Loving the creative ballpark scene

During a recent grandparenting trip to Seattle, we headed to Safeco Field for a Friday night inter-league match between the Phillies and the Mariners. What a great carnival scene at the ball park.  Kettle Corn and hot dogs of all stripes line the main street heading to the stadium.

Street musicians showing off their prowess in return for a generous tip or two from passersby is not unusual in any city.  In a city like Seattle, where public art is everywhere, hearing a five-gallon bucket drummer outside the stadium was part of the normal back drop. I've included a photo of the drummer here with every intention of passing it on to the good folks at Best Ace Hardware so they can see how musical their buckets can be. I'm also testing out our ability to include video here so readers can get a taste of the caliber of the street music at ballparks.

A block away from the drummer, not 25 yards from where the ticket-takers were greeting people coming to the night's game, a small group waved signs inviting people to sign their petition.  Like much of the west coast, Seattle folks push democracy's opportunities with steady efforts at initiative and referendum. In this case the well-organized crew was inviting people to sign a petition favoring the legalization of marijuana - not just for medicinal purposes. Of course it takes little more than a chronic headache to get a marijuana prescription from sympathetic doctors in Seattle and no doubt that prescription helps relieve some pain. But others enjoy a toke of marijuana now and then and don't want to either break the law or fake a headache to be able to indulge their desire. So, a number of groups are gathering petition signatures.  When they get the required number, the legalization question will go on an election ballot for action by the voters.

Inside Safeco, a big crowd watched with delight as their talented young team took two out of three that weekend from baseball's winningnest team.

When the game ended, the loudspeakers blasted out passages from Seattle native son Jimi Hendrix's "Let Me Stand Next To Your Fire."  It was the evening's celebration song and put more artistic excitement onto an evening already glittering with public art, creativity, citizens in action and the Seattle vibe.