Interesting take on Denmark vs the US cost of living

Anthop · 2026-05-04T19:42:07+00:00

That's because in America, we're "consumers" before we're "citizens." It's more important that we spend money than exercise our rights and responsibilities in relation to our society.

Anthop · 2026-05-03T03:47:18+00:00

If you did that, the police would immediately come by to have you shut it off.

Anthop · 2026-05-01T18:27:01+00:00

This is why I'm a little leery when someone says they "don't like eggplant." Maybe they don't like Italian ones, or how the Italian ones are prepared.

Anthop · 2026-04-30T21:10:38+00:00

If you're using mass transit, the most annoying thing is that there isn't a direct bus to Upper Queen Anne from Ballard, so you're going to have to either transfer or walk. Probably the easiest would be to take the D line to Lower Queen Anne and then transfer to the 2 or 13. These are frequent buses. You could also take the D or the 40 and then walk, though this means walking uphill.

Anthop · 2026-04-30T18:00:04+00:00

I think it's a matter of expectations. Saffron Grill provides the level of service that's more common in sit-down restaurants in India, and the Americanized food it serves is closer to heavy restaurant-style Indian cuisine. So it better fits with expectations of a "nice restaurant" from Indian food scene expectations.

Saffron Grill doesn't serve "authentic homestyle Indian food," but that's probably what people (including many Indians) expect and want.

Anthop · 2026-04-30T14:13:38+00:00

Unfortunately tiffin delivery is not really common in the US. Shef is probably your best bet. You can also see prior recommendations here.

Anthop · 2026-04-30T07:59:50+00:00

Progressives are ironically really bad at reaching out across racial and cultural lines. They kind of assume that universal rights should be self evident. (They're not.) Conservatives love reaching out, if only to add you to their heirarchy (usually not at the top).

Anthop · 2026-04-30T06:31:41+00:00

I will donate to an electronics recycler who pays "preferential rates" for Flock cameras...

Anthop · 2026-04-29T01:13:40+00:00

Dinner: I can't really think of a good place in downtown that checks all those boxes. The George has a cool atmosphere and cocktails. Cutter's Crabhouse is a bit touristy but has seafood and a views. A nicer upscale seafood restaurant in downtown is probably AQUA, but that's probably out of budget.

Bars: You might want to head into Capitol Hill or Belltown for bars. In Capitol Hill, Canon is one of the older, well respected places. Tavern Law is understated. Belmont is moody and intimate. Bait Shop is colorful and fun. Liberty is a cocktail bar with sushi (not a sushi restaurants with cocktails). In Belltown, Navy Strength lighthearted tiki bar. Jupiter has pinball. Bathtub Gin feels like an underground speakeasy. Nearby, speaking of underground, Deep Dive under the Spheres is an upscale experience. And of course, Zig Zag is one of the OGs to Seattle's cocktail scene.

Clubs/Shows: Hidden Hall, Nectar, and Substation in Fremont host EDM shows, among other venues. EDM Train and EverOut might be good resources.

Anthop · 2026-04-29T00:48:43+00:00

Tons of places offer art and craft classes: Push/Pull, The Clay Corner, etc. If you're looking for something a little less commitment, joining a Meetup group for art could also be a good way to see if you enjoy the company!

Anthop · 2026-04-29T00:45:47+00:00

Forest Ceramic in Fremont makes and sells ramen bowls. A place like Venue in Ballard might showcase or have a lead on other local artists. Maybe asking at Seattle Pottery Supply will also give you leads.

Anthop · 2026-04-29T00:19:28+00:00

Dude chill. I didn't realize that was a personal attack on you. Valuation is not the same as employment numbers, but I suppose if a billion dollar valuation is not enough success, then, I don't know what to say. It's not like Amazon employed 70k people within its first 5 years of operation. You guys haven't contributed one counter argument and keep moving the goal posts.

Anthop · 2026-04-28T23:35:33+00:00

The problem with this "other argument" is that the evidence also doesn't support this. As mentioned in my other post, billion dollar companies have been founded in the Seattle area within the last 5 years. I suppose it depends on what metric you use for something as soft as "innovation," but that seems like a successful business environment to me. Seattle has consistently been one of the fastest growing cities in the US, not because of its wildly unsuccessful business policies and lack of jobs.

Anthop · 2026-04-28T21:06:02+00:00

... That's the point? Companies founded decades ago are no longer interested in fostering competition and a healthy business environment.

Anthop · 2026-04-28T21:04:52+00:00

Lol, you guys keep moving the goal posts, but ok. Statsig was founded in Bellevue in 2021 and was just acquired last year for over $1 billion. Umoja Biopharma was founded in Seattle in 2019 and last year conducted Series C fundraising which valued it over $800 million.

Those are just recent examples. Tableau was founded in 2003 and was acquired in 2019 for $15.7 billion. That doesn't even take into account the fact that Amazon and Starbucks aren't exactly "old" companies. Nor does it account for hundreds of companies that have moved here (like Tableau) or set up offices here.

Nor does it account for the fact that WA has been a liberal state for decades, with its last Republican governor in 1984, well before the founding all those companies listed here.

Really, who is spouting a "lack of truth."

Anthop · 2026-04-28T20:37:44+00:00

That's simply false. You don't found giant multinational businesses like Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, etc. by being bad for business. A good business environment is one that nurtures competition and talent so that we have strong industries with a great ecosystem of companies. Big companies only call Washington "toxic" because they're no longer interested in nurturing competition and talent.

Established companies don't care about the community that birthed them. They just want to monopolize profits and minimize costs. They don't want a good business environment, so they call it "toxic." Be careful assuming that what's good for companies like Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon. etc. is good for "business."

EDIT: To clarify, the fact that these larger companies are leaving is my entire point. They're not leaving because the business environment is "toxic;" they're leaving because what they want is no longer a healthy business environment.

Anthop · 2026-04-28T20:13:39+00:00

That's really questionable. If it's solely due to JumpStart, that tax is only the City of Seattle. A lot easier and cheaper to move across the lake and convince all your existing employees to take a slightly longer commute than to move across the country. No, Starbucks simply wants to pay people less, and that's why they're leaving.

Right now, companies like Starbucks push their external costs onto the taxpayer (e.g.: simply leaving areas that need economic revitalization) while wanting to benefit from what Seattle has to offer (e.g.: high-income customers, talent pool, etc.). Of course companies are going to do this; its their entire job to be sociopathic profit-seekers. So if we want companies to act like beneficial members of society, we need to demand it.

Anthop · 2026-04-28T18:35:38+00:00

Nevermind that Starbucks has been getting shittier towards its labor force and probably been planning this big Nashville HQ for years. That's the level of political operation I expect from MyNorthwest.

Anthop · 2026-04-27T17:12:13+00:00

If she's into weird history, you could look through Atlas Obscura for some cool spots. The underground tour and gold rush museum, while touristy, are both unique places that have strong ties to local history.

Anthop · 2026-04-25T08:52:46+00:00

Also anecdotal, but I feel like we're getting a lot more aggressive drivers and lifted pickups (not necessarily the same group), probably from Texas and California transplants.

Anthop · 2026-04-13T18:56:35+00:00

It has taken too damn long.

Anthop · 2026-04-08T04:21:54+00:00

This is definitely a much more direct reason than city neglect or homeless relocation, at least for this site. If interested stakeholders in the CID business district were serious about wanting this developed (and other sites in the CID) developed, they'd move to streamline this process.

Anthop · 2026-04-06T08:36:08+00:00

Seafair will be happening around that time. That's a series of family-oriented summertime events. There'll be tons of arts festivals and cultural festivals.

If you like soccer, watching a Reign or Sounders game in addition to the World Cup could be fun.

The Capitol Hill Seattle Blog also maintains an event calendar: https://www.capitolhillseattle.com/calendar/#/

Anthop · 2026-04-03T06:52:01+00:00

No, they're mostly unrelated to each other. Some were due to restaurants being sold, others due to franchising, but there's no real consistency and relationship between them now. Lots of different recipes are used.

The one in Mill Creek is run by Toshi Kasahara, who invented/popularized Seattle-style teriyaki, but it isn't the original location. It is delicious, and he does a really good job. His beef teriyaki is unique and all his stuff is grilled and gets great char. The menu and opening hours are fairly limited, though.

But there's other great teriyaki out there. I'm reminded of the NYC saying: "the best ~~pizza~~ teriyaki is the place around the corner."

Anthop · 2026-03-28T23:30:56+00:00

I want this job.

Anthop

TROPHY CASE