THIS JUST IN
The Committee Hoping for Extra-Terrestrial Encounters to Save the Earth (yep, that spells “CHEESE”) claims they have 1962 World’s Fair plans stating that the Space Needle was built to talk to aliens in other solar systems.
Clearly, it was to talk to aliens in this system as well, because that’s where we went for my dad’s official birthday, the revolving SkyCity rest(a)urant atop the Need(l)e, suspect s(i)st(e)r i(n)cluded.
The folks across from us cleared out soon after we got settled in, momentarily leaving a clean and pristine spot from which to capture the view beyond. I raised the camera, pushed the button and upon review of the shot, found that my dad had im(perfectly) timed a sip. That’s lemons for ya.
“Overpriced and far from good,” to quote a write up of their fare, was spot on. The meal arrived looking like this, but ultimately, tasted like that- a pile of poorly marbled too tough tenderloin with dry and forgettable sides so bad they refused to be pictured a second time.
Turns out the Lunar Orbiter saved the day! Uh, night! The iconic dessert arrived billowing bountiful puffs of smoke, as if floating in on a cloud from just outside the window. An ice cream sundae, it is, an item still featured from the original 1960’s menu. The dessert and bustling atmosphere accompanied by undeniably magnificent visuals makes this one needle not to drop, despite them lacking luster in their main meals.
We stepped outside soon after, as the sun set in the distance. I located the Northwest (it’s the place to be). And then I spotted ginormagantuan daddy long legs atop the Seattle Center far below. See?
Turns out Seattle artist and science illustrator Marlin Peterson was commissioned to paint a mural in the city somewhere. He started searching for a large roof after not finding a large available wall, and tada!- trompe l’oeiled.
Painting by Victor Figol