<p>JP was so beloved I think because he didn’t talk down to kids . I watched him in the morning everyday before I went to school & even though my parents never put anything behind the dryer or under the sink- I got that JP knew what was really important .</p>
<p>I also used to watch Mr Rogers, but not until I was much older and a nanny of a baby and a preschooler. He was great
The kids would be getting into stuff and I was mesmermized by someone telling me that I am special * hey, I feel like Sally Field!*
When Fred Rogers came to Seattle as part of a promotion for KCTS anniversary- I was there with my not quite two year old- who didn’t even know what was going on- but it was wonderful :)</p>
<p>nonono
LakeW
On another thread- I think someone brought up how they didn’t care for clowns
and I said I agreed- except for JP
then someone else remembered JP
and I saw that just last weekend they had a kick off drive to raise funds to build a statue in honor of JP and Gertrude in my neighborhood
<a href=“http://www.kirotv.com/jppatches/8802673/detail.html[/url]”>http://www.kirotv.com/jppatches/8802673/detail.html</a>
Both Chris Wedes and Bob Newman ( sorry I called him John before-I think he has a son named John) are very much alive and still make appearances in the area.
[J P !](<a href=“http://www.jppatches.com/”>http://www.jppatches.com/</a>)
JP especially has quite the following, even among local hipsters who are really too young to remember him ( plus they are probably from Santa Monica and just don’t want to admit it )</p>
<p>Yes, Woodland Park Zoo is there (last I heard, I live in metro NYC now) but I understand that there is a raging controvery at present over admission fees.</p>
<p>we live by the zoo and my girls both worked there, ( my oldest for 6 years, my youngest from when she was 14 till they closed the pony ring) but they are trying to make it into an “area” destination, like Disneyland- not for the families of the Puget Sound.
Weve never felt the need to go to Disney land and I don’t think the zoo needed a merry go round just because someone wanted to donate it.
I am biased obviously, but I felt that children of Seattle got more out of the opportunity to ride and care for real ponies than they will over riding a carousel or having the opportunity for their parents workplace to host “events” at the zoo.</p>
<p>( they are increasing admission fees May-October from $7.50 for children to $10. and for adults from $10.50 to $15.00- pretty big increase)</p>
<p>There are * some* things that are improving in Seattle.
The Bubbleator isn’t back- but the Vera Project (all ages music support) is relocating to the Seattle Center- which should do a lot to both bring back some spirit to the Center and give Vera a home.
<a href=“http://www.theveraproject.org/[/url]”>http://www.theveraproject.org/</a></p>
<p>I believe Bobo is also still at MOHAI someplace for you real old timers. ;)</p>
<p>* Hey and I hear they want to bring back the tolls for the (new) old- Evergreen point bridge! lol*</p>
)</p>