Introducing the Geeky Swedes

Posted by Geeky Swedes on September 2nd, 2008

Nine months after the launch of MyBallard.com, we’d like to properly introduce ourselves. Our names are Cory and Kate Bergman. And Kai, too.

It was Kate’s idea to start a blog shortly after we moved to Ballard in October of last year. Yes, we’re technically “New Ballard,” although Kate has “Old Ballard” roots: her grandma was born and raised just a stone’s throw from our home. We were so excited to be in the neighborhood, we started to write about it.

We’ve been anonymous because we didn’t want My Ballard to be confused with our “real jobs.” Kate is the morning coordinating producer at KING 5. Cory is the director of business development at msnbc.com (and at the time, the director of digital media for KING 5). We’ve been journalists for our entire careers, and My Ballard became a way for us to explore our new neighborhood while experimenting with community-powered journalism. After all, you power this blog. Not us. We just moderate it.

We thank you for making My Ballard what it is today, and we’re excited what the future may bring. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have to teach Kai how to blog.

(Photo from Inglin Photography)

Tags: Ballard Facebook

Luke42

The Seattle Times is offering pet memorials on its pages. This service strikes me as a revenue opportunity for MB. After all, how many of the Seatimes million readers knew the deceased? It's a neighborhood thing.

liveinballard

Thank you for closing down the trash California site (which evolved to trash anyone else who is not from Ballard. If I recall correctly--but her posts are so very numerous that I can't remember them all--she, I think, is unemployed, apparently from Ballard, and has posted overwhelmingly negative about anyone not from Ballard.

And this thread seems to have been maybe (hopefully not) resurrected with the Howdy post.

Just a comment--MyBallard gets quite a bit of comment on the street and the bus--and it's mostly on the (negative) trashing of posting of comments in the last couple of months. There seems to be about 5 posters who dominate, and it really is mostly negative about anyone else who posts a comment that might offer another opinion.

Again, just my opinion--but I'm sorry to see this MyBallard go down hill so fast.

And since I believe I am posting to the Geeky Swedes (oh yes, I'm the Proud Hawaiian and Proud Middle Easterner--the term "geeky" was not even invented when I was your ages!), I don't expect this post to show up on the forum.

Ann Louise

I'd like to see the option of voting not only approval, but disapproval, of posts. I can do it on the websites of The Seattle Times and the SF Chronicle, but I find I won't even read comments on websites where that's not an option (like the new PI site).

Please, add a thumbs up/thumbs down option. Unfortunately, there has recently been a poster or two that I've been dying to "thumbs-down".

patrickbrennen

Wow, I just found this site, what a great thing. I grew up in Ballard (North Beach), went to St Alphonsus and Ballard High (class og 1963) lived in Bothell, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Eastsound,on Orcas Island and now in Austin, Texas.
Will tune in frequently to see what is going on. Is the Totem House restaurant still around?

Ann Louise

Yes, Patrick, the Totem House is still around.

patrickbrennen

Thats great,?I did not understand why it was not listed under Ballard restaurants. thank you. Patrick.

eric

hello. i have repeatedly tried to sign into the forum and recieve "password incoreect" after entering the password that you r site sends me....

help

Michelle

Thanks so much for creating this site! It's been a great resource for all things Ballard.

One suggestion: I subscribe to the RSS. I've noticed that often times you link to your images with a root URL rather than the full URL. Which means the photos appear on the MyBallard site, but are broken in the feed. Please use the full URL for your images. Thanks!

Michelle
(Not the one who posted above. Though my home state is also PA. Freaky!)

Michelle

I lived in Ballard for 5 years before moving back to my home state of Pennsylvania. I love Ballard and miss it dearly. This is a great website that helps me to stay up to date with what is happening in the place that has my heart!

I have a question. Does anyone remember the name of the Aussie inspired fast food restaurant that used to be on Market? It is My something or other. I would greatly appreciate any assistance!

Please keep up the great work!

bill andersen

Just a note of thanks. Our daughter Kris and her family, Pete, Nate and Zach live across the street from you. My wife and I get to Ballard a lot, but not enough to "keep current". So your blog is greatly appreciated. Thanks for all the hard work that it takes to "make it come together".

And that's a nice "winter" picture of Kris' house with all the snow and lights,

bill and beth andersen

Carlos

Love the site. I came by way of a blog I frequent (http://www.oliverwillis.com/2008/12/12/121208-l...).

It's a shame Google won't liste your site in their news database. It sure seems like news to me. Every community should be so lucky to have a source of truly local news and information.

I've fleetingly thought of doing something like your site in my small town of 2,600+, but I'm not sure I'd be able to devote the time to doing it.

Good luck with Google.

Carlos
Castroville, Texas

paul

Hi Guys
Great site...really enjoy it...but why no mention of the Balmar bar/restaurant?

Mike

I'm glad to find this blog! My wife and I have been here since 1999, yet we rarely read the Ballard News-Tribune. The blog is just what we need: short, informative updates on what's happening. Thank you for your work on the blog!

SleeplessForBallard

Geeky Swedes, Thank you for your work on this site, we LOVE it! This site is how we keep a daily pulse on our favorite neighborhood. We have a place in Ballard but due to our job situation we're living in the Portland area. Myballard keeps us 'virtual Ballardites'.

Mila

Hello from your cat-sitter! How cool to find 1) this blog, and 2) that it's you two. I've added this to my rotation.

Kim

This is too fun. Good to see you all, and Kai is a scene stealer. I realize now that I have captured shots of you several times at community events, your camera or video recorder in hand. And with both your backgrounds, no WONDER the blogs are so fab. Congrats to your whole family on this auspicious year, and thanks for all your hard work. Through your efforts, real community is taking place on a grander scale in these neighborhoods.
Best,
-Kim

milo dakkat

Thanks a million for running the blog. We love it here at my house and refer to it, talk about it, use the information every day. Plus it's a fun place to join in the discourse (or discord) about neighborhood events.

It would be fun to have an impromptu myballard.com event some Saturday afternoon at a local joint, like say, Paseo. Whaddaya think?

Michael

You've done a great job, really enjoy this blog and it was nice to see the Geeky Swedes emerge from the shadows!

D

What a lovely family! Thanks for all of your hard work on this site.

NAG

What a beautiful family you are! Thanks for introducing yourselves , and congratulations on the great job you're doing.

Jessica

I am constantly impressed by both the breadth of information and how well it is presented and written. Thank you so much for your work. I do come here every day and am always telling people about the site.

Ep

I come here every day as well. So, yeah, good job. And if I see you in the hood I'll be sure to say hello.

T-Rex

I'll add my thanks...very good source of info. I really enjoy being able to do more and more in the hood by walkin' and biking and this is a great resource. In keeping with that, just came back from a little bike jaunt over to Taco Tuesday night at the Barkin Dog...mighty tasty. Keep up the good work. Nice looking family ya got there ....ya sure!

OCC

Thanks for keeping Ballard up to date! We think your baby is adorable, and we read myballard every day.

Spaghettio

You guys are some fine lookin Geeks! Thank you for getting this going!
It is too bad you can't block some folks though. They can be pretty mean about the uh "nativists" as one might say...ugh...

Sman

Thanks for sharing - this blog is the best place to find out what is going on. We look forward to see Kai keeping up this blog.

daisymayrobin

Kudos to a great blog! When the fireworks were shot off at Loyal Heights Elementary (my husband and I awoke to them), or when we all had brown water in Ballard, or, or, or.... if it's not covered on the local news, I always know I can find the answers on myballard. You've become my neighborhood news source!

srcsmgrl

So glad to "meet" you! Thank you so much for starting this blog and keeping it so up to date. As you can see, we all appreciate the effort and hope it continues for a long time.

doodle

nice to meet you & thanks for creating myballard! - its a wonderful spot to connect & catch up on all the neighborhood happenings...

Beth

Nice to meet you! I love your blog, and Ballard, too, even if I am a Fremonster :)

Sara

MyBallard has become one of my favorite blogs - thank you for starting it. You have a gorgeous family.

gordy

Yes, definitely not Geeky! The pose reminded me of something out of Pottery Barn MyBallard is a great way to find out what is going on in Ballard and the opinions of others.

Geeky Swedes

Thanks, everyone. Good idea, Evan, about a BBQ or some kind of meet-up. Would be fun!

boardbrown

Hmmm, somehow I was picturing more geekiness...
But you get some geeky points for the pose.

Nina

We might bitch and moan about the homeless but we are probably going to buy a house in Ballard (ok technically one of those ugly townhouses everyone hates). We bring up myballard in conversation at least once every couple days....

AmyJ

Love myballard.com! And had a great time geeking out with other myballardites when we were waiting for Paseo to open! :) My husband and I use it to broaden our date night venues and keep fresh on neighborhood news and happenings. Thanks!

p.s. Anyone else know of good kid & coffee places other than Sip & Ship and Firehouse that are in Ballard or Fremont or Phinney?

m

A pleasure to meet you! I've been in Ballard since '89 (immigrating all the way from Wallingford) and I love love love my neighborhood!

I've authored several blogs in my day, including one that had a national audience and I am impressed with your ability to balance 2 fulltime careers and the baby all the while keeping content fresh on myballard.com.

Thanks for being great neighbors and for creating a space that fosters community.

Realistic Yuppie

Nice job guys!

Arisse

My neighbors have been talking about this site for a while, and I'm glad I was finally able to check it out.

Thanks for all your time and effort. It's greatly appreciated.

eM

and thanks for the fremont blog too!

rowbot

Yes, bravo on the website. I've found out about events here that I normally would not have known of or attended and met new people at them that are now part of my life. Love the restaurant tips and review comments and the old Ballard new business news.

Lisa

Hey, I think you live on my block...I can see your wireless network when I'm on my laptop at home, and I've seen a couple photos of my house/neighbors on the blog.

Feel free to say hi sometime when you're out & about...my husband and I just moved back into the little green house at 6719 (after 3 years living elsewhere). And thanks for all the great blogging!

Sherryness

Great blog - and nice work with the WordPress! ;)

Joel Niemeyer

You guys are way too good looking to have the term "Geeky" anywhere near associated with you! :-)

Nice to "meet" you.

Evan

You guys are doing a great job bringing folks together. When's the first BBQ?

Angela

This blog has been a very positive part of my life. When talking to friends, I feel like I really know this area. When people come into work and ask where to go to eat, I can actually tell them some places to go and not to go. It's all because of this blog. Thank you so much for your time and effort. It really makes Ballard feel like the small town I grew up in. Congrats on your new baby and thank you!

GB

I gotta admit, I've become pretty addicted to this website. Keep up the good work!

ivy

cute cute baby!

mom

personally, i liked the mystic of anonymity. keep up the great work!

Your Robot Master

Thanks for your efforts. This blog has helped us take advantage of new restaurants and events. Making Ballard a better place one post at a time. Cheers!