Every time I visit a city, I feel like there is so much more to see than just the sites that draw in the tourists. I have this desire to find the true heart of a city where few visitors venture unless they’re lost or are intentionally seeking the place out. I have come to realize, through my many adventures getting lost in Venice, that it’s in these sometimes little known corners of the cities where the true heart of the metropolis beats. In Seattle, that place could easily be Fremont. After all, it is “the Center of the Universe”, as the locals proclaim.
Well, on a beautiful, sunny, Sunday afternoon I took this journey to the Center of the Universe and upon arrival, I was greeted by a 53 foot, 1950’s rocket fuselage. Yes, a real rocket. I knew right away that Fremont was unlike any other place I have explored. Clearly, something is a little eccentric about this place, or even quirky, as Fremont’s motto proudly professes: “De Libertas Quirkas” – or, in English, “Freedom to be Peculiar” (yes, this village even has their own motto). It only took walking a few blocks to confirm the wonderfully peculiar personality of Fremont, because we walked straight into a bronze sculpture of Vladimir Lenin standing on the corner of a busy intersection. It was a little shocking to see and seemed ever-so-slightly out of place. But, I was beginning to understand that this is precisely what makes Fremont so unique.
Since my 8-month-old decided all this being pushed around in a stroller was making her hungry, we decided to sit on a bench next to Mr. Lenin and have a snack. This gave me a few moments to take in my surroundings and observe the landscape a little closer. Apparently, this is a choice location for grabbing a bite to eat because there are numerous fast food restaurants in this little corner courtyard. Chow down on a tasty burrito or some gelato, or salivate over a grilled Panini while Lenin nonchalantly guards your table as you go to pay for your food. Or, just rest your feet for a bit on one of the benches situated in Lenin’s shadow. I couldn’t help but notice that attached to the bench was a small message typed out on green embossing tape, which said, “seeing you smile, makes me smile”. How sweet. I felt very welcomed to this neighborhood already. That’s something else I noticed: there’s no “kill the tourists” vibe like in Venice, Italy, and other places, where the locals loathe the visitors who have discovered their enclave. No one rolled their eyes when I asked how to get to the famous landmarks in the area. Instead, the community is proudly flamboyant and gladly welcomes all who journey their way.
Once our little clan was full and content, we were on our merry way again to enjoy more of the unusual sites that lay ahead. Now that we were on foot, I soon realized that what I thought were people (in rather festive clothing) waiting at a bus stop when we first drove across the Fremont Bridge, was actually the famous “Waiting for the Interurban” sculpture, that does regularly undergo decorative transformations by anyone who feels creative or has a good sense of humor. From there, we continued on toward the Aurora Bridge and the Fremont Troll that I was rather excited to see. As a child, I always wondered what lurked underneath the ominous overpasses and I finally found out. Only this troll wasn’t quite as frightening as expected, especially when there were half a dozen kids climbing all over him and taking pictures. While we were standing there gawking at the Troll, we were graced by the presence of the Fremont Tour, which looks like a ton of fun and a great way to learn more about this peculiar neighborhood. How can you go wrong with a guide wearing a sash and tiara, crowning her as the queen of Fremont (at least, I think the sash said something to that effect)?
Once our two-year-old became restless and wanted to throw dirt all over himself, we decided it was time to move on to see some more gems hidden away in this little community. As we walked down the streets, wandering through the fabulous market and in and out of some captivating vintage shops like Deluxe Junk (hard to miss with the huge carton of plastic French fries sitting out front), I began to feel like my trip to the Center of the Universe had transported me back in time about 30 to 40 years. Vinyl records, vintage t-shirts, old-fashioned cameras and typewriters, and toys I haven’t seen since I was about three-years-old, comprised the majority of merchandise on display. I could have spent hours perusing the old photographs and cooking magazines (back when recipes still called for Lard); alas, it was not meant to be with two restless children.
However, we did get to spend a bit of time exploring the market, which upon first glance reminded me a bit of the Eastern Market in Washington, D. C. Yet, the vendors here add their own special Fremont flair, from the booth selling artwork that would definitely appeal to cult followers of The Office, Star Wars, and even Chuck Norris, to the gentleman selling the largest array of toys I have seen since I was a little kid in the early 80’s. There is truly something for everyone, to include foodies out on the prowl for tasty treats. I sampled a Peanut Butter Bacon cupcake (actually pretty tasty), resisted buying a whole table of cookies (just bought the chocolate mint cookie), and succumbed to my greatest weakness, pizza, and ate the most wonderful slice of pizza from Veraci’s. I cannot resist pizza that comes straight out of a wood oven, which they somehow had onsite.
While our time in Fremont was tasty, bizarre, and fascinating, I still only feel like I have just scratched the surface. Whether it’s the numerous yet-to-be-explored vintage shops, the delicious food I still want to taste, one of the many intriguing festivals (think nude, painted cyclists (lots of them), or just a peaceful stroll along the waterfront, I guarantee I will return to this wonderful place. Fremont’s odd gravitational pull has lured me in and made it impossible for this traveler to stay away from the Center of the Universe.
To learn more about Fremont and some of the information provided in this article, go to http://www.fremont.com/index.html