We're heading to Tokyo and Kyoto this November. We do Japan every four years (2006, 2010, 2014) and normally go in April, but I'm excited to see the maple leaves instead of Sakura. Taking our daughter with for her first time, too.
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Seattle-ERA!
- Thread starter Trouble
- Start date
Do you have any good tips for someone who's essentially going for the first time (that I'll be able to remember)? Must-sees, must-eats, etc? I want to check out the Ghibli Museum and maybe TGS if I can swing it. I just want to immerse myself in the culture as much as possible.
Like I said, I'm staying around 6-7 days in Tokyo and the rest is kind of up in the air. Even the Tokyo plans are sort of up in the air right now.
At first read, I thought this said you were expecting in 16 days, and I thought "that seems like awful timing for a trip to Japan, but do what you gotta do I guess?"
Thank goodness we aren't expecting...would be a bit of a plan-changer
QFC's problem is they're owned by the same people who own Fred Meyer yet they're really fucking expensive when compared to Fred Meyer.
OP
OP
Funny you say that because I just moved to LA and was getting stuff at Ralph's yesterday and thinking, "this is all QFC brands but Whole Foods prices, wtf?"
I don't get what "The Q" is even supposed to represent. QFC = Quality Food Centers. That makes sense for a grocery store. The fuck is "The Q" supposed to mean to me? "The Quality" doesn't work.
I go there for some side grocery store trips at the Mill Creek location. They are more expensive than Fred Meyer the opposite direction but sometimes I can find some pretty good deals to be had there when there is a markdown or sale.
I go there for some side grocery store trips at the Mill Creek location. They are more expensive than Fred Meyer the opposite direction but sometimes I can find some pretty good deals to be had there when there is a markdown or sale.
Just had my offer accepted on a house in Federal Way. Excited for the house, not looking forward to the commute.
Mellinnials ain't got time for two additional letters.
Posted a few weeks ago in here. Got a question about Mt. Rainer, how do I get the most out of going there for one day? I wanna essentially go from sun up to sun down and I'm unsure of how to approach it. Is there any specific area that is better and easier to attend than others?
Me and my gf are not pro hikers, just looking for a nice slight challenge with gorgeous views. The gondola is closed while we're there :\
Me and my gf are not pro hikers, just looking for a nice slight challenge with gorgeous views. The gondola is closed while we're there :\
Last time I was there for a day I took my kids to Longmire for awhile which was interesting with the historical artifacts and a little trail there. Next we stopped at a waterfall to explore not that far east of Longmire and then went on up to Paradise. Paradise is steep in part but is hardly something you need to be a pro hiker to enjoy. The flowers there peak in July and it was called by John Muir the most gorgeous alpine garden he had ever been to.
Most of my pics have my kids in them which I won't post but here's one from Paradise which wasn't flower season but was still really pretty cool (although it was a rather cloudy day so no good view of Mt. Rainier's peak):
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Go up to Paradise, maybe do a mile or two on the Wonderland trail near Longmire. Mowich Lake is really pretty. I personally think the Sunrise side over by Yakima is highly underrated and stunning. My favorite place in the whole park, Summerland, is over there. Not a bad hike from Sunrise. I stayed there while doing the Wonderland with my grandpa back in 1994 when I was a teenager and try to stay there every few years.
Also, there is no gondola in Mt. Rainier National Park, by the way. That's at Crystal Mountain ski resort.
I have no idea how this double post showed up...
Tolmie Peak is also a great easily doable day hike in the park.
Tolmie Peak is also a great easily doable day hike in the park.
It's true. That having to go all the way around is the worst, especially if you parked right at the library.
Been pretty quiet around lately. How about that crazy community meeting the other night about the homeless encampments in Ballard?
Just like to say that a few years ago we found out that one of the tent cities was going to be setting up about a half mile from our house (underneath I-5 at the 65th Park and Ride). We had a bit of a knee-jerk freakout for a few minutes but then calmed down and figured we'd give the people a chance before losing our shit. They were there for six months and nothing bad happened. No increase in trash. No crime. No harassment. No theft. It was all good. There were also rules to get into tent city and they self-governed, so that's a plus.
We've also got lots of tents popping up around us in public green spaces. I have yet to encounter the issues that people in Ballard are complaining about like random discarded needles, public drunkenness, prostitution, etc. I guess I'd rather not have people forced to live in tents around me and I wish there was a better solution, but I'm glad they have somewhere to go that might be kinda safe for them. On the scale of things to be upset about, tents that I can see from my living room window really doesn't cause me to get angry.
Just like to say that a few years ago we found out that one of the tent cities was going to be setting up about a half mile from our house (underneath I-5 at the 65th Park and Ride). We had a bit of a knee-jerk freakout for a few minutes but then calmed down and figured we'd give the people a chance before losing our shit. They were there for six months and nothing bad happened. No increase in trash. No crime. No harassment. No theft. It was all good. There were also rules to get into tent city and they self-governed, so that's a plus.
We've also got lots of tents popping up around us in public green spaces. I have yet to encounter the issues that people in Ballard are complaining about like random discarded needles, public drunkenness, prostitution, etc. I guess I'd rather not have people forced to live in tents around me and I wish there was a better solution, but I'm glad they have somewhere to go that might be kinda safe for them. On the scale of things to be upset about, tents that I can see from my living room window really doesn't cause me to get angry.
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My recommendation is to not go anywhere near Seattle unless an enjoyable hike for you is hiking 2 miles from your car to the trailhead and then getting in a conga line to get to the view spot. I'd check out some hikes in Snohomish/Skagit/Whatcom.
What are you looking for? Ballard has a high concentration of breweries.
The weather is gorgeous right now, come to my hood and hang out at Green Lake. Go over to West Seattle and have lunch and drinks at Marination Ma Kai.
Even though I was fairly regular on Seattle-Gaf, I never thought to check for a Seattle-Era community. Good to find this thread. What is everyone's favorite sushi spots? My go-to joints are Chiso in Fremont, Shiro's in Belltown, and Kisaku in Greenlake. Any others I should check out? I'm always looking to try new places.
I went to Japonessa in downtown a few weeks back, it was enjoyable if you're into rolls and Japanese appetizers done slightly differently (they call themselves "fusion"). If you're more of a nigiri / sashimi person, this might not be your spot (I would generally define myself as this).
Dessert was killer - some sort of macha tiramisu - one of the best desserts I've had, period. Go during happy hour, prices are much more reasonable - we're talking around 1/2 price. Happy hour runs from open - 6:00, and 6:00 - 9:00. Drinks were good, pretty solid selection there as well. We got out for around $30-35/person with drinks/tip during happy hour and left incredibly stuffed and happy.
I'm a little late for the weekend but one you should check out is Meadowdale Beach Park in Edmonds. It's a mile and a quarter down into a gulch and at the bottom you can go under the railway tracks and there's a beach there with some pretty good views on a nice day. The parking lot is small, though, and fills up pretty early on the weekends. Going back up is pretty steep for like the last 1/3 mile but it's not that difficult.
Edit: Also Lord Hill Regional Park between Snohomish and Monroe is pretty good. It has all sorts of trails so it can be a bit confusing but you can get a map on the county website snohomishcountywa.gov. There's a spot where you can get a great view and if you went everywhere it's about 10 miles total. It, too, has a parking lot that fills up early on the weekends.
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Yes let's hope for rampant death and destruction, cause fuck those NIMBYs.
The block my house is on is mostly apartments, townhouses and condos. Our place and a house on each side of us are the only single family dwellings left. Green Lake Urban Village. No biggie.
I wasn't wishing for it to happen, just couldn't resist making a terrible pun.
There's some pretty strong vitriol toward single family homes in this city, you can never tell.
That article was so depressing. I never want to sell my house, because then I'd have to try and buy another one. Emphasis on try.
In the process now. I'm one month, 20 open houses/viewings and two rejected offers in. I have 6 more picked out to see on Saturday.
If I like any of them, I get to pay for a rushed pre-inspection, and make an offer probably 7% over list, put 5% down in earnest money and hope I don't end up with some shitty surprise because I had to waive contingencies.
First world problems and all, but this shit is fucked.
If I like any of them, I get to pay for a rushed pre-inspection, and make an offer probably 7% over list, put 5% down in earnest money and hope I don't end up with some shitty surprise because I had to waive contingencies.
First world problems and all, but this shit is fucked.
Seriously. We bought in 2007 at the heigh of the market and thought we were crazy, but now I'm realizing we just got lucky.
Good luck. I hope you find something.
I closed in Federal Way on the first at about 12% over list. It was my first and only offer so I was somewhat lucky. Other offer matched mine but my agent was likely better at negotiating. Right now is supposedly the worst time to buy because people tend to start hunting in spring and are now getting desperate.
Yep, things will get even crazier going into the summer. We've got close friends who are realtors and they said it just keeps getting more insane by the day.
Just bought a place as well and was shocked to see the difference from when my wife and I got a condo in Chicago. Shit is so quick and aggressive here. Went just under three weeks from going to the open house to moving in.
Good luck!
Good luck!
The reason for the sudden home buying desperation is the rising mortgage interest rates, on top of a market which was already on fire. Enjoy the free money though if you're selling!
I am incredibly lucky I bought when I did. Got a bargain in Wallingford 15 years ago and moved into an even bigger bargain when the market tanked. Pure coincidence. Now I have something like 90% clear equity and will be mortgage free in a few years. Zero insight or skill involved and I paid it forward by telling my best friend about a ridiculous bargain across the street.
But the housing crisis pales beside the cougar crisis - I've cycled there before. It's tragic and the guy who ran is probably a million times braver than me but if both guys had stayed and yelled and thrown things they probably would have spooked it - cougar advice is different from bear - they tell you to fight back and not play dead.
And never run unless you have an exit like a vehicle.
So awful.
https://m.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/Cougar-kills-1-mountain-biker-injures-2nd-near-12928870.php
Yeah, read about that yesterday. Terrifying and sad event.
Been hiking in that area many times and even though I'm scared of mountain lions, my wife says that I'm way too scared of them, I've always felt safe in that area. That one really surprised me.
Been hiking in that area many times and even though I'm scared of mountain lions, my wife says that I'm way too scared of them, I've always felt safe in that area. That one really surprised me.
The good news is that they got it. It's super rare that it would stalk or attack one adult let alone two.
EDIT.
Turns out they did exactly what they were supposed to do. But the cougar may have had issues.
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/scie...-mountain-biker-injures-2nd-near-12928870.php
EDIT.
Turns out they did exactly what they were supposed to do. But the cougar may have had issues.
https://www.seattlepi.com/news/scie...-mountain-biker-injures-2nd-near-12928870.php
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This is chilling. I mountain bike that area all the time. It is scary that they did the right things and it still attacked. I've seen other riders have a bell on their bike to scare bears. Maybe that will help too?
Hey guys! I'm going to the US to visit my head office and attend E3. Afterwards I'm flying over to Seattle for 4 days to spend some of my holidays. Never been there before so pretty excited! Any must-see/do recommendations are welcome!
Book brunch at the Space Needle - expensive but worth it and you get VIP access to lifts and observation deck and the food and bloody marys are great. Try a seaplane tour of the region, can be pretty bargain priced for what you get. Rent a kayak from Agua Verde and paddle around the houseboats, then have tacos and margaritas at the restaurant when you come back. Go to the Museums (Asian, modern art, pop culture etc). Go check out the Amazon biosphere building thingy. See if you can get a tour of it.
Take a Water Taxi over to Alki and have lunch at Marination Makai.
Ride the Big Wheel on the waterfront. It's actually really cool.
Check out the Ballard Locks and Golden Gardens. Discovery Park and Carkeek Park are great for some super easy urban hiking.
Have drinks on the beach at Westward. Go to dinner at Joule.
Have a beer at Holy Mountain, Urban Family, Fremont, Cloudburst and/or Reubens.
Go to the University Farmer's Market. Walk through the Arboretum.
Walk around Green Lake. Hop on a bike share bike and do part of the Burke Gilman Trail.
Ride the Big Wheel on the waterfront. It's actually really cool.
Check out the Ballard Locks and Golden Gardens. Discovery Park and Carkeek Park are great for some super easy urban hiking.
Have drinks on the beach at Westward. Go to dinner at Joule.
Have a beer at Holy Mountain, Urban Family, Fremont, Cloudburst and/or Reubens.
Go to the University Farmer's Market. Walk through the Arboretum.
Walk around Green Lake. Hop on a bike share bike and do part of the Burke Gilman Trail.