Our waterfront is one of those places it’s easy to think you know. But what if instead of going straight to the ferry, or the aquarium, or that place with the crab bibs, you just … walked around?

We asked the (anonymous!) artist behind the popular Instagram account SeattleWalkReport to find out. She doesn’t usually draw walk reports about the more well-traveled paths in our city. But like us, she’s pretty sure even our touristy spots have their hidden charms.

Here are three easy to miss waterfront gems Seattle Walk Report found on a stroll there last month:

• “Undercurrents” art piece in Myrtle Edwards Park (3130 Alaskan Way): “This art piece, which was designed to cover the vault for the Denny Way/Lake Union Combined Sewer Overflow Regulator Outfall (say that three times fast!) is tucked away in walker-friendly Myrtle Edwards Park. I was mesmerized by the reflective pipes, which mirror back a distorted view of the beautiful environment surrounding you. Bonus: Maybe while you’re there you’ll see a pet Bengal cat hanging out nearby like I did!”
• Bell Street Pier and Observation Deck (2225 Alaskan Way): “I had no idea that this was here, and apparently neither did anyone else — it was totally empty when I found it! A 20-minute walk north of the more bustling waterfront area around the Seattle Aquarium, this quiet rooftop deck is full of benches to sit and enjoy the scenic views of the Sound. If you go on a clear day, Mt. Rainier will be there to greet you.”
• Pier 54 behind the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop (1001 Alaskan Way): “A small viewpoint at the end of the Pier that is home to Ivar’s and the Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. I was struck by how quiet and secluded it felt even in the midst of all the activity on the Waterfront. A great place for ferry-watching and tourist-watching.”

Our waterfront has a big year ahead. A big new waterfront park is coming up after the Alaskan Way Viaduct comes down in early 2019. There are some big plans (check out the virtual tour from Friends of Waterfront Seattle) and some big debates (waterfront property owners are being asked to pay for a big chunk of the work). So stay tuned…

Worth it. If you thought the line was long enough at Junebaby, our uber-celebrated southern-style restaurant in Ravenna, get this. Chef Edouardo Jordan just clinched two big prizes the food world was pretty sure he had coming — the James Beard Awards for Best New Restaurant and Best Chef: Northwest. That means on top of big props from Food & Wine and Curbed and a rave review in The New York Times, Edouardo just took home the Oscars of the food industry. Who’s hungry? (Eater Seattle)

Scared of earthquakes? Don’t forget the volcanoes! We’ve got nine in the Northwest that could erupt within our lifetimes, and five of those are in Washington. No need to panic, of course. Our volcanoes aren’t as active as, say, Kilauea, the Hawaiian volcano that’s swallowed 35 buildings since it started spewing last week. But still. Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Glacier Peak, Mount Baker and Mount Adams — be nice? 🌋 (The Seattle Times)

Lucky dog. Seattle is crazy about canines. We’ve got more dogs than kids here, and if you want to pamper ‘em, you can — with a doggy sundae from Swell Gelato, the heated concrete floors at pup-friendly Optimism Brewing Co. in Capitol Hill, and fancy hotel “Muttmixers.” (Seattle Magazine)

Vote for Corinne! Corinne Manning is nine years old and up for a big prize: She’s Washington state’s finalist in the national Doodle 4 Google competition. You know how Google’s search page sometimes twists the Google logo into some funky art or animation? If Corinne’s super cute entry goes all the way, she’ll get a $30,000 scholarship and her school, McDonald International Elementary School in Green Lake, gets a $50,000 Google grant. Want to help? Go vote! → (Doodle 4 Google)

WANT TO TAKE A WORK BREAK AT CITY HALL? 🏙

Today would be an interesting day for it. Our city council’s Finance and Neighborhoods Committee is having not one but two public meetings about the head tax. That’s the idea for a per-employee tax on large local companies that’s stirring up a lot of debate and a ton of tension.

Got questions about the tax idea or what it could mean for your city? Send ‘em our way by 10 a.m. We’ve gotten some great ones so far (thank you!), and we’ll answer ‘em as best we can tomorrow.

Have a good one. — The Evergrey