Ballard in the New York Times

Posted by Geeky Swedes on October 30th, 2008

For the second time in a week, Ballard is in the national spotlight.

On Thursday afternoon a beautiful shot of our farmer’s market splashed the front page of the New York Times website. The picture links to an article on Ballard and Fremont. They write, “Each is undergoing a kind of 21st-century renaissance, with shops and restaurants moving in, and a new, often young crowd arriving to live or just to play. But in either one, you can still lose yourself so thoroughly that you will barely even remember you’re in the same town as the Space Needle.” (Thank you everyone for the tip! We received more than a half-dozen emails in the 30 minutes after it appeared!)

Earlier this week: Ballard shopping highlighted in national magazine

Tags: Ballard Facebook

Ballard Girl

I moved here from Southern California 28 years ago, and love it here! I did birth a child on native soil, so I think I am allowed to stay ;-)
Nice to be in a place where the swedes and danes can co-exist....being a dane and all..

babba

Ballard sucks now. You jerks ruined it.

NAG

Hey Mr. Geeky Swede, did you bring the baby out in a cute little outfit last night?

Swishy Ballard Boy

A So Cali boy geeky? That explains why you are not as uptight as all the locals and probably better tanned too.

lakreitz

I think I am in love with gooner now (but not in an obsessive, creepy "play misty for me" way.
Thank you.

aptgal

HEY! No one is complaining about the condos. Come ON! Condos condos condos. How do you like that New Yorkersssssss. Nyah.

Evan

Cool Article! I think the spotlight helps our area, economically and culturally.

milo dakkat

Californicator! Noooooo! Say it isn't true!

When my California friends come to visit, they can't get over all the rain, traffic and lack of work.

Whatever. I used used to live there too ;-]

Geeky Swedes

Mr. Geeky Swede here. Out of full disclosure, I must reveal I was born in California and moved to Seattle 10 years ago.

Let the California-bashing begin... I can take it...

Swishy Ballard Boy

"Local workers"? What are those Duncan, those nice looking Latin boys I see hanging out front of Home Depot?

milo dakkat

Jeez, relax. I was just trying to be humorous.

I lived on the east coast and didn't dig it. That's why I moved back here. Change is fine with me but rudeness is always a drag, no matter which coast yer on.

Besides, I'd never say anything on this blog that I'd be afraid to say to someone in person.

Now, about those dang texans...

Elske

Some people just don't like change and see it coming more from "new comers". In reality, change comes from as many old timers as it does from new comers.

I do support the idea of a lutefisk eating contest for those who are new to Ballard!

Ballard Woman

Hmmm, I thought the Geeky Swedes lived elswhere and came back? Who knows where I got that from, sorry! Regardless, a sis always knows more...

My Grandmother was born here too! The family scattered and returned. We sport only two generations in Ballard.

Seattle/Ballard is a great place to live. I just get tired of the negativity to what people see as newcomers, like some above posts. I am proud of the NYT article about us and I've forwarded it to a bunch of people.

Elske

The Geeky Swedes ARE true Ballardites. Mrs. Geeky Swede's grandmother was born in Ballard. Five generations of our family currently reside in Seattle (either above or below ground). Oops, did I just reveal that I am Mrs. Geeky Swede's sister??

Duncan

What, there aren't qualified local workers available already, we have to bring them in from out of state? Carpetbaggers.

Grubby Ballard

Can we bring covenants back to Ballard and ban those big city newspapers from visiting? It would be a good way to keep Ballard true to its working class roots, everyone else is unwelcome, especially fancy pants yuppy posers who read the New York Times, drink the Pope's p*ss and eat smalley cheeses.

Cecelia

Love our community, not matter where we all are from

candice.

Oh no Ballard Woman! You mentioned the dreading c-word.

Here we go folks.

Ballard Woman

No Joey, I won't do as you so politely request (you are classy!).

I will just keep bringing people here (and they are breeding too). Did I mention that I am recruiting employees from out of state and they are relocating here, families in tow?

They are contributing to the community and the economy. They are even buying homes and condos and putting people to work.

The more the merrier!

p.s. The folks who started this blog aren't originally from Seattle either. But they are positive members of our ever growing community...

gooner

and then all of a sudden, a soft chorus arose from hills. at first, the song was unrecognizable, but soon enough, as the words got louder, myballard users felt a peace and calm run through them. the desire to gather in a circle and extend a hand to the person on their left, and on their right, was overwhelming. ballard woman holding hands with milo on the left, and joey on the right. joey holding hands with nag. and on and on and on. suthi even made an appearance with a dove on his sholder and a heather spring in his lapel. everyone was now belting from the top of their lungs....

"CANNNNNNN YOU FEEEEEEEEEEEL THE LOVVVVVVVVVVVE TONIGHTTTTTTTTT. "

Joey

Hey Ballard Woman, go back to where you came from and STFU.

NAG

Milo, you funny

Ballard Woman

Hey Milo,

You are so negative. Since moving here myself twenty years ago, I have convinced my siblings, their spouses, my parents and 7 of my college friends to move out here. They all brought more peeps with them. The more the merrier. And for the record, I have lived east (and south) too, and when I go back to visit, they've evolved and changed just as ballard and Seattle has.

Embrace change or be negative, your choice.

Boston moving companies

Very well said ma'am. Relocation may be saddening and difficult, unless you open your mind, not only your eyes and embrace change.

Duncan

The NY Times readership must think we all wear really odd hats like the woman in the picture.

milo dakkat

Well Greenlake has its benefits so East Coast starts on the other side of I-5 as far as I'm concerned.

For the record, I did my time in NYC but I'm a born and raised Westerner.

Grubby Ballard

Milo, true Ballardites don't care what goes on east of Phinney Ridge, never mind the 'east coast'.

gooner

new rule for anyone moving to ballard. they must first partake in the lutefisk eating contest at the ballard seafood festival.

btw: we would all be grandfathered in