by Alicia Cabase[PMS Harlequin]

Thanks to Frag Monger, I have a list of tips and to do’s while attending the Penny Arcade Expo in August. If you missed the article it is in the April issue.

Not only am I a PAX virgin though, I am also a first time visitor to the city of Seattle, Washington. Attending PAX definitely has me excited, but I am equally intrigued about seeing the sites of the city as well. There are some obvious tourist things to do such as visit the Space Needle, see the Aquarium, and have coffee but I’ve been doing my research and tagged the following stops in Seattle as my personal “must try to see that, because I don’t know when I’ll be on that side of the country again”:

Pike Place Market (www.pikeplacemarket.org)
1st Ave at Pike St, Seattle, WA 98101 · 206-682-7453

This is at the top of my list. I am a foodie, as well as a gamer, so the world famous Pike Place Market is a definite. The market is known as “the Soul of Seattle” or “the Market”. It is a farmer’s market covering 9 acres featuring farmer’s produce, restaurants and entertainment…these are a few of my favorite things. They have special events year round, but this year is particularly special because on August 17th the Market is celebrating their 101st birthday! To mark the occasion the market is offering Summer Sunday Chef Demonstrations each Sunday at noon. Another activity in the month of August is the Sunset Supper at the Market, where every Friday of the month over 70 restaurants feature outdoor dining and dancing and an opportunity to win prizes while enjoying a scrumptious buffet. Unfortunately because PAX is the last weekend of August, I will be missing the birthday celebration events on the 17th but am looking forward to experiencing fish being flung, perusing the produce, snapping pictures with and dropping some coins into Rachael the bronze piggy bank and taking in all the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of this historic place.

Republic of Fremont (www.fremontseattle.com)
465 N 36th St, north of Queen Anne and east of Ballard, Seattle, WA 98103 · 206-632-1500

Apparently the Republic of Fremont is known as “the center of the universe” and their official motto is “Delibertus Quirkus”, which according to them means “Freedom to be Peculiar.” How can I not visit?! Known for its bohemian vibe, Fremont is a community that features famous public artwork, eclectic shops and restaurants.
Different pieces of art include a Troll, a Rocket, a one of a kind sculpture of Vladimir Lenin. One thing I absolutely, positively hope to accomplish is to decorate the public piece called “The Interurban Sculpture”. Why? Because I can! According to the official website “the piece depicts five people under a shelter and a curious dog, with a human face” and is continuously costumed or dressed in creative ways by the public for everyone to enjoy. Sounds like an open invitation to me! I plan on placing issues of the Blue Skittle and Xbox controllers in its hands and dressing it in PAX gear and perhaps some headsets, accessories or wigs too. Yes, pictures will be posted. Of course the website does outline the rules for decorating so if you plan on doing this please be respectful and do your homework. We must play nice.
After being artistic I will probably be thirsty so I’ll be heading over to Red Hook Brewery the original micro-brewery in the U.S.A. for a pint or two. Go figure that Gordon Bowker, the founder of Starbucks, also founded this establishment in partnership with Paul Shipman after opening the original Starbucks in the Pike Place Market.

Seattle Underground (www.undergroundtour.com)
In Seattle’s Pioneer Square 608 First Avenue • Seattle, WA 98104 · 206.682.4646

This is not a name of an alternative music scene. Underneath Pioneer Square is the original downtown Seattle. When a fire consumed 33 city blocks the city leaders decided to rebuild two stories higher directly over the damaged area to eliminate a flooding problem leaving abandoned shops and fallen store signs underground. An interesting anecdote: They say the term “skid row” originated in the Pioneer Square district from a time when logs were floated from the foothills and then dragged through a corduroy row of logs, also known as a skid row. That’s a term that’s definitely changed in definition over the years. Amazing the things one learns! I digress, the underground sounds like a cool area to visit.

Experience Music Project (www.empsfm.org)
325 5th Ave N • Seattle, WA 98109 · 206.770.2702

Most gamers I know have an appreciation for music. I absolutely love music. Paul Allen (yes, the co-founder of Microsoft) founded this music museum with the standout architecture. The purpose of the museum is to obviously house artifacts and memorabilia but also to educate visitors through interactive exhibits. I am most looking forward to seeing the history of the guitar exhibit and Sky Church, which was inspired by Jimi Hendrix, which is a gathering hall with a huge video screen and perfect acoustics. There seem to be many interesting hands-on activities to learn about instruments and music history here. The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame is now a part of the EMP as well, featuring a Star Trek exhibit, an armory and a Death Star among many other things.

Old School Pinups (www.oldschoolpinups.com)
3737 NE 135 Street, Room 12 • Seattle, WA 98125 · 206.443.5979

This place was recommended to me from my Gamerchix gals. Photographer Lance Wagner and his wife Trixie Lane, a stylist and cabaret performer, own this unique photo studio where anyone can book a session to receive a makeover and then be professionally photographed as a classic pin up girl. How fun is that! The building originally housed a school and the studio is in what was once the kindergarten but now features six different settings including the Tiki Room, the Oriental Bar, the Pink Room, the Bachelor Pad, Starry Night and the Boudoir. The photos are truly breathtaking. It’s risqué without being raunchy, but don’t expect me to post those pictures. I called Trixie (not to be mistaken with Trixie360) about booking an appointment and she invited me to see her friends perform a burlesque on Aug 27 when she retires her tassels. This trip will be memorable indeed!

Although I only highlight a few stops I will try to make while I’m in Seattle, there are still so many interesting sites I did not mention. The food scene alone would require me to write a book. I will be just as happy to simply look around and take in the view of the natural landscape of this gorgeous region of the country. Realistically, because PAX is such a huge event it will be difficult to do too much sightseeing. The most important thing is to get the most out of each day. I’m certain there will not be much sleeping but who wants to sleep during PAX? I can catch up on my zzz’s in the plane on the way back home.
Keep an eye out for the final part of my 3 part series “A Beginner’s Guide to PAX” in the August issue of the Blue Skittle.