2011.2.26.Lime Kiln trail

Lime Kiln trail is a very pleasant walk out of Granite Falls. First past the frozen Swartz Lake, then into a lush (now snowy) canyon carved by the South Fork Stillaguamish River, 2.6 mile later reach an old town site (Robe) and a century-old lime kiln. The powdered lime was transported by the Everett and Monte Cristo Railway to smelters and mills in Everett. Built in 1892 and abandoned in 1934. No trace left of the town, nor railway track or tunnel.
Light snow falls all day. Trail is not too slippery. Good low elevation choice at this time of year. Possible to swim in the river in summer.
Started early, and back early. 12 of us stopped in Granite Falls at a strange Teriyaki Cafe for self serving coffee & tea. Some of us ordered fried dumplings. More photos here.

Practicality: 7 miles RT, 625ft gain. At Granite Falls (on Hwy 92), instead of turning left for Mt Loop Hwy, turn right (south) onto S. Alder Ave. Turn left (east) on E. Pioneer St, follow it to Menzel Lake Rd (~0.9 mile). Turn left on Waite Mill Rd (0.6 miles, just beyond a school bus turnaround sign), bear left at a Y intersection onto a gravel road. The turnoff for Robe Canyon Historical Park in 500 feet on left.

2011.2.24. Next to Normal - a musical

5th Ave Theatre presents Next to Normal, lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. 3 Tony Awards in 2009. A depressive mother, loving husband, neglected daughter. In the end, the mother leaves the supporting family, trying to deal with the illness herself. Not sure what it's trying to preach, other than showing the heavy toll of depression.
Melodic music, good acting, good directing. A bit too loud, as always. Modern 3-level movable stage set. I don't understand how Alice Ripley won Tony. Her voice is not up to it, very coarse. When she talks, it sounds nice. But when she sings, I couldn't make out the words, and my ears hurt. All other singers are fine.

2011.2.16. 3 Penny Opera - a musical

Seattle Shakespeare Company presents Bertolt Brecht's 3 Penny Opera at Intiman theatre. A satire criticizing the society: the police chief in cahoot with the criminal, everyone can be bribed, beggars are actors. Plot: Macky the robber and womanizer is marring Polly, the daughter of the beggars' master. The parents want to get Macky hanged.

Although written in the 1930s, it feels modern: actors sometime talk to the audience, stage set is minimal. Seems to want the audience understand that it's an act. Lots of songs. More like a musical. Very well executed. Some of the actors have great voices. A couple of them sang in German at the beginning, and sounded very authentic. Too bad, that I don't speak German. So cannot really judge.

2011.1.28. St Edward Park at night

A meetup hike at St Edward park. ~4 miles linking different trails. Not flat. Quite muddy at places, made it slippery on an incline. Rain had just stopped, overcast. Too dark to really see anything, except at the lake front. Seems to be a nice place for the local for daily exercise. Right now, must looked rather strange, especially with a long line of people having their headlamps on. ~24 showed up. Ended with baked salmon and various food/drink people brought to the organizer's house in Kenmore. A couple of girls were quite drunk in the end. In order to hitch a ride back to downtown with them, I had to drive.

2011.1.27. Eric Larsen at REI

Larson's recent polar expedition: South Pole (47 days, Nov 2009 - Jan 2010), North Pole (51 days, Mar - Apr 2010), Everest (Sept 2010) in one year. According to him, North Pole is most difficult due to the constant shift of the ice sheet they were walking on. He talks a lot. Certainly does a good job promoting his sponsors and tries to tie in his "climate change" thesis, albeit sometimes the analogy is a bit forced. Pretty good camera work, given that he himself shot most of the footage.