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While
most of the Festival was the usual array of booths and vendors,
a stage had been set up in Hing Hay Park. The audience area was
jam-packed by the time we arrived. We were lucky enough to be in
the right spot as the next act began to assemble.
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The
colorful and beautiful group of young ladies is the Chinese
Community Girls Drill Team.
Within traditional Chinese families back in the '50s and eary 60s,
girls endured secondary status and opportunity. The Chinese Drill
Team was one of the few activities in which the Chinese girls were
allowed to participate. For scores of 12- to 20-year-old girls it
became a social and cultural outlet for bonding and self-discovery.
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I
thought this headpiece was outstanding.
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We walked
back downhill to take a good look at the renovated Chinatown
Gate.
'The gate
is made of steel and ceramic and is colored bright (and lucky)
red, yellow, gold, and blue. It has upturned eaves because some
Chinese believe that straight lines shoot strong energy, and the
curves soften this effect.
Ornaments on the ceramic roof include animals such as a dragon
and a phoenix, said to keep out bad luck. An orb at the top represents
a fireball from heaven bringing good luck. Most parts of the gate
were made in China, including 8,000 ceramic tiles.'
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By
now we were hot and hungry so we decided to head back and have our
belated Anniversary Lunch. On the way, we watched what appeared
to be a production crew making a film of a fellow pushing a huge
ball up the steps of City Hall..
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City
Hall (on the right) provides a contrasting foreground for the brilliant
spire of the Columbia Center..
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There are
a number of clocks like this in Seattle. This is the Carroll's
clock.
Carroll's
Jewelry was founded in Seattle in 1885. 'In
the year 1913, Thomas J. Carroll commissioned Joseph Mayer and
Sons to create the magnificent clock standing outside the store
and which has become a historical landmark of Seattle's downtown
community.'
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Seattle
has several triangular-shaped buildings. The most famous is the
Triangle
Hotel and Bar. This is not it. So far I am coming
up empty on identifying it. I think it's very cool.
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Our
final treat(?) of the day was a glimpse of the Seattle
Chapter of the World Naked Bike Riders. I love Seattle.
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