What's in a name? Though the story remains strictly apocryphal, the staff at South Lake Union's Kapow! [0] coffee shop would have you believe that the City of Seattle originally named the neighborhood's shiny new fleet of streetcars something dirty -- something very dirty.
Since the summer, Kapow!'s Don Clifton and Jerry Johnson have been selling T-shirts poking fun at what they claim was (and remains, sort of) the streetcar's true name: the South Lake Union Trolley. "Ride the S.L.U.T. [1]," the shirts proudly proclaim -- and during my recent visit to the shop, Kapow!'s phone was still ringing virtually nonstop, flooded with cheerful T-shirt requests.
As well it should be: In just a few days, half a year of hype will reach its inevitable, um, climax. On Wednesday, Dec. 12, at noon, the S.L.U.T. will serve the public for the first time [1], starting at Westlake Center and moving toward its South Lake Union terminus -- which is located, not coincidentally, mere feet from Kapow!
As anyone who lives or works in the neighborhood knows quite well, the brightly colored trolleys have been making test runs for several weeks now, but the line's grand opening gives Clifton, Johnson and their many acolytes the opportunity they've been waiting for: the chance to board the S.L.U.T. while wearing the notorious T-shirts that bear its name.
How many of the faithful will turn up Wednesday? It's impossible to say, but one hopes that at least a single trolley's worth will ride the S.L.U.T. during its -- ahem -- virgin run.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
