Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FREEDOM TO BE PECULIAR
Coined the 'Artistic Republic of Fremont' by irreverent locals who once symbolic-
ally voted to secede from the rest of Seattle, the neighborhood of Fremont has al-
ways marched eccentrically to its own bongo - albeit with its tongue stuck firmly
in its cheek. Where else in the US can you find an un-desecrated statue of Vladi-
mir Lenin, a colorful chunk of the Berlin wall, an annual nude cyclists parade, and
a sculpted troll crushing a Volkswagen Beetle under a bridge? Even Fremont's
vandals are creative. The neighborhood's famous statueWaiting for the Interurb-
an, a study of six commuters waiting for a train that never comes, is regularly
decorated by audacious art guerrillas who dress the figures up in clothes, hats
and ties, or cover them with amusing placards.
Some of Fremont's counter-cultural spirit comes from its history: it was a sep-
arate city until 1891, and still is in the minds of many of its residents. 'Set your
watch back five minutes' reads a sign on Fremont Bridge as you cross over from
the stiffer, less self-deprecating neighborhood of Queen Anne. Fremont's idiosyn-
cratic personality resurfaced in the 1970s, when community activism attempted
to offset years of economic decline. The Fremont Public Association, today the
envy of every neighborhood association in Seattle, was created in 1974 to provide
shelter, food and help to disadvantaged residents. Its formation spawned a num-
ber of other thriving community associations, including the Fremont Arts Coun-
cil, and, in 1994, irked by bureaucratic planning and boundary laws, the neighbor-
hood made its token and somewhat humorous secession.
These days, Fremont is showing signs of creeping gentrification. Various soft-
ware companies including Google have opened offices there since the
mid-2000s, and trendy boutiques are starting to compete with the area's le-
gendary junk shops. But the spirit of ludicrousness still resounds, enshrined in
the neighborhood's libertine motto:De Libertas Quirkas(Freedom to Be Peculi-
ar). Enough said.
Green Lake
GREEN LAKE AQUA THEATER LANDMARK
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