Seattle : Around Town – Fremont (part 1)

by

Fremont declared itself an
“artists’ republic” in the 1960s, when a community of students, artists,
and bohemians moved in, attracted by low rents. The name crystallizes
the unflagging spirit of independence, eccentricity, and most of all,
nonconformity. In retrospect, what may have begun as an idealistic
artists’ enclave was more accurately an early sign of fast advancing
gentrification. The scenic Lake Washington Ship Canal and part of Lake
Union create its southern border, and passing boats of all sizes
continually refresh the view. The drawbridge on busy Fremont Avenue
rises and falls deliriously umpteen times a day, snarling traffic that
backs up the hill for blocks. The quaint neighborhood spawns new
boutiques, clubs, and restaurants that keep changing the face and
identity of this town. As Seattle grows and its population overflows,
more and more professionals seek homes in Fremont, only minutes away
from downtown by car or bus.





Center of the Universe signpost

The hype says Fremont’s “funky”, but renewed, remodeled, and retail is the trend.


Although the professional class has moved in, Fremont’s art community is still vital.


Aimless walking can be an adventure in Fremont. You just never know who or what will turn the next corner.


NOTE



Sights

  1. Fremont Bridge

    The
    lowest of four bridges spanning the Lake Washington Ship Canal, this
    connects Fremont to residential Queen Anne and two main arterials to
    downtown. Because of the bridge’s low clearance, it faces frequent
    openings from sailboat, motor yacht, or industrial vessels. Neon art
    adorns a portion of the span, in the form of a golden-haired Rapunzel
    and her locks cascading down from the bridgeman’s tower.

    • 3020 Westlake Ave N

  2. Waiting for the Interurban

    Frozen
    in time, Richard Beyer’s celebrated 1979 cast aluminum sculpture – five
    human forms and a dog with a human face – preside at Fremont’s busiest
    intersection where a community trolley once stopped. Legend has it that
    the dog’s likeness belongs to Arman Napoleon Stepanian, an activist-hero
    who sparked the recycling movement 30 years ago. The work pokes fun at
    modern humanity’s ennui. It also represents one of Seattle’s earliest
    public art installations.

    • N 34th St, Fremont Ave N




    People Waiting for the Interurban

  3. History House

    Seattle’s
    colorful past is on view at History House where historians interpret
    and preserve the heritage of the city’s distinct neighborhoods. Exhibits
    in the main gallery complement a three-sided, sepiatone wall mural that
    depicts 100 years of Seattle history, encompassing the arts,
    technology, and industry. Peruse rotating displays of various Seattle
    neighborhoods. Other features include a sculpture garden and a gift
    shop.

  4. Fremont Ferry

    A
    boater’s dream, the small passenger-only steamer plies the waters of
    Lake Union from its north shore in Fremont to the grounds along the
    southern shore near downtown during the July Wooden Boat Festival. A
    labor of love for captain, Larry Kezner, the ferry is strictly for
    sightseeing cruises along Seattle’s Ship Canal and adjacent lakes.

  5. Lenin Statue

    Slovakian
    sculptor Emil Venkov found little interest in his 7 ton (6,350-kg),
    25-ft (8-m) likeness of Russian revolutionary V.I. Lenin after the
    collapse of the Soviet Union. A visiting American, Lewis Carpenter, paid
    $13,000 for the work and had it shipped through the Panama Canal to his
    hometown near Seattle. After Carpenter died in 1994, Fremont artist and
    foundry owner Peter Bevis managed to have the bronze Lenin statue
    installed in the neighborhood. The incongruity of a Communist icon
    amidst flourishing shops and capitalist businesses is not lost on
    anyone. The statue remains a striking symbol that strives to put art
    before politics.

    • 3526 Fremont Avenue N

  6. Dinosaur Topiaries

    Two ivy-covered dinosaur topiaries, which had formerly decorated the lawn near the Pacific Science Center
    at Seattle Center, now grace Fremont’s narrow Ship Canal Park. To save
    them from extinction, History House and a group of Fremont artists
    purchased these in 1999 for $1. The mother, 66-ft (20-m) long, and young
    apatosauri are now sanctioned by the city and fully integrated into the
    crazy quilt of what is virtually a neighborhood-wide sculpture garden.

    • Intersection of Phinney Ave & 34th

  7. Fremont Troll

    An
    icon of Fremont’s free spirit is a 15-ft (4.5-m) tall Volkswagen-eating
    troll created by Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross
    Whitehead, after winning a national competition sponsored by the Fremont Arts Council,
    that in 1989 decided that public art was the best use for a dark space
    beneath a highway bridge. Though ugly, the troll’s location under the
    north end of Aurora Bridge means that it remains on the route of almost
    every visitor who walks or takes a tour bus.

    • Intersection of Aurora Ave (Hwy 99) & N 36th St




    Fremont Troll

  8. Ship Canal Park

    A lovely landscaped strip not much wider than a stretch of the Burke-Gilman Trail
    attracts tourists all year round. Today, the park creates viewpoints
    along the Canal and several places to sit, play chess, picnic, and watch
    the world go by. Pedestrians don’t need to dodge speeding bicycles,
    however, since there is a separate gravel path for bi-peds.

    • Phinney Ave & 2nd Ave NW

  9. Sunday Street Market

    Rain
    or shine, the Fremont Sunday Market has withstood the test of time,
    real estate development, and even lawsuits from neighboring businesses.
    Begun in 1990 to foster a pedestrian-friendly community and provide an
    outlet for artists and independent vendors to sell whatever they had to
    offer, the market hosts up to 200 booths of crafts, imported goods,
    furniture, food, and knick-knacks that defy description.

  10. Outdoor Cinema

    The trompe d’oeuil
    screen and curtains on a factory wall attract hundreds of attendees for
    campy feature films. It grew from a sparsely attended free affair to a
    popular summer weekend event that charges admission. Part old-fashioned
    American drive-in, part Fremont irreverence, people bring their own
    chairs or sofas and occasionally compete in film-related games between
    reels. The shows begin after sundown, but audiences begin arriving for
    the best seats by mid-afternoon.

    • Saturday: 

      35th & Phinney Ave

      N 34th & Stoneway

    • 206 781 4230

    • $5 donation