About

My name is Melissa. I live with two dogs and one kid in an amazing neighborhood called Beacon Hill in South Seattle. I’m a writer, educator, social justice advocate, enthusiastic consumer of good food and coffee, and deeply hopeful cynic.

I started this blog in 2010 when my baby was tiny, because I wanted to share my perspective on parenting, beer, and our amazing city. Seattle isn’t the most “kid friendly”* place, and the transition from enjoying our city as an adult to navigating Washington State liquor laws regarding minors can be difficult.

I updated regularly for a couple of years, then I got addicted to Facebook. Now I’m back, parenting an adolescent as a sober single adult. Bars and music venues are still my favorite places, and I continue to believe that it’s critical to expose our kids to the places, people, food, and music that we love.

So…no more high chairs and happy hour looks a lot different–but we’re still going out and having fun!

This blog is still useful for people with little kids in Seattle. I hope it’s also interesting (and maybe useful) for others.

The best advice anyone shared when I became a mom was to get out of the house every day. I try to do just that–but where should I go? What if she cries, or needs a diaper? How much stuff do I bring (hint: VERY LITTLE) and how do I keep her entertained (hint: TREAT HER LIKE A PERSON).

As my daughter has gotten older, going out has become more interesting for both of us. She’s become pretty good at pool and very good at pinball. Hanging out in bars gives her a perspective on how to be part of an extended, diverse community. We don’t need to think about diapers, but we do need to talk about bathroom line etiquette and remembering where you put your stuff (pro tip: bring less, carry it with you).

When reviewing a location, I’ll try to notice, remember, and record:

• Location & hours of operation
• Transit access and/or parking
• Accessibility for strollers/space to put carriers
• Cost
• Activities & safety issues
• Food/drink (for kids and adults)
• Restrooms and changing table
• Overall welcome (or not) towards kids & babies
• Space/privacy to nurse

Transportation tips: get out of the car! Seattle has terrible traffic and even worse parking. We have reasonable transit and our cycling infrastructure is decent. Even your Tesla impacts the climate. Take the train, walk a few blocks–a little rain won’t hurt you or your baby.

We often “wore” the baby, which I find easier than navigating a stroller. Skip the “bucket” from your carseat and just hold your baby. Trust me–you can still hold a fork (and/or a beer). Strollers can be great, but please be courteous: park and/or fold your stroller instead of taking up the aisle. Use the stroller in less busy places, at less busy times. Please don’t use bike racks for stroller parking–cyclists need those spaces. If you’re biking with a kid (yay!) think through how you’re going to store helmets.