Seattle

[GoVegan]

I just got back from Seattle yesterday. Awesome place! They had tobacco and coffee stores everywhere. I bought some General and it seemed a bit cheaper there though not by much. There are women and people playing music everywhere. Public transportation was everywhere and it was also free or very cheap. Gas was less than $4 a gallon if you decide to drive instead. I was told that a downtown studio would cost about $1200-$1500 per month which is way cheaper than San Francisco. I was also told you could get something decent in Everett for about $800-$900 but you will need a car if you live there. The traffic was heavy but I have seen much worse. The place was a freeway compared to a drive through San Francisco during rush hour. Add in a good economy with lots of industry in different sectors and I would say you have picked a winner for a place to live! The other thing I found incredible was the amount of free stuff to do. I went to the folk festival at Seattle Center and didn't pay a dime to get in. Here they would probably charge $20 for something like that just to get through the door.

[Roo]

Nice GV! Glad you paid us a visit. Which tobacco shop did you go to? The one in Pike Place Market or the one in Pioneer Square downtown?

Edit: and where did you stay?

[CoderGuy]

Great GV! We have a great place here!

[GoVegan]

Nice GV! Glad you paid us a visit. Which tobacco shop did you go to? The one in Pike Place Market or the one in Pioneer Square downtown?

Edit: and where did you stay?

I stayed at the Camlin which is about a 10 minute walk to Pike Place. There were 2 tobacco shops on the way there and both of them had the little General fridges. To be honest, I think I liked everything there except for Pike Place Market. The food there is expensive, the shops close very early and add the fact that they "toss" fish there and Pike Place is not a match for me. Also, the original Starbucks somehow seemed like a disappointment. I think I was expecting the original Starbucks to be a coffee mecca filled with special coffee blends I couldn't get anywhere else. The highlights of the trip were a visit to Bruce Lee's grave, a visit to the park nearby with a great conservatory and Seattle Center. The other thing I liked was water everywhere! They had this one waterfall sculpture in the square and you could actually walk through it. I got drenched. They also had this neat water sculpture at the Seattle Center that shot out bursts of water as you are standing near it. They used to have something similar in Santa Rosa but idiots kept hurting themselves while they were playing with the water sculptures and they took them out. They say every city has a smell to it. I would have to say Seattle is fresh and clean. I would not hesitate to move there. The only downside seems to be the weather. I met this marine biologist there that loves to ride his bike to work but can only do it about 30 times a year.

Let me add - this was one long drive but well worth it!

[Roo]

Yeah, screw the original Starbucks. With all of the great locally-roasted coffee served by family-owned shops, I am a huge detractor of Starbucks. Throwing fish and offending vegans... Lol never thought of that. I like the Market for a few of their specialty shops. I stop by after work, but yeah on the weekend it's a total zoo. By the way, the guy who can only ride his bike 30 days of the year? A) he's a pussy, and B) he was vastly understating to make a point. During 4 months from July through October it virtually never rains. Did you make it Pioneer Square, the historic section of downtown? You'll find me there Monday through Friday, 9-530. I'm sick of it.

[GoVegan]

Yeah, screw the original Starbucks. With all of the great locally-roasted coffee served by family-owned shops, I am a huge detractor of Starbucks. Throwing fish and offending vegans... Lol never thought of that. I like the Market for a few of their specialty shops. I stop by after work, but yeah on the weekend it's a total zoo. By the way, the guy who can only ride his bike 30 days of the year? A) he's a pussy, and B) he was vastly understating to make a point. During 4 months from July through October it virtually never rains. Did you make it Pioneer Square, the historic section of downtown? You'll find me there Monday through Friday, 9-530. I'm sick of it.

No I will save the Underground Tour and Pioneer Square for my next trip. Any recommendations for great pizza? I think what I liked the most was the music everywhere. People of all different talents playing all different instruments trying to make a buck. Some sang or played rather poorly and other took your breath away when you walked by. It's kind of like being able to see 100 bands without worrying about a cover charge and just tipping the ones you like.

[Roo]

Pizza. Yes. Via Tribunali is my new favorite. 5 locations in town now. But I have been searching far and wide for authentic Neopolitan pizza, the kind cooked in stone, wood-fired ovens for just a few minutes. For standard pizza, the local bedrock is Pagliacci. On the topic of pizza... Do we need to know something about you GoVegan? I know you like the occasional Cheeto, but should we be calling you GoVegetarian from now on?

[GoVegan]

Pizza. Yes. Via Tribunali is my new favorite. 5 locations in town now. But I have been searching far and wide for authentic Neopolitan pizza, the kind cooked in stone, wood-fired ovens for just a few minutes. For standard pizza, the local bedrock is Pagliacci. On the topic of pizza... Do we need to know something about you GoVegan? I know you like the occasional Cheeto, but should we be calling you GoVegetarian from now on?

Yes, I still eat cheese but I like to think that one day I won't use any dairy at all.

[Roo]

That's OK GV. The cows like it. It's like getting a handjob, but with 6 dicks.

[Darwin]

Re. bike commuting: I doubt that there is any place in this country where one couldn't ride to work far more than thirty days a year if the weather was the only limiting factor, including Alaska. Of course in places like Minneapolis you have to want to ride really bad in the winter months but plenty of folks still manage it. Modern riding gear has made just about any climate rideable if one is really committed to it. I'm sure one might court a bit of hypothermia in Portland in the winter and spring but that's far less of a danger than risking becoming a popsicle in the Twin Cities, a hunk of beef jerky in Phoenix, or a two-wheeled sweat-lodge in Houston.

[Roo]

I don't mean to spin this thread off about the marine biologist whom GoVegan met in Seattle, but for what it's worth, I ride a Honda Ruckus scooter every single day of the year. Granted, I just sit there and move my wrist, so I can wear bulkier rain gear. But peddling keeps you warmer. No excuses, especially not "only 30 days of the year". After reading your comment Darwin, I agree that unconditional of where one lives, his comment is outright absurd. Take May in Seattle as an example. Yes it rains almost every day, but only for an hour or two. Chances are it's not during your commute, and if it is, it's been a long Winter already, deal with it. By the way, I love this thread.

[TommyGunBC]

Love Seattle , go down for concerts every now and then other than being a massive pain in the ass to find green herbal smoke downtown it's the shizz

[Crow]

Hey GV, welcome back!

I'm glad you had fun in Seattle. How did the karate tournament go? What did your kid think of Seattle?

[GoVegan]

Hey GV, welcome back!

I'm glad you had fun in Seattle. How did the karate tournament go? What did your kid think of Seattle?

He got 2 golds and a bronze so he was pretty stoked. He mostly loved the swimming pool at the hotel. The kids would play in the pool for hours and we practically had to drag them out. Seattle itself seemed to be very family friendly. I think there is really something in that city for everyone except for a frequent tanner.

I have to say that I learned a lot myself just by staying with his group. Martial arts seem to be of tremendous value to children both physically and mentally. Yo also have the feeling that the people who practice are all part of one big extended family and they really take care of each other. I really would like to see martial arts taught in the schools, especially a non violent art like Aikido.

[Crow]

Congratulations to your son!

I'm happy to hear you all had a blast in Seattle. Come back soon, you're always welcome!