I moved into my apartment in Eastlake four years ago, back when everyone was practically giving apartments away in this town, and since then I’ve been watching the yuppiefication (ok, fine, “upscaling”) of South Lake Union with a little bit of dread. I’ve been, selfishly, hoping for the condo market to collapse so that the “upscaling” won’t continue the creep up the street and my building won’t be converted or rents raised past what I can handle, so that my more colorful older neighbors won’t be squeezed out of the neighborhood.

Today’s P I has an article about the slow transition of South Lake Union. Since I live in Eastlake and work in South Lake Union, I spend a lot of time here, watching the changes. The Lobo has turned into the Victory (and I promise not to sneer until I’ve actually visited, because maybe it will charm me. But if it sucks as much as Feierabend, then that’s not likely.). The new Vivace is lovely, on the other hand, and I’m glad it’s there. No one has touched my beloved Mars Bar yet, and I still hope that MOHAI moves into the Reserve building. But the part of the article that makes me laugh is this: “The neighborhood still lacks some basic staples — there’s no barber shop, library or farmers market. But a gourmet deli and upscale pet supply shop have moved in to serve the new residents.” Gourmet delis and upscale pet shops are basic staples in a neighborhood that’s supposed to be “affordable to a range of people”? Seriously? How about a regular corner store, or a Pho joint?

I’m not against all of the changes, because that would be silly–they’re going to happen, and they’ve certainly happened everywhere else. There is a lot of empty and run down space in this neighborhood that could use some improvement. I’m just against pretending that all the change in South Lake Union is going to benefit anyone who could actually use some affordable living space.

But perhaps I’m too close too it all and am having trouble seeing the forest because all these damn trees are in my way. I still hope that the neighborhood will defeat my fears and turn into something more than a sea of overpriced beer and striped button-down shirts. I hope I’ll still be able to go to a bar and hear stories from people who have stubbornly refused to leave the home they’ve lived in for the last 30 years, or run into half a dozen people with their kids on my way to the park.

It’s only that the way things look now isn’t very hopeful.

Although I complained about it last night, the highlights reel episode of Grey’s Anatomy reminded me that some of you might be new to Seattle or new readers of this site. In the spirit of getting everyone caught up and reminiscing about the year that was, you’ll find a month-by-month rundown of 2005 after the jump. It’s a mix of a Seattle timeline and a few posts that might even make your 2006 a little better.

I think this officially concludes the site’s “looking back” portion of the program (even we have a limit to the amount of history we want to learn in order not to repeat it).

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The stock of gravity in the greater Puget Sound region is currently sold out.

I just wanted to give you all a quick behind-the-scenes description from the Grand Opening last night–I was that frazzled redheaded girl in blue who was behind the cash register all day long. (My secret identity has been revealed. I’m really just a help-bot from the planet Q2105-B.)

I had originally hoped to be able to give you a full account of what happened, of the readings and the band and the crowd. But there were so many of you there that I barely looked up from the front counter for five hours. You really came out in force, Seattle–there were about three times as many of you as any of us had expected.

But it’s true that Dave Eggers was there, and without a nametag or anything. This resulted in a whole lot of very dazed people wandering around and whispering to each other, “Did you see that? That was Dave Eggers! I just had a conversation! With Dave Eggers! And didn’t know it! …Is there anything in my teeth?”

And there was a whole troop of Rocket Men that showed up, providing the crowd with Rocket Registration Forms and generally inspecting the rocket-based legality of the crowd.

We signed up new volunteers and, more importantly, a ton of new kids. And we nearly sold out the store. I encourage you to visit often, but we’ll be devoid of t-shirts, gravity, and Diversion Deployment Systems until at least Saturday.

Thanks for coming by yesterday, Seattleites. You exceeded our wildest expectations.

image via: GSTSC

Even though many cool people have already expressed their opinions on how FANTASTIC the new Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co. is, I figured what the world needed was for me to weigh in on the matter. And, shockingly, considering how much I dislike shopping and, well, most things in general, I’m going to have to agree with the consensus: that place is RAD. In fact, the second I walked in and started perusing the merchandise, a little light bulb binged to life above my head and “Christmas Presents!” whipped through my brain so fast it hurt.

“Is there anyone I know that doesn’t need a bottle of Certainty or a block of Gravity?” I asked myself.

“No, no, there’s not,” I replied reasonably, “but maybe they also need some space food and each a pair of Ocular Vulnerability Reducers.”

But the big news is not that I’m a huge geek or that I regularly talk to myself. No, no, no! The big news is that the store’s Official Grand Opening is THIS SATURDAY (Dec. 3). That’s right, from noon to 6 p.m. all sorts of tomfoolery will be going down. Readings by George Saunders and Ryan Boudinot headline the day’s activities, with readings by 826 Seattle’s Youth Advisory Board and other unmentioned and thereby super mysterious performances peppered throughout.

Now I’ve given this a little bit of thought and it occurred to me [DISCLAIMER: this is pure speculation on my part] that the mysterious and unannouced guests could be as utterly cool as the surprise musical guests at this year’s Bumbershoot [mb]. Again, this is pure speculation, please don’t start stalking me if it’s just some dude with a guitar, but if I am right, don’t you want to be there? I know I do. I’m totally dragging my out-of-town guest with me to check out the festivities.

Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co. - 8414 Greenwood Avenue North - Be there. You know you want to.