The first step is admitting it

It is no secret that I have a love affair with Queen Anne.  I love pretty much everything about my neighborhood, the views, the houses, the shops, the people, the parks.... I could go on and on and on.

I have been known to get in heated "my-neighborhood-is-better-than-your-neighborhood" arguments, where I defend QA to the death.  I don't mean to hate on other neighborhoods, but I just don't have eyes for anywhere else.  I love QA.  

I am a QA snob.  At least I am up front about it. I have tried to change my ways, but I have not been able to make much progress. I do believe there is a 12 step program out there, but so far I'm stuck at step 1- admitting I have a problem.

I wasn't always this way. Well, that is a lie. Yes I was. The only thing that has changed is that I used to be a Ballard snob.

Growing up in Ballard is like growing up in a lovely little cream puff of a town. Hmmm.... I craving desserts. Ignore the cream puff reference. Ballard is pretty much (almost) the best town in Seattle that you could ask for. It is right on the water, has a lovely/quaint "downtown," if you grow up there you know at least 75% of the people who live there and you get to celebrate Norwegian independence day every year whether you are Norwegian or not!

I grew up in a family with both my parents being Ballard-lifers. They were raised there, then moved only blocks away from their parents to raise their kids. We went on walks to the beach, shopped at Larsen's bakery and hit up the (old) bay theater when we wanted some wholesome family entertainment. What could be better than that?

I'll tell you- Queen Anne. When Chris and I moved here we knew it would be lovely and a great community but I had no idea how obsessed with it I would become. My dad recently commented that QA was "really up and coming" (he's a Ballard snob too- see where I get it) and I just looked at him- confused- clearly QA is already up and it has clearly already come- get with the times Dad.

One of my best long time friends Heleya grew up on QA and back in middle school we would argue about whether QA or Ballard was better. I realize how stupid this sounds now, but remember I was a Ballard snob and she (rightfully so) was a QA snob. She would always try to explain to me why QA was the most fabulous place in Seattle and I would dismiss her every argument with comebacks like "yeah- well I have a beach, where's your beach??"

I have come to see the error of my ways. I still have a soft spot in my heart for Ballard but I have to say QA takes the cake.... or cream puff....

In case you need to be persuaded, I snapped a few photos last week while I was out on a run (Yes I realize that while running I stopped to take pictures, but try to ignore the lack of dedication I have to my physical fitness and focus on the dedication I have to this blog).

Queen Anne has this:

And this:

And this:

And this:

 And this:

Should I keep going??

Queen Anne is the closest you can be to downtown while still living in a residential area.  We overlook all of downtown, the waterfront, lake union and most of all, we have a great view of the mountain. We have a ridiculous amount of public parks (with amazing views) and we have amazing old homes. We can walk to pretty much anywhere we need to go both on the top of the hill, Belltown and downtown. If I actually have to drive somewhere, we are right on 99 and only blocks away from the freeway. AND, it is only across the bridge from my cream puff- Ballard.

For everyone who doesn't live on Queen Anne, you probably feel the same way about your neighborhood as I do mine. Perhaps you can persuade me to love yours more than Queen Anne??

Yes people, that is a challenge.