Under the Needle: Seattle's untold stories and unsung heroes

We've turned staff writer Mike Lewis and photographer Dan DeLong loose to offer up their unique slant. Got an idea for future installments? E-mail suggestions to mikelewis@seattlepi.com.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2008
Under the Needle: Deal to save old Fremont house is moving along
Fremont musician Steven Flynn's bid to save a 100-year-old house appeared to be moving ahead late Wednesday.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2008
Under the Needle: Bicyclist's unique balancing act
Jonathan Tollerud, 23, has become an expert in a little-known sport – bicycle trials riding.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2008
Under the Needle: Family business ready for its encore
When the guitar took over, it pushed the accordion to the backbench, but Seattle's only accordion builder stayed alive and is still here now that the accordion is hip again.

MONDAY, JULY 28, 2008
Post-Sonics, the inner Squatch abides
Squatch, who performed in dozens of 90-second bursts at more than 40 home Sonics games annually, no longer technically exists. So what's next for the man inside the furry suit?

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2008
Under The Needle: Those who pulled up stakes rediscover their roots at Danny Woo Community Garden
Over three decades, the Danny Woo Community Garden, a 1.5-acre patchwork of community plots tucked into the International District's northwest corner along Interstate 5, has become a force that binds an overlooked community.

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2008
Under The Needle: Fans pack soccer pubs
The city hasn't seen a soccer boom like this since 1976, when Pele and the New York Cosmos played the Sounders in front of 58,000 people in the Kingdome.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008
Under The Needle: A lot of art students have seen a lot of this guy over the years
Maybe in Robert Treat's nightmares, he finds himself at work fully clothed. Maybe he sees no grotesque, funhouse-mirror images of himself. Maybe roomfuls of people refuse to stare, won't scrutinize every bend and bubble of flesh.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2008
Under The Needle: In anchors, door handles and beakers, he sees art
Walking into Kim Hall's house in Seattle is like submerging in a Swiss watch -- designed by Dr. Seuss.

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2008
Under The Needle: Man's hopes for a better life ride on souvenir baseball
Meet David Nyakas -- owner of Ken Griffey Jr's first Kingdome grand slam baseball. He's hoping the souvenir will help him get his life back on track.

FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2008
Under The Needle: Fuel costs driving truckers into red
For independent truckers, these are trying times. Many are under contracts that force them to absorb soaring fuel costs.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
Under The Needle: Search for golf balls offers solace
Every day, Brad Munsell collects golf balls, risking the punishing thorns of the blackberry bushes lining the Puetz Golf driving range. It's a routine that keeps him from giving in to a condition that erodes the here and now.

MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008
Under The Needle: Nudists fight for rights at city pool
Seattle's nude swimmers see their cause for greater freedoms and access as a civil rights issue, albeit not as draped in history as race and gender struggles. Really, not draped in anything at all.

MONDAY, MAY 5, 2008
Under the Needle: Amphicars make a splash on boating's big day
Amphicar owners revel in being the jesters of the boating world, launching their boat-car (or car-boat) on the opening day of boating season annually for nearly a decade.

THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008
Under the Needle: 'Squirrelman' finds a little slice of paradise to call home
David "Squirrelman" Csaky finally found a piece of land where he can nest for a while.

MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2008
Under the Needle: Jazz teacher Knatt ending career on upbeat
Robert Knatt, one of the Seattle's most acclaimed music educators, is retiring after 36 years teaching jazz at Seattle middle schools.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008
Under The Needle: They get their motors runnin'
Seattle has a growing cadre of cafe racers -- retro motorcycle enthusiasts who embrace the cheap, old and loud, and want their handlebars low and their hands dirty.

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