Will you be giving out candy to trick or treaters this year? If so, what goodies can the ghosts and goblins expect to bring home?
No. I don't think there are many kids of trick-or-treating age in my neighborhood. There might've been one, but I haven't seen her in a while.
Nobody bothers selling Girl Scout Cookies when they're in season either, I think it's because they have to complete for real estate in front of the grocery stores with the bums.
If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?
ST: Deep Space 9. Maybe Glee or Saved by the Bell.
I bet you thought I was going to say Battlestar Galactica, but I'd kill myself after a week stuck in a skanky old spaceship.
Which do you prefer? City life or country living?
Since Tim lives in the country and I live in the city, I'm getting both and it's working really well.
City Living Pros:
1. Close proximity to shopping, restaurants, nightlife
2. Accessibility of public transportation
3. Diversity of people
4. Availability of facilities such as libraries, civic events, art and culture
5. Cheaper cost of energy
6. Farmer's markets (surprisingly, farmer's markets out in the country are not quite as good as city ones)
7. Availability of ethnic food, exotic and heirloom vegetables
8. Fast response in case of emergencies
City Living Cons:
1. Sketchy people hanging around all the time
2. High rent (balances out with City Pros #2 and 5)
3. Limited space for growing vegetables and keeping livestock
4. Density of people. It's awesome when you get along with your neighbors. But if you don't, it can really suck.
Country Living Pros:
1. Lots of space for growing vegetables and livestock, away from neighbors and traffic
2. Cheaper real estate
3. Closer proximity to hiking, camping, skiing
Country Living Cons:
1. See opposite of City Living Pros
2. High cost of commute
3. When you're stuck, you're really stuck. Like in a snowstorm, flooding, or wildfires.
4. All your friends live far away in relative terms
What is it about your favorite local small business that keeps you coming back again and again?
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The neighborhood I live in is very eclectic and lively, plus it's got a ton of foot traffic so that helps sustain the businesses. It's also full of hipsters, so most of the stores & restaurants are pretty affordable. It's really hard to pick just one.
Twice Sold Books. One word: kitties. Lots of them. Four words: half-price used books. It's a win-win situation. It's a small and dense bookstore, but if I need more books, there's Bailey Coy books down the street and Third Place Books about 20 minutes away.
Stumptown coffee. They're Portland based, but luckily, I've got one around the corner from my apartment and on my way to work. Their coffee is AMAZING. They make french pressed coffee instead of drip, and they make pretty hearts or ferns in your latte foam. I'm a serious coffee addict now because of Stumptown. Even for making coffee at home, we occasionally go cheap or lazy with Starbucks beans and regret the decision immediately.
Bliss Soap. The owner Phil is hilarious. He makes you pick a sample after you've been in the store for 5 minutes. He makes everything in the store himself, and their stuff is really fun. Phil's like the Willie Wonka of soap. I want to work there for free, well, for free soap.
Retail Therapy. The owner is really nice and curates great stuff. They have really cute and comfortable clothes with an urban influence. And shoes, and jewelry, and housewares, and lingerie, and accessories.
Other notables: Hothouse spa, Quinn's, Piroshky on Madison, Molly Moon, Tin Table, Rancho Bravo, Elysian Brewery, Stumbling Monk, Tangerine Tree.
