MAPLE LEAF

 

THIS WEEK THE WHEEL SPUN FOR MAPLE LEAF

THERE ARE SEVERAL THEORIES ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME " MAPLE LEAF". PEOPLE BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER NAMED FOR THE NEARBY MAPLE SAW MILL, OR NAMED AFTER THE ACTUAL MAPLE TREES THAT WERE ONCE IN THE AREA, OR THE FACT THAT IT SEEMED SO FAR FROM DOWNTOWN SEATTLE THAT IT WAS PRACTICALLY IN CANADA-- THE MAPLE LEAF COUNTRY. 

MAPLE LEAF WAS GIVEN THE TITLE "NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE YEAR" IN 1986. 

FOODS

AFTER TRYING OUT OUR OLD STOMPING GROUND AT CLOUD CITY COFFEE, WE WANDERED OVER TO A MUCH MORE QUAINT CAFE CALLED BLUE SAUCER. DAN HAD THEIR HOMEMADE STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE AND I HAD AN AMAZING HAM AND SWISS CROISSANT. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND GOING TO THE BLUE SAUCER FOR COFFEE AND TREATS. 

THE BLUE SAUCER

THINGS TO DO

MAPLE LEAF RESERVOIR PARK

WE WERE SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THE MAPLE LEAF RESERVOIR WAS NOW TURNED INTO A 16 ACRE PARK. IT HAD A FULL WALKING PATH, GREAT VIEWS OF SEATTLE AND MOUNT RAINIER. THIS WAS A PERFECT PLACE TO WALK WITH OUR LATTES. 

BEAD WORLD

AFTER GROWING UP JUST BLOCKS FROM MAPLE LEAF, I WAS THRILLED TO SEE THAT BEAD WORLD WAS STILL IN BUSINESS. BEADS RANGE FROM .06 TO $18 PER BEAD. IT'S A GREAT LOCATION FOR MINDLESS CREATIVITY. 

BEAVER POND NATURAL AREA

WHILE I WAS AMAZED AND IN AWE THAT THERE WAS A NATURAL WETLANDS HIDDEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I HAD LIVED IN FOR NEARLY 18 YEARS, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THIS HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. IN FACT, IF YOU PARK ON THE STREET WHERE THE ENTRANCE TO THE NATURAL RESERVE IS, YOUR LIKELY-HOOD OF GETTING SHOT GOES UP ABOUT 400%! BUT IF YOU EVER NEED TO HIDE OUT, THIS WOULD BE THE SPOT. 

OTHER COOL CURIOSITIES

NORTHWEST PUPPET CENTER 

FOUNDED BY A COUPLE IN THE 80'S THIS MARIONETTE PUPPET THEATER SOUNDED LEGIT. IF ONLY IT WERE OPEN, OUR SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOOD DATE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETE. 

OVER ALL WE GIVE MAPLE LEAF A FOUR LEAF RATING