Metrix Create:Space

Metrix Create:Space, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

I've changed my route, and pretty much destroyed my commute reports. Now, instead of walking 8 blocks to and from work every morning, I've shortened it to two.

I've opened up a shop on Broadway called Metrix Create:Space, and it is for the hackers, crafters, makers and creative types of Seattle. It's on Broadway and Roy, underneath the Deluxe Bar and Grill, and I do hope you'll come check it out.

We have Tools, Tubes, Coffee, Soldering, Laser Cutting, 3D printing, Sewing machines and much much more.

Do you love washabi?

washabi, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

I'm not a huge fan of fish, so a third sushi place going in on Broadway seems like a stretch to me, but I'm glad something is taking the place of the now gone bbq place and now long-gone magic dragon.

Anyone want to bet on what goes into the old Dilletante? My money is on pho or ice cream.

Broadway

broadway, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

When i first moved to Capitol Hill, i spent more hours than i could count at the arcade playing Mortal Combat or drinking shots and drawing at Broadway Espresso. I met some great people here, developed a love for the neighborhood, and a happy addiction to caffeine.

Nearly two decades later, it all comes down for light rail construction.

Change is inevitable, I look forward to the wormhole to other neighborhoods, I will miss my old seat at the bar.

hollywood. or maybe just wood.

hollywood. or maybe just wood., originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

Hadn't noticed this before, but Hollywood Video has some problems with their neon. Or maybe not.

I wonder how long it's been like that.

do not cross

do not cross, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

On the way back home today, I noticed police tape all over the south end of SCCC. Turns out there was a suspicious package, which turned out to be nothing, I asked a cop about it and he told me it was "Typical finals week behavior".

Oh, I got a new camera today too. Hopefully this translates to more posting.

wordle

wordle, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

Everyone else was doing it, and even though I don't normally fall into the memes, I was curious.

Thanks Wordle for the app, bummer it's a total pain to link/re-blog.

Are you ready to change your commute?

dozers, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

I read on Capitol Hill Seattle that the noise ordinance is changing, and construction of Broadway Station is starting soon.

I have to say, I'm excited. Light rail is coming, and that's going to be an awesome thing for the neighborhoods with stations. I know it will increase my footprint and I might actually leave the hill every now and then. It will increase foot traffic in my neighborhood, which is good for retail, and theoretically, it will get people out of their stupid cars.

I also have to say that I'm not looking forward to crossing two streets of loaded down dump trucks every morning and evening, especially with my 3 year old son in tow. I've seen the routes that they have planned, and I'm probably going to have to adjust my current one.

My normal walk to the office is straight down Boylston, crossing both John and Denny.

Crossing John at Boylston always makes me feel like I'm doing something daring. It's just before the crest of the hill, so people coming up the hill are speeding up and people coming down the hill have just left a light and are also gaining momentum. Given the signage and lights, it seems like the city wants people to cross either on Broadway or Summit (where there is actually a lit up crosswalk) but if you're heading to Boylston and Pine (my destination), both of those are bad for several reasons, so I always cross there.  It's the fastest route.

Crossing Denny also makes me nervous. There is a blind turn on Denny at Harvard, and again, cars have either just left a light or are coming up off the freeway, so they're going fast here. At the end of the day, the drivers coming down the road have the sun in their eyes.   Hazardous.

There's a reason that both of these streets made the 'most dangerous intersections' map.

Drivers on Capitol Hill seem to operate their vehicles under high levels of stress and dumb, so I can't expect that adding trucks full of earth are going to make things any better.    I see a lot of Broadway in my future.

tasty pork buns

humbow, originally uploaded by Matt Westervelt.

A week or so ago I stopped into Shinka Tea for the first time. Smack dab in the middle of my commute, it's a cute little tea shop that also has a couple kinds of humbow, vietnamese coffee, and maybe a dozen types of pocky (including mens pocky!).

Getting take away pork buns and coffee took about 10-15 minutes, so I probably wont make it an every morning stop, but I do have to say it was a nice break from my routine. It's definitely going into the rotation.