We have watched with bated breath as the new Seattle Great Wheel has risen from the pylons at Pier 57 directly in front of our condominium building.

And after months of concrete pouring and support-beam laying, all 21 spokes of the wheel are finally up.

All that remains is placing of the 44 enclosed air-conditoined or heated gondolas (which hold from six to eight people each) until the wheel starts spinning in earnest on June 28, according to reports in The Seattle Times.

Here are some shots I snapped over the Memorial Day weekend both on foot and when some friends of ours visiting from California took us out for a spin in their new boat.

The wheel will be between 175 and 185 feet high. Riders will descend over water at one point during the ride.

Each ride will be 12 to 15 minutes. . .and comprise three revolutions.

Here is a series of Wheel shots taken with my beloved Hipstamatic iPhone4 app.

The wheel will be open year-round. . .from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

To conclude, here’s a cool Hipstamatic double image in black and white. . .