Self-proclaimed minister Clifford Locklin says, "I left the Cadillacs and fancy homes behind because the Lord called me to the streets."

Students from Odle Middle School in Bellevue check out the Seattle Art Museum before they get off their bus.

Seattle Symphony conductor Gerard Schwarz shows he can't wait to start conducting as he tours the Benaroya Concert Hall construction site.

H.J. Russell plays the drums in his apartment in the Eagles Building on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Union Street.

Emma Freese, 2, drops some money into the basket of street performer Ben David, who comes from Gig Harbor to play the saxophone and other instruments at Westlake Center.

John-Paul Perkins, a field representative for Goodwin Attorney Services, walks his bike across Fifth Avenue at Columbia Street.

The sun sets and the shadows stretch as two men cross James Street along Third Avenue.

Two-year-old Bradley Kirchner waits at the bus stop with his father, Larry, after visiting him at work.

Nordstrom is scheduled to move into the old Frederick & Nelson building in the summer of 1998.

Steve Juetten dines at McCormick's Fish House with some clients as the window reflects passers-by.

Grandson Kyle Ronnie, 9, sweeps up in front of El Carrico, the espresso cart at Fourth and Union that is the livelihood of Pedro and Sue Bera. They've operated the cart for more than nine years.

Tom Goodenow, left, CEO of The Harbor Club, checks out the menu at the posh executives' club on top of the Norton Building.

Jerry Ramseur is one of downtown's homeless population, spending his days shuffling between shelters and the streets. He says he was a banker in Chicago before his life went downhill following a head injury in an automobile accident.

Salesperson Janna Johnson helps Susan Dunn try on a pair of shoes at Nordstrom's downtown store.

Two men sit at the Washington Memorial Plaza as they finish up lunches supplied by Meals-on-Wheels as the seagulls dine on the leftovers.

A shopper steps onto First Avenue at Pike Street in downtown Seattle. Nowadays, the street is humming.

Shakir Kaymaz, owner of Alhambra, sweeps in front of his store at First and Pine every morning.

Nearby businesses praise The Lusty Lady adult entertainment store as a good neighbor that does not detract from the area.

A view looking south down First Avenue from Virginia Street.

Sara Daniels tries on clothes at Baby and Co. with assistance from owner Baby Burstyn, right, and store manager Jill Brandmarker.

Four construction projects surrounding a single intersection at Sixth and Pine force frustrating detours and close encounters for pedestrians, traffic and jackhammers.

Meticulous Phil Stoiber carefully dusts and inspects a huge landscape from American artist Thomas Moran shown at the Seattle Art Museum.

A lunch-time break, a pool of light, a soft seat, a book in hand -- the ingredients for a personal moment in the lobby of Two Union Square. 

A dancer surrenders to a moment of musical ecstacy during an Out-to-Lunch concert at Westlake Park.

A string of motorcycle cops appears far happier than the mood of motorists they will encounter.

Punk rocker Wayne Degeneress and girlfriend Jackie Foster muse over their mission: Promoting his band called Caught in the Act.

The good times are still rolling, even near last call at the Nitelite Restaurant and Bar.

William Longley, night clerk for a hostel, creates an international kiss with visiting German girlfriend Tanja.

At 4:35 a.m., manager Harry Calvo of Pure Food Fish Market helps lay out the first of what will be 2,000 pounds of fish for sale.

Before the Frederick & Nelson building was remodeled, the escalators were off-center, toward the back of the store. Nordstrom's architects moved them to the center of the store for improved traffic flow and customer convenience. Now shoppers will get an overview of the floors as they ride.

The Metro level is devoted to menswear ranging from casual to pinstripes, as well as a shoeshine stand, a grill and "Signature Shop."

Headless body forms are used throughout the store to display merchandise.

Little Marilyn Garberg of Mercer Island is attracted by the marionettes in the window of The Best of All Worlds on Union Street.

A pair of opera glasses by Eschenbach featuring mother-of-pearl inlay can be found at Optical Illusions of Sixth Avenue.

Men looking for top-of-the-line suits in Seattle can find what they need at Mario's on Sixth Avenue. Selection includes these Isaia sartorial suits based on Old World styles.

The Bon is the only true department store in downtown.

The $118 million Benaroya Hall, at Second Avenue and University Street, will open Sept. 12 with a performance by famed soprano Jessye Norman.

Before A Contemporary Theatre moved into its new home, the '20s-era Eagles Auditorium, the building underwent extensive remodeling.