Needled

GOING UP: This afternoon, we headed to Seattle Center to continue our holiday tradition of visiting the greatest Santa in the galaxy, Space Needle Santa!

It was a busy place today, and we had to wait in line for about a half hour before getting on an elevator to ride up to the observation deck.

While waiting, we checked out graphics along the way. I rather liked all of the rocket references in relation to the building of the Space Needle.

Oh, and here's a hot of the outside. The Needle is looking different these days, while undergoing a MAJOR renovation. More on that later. 

Christian beat us to the Needle and headed up before us. He texted us an update that there was no Santa to be found on the Observation Deck. Wait ... what?! No Santa!?

He said he was told Santa was on the lower level. 

Since we were still on the lower level, I asked a customer service rep where we could find Santa. She told me that Santa had some trouble in the workshop today and wasn't on site. 

Hold it ... what?! NO SANTA?! You've got to be kidding.

Sure enough, we spied his empty sleigh just beyond the elevators. 

How sad.

I told her we would not be there today if we knew there was no Santa. She said we could come back tomorrow for Santa photos. Yeah, easier said than done. 

Have I mentioned it's $22 apiece for entrance to the Space Needle? Ouch.

Since the money was already spent and we were steps from the elevator, of course we went up.

It's so different up top right now. Plywood and exposed beams everywhere, multiple sections shut off ... it's clearly a construction zone. 

We got a table on the south side and enjoyed a view of downtown. And a view of a woman who spent 20 minutes taking god knows how many selfies from who knows how many angles. I get catching a shot of yourself with that awesome view behind you but EGAD, she and her selfie stick went on and on and on (blocking traffic all the while, by the way). It was narcissism on parade. How about you turn around and actually look at the view instead of yourself and a tiny version of it on your phone?

 Our visit coincided with sunset (4:20 today, in case you're wondering). Oh, so early!

 Downtown, the stadium district and our mountain were looking lovely.

There are so many new buildings in South Lake Union since our last Space Needle visit, last December.

We couldn't see anything on the north side of the Needle, as it was blocked off by plywood and more.