The new normal

[susandennis]

I live on the south edge of downtown Seattle. The highway they closed moved traffic north/south through town. There is also an interstate that goes north/south through town.

Last night we headed out to a restaurant north of downtown. On a Saturday evening - 5:15 - the interstate option was bumper to bumper crawling. There are many who live south of Seattle and work north or mid. Their lives are going to suck come Monday. Big time.

We actually got to our restaurant a few minutes late and were greeted by a snooty woman who made us promise to be out of there in under 2 hours. But, we did her one better. When we got to our table, I realized that the noise level was just too high. It was so loud that conversation was going to be tricky so we just said no thank you - here's your stupid 2 hours right now.

And we went over to a tried and true steak house (Jak's) that does not even take reservations but were happy to see us Hand give us drinks while we waited for a table and it was great. All around.

This morning my brother wants to make breakfast. He's talking maybe hash browns, maybe biscuits, maybe leftover steak... I have all the fixins and am hap hap happy for him to get creatin'.

I think I might, when the football starts, sneak off and go see if there's a lane available at the gym pool.

Comments

[meathiel]

Sounds as if there will be major chaos with the viaduct gone ... how long will it take to build the tunnel?

[susandennis]

Oh tunnel is built. But they aren't going to open it til mid February.

[meathiel]

Ah ... so it's only about 4 weeks ... not too bad, then!

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

I hate places that loud, good on you for leaving

[kishenehn.livejournal.com]

It's ben interesting reading all the differing opinions about the demise of the viaduct. I'm sure that eventually, the city will be universally happy that it's gone ... but boy, given Seattle's geography that new four-lane tunnel isn't going to come close to solving the traffic problem, at all.

And I'll take a no-reservations steakhouse over a snooty restaurant any day.

[susandennis]

yeah and... in february/march they are moving all the busses out of the bus tunnel so throw them into the street mix and then... turn on tunnel traffic tolls.

i think i'm just going to never ever go anywhere again!

[idahoswede.livejournal.com]

Too much noise for conversation or even too loud conversation can really ruin the whole dining out experience.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

a snooty woman who made us promise to be out of there in under 2 hours.

They really shouldn't do that. On the other hand, I have occasionally been frustrated at having to wait for a table until well after my reservation time (one of several reasons I try to avoid making late-evening reservations), and it's tricky for restaurants to schedule when the behavior of dining parties is unpredictable, but it's the restaurant's job to manage that without making the diners feel rushed or pressured.

And the noise level would be a deal-breaker anyway.

[susandennis]

Plus, it was the kind of place where, if you were there longer than two hours it would be due to slow service most likely anyway!

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Likely, but some people like to linger forever over their dessert, coffee, after-dinner drinks -- more likely with a larger party, in truth -- and the restaurant folks can't tell at a glance whether any particular customer falls into that category.