Along the way from here to there, wacky eye catchers and good food

By Marianne Lincoln

An interesting thing about Spanaway is the creativity of its business sector. Since not all Spanaway businesses are on “The Ave,” to get attention, they have learned to turn to other means. Signs are one. Many people despise the great number of little plastic signs all over the roadways. They prompted the county council to get serious about sign law enforcement. There is a dumping location just west of the Central Maintenance Facility in Frederickson where these go went they are forcibly removed. Other businesses are more savvy and network through community groups.

Today, I am recognizing the wacky ones. Those who put up mannequins, dinosaurs, gorillas and other assorted and goofy creatures to draw attention. Parkland has its dancing sheep on 112^th. Spanaway now has a green metallic haired vampire on the Mountain Highway in front of Happy Cuts Styling Studio.

At 208^th on the Mountain Highway, an Afro haired wig on a fence post with a green scarf that says, “I Stay Fly.” This is not actually associated with a business, but it caught my eye in front of The Mountain Plaza under construction.

Then there’s that dinosaur at 148^th and Pacific. He just got a fresh coat of maroon paint, but seems to have caught a purple spotted dinosaur malady. He has been around for as long as most of us can remember and had to be moved when the Ave. was widened several years ago. Every so often a query about him comes up on Facebook from a resident who moved out-of-town years ago.

Little quirky business gimmicks lurk everywhere. What other weird things have caught your eye around the area?

Speaking of wacky, do you get all dressed up and go to the gym to check your email? I couldn’t resist the photo.

And speaking of thing I couldnt resist. If you ever have a chance to go to the Ohop Grange for something that involves food, for heaven’s sake do it! They are all still living the farm life and know how to cook from scratch. Yummy, yummy. Sad to say it was a memorial event for long time grange member (over 70 years) Evelyn Guske. I hope to have more about her history in Eatonville later. For the moment, a tribute to some great down home cooking is in order. As it turns out, several ladies there used to work at Ohop Bob’s. If that’s before your time, it was located at the top of the hill overlooking the Ohop Valley and the mountain view just before you descend into the valley on the Mountain Highway. A swinging place, well known for its great food also. It went away in the 1960’s.