Vikings Visit Seahawks

 

Go Seahawks!  

Cougs Host The Beavers

 WSU's last chance to be bowl eligible. The Cougs face the Beavs for the second time this season.  Go Cougs!

Happy Black Friday!

 I think this is a first, Barers Of Maple Valley celebrates Black Friday on the blog. The first shopping day of the Christmas/Channukah season. 

The Story of the Whisky a Go Go: The most legendary & infamous Nightclub...

Along with Filmore West in San Francisco, another iconic Rock and Roll place, or palace.  This was on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. 

This one I actually visited several decades ago, if only for a little while.

Thanksgiving 2025

 

The Fillmore West San Francisco’s Psychedelic Rock Sanctuary That Define...

Watching the crazy laser special effects at the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert at Climate Pledge Arena, jogged my memory about reading about Fillmore West.  I never visited, as it closed in 1971, when I was only 14, and it was in San Francisco. 

I'm sure the light shows then would look hokey today, compared to what audiences can now experience, but at that time, it was state of the art. 

John F. Kennedy's Granddaughter, Tatiana Schlossberg, Reveals Terminal Cancer Diagnosis

Since the shooting of President John F. Kennedy, America and the world have become aware of an amazing amount of tragedies inflicting the family.  Now the latest, with word that Tatiana Schlossberg is suffering from terminal cancer.  

I read about this today (Monday, November 24th, 2025) and was hoping that it was just a false tabloid story. 

While Caroline, the only surviving child of Jack and Jackie Kennedy, lost her brother, John F. Kennedy, Jr in a plane crash while he was at the height of fame in 1999, her children have mostly lived without the spotlight, although, appearing occasionally to pay tribute to the family's legacy.   Tatiana's brother, Jack, recently announced a run for congress. 

What has been called the "Kennedy curse", seems to occur in every decade and every generation.  We hope for a miracle. 

Sue Bird Statue

Seattle Storm retired point guard Sue Bird is also honored with a statue at Climate Pledge Arena.  The Storm has won four WNBA championships with her in backcourt. She has also won 5 Olympic Gold Medals with the US Women's Basketball Team, and is a member of the Naismith Hall Of Fame.  

Wilkens Statue

The late Lenny Wilkens is honored at Climate Pledge Arena, where hopefully the Sonics will return as an expansion team in the near future. 

The Tran-Siberian Orchestra, Climate Pledge Arena November 22nd, 2025

We had a great night (Saturday, November 22nd, 2025), watching the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Climate Pledge Arena.  Here is a sample of the performance. 

Cougs Play James Madison

 Go Cougs!

Trump And Zohran Meet

On totally opposite sides of the political spectrum, New York Mayor Zohhan Mamdani and President Donald Trump seemed comfortable with each other, meeting at the White House.

One Year After Bomb Cyclone 2

 Another reminder of last year's storm.  This tree barely missed the house on Issaquah's main street.  

I believe the fallen tree is still laying there intact.  

2024 Bomb Cyclone Maple Valley--One Year Ago.

One year ago, what most people had never heard of, hit the area.  A bomb cyclone tore through the Pacific Northwest downing trees and powerlines.  

Luckly, we escaped with a few fallen branches and a damaged fence.  

Upon driving to work, we found even more damage.

WSU QB Eckhaus Has Unique Observances.

 Unlike University of Washington, here in the Seattle area, WSU does not have a Jewish student body large enough or at least didn't when I attended in the early1980s to have real organized activities.  For example, Jewish clubs, fraternities and sororities have not been apparent on the campus, although, Google indicates there is now an on-campus Hillel. 

We did have informal meetups during the high holidays, usually at houses.  

Therefore it is a pleasant surprise that Cougar starting quarterback Zevi Eckhaus is an observant Orthodox Jew.   There is an article written recently on how he juggles basic challenges (college games are on Saturday's, the Jewish sabbath, often before Sundown), click here. 

Mariners Nail Naylor

 Sources say Josh Naylor is set to sign a five year contract with the Seattle Mariners.  

Naylor, a trade deadline acquisition from the Arizona Diamondbacks, was a spark plug, both during the race to get into the playoffs and also in the playoffs, where the Mariners came close to playing in its first World Series. 

The first baseman has said that he loves hitting in T-Mobile, the Mariners home ballpark, long considered a pitcher's park.

Laughs At Comedy Show In Bellevue

We had a fun night at the Bellevue Club.  A Bill of comedians appeared in what was called Bellevue Night Live.

Wayne Federman was the headliner and is shown above.

Go Seahawks!

 Seahawks vs Rams today (Sunday, November 16th, 2025).

Seahawk Great Kenny Easley Gone

 Kenny Easley, a Pro Hall Of Fame safety for the Seattle Seahawks, has died.   The above picture shows Easley in the middle. 

A fourth overall pick by the Hawks in 1981, from UCLA, Easley was known as "The Enforcer" for his hard hitting style.  Playing in Seattle from 1981 to 1987, Easley was instrumental in Seattle going from pretty good expansion team to a contender. 

Easley was 66. 

Judge Wins AL MVP--Mariner Fans Angry

 The American League MVP for 2025 is Yankee slugger Aaron Judge and most Mariner fans are furious.  While most would agree that Judge is a great player, Cal Raleigh had a season for the ages, not only showing prowess in his position, but breaking hitting 60 homers in the season. 

Raleigh (picture below) broke single season home run records for catchers, switch hitters, and team. 

The fact that Judge (pictured above) was a New York Yankee, added fuel to the fire.  The Yankees, in MLB's largest market, are thought of to most, as a team that buys its way to success. 

Wear Your Blue!

 

Seahawks Play the Rams this Sunday (November 16th, 2025)

Katie Wilson Will Defeat Bruce Harrell In Seattle Mayoral Race

 The Seattle Mayoral race apparently has finally been called as local activist Katie Wilson (above) has defeated the current mayor, Bruce Harrell. 

The position, once thought to be a political steppingstone to hire political office, now doesn't even seem to be a steppingstone to a second term.  Greg Nickels was the last mayor to win a second term in 2005.  Nickles was then defeated in a bid for a third. 

The picture of Wilson was from the Cascadia Advocate. 

036 Blooper Poodle Nightie | Paul Harvey

I remember being in the car (sometime in the 1970s or maybe even the 60s) with my dad when we heard this.  Something you don't forget, you just file it away in a mental attic.  

Was it that funny? Harvey's announcer thought so. However, the inability for him to deliver the public service announcement was funnier. 

Honoring Our Veterans

 Everyday should be Veterans Day!

NBA and Seattle legend Lenny Wilkens dies at 88

I saw three Seattle TV reports on Wilkens passing, I decided this was the one that I would run. 

Good Bye Lenny Wilkens

Lenny Wilkens, the first coach to bring a major world championship to Seattle in modern times, has died. 

He was 88.

Wilkens coached the Seattle Super Sonics on two separate occasions.  The second time, bringing an NBA championship to the city in 1979.

My brother, one year, went to Lenny Wilkens basketball camp, which took place at what was then, the campus of the Lutheran Bible Institute in Issaquah.

Wilkens would take other coaching jobs but remained an area resident.  Even after the sad departure of our NBA franchise, Wilkens remained an important part of the area history and culture. 

I met Wilkens when he stopped by The UPS Store on NE 20th in Bellevue, where I worked at the time.  I believe that he was then coach of Toronto.

Mullet Elected Issaquah Mayor

Veteran community leader and businessman Mark Mullet has been elected Issaquah's new mayor.   Mullet, began his political career as a councilman in that city. Moving on, he broke a string of 20 years of Republican state representation in Washington's  5th Legislative district, when he was elected, as a Democrat, to the state senate. The district has since gone from straight Red to Purple to straight  Blue.  

Mullet has owned franchises of Zeeks Pizza and Ben And Jerry's. 

Issaquah is about 12 miles from Maple Valley and a popular place for area people to shop, dine, and enjoy entertainment.   

Go Seahawks

 

Seattle Seahawks host the Arizona Cardinals today (Sunday, November 9th, 2025)! The game starts at 1pm.  

Raider Busters circa 1984 (Seahawks)

In the 80's the still upstart Seattle Seahawks and the well-established, and Super Bowl talented Raiders, at the time, playing in LA, had a fierce rivalry.  The Seahawks being in the AFC, at the time.  

The Seahawks beat them on many occasions, causing one radio station here in the area, to come up with this song, based on Ray Parker, Jr's Ghostbusters. 

It's Blue Friday

 

Seahawks play Arizona on November 9th, Go Seahawks!

Video shows moment UPS plane crashes, erupts into fireball in Kentucky

Tragedy in Kentucky.  Having worked with UPS in part through our stores, it makes it an even deeper tragedy. 

This is devastating. 

Former Veep Cheney Dies

 Dick Cheney, who served as vice president under George W. Bush, has died.    Cheney who served during the 9/11 attack on the US, was the perhaps the most powerful and influential VP in US history and without a doubt, the most controversial in modern times. Cheney, who had had several heart attacks, was 84

The Big Picture In Issaquah Provides A Great Movie Experience

 Last Saturday (November 1st, 2024), we went out with friends to the Bruce Springsteen biopic.   We watched it at Big Picture, a theater and restaurant in downtown Issaquah.  

Big Picture is located across from the library in the space where the Rogue Issaquah Brewhouse used to sit. 

The building has undergone a thorough renovation, and has a very comfortable lounge area, where food is served.  There are two big screen TVs in case you want to catch a sports event before the flick. 

Food and popcorn along with both hard and soft drinks can be ordered to be served during the movie,  

As the theatre portion seats only 33 people, so reservations are recommended, if not required. 

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere--Reviewed

 Faithful readers of this blog probably know that I love biopics, and I especially love biopics about rock stars.  Late last year, I went to see A Complete Unknown, which was the story of Bob Dylan and really enjoyed it.  I was also a huge fan of Bohemian Rhapsody, the well-done movie depicting the rock group Queen. That was followed by Rocketman, featuring the life of Elton John. I found Rocketman a little less enjoyable. 

So, it was that we joined with friends at the Big Picture, an excellent theatre in Issaquah, which deserves a post in itself, to watch Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere.    

Featuring rock icon Bruce Springsteen, I was expecting a dynamic movie featuring his rise to superstardom.  I was wrong.  It was an introspective movie centered around a mental health crisis that he was facing in the early 80s, based on a rough childhood and the struggle to find himself.  His experiences with his hard drinking father were indeed scary. Perhaps, that was one thing that turned me off to the movie, domestic abuse is not entertaining. 

Jeremy Allen White is a very convincing Bruce.  Unlike A Complete Unknown, which featured many well known characters like Joan Baez, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash, Bruce is the only name most viewer will recognize, except for maybe those familiar with Springsteen manager Jon Landau, who plays a major part in the film. Landau is played Jeremy Strong. 

Perhaps, you will enjoy the Springsteen movie.  But viewers should know what to expect.  

 

Washington State Vs Oregon State

 

Battle of Northwest land-grant universities and the last two members of the original Pac-12. The Washington State Cougars travel to Corvallis to take on the Oregon State Beavers.

Gametime is 4:30 today (Saturday, November 1st, 2025).   Go Cougs!