Salty’s Magical March of the Nutcrackers
The new holiday tradition
 Traditions
are what stay with you all your life. Do you remember going downtown and
looking at holiday lights when you were a child? Going to a special
restaurant to celebrate the season? Doing the same for your kids,
nieces/nephews or friends? In 2007, Salty’s Seafood Grills added a
tradition in their usual big way—the Magical March of the Nutcrackers at
their three locations.
Photo: Ballerinas helping with nutcracker installation at Salty's
at Redondo Beach
A bigger-than-life mold was created based on the Pacific Northwest
Ballet’s "The Nutcracker" and giant nutcrackers were individually
created by Northwest artists. They were placed around downtown Seattle
as a public art display (think Rachel the Pig at Christmas) and then
auctioned off to raise money for the Northwest Center. 2007 was the
final year the fundraiser took place.
Salty’s owner Gerry Kingen loves the holiday season. "Places never
look as good as they do during the festive season of Christmas," he
says. About three years ago, he took his daughter to New York for
Thanksgiving. They did the Macy’s parade and went to Tavern on the
Green. "I was shocked," he recalls. "It was a few days before
Thanksgiving and Tavern on the Green was decorated to the tens. I asked
them if it wasn’t a bit early and they said ‘no, we’re booked through
December. People make it a
 point
to come once during the season to see the decorations.’ Then we went to
Rockefeller Center as they were putting up the tree and the toy
soldiers. It got me thinking about how we decorate and I’ve watched
Kemper Freeman creating such a festive environment in Bellevue. Before
we had gone to New York, I was down on Elliott Avenue and found this
thing that looked like a pizza chef and bought it. I didn’t even know
what a nutcracker was. After we returned, I stumbled into another
nutcracker and the sign explained what was going on with Northwest
Center. I called and they told me how they help people with severe
disabilities who want to work. I got wrapped around that idea and bought
the only nutcracker they had left. I found 17 more on eBay and bought 16
of those. The next year was the final year. They staged the nutcrackers
at Northwest Center before moving them to Benaroya Hall. I asked if I
could buy some up front and they said yes. I bought 17. No one bought
any once they were moved to Benaroya, so I picked up the rest. It’s for
such a great cause."
Photo above: Nutcrackers at Salty's on Alki, taken by Ilya
Moshenskiy
After they had all the nutcrackers, they had to decide what to do
with them. Naturally, they spent even more money on additional
decorations and completely decked out all
 three
locations. (There’s no actual statistics, but we believe you can see the
Salty’s locations from space). "We want people to come at least once
during the season because we’re fun and inviting. So many people have
Thanksgiving dinner with us that we decided to decorate right before.
And we do a lot of gift card business for Christmas, so we’ve extended
the time the decorations are up until January 10. That way everyone gets
an opportunity to enjoy them," says Gerry. "It’s a wonderful escape from
the humdrum and doldrums of life. Just walking in puts a smile on your
face and gives you the warm glow the holidays should give you."
Photo above: Outdoor lights at Alki, taken by Ilya
Moshenskiy
Another interesting coincidence in all this is that about a year and
a half ago, the Kingens were in an antique/hobby shop in Cle Elum and
saw a plastic statue of Superman. "The owner explained that his company
makes them. I told him about our nutcrackers and it turns out he’s the
one who made them." Gerry has now purchased the original mold and we may
see more nutcrackers designed by local artists in the future.
The nutcrackers appear at all three Salty’s locations from
Thanksgiving to January 10 and are rotated each year so that everyone
will eventually get a chance to see all the different interpretations.
They’re a good fit for Salty’s—home of the crazy-named drinks and food
like The Only But Never Lonely steak, Crispity Crunchity Calamari and
the Bubbles and Squeek cocktail. Some of the nutcrackers are just as
silly—Prince Marti Party, Maharaja Nut and Gilded Pollock. It’s a case
of two forces of nature coming together perfectly.
Whether you stop by for a cup of chowder, a holiday meal with friends
and family or a company party, you’ll find plenty of nutcrackers to
enjoy. They’re fun in the daytime and even more impressive at night
illuminated by colorful lights. It’s time to add a new tradition to the
season!
Connie Adams/December 2009 |
