Comments on: Is Tacoma the new Seattle?

By: gargamello

gargamello — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:42:27 +0000

I heard that Omaha is the new Mobile! Well actually I saw that scrawled on a bathroom stall, but I thought that was sufficiently authentic.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:42:26 +0000

No snark taken. I’m genuinely curious if there’s a better term for what I’m describing.

Pie sounds good.

By: Nerd's Eye View

Nerd's Eye View — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:54:23 +0000

Fremont IS planned and controlled, yup, that’s for sure, but agreed, it’s WAY convenient. I used to love how walking around Fremont was like walking around a big rambling old house, but that’s all gone. It’s not coming back, I get that and the character of Fremont sure has changed over time. Maybe it’s "character" that wants discussing versus "authenticity."

I’ll be the first to admit I’m getting bogged down in semantics, so I hope you don’t find my commentary snarky or personal. It’s not intended that way, it’s my own deal about the use of the word "authentic" when discussing place.

Maybe this conversation is a sideline about writing, best had over coffee and/or pie on neutral territory.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:22:42 +0000

I live in Fremont. I like it. I can walk everywhere I need to go and there are innumerable things to do. But it doesn’t have the charm that Georgetown does. It feels very planned and controlled by comparison. Perhaps authenticity doesn’t have anything to do with it but it’s the word that comes to mind whenever I think of Georgetown. And when Georgetown finally succumbs to the development that is happening elsewhere in the city, it will feel less authentic.

If you can think of a better term for what I’m trying to describe, please let me know.

By: nerdseyeview

nerdseyeview — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:08:07 +0000

I get cranky over the use of the term authenticity, as though my neighborhood is somehow "fake" compared to Georgetown, which is more "real." I like Georgetown too – I head over the All City Coffee regularly – but the big pile of bricks next to the remaining part of the brewery means that what’s "real" in Georgetown is going through some serious transition.

I loved living up off 15th on Cap Hill and while it certainly wasn’t edgy, it wasn’t "fake." And our new digs in West Seattle, while kinda suburban, have us heading up to the Junction all the time and that’s not "fake" either. The new Fremont, now that feels kinda fake to me, but mostly, I think it’s just globalized and/or inhabited most of the day by people that don’t LIVE there.

Georgetown is cool because people live and work there and because it’s got a crazy variety of businesses, that tiny naturopathic clinic is right across the street from the car parts place, right? But when the car parts place closes and becomes some knock off of Rainbow Grocery, is it going to be any less authentic? I don’t think so, it will just be different.

Apologies for rambling on the soapbox. I have issues with semantics, clearly. And the photo, it’s a stunner.

By: sparkrobot

sparkrobot — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:11:39 +0000

i spent the last 6 years in tacoma. the answer is sadly, no.

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:38:14 +0000

I was so going to post something about the Georgetown article. I absolutely love Georgetown. So many awesome restaurants and cute shops. So much going on there, and I agree it’s got some authenticity to it. A friend of mind says it’s like what Fremont used to be.