Winter is my favorite season. I spend 9 months of the year dreaming of shorter days and colder nights, of twinkly lights and hot cocoa and the way the air smells before it snows. I get twitchy excited when I see the first orange leaf because I know winter is just a few blinks away.
Our city is so amazing in the wintertime. I took my first winter weekend walk on Sunday, from Capitol Hill through downtown, just to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of Seattle in the winter. Do this, soon. Put on your coziest scarf, grab a toasty warm drink, and just walk. You won’t be disappointed. The twinkle lights are up at Westlake center and they were setting up the carousel on Sunday afternoon. The steel drum busker on the corner of 5th and Pine was playing Winter Wonderland. And, in perhaps the best news of the season, Cal Anderson is getting an ice skating rink.
From December 6th to the 24th, for only $12 an hour for adults ($6 for children under 8), you can ice skate to your heart’s content. Pretend you are Peggy Fleming or Johnny Weir. Go ahead; there’s no judgment here. The price of admission includes your skate rental. All proceeds will support Cal Anderson and the Capitol Hill community. Fun and philanthropy! What better way to spend an hour on a Saturday afternoon? And bonus: the rink will be tented, so you can skate come rain or shine.
Of course, ice skating is going to make you cold, tired, and thirsty. Head across the street to Oddfellows Cafe and perk up with one of their three new fancy hot chocolates. And, because I love y’all so much, I tasted them this weekend. Served warm and delicious, with a homemade marshmallow, there’s definitely something for everyone:
Speaking of winter…Get your stockings stuffed at the Punk Rock Flea Market! The often imitated but never duplicated Punk Rock Flea Market returns to the Underground Events Center just before X-mas to sell you all the white elephants you can fit in your bike basket. And this year we’re giving away FREE SNOWBALLS! On December 10th, from noon to 10pm, the Punk Rock Flea Market magically appears at the Underground Events Center at 2407 1st Ave. in Belltown.
Now in its 5th year, the Punk Rock Flea Market is proud to be Seattle’s least predictable and best-loved flea market. HOW DO WE DO IT?!? By selling just about everything: music, movies, clothing, toys, furniture, jewelry, soap, candles, computers, radios, books, belt buckles, balloon animals, bike parts, vintage porn, ceramics, roller skates, spray paint, incense, cupcakes, pickles, arts, crafts, pretty much anything you want. The name “Punk Rock Flea Market” refers to the DIY spirit of the event, not to any particular life-style or music choice. If you want it, one of our vendors probably sells it. End of story.
Thanks for the tip! We’ll add it to the calendar. I went to last year’s Punkrock Flea Market and got the most amazing slippers ever- they look like sleeping bags for my feet!