the most popular exhibits in Pacific Science Center history.
How exciting is it then that we are weeks away from the sequel! The new exhibit, Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs will open May 24, and run through January 6, 2013. Already dates are selling out for this iconic exhibit. It will include more than 100 objects from King Tut's tomb as well as other rulers of ancient Eygpt. With more than twice the number of artifacts than the 1978 exhibit, many of these objects have never toured in the United States. A highlight will be a 10-foot statue of the pharaoh Tut found at the remains a funerary temple of two of his high officials. Items will include jewelry, furniture and ceremonial items, as well as golden sandals King Tut was buried with. It will not include the golden burial mask, nor his mummy, as these items have been deemed too fragile, and are no longer permitted to leave Egypt. However, there will be an exact replica of his mummy on display in the final gallery along with new information authorities in Egypt have found regarding the mysteries about King Tut’s life and suspicious death.
Seattle is the last stop for Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs, before its return to Egypt, so it is the last chance for North America to see this fascinating display. Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals is situated six blocks from the Seattle Center and the Pacific Science Center. Make a weekend of this, and bring the kids down to the city to see a once in a lifetime (outside of Egypt) exhibit of art, science and history.
May is here, and single tickets just went on sale for the Seattle International Film Festival. Yahoo!
The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is one of the TOP film festivals in North America, and as of 2011, the largest, most highly-attended film festival in the United States (over 150,000 patrons in 2011!). Variety has dubbed it one of the 50 unmissable film festivals in the world.
This year expect to see features, short films, animated films, and documentaries from 70 countries. Highlights of this year’s festival are ShortsFest Weekend on Memorial Day Weekend at SIFF Cinema Uptown, a free screening of Coal Miner’s Daughter at the Mural Amphitheatre (I am always a sucker for a movie outdoors), and a Films4Families program that will include seven brand new feature-length films, including the first Seattle screening of Brave, Disney/Pixar’s much anticipated new film. Of course, the real draw is the 450 unique films that, quite often, the only way to see is at a festival such as this one. It is truly a treasure in the Seattle events calendar.
SIFF’s Opening Night Gala is on May 17 (as of this writing tickets are still available). This kick-off event is always a fabulous time, and is complete this year with a screening of Your Sister's Sister, starring Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt and Mark Duplass. The film, which made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, will get a wide release in summer 2012. The movie screening is followed by hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and complimentary cocktails.
Also on deck for this year, 2012 Tribute honorees Oscar-winning actress Sissy Spacek and director William Friedkin (director for The Exorcist, The French Connection) will be recognized for their careers in film.
For a great guide for SIFF, check out this article in the Seattle Times.
Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals still has condos available for the run of SIFF. Ideally located and close to many of the SIFF venues, come to the city and enjoy the best films of 2012.
This year’s edition of the Seattle Rock n Roll Marathon is Saturday June 23, 2012. Part athletic event, part block party, this series is immensely popular, with tens of thousands of runners and fans flocking to the course each year. Local bands such as DJ Wishbone, Stereo Sons, and Johnny Astro will perform along the route, and the headliner concert at the finish line will be Gym Class Heros.
The course is all new this year, starting and finishing at the Seattle Center. Besides rockin’ out every mile to live music, the signature of Rock n Roll events the world 'round, participants will be treated to a running tour of Seattle, seeing the Space Needle, downtown Seattle, Lake Washington and the I-90 floating bridge before returning to finish in the shadow of the Space Needle.
If you are planning to run the Seattle Rock n Roll this year, and haven’t yet made your reservations for accommodations, HURRY! There are more people running than there are hotel rooms in Seattle! Here at Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals, we are perfectly situated within blocks of the Start/Finish line to make your race day stress free and convenient. Walk to and from the race through Belltown, relax in our spacious condos, make the perfect pre-race meal in our fully equipped kitchen. 7 am start? No problem, as you are literally minutes from the event!
As of this writing, we only have three condos left for Rock n Roll race weekend. Enjoy the pool, hot tub, and European courtyard in our 1 Bedroom Belltown Water View Oasis. Take in a sparkling view of Seattle in our 1 Bedroom Sweeping City View Oasis. Enjoy all that Seattle has to offer in our 1 Bedroom Downtown Seattle Oasis. Whatever you do, don't tarry! We sell out for Rock n Roll weekend every year.
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