Godzilla Did Not Sleep Here

First came the empty giant bed. It could be seen on top of a building adjacent to the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Southbound motorists would spot it and puzzle over it. What's an empty bed doing on a rooftop near the Pike Place Market?

That was two weeks ago. Since its introduction, the bed has gradually been outfitted. A giant comforter was added. Then came the big fluffy pillows. Still no word about whose bed it might be. Finally, a small, enigmatic sign appeared: "Chicken & Egg."

Aha, a clue. A call to Chicken & Egg Productions unearthed sales and marketing director Kirk Beardsley, who says yes, the bed belongs to the Chicken & Egg Store, located at the base of the Pike Place Market Hillclimb.

Beardsley explains, "The company was started 10 years ago by real-estate developer Jim Youngren. He wanted to show that a for-profit venture could support nonprofit organizations." Net profits from sales go to three charities that benefit children and the environment. The furniture is built of Douglas fir, using trees that have been thinned and might otherwise be destroyed.

Beardsley says, "We put the bed out there to attract attention. Jim plans to place other pieces of furniture on rooftops along the viaduct." Watch for more strange beds, minus people.

New lineup: Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn has a new district manager. He's Federal Way deputy mayor Phil Watkins, a former state Senate staffer. Watkins takes over from ex-Timesman Dick Larsen, who has been trying to cut down his workload. Watkins says he'll continue on the Federal Way City Council because it's outside Dunn's district.

Dunn, who is home for Easter recess, shakes her head vigorously when asked about rumors she might run for governor in 1996. "No way," she says. "I love what I'm doing. Even though I'm busy all the time."

Dunn's job appears safe. So far the only opponents are Democrat Dick Hill, a newcomer to the district, and Republican Bruce Muckian, a Puyallup resident who has gained notoriety by charging that all officeholders are "hypocrites, liars, tax cheats and power-mad egomaniacs."

Mixed message: Former King County assessor Harley Hoppe, now a property-tax consultant, was amused to receive a letter recently from President Clinton thanking him for his interest in health-care reform.

Hoppe says, "Only I didn't write about health care. I wrote urging the White House to get the Corps of Engineers to accelerate the process on the Auburn racetrack."

Incognito: There's a small mystery about those Seafirst Bank ads, the ones that show the woman who has a photo ID on her bank card.

The ads are all over: on billboards, on bus cards, in print. The face is the same, but the name changes. Sometimes she's Pam Jones. Other times she's Monica Kerns. Maybe there are others. Does she need an alias?

April wowers: I erred last week when reporting the wedding date of Terry Van Loon, Central Area Youth Association development director, and City Council staffer Steve Craig. The couple switched from April 16 to an April 23 wedding for three reasons: On the 16th, the King County Demos are holding their Jefferson/Jackson Day dinner, City Councilwomen Margaret Pageler and Sherry Harris will be traveling in Japan and the ferry Skansonia (a popular spot for weddings) wasn't available.

Jean Godden's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Local News section of The Times. Her phone is 464-8300.