Daily news for Seattle's Ballard neighborhood
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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

  • 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!
  • mom
    personally, i liked the mystic of anonymity. keep up the great work!
  • ivy
    cute cute baby!
  • GB
    I gotta admit, I've become pretty addicted to this website. Keep up the good work!
  • 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!
  • Evan
    You guys are doing a great job bringing folks together. When's the first BBQ?
  • Joel Niemeyer
    You guys are way too good looking to have the term "Geeky" anywhere near associated with you! :-)

    Nice to "meet" you.
  • Great blog - and nice work with the WordPress! ;)
  • 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!
  • 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.
  • eM
    and thanks for the fremont blog too!
  • 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.
  • Realistic Yuppie
    Nice job guys!
  • 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.
  • 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?
  • 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....
  • boardbrown
    Hmmm, somehow I was picturing more geekiness...
    But you get some geeky points for the pose.
  • Thanks, everyone. Good idea, Evan, about a BBQ or some kind of meet-up. Would be fun!
  • 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.
  • Sara
    MyBallard has become one of my favorite blogs - thank you for starting it. You have a gorgeous family.
  • Nice to meet you! I love your blog, and Ballard, too, even if I am a Fremonster :)
  • doodle
    nice to meet you & thanks for creating myballard! - its a wonderful spot to connect & catch up on all the neighborhood happenings...
  • 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.
  • 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!
  • 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.
  • 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...
  • OCC
    Thanks for keeping Ballard up to date! We think your baby is adorable, and we read myballard every day.
  • 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!
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • NAG
    What a beautiful family you are! Thanks for introducing yourselves , and congratulations on the great job you're doing.
  • D
    What a lovely family! Thanks for all of your hard work on this site.
  • Michael
    You've done a great job, really enjoy this blog and it was nice to see the Geeky Swedes emerge from the shadows!
  • 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?
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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'.
  • 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!
  • paul
    Hi Guys
    Great site...really enjoy it...but why no mention of the Balmar bar/restaurant?
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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!
  • 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!)
  • 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

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