A Chicagoan in Seattle.....

[x45xCaliber]

A few things I've noticed that are odd to me so far.......

CROSSWALKS!!!!! I can't believe that you can just stroll out into the street and the traffic stops for you as long as you're in a crosswalk. I still don't trust it....and I've still gotta get used to it when I'm behind the wheel. It's just plain strange to me

Liqour laws! The liquor store hours here are ridiculous. I'm used to being able to grab a bottle of vodka up untill 2am. Now I've gotta plan way ahead if I want anything other than beer. That just sucks.

Sort of related to the liqour laws - closing time of bars. 1:30 am? Another thing I need to adjust to. I'm used to going out between 12 & 1 am since bars & clubs close at 4 or 5 am in Chicago.

Other than those things, I gotta say I love Seattle so far. Great city, friendly people, and not half as much rain as I expected! ;)

[+10 Sword Of Radical Shit]

So let's cut the crap. What did you do in Chicago that was so fucked up you had to choose between here and Alaska?

[x45xCaliber]

So let's cut the crap. What did you do in Chicago that was so fucked up you had to choose between here and Alaska?

lol...nothing. I lived there my whole life, had an opportunity to move here & also met a girl from here so it made sense to give it a go. Glad I did...I like it here a lot. Now if only I can get the liquor laws changed......

;)

[Jiff]

Glad you like it here x45. Welconme. Don't know how long you've been here but you might want to reserve judgement on the rain until you've lived here thru winter. Don't know why you need to plan "way ahead" for booze considering most are open until atleast 8. I'm all for grocery handling sales though.

I'm not big on sleeping during the day so I'm glad the bars and clubs get going earlier here. There are some that stay open till 4am but w/o booze. Is liquor served till 4am in Chicago?

[MistressSpin]

I lived in Tennessee for four years....got quite accustomed to the "relaxed" nature of the liquor laws down south.....it was hard to adjust when I moved back. :D

[Gomezticator]

Welcome, x45. Funny thing: I almost moved to Chicago five years ago.

I came from Las Vegas, where the liquor laws were obviously WAAAAAAAAY more relaxed. I expected things to be a bit more stringent when I moved here and the idea of hard liquor only being sold in liquor stores was an adjustment, but I can live with that.

For a city that claims to be very liberal, I'm surprised the liquor laws are so strict and the bars close so early.

The plethora of bicyclists and crosswalks thing struck me as well, coming from a city where walking and biking made you an outcast and motorists would try and run down pedestrians for fun. Even after more than a year, I still don't step into a crosswalk unless cars either aren't coming or have stopped.

[alithea]

i grew up in olympia, but moved to chicago for about 6 months in 2003/2004. though i consider chicago a superior city, seattle is much more my style. i do, however, miss potbelly sammiches, gnocci from pick-me-up, not having to walk up hella hills and getting about twice as many touring bands coming through. i hope seattle is good to you!

[x45xCaliber]

i grew up in olympia, but moved to chicago for about 6 months in 2003/2004. though i consider chicago a superior city, seattle is much more my style. i do, however, miss potbelly sammiches, gnocci from pick-me-up, not having to walk up hella hills and getting about twice as many touring bands coming through. i hope seattle is good to you!

I used to go to the pick-me-up once in a while for some late night coffee & french toast. =D

I do like Seattle a lot so far. I just gotta get used to the differences since I've never lived anywhere other than Chicago. I love that I'm just a short drive away from everything from the ocean, to forests, to mountains.

[Chris Comte]

Let me add my welcome.

The crosswalk thing is a direct result of our pedestrian crossing laws in this State, which basically designate any intersection where a crosswalk ends, then continues across the roadway as having "implied pedestrian access", whether a crosswalk is marked or not. Even people who've lived here a long time have problems with the concept, and its still a very good idea to be on the defensive when crossing (although in my experience, the only times I've ever actually been hit by cars was when I was crossing with the light in a marked crosswalk).

Our archaic liquor laws are the result of a combination of factors: early post-Prohibition influence of "moral authorities" such as churches & temperance societys that implemented numerous "blue laws" (some of which are still on the books!); the state restaurant industry, which up until only a few years ago had a literal monopoly on sales of hard liquor by-the-drink; and finally of course the revenue stream created by State-controlled Liquor Stores.

Thus endeth the lesson for today.

[Jiff]

Re, "the state restaurant industry, which up until only a few years ago had a literal monopoly on sales of hard liquor by-the-drink."

Yes, in the mid 90s establishments were no longer required to have a separate dining room (or was it kitchen?) and sell a certain ratio of food to liquor. Now all that's required is that food is offered. It's been suggested that in the 60s, Gov Albert Rosellini, cousin of big-time Seattle restaurantuer Victor, was instrumental in blocking and strengthening state law against the liberalization that finally occured in the mid 90s.

You might recall that in the late 70s or early 80s, for a few years, beer and wine could not be sold in stores on Sunday. I remember making dashes to stores on Sturday nights to beat the stroke of midnight.

[x45xCaliber]

Let me add my welcome.

The crosswalk thing is a direct result of our pedestrian crossing laws in this State, which basically designate any intersection where a crosswalk ends, then continues across the roadway as having "implied pedestrian access", whether a crosswalk is marked or not. Even people who've lived here a long time have problems with the concept, and its still a very good idea to be on the defensive when crossing (although in my experience, the only times I've ever actually been hit by cars was when I was crossing with the light in a marked crosswalk).

Our archaic liquor laws are the result of a combination of factors: early post-Prohibition influence of "moral authorities" such as churches & temperance societys that implemented numerous "blue laws" (some of which are still on the books!); the state restaurant industry, which up until only a few years ago had a literal monopoly on sales of hard liquor by-the-drink; and finally of course the revenue stream created by State-controlled Liquor Stores.

Thus endeth the lesson for today.


thanks for the info. ;) It'll just take some adjusting on my part. Then I'll be used to things.