Post Punk Kitchen Forum

It's cheap if you look- I live in a nice area in a duplex and only pay 1000 a month, plus electric. I can find houses in Ballard for 1900 that are three bedroom, apartments for 1500 and under, etc. the bus is the biggest money waster for me when my uni pass isn't working, but everything is super walkable/bikeable.

I have not once felt unsafe living here, and I'm outside a lot (and frequently at night) in Ballard/phinney/Fremont/u district/upper and lower Queen Anne, and downtown. The most unsafe I've felt was catching the bus at 3rd and union at 11.30 when I used to work down there, but even then I knew nothing would happen to me and, if it did, someone would be around to help.
As a point prover, I am currently sitting outside a 7-11 in lower Queen Anne, its relativrly quiet and 8.30 in the evening and am not at all concerned for my safety. I practice here till nine or later and bike or bus home most nights. Never had an issue. I couldn't imagine anything crazy going down.

And Bellevue is actually a nice place to live and has decent buses too.

1) I think it really depends on where you end up and how much you want to get out and about. If you want to live on the Eastside (of Lake Washington) which is where Bellevue is, you shouldn't have trouble getting to and from work, the local malls and grocery stores, but I am not sure how often/late the buses run to Seattle, if you want to go out downtown, later in the evening. If you live in Seattle, I would imagine it is easier to get around there on the buses, but the trade off will be a longer commute each day to work, especially if you think you might drive sometimes. From anywhere on the Eastside, I wouldn't expect your commute by bus to be any longer than 45 minutes, but I don't know for sure. King Country Metro has a trip planner (http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/cgi-b ... resptype=U) that is pretty helpful. If you decide to move, I would play around with it while considering apartments to make sure you don't have to walk to far to a useful stop. If I were you, I would really consider the Eastside, rather than commuting from Seattle, unless the whole living downtown thing is important to you. I grew up here though, so I might be a little biased.

I wouldn't worry to much about having to drive in snow in Seattle. We usually only get a few snowy days a year and the city basically shuts down when it starts sticking, so I have found most companies to be pretty understanding about not making it into work on those days. Even our buses usually do terrible, since they are the articulated type and tend to jackknife going up hills.

2) I think it is doable. DH and I live in Kirkland, which is just north of Bellevue, our rent for a 1 bedroom is $1201 a month. Most of the apartments Bellevue and north will run you 1200+ a month, but if you head south or east to Renton, you should be able to find something for less. Pretty much any place on the Eastside will be safe, I would just try to stay north of Tukwila.

I get to come spend a couple days in Seattle during November and I am very excited! My sister and I used to spend a lot of nights after work watching Frasier DVDs from Netflix, and then I watched the series again with my boyfriend. I've visited twice before, once during my first trip to Oregon, and we just walked around the marketplace, and then on my second visit it was to go to Vegfest. I loved eating at Wayward Cafe, and getting giant chocolate truffles from Sidecar. I don't know exactly what our plans are for this visit, but I just started liking coffee and I am psyched to have some from Seattle!

TRS and I went to Wayward just today! (Wow?)

Big Wayward News: their water pressure is much improved. It doesn't take 10 minutes to fill your cup at the little sink thing.

This pleases me!

I have no coffee advice for you, but maybe spend some time in Capitol Hill? Teapot, Plum Bistro, Highline...

Warning: the following photos are not foodporn-quality.

Went to VeggieGrill tonight in South Lake Union. If you like (lots and lots of) fake meat, you'd like it. Fancy comfort food. (All vegan.)

Blackened chickn with steamed kale and quinoa pilaf:


The "urban plate"—blackened portobello and tempeh and stuff:


TRS's cheeseburger:


Pudding parfait:

On the other side of I-5 is Mighty O donuts. Sure, you can find them at Sidecar, wholefoods and everywhere else but the actual sit-down donut shop is too much fun, has more variety and most importantly has awesome coffee (I think it is Stumptown. Yum!). Do you like espresso Macciato? That's my favorite.

I have no idea what a macchiato is! I'd give it a try. I had a couple Mighty-O donuts at Vegfest, they were tasty!

That cheeseburger looks insane! I want several.

If you end up at REI downtown, there is also Vivace Coffee right by there (across the street -- ask REI peeps) and they are very super, too. I love their Americanos/espresso the best.

Hey Seattle, we need to have a meet-up soon. My super-cool friend Meg (aka Megameg the Tofu Pup) just moved back here from Winnipeg and wants to meet PPKers for real. Why? I don't know. But we probably can't scare her off like we do most new people. So, yeah. Who's up for a meet-up?

I'm down for a meet-down.

That sounds way cooler.

i'm down for you guys to have a meet-down.

Organize it for us! (I'm only half kidding.)

Ha! I was just typing the same thing.

I am up or down or whatever.

i believe in you guys!! (but i'm half tempted to organize it just to see if it works)
doooooo it!

We told you: We don't know how!

See? It's 6 days later, and look at us!

Nothing!

We shall have a meet-up this weekend? The weather claims it may be sunny but nonetheless, I would like to get pizza or wayward. They just changed their menu. Early-ish dinner at Wayward? Then, we can bring wayward children to the nearby park.

I would like that. At about 4pm. Is that too soon? If so, then it shall be the following weekend.

You're welcome.

I could probably do something this weekend. Or the next.

Sra. Nooch (!!) is making things happen. :)

I may be in town next Saturday. But only maybe so don't plan the date around me!

Okay. Can I change my mind? Do you guys want to meet next Saturday, the 17th, for food at Wayward. Breakfast?

Like, you just get breakfast really quick at the same time as me so we can say hi? Then, if you're not busy, we hang out?