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April 22, 2011 at 1:44 am #598701
SpeakLoudMemberHey West Seattle Families-what activities do you enjoy with your toddlers (under 3 year olds) and what do you think West Seattle needs? And would you be willing to travel to White Center to get it?????
April 22, 2011 at 2:14 pm #722951
sam-cParticipantgood question. but the sheer number of toddlers at proletariat last night would answer the WC question- yes.
April 22, 2011 at 4:26 pm #722952
SpeakLoudMemberyes proletariat is kiddie and pizza heaven!
April 22, 2011 at 4:45 pm #722953
DPMemberI’d be a little cautious about taking a toddler to the “downtown” White Center area, unless you’re careful to stay indoors once you get there. It’s never been a very safe or sanitary place, but in recent years it seems to have gotten even grimier. I know that the good people at Full Tilt, Proletariat, the Southgate Roller Rink, and elsewhere thereabouts are trying to turn it around, and I salute them. But that area still has a long way to go.
Downtown White Center is just over the city line, so there’s no SPD presence there. Meanwhile, the King County police seem to be ignoring the area, treating it like a slum. As a result, a large number of scruffy and aggressive characters have been accumulating.
I avoid the place if I can. And that’s really saying something, because I’m a pretty scruffy character myself.
(Fans of White Center . . . you may fire when ready.)
April 22, 2011 at 6:00 pm #722954
JoBParticipantDP…
I’m older than you..
and weaker than you…
and a woman
and aside from some of the denizens of White Center being unsightly and sometimes a bit smelly
they haven’t bothered me much..
in fact…
those smelly unsightly bums have gone out of their way to be helpful
it turns out there are human being lurking under there
April 22, 2011 at 6:02 pm #722955
ghar72ParticipantRestaurants with play space for kids. Vios on Cap Hill is a great example of this. A space where parents can see their kid playing, with a door so the kids are somewhat contained, and eating space that surrounds the play area so parents can be close.
I noticed in a WSB post about Chaco Canyon, a picture of a kids’ play space. I haven’t been in to check it out though. I know Proletariat has a small space and any parent with toddler and coffee habit knows Coffee to a Tea has a space.
We rarely go out to eat anymore (pain with two young kids, no money), but a restaurant with a kids’ space would be great and if it were a pleasant experience, we’d be willing to spend our limited eat-out money there.
And yes, we’d travel to WC, but we’re just a few blocks away anyway.
We entertained opening something like this with some friends, but none of us has the money or time/energy to do it right. I think it could be very successful though. The tricky part is how to make it attractive to people without kids as well. Vios seems to have a mixed clientele. Some tables are far enough away from the play area so they aren’t bothered too much, but it is loud in there. DOesn’t hurt that the food is really good.
Looking forward to hearing other ideas people have! SpeakLoud, are thinking of opening something? Ideas you have?
April 22, 2011 at 9:52 pm #722956
EarlGrayParticipantI am sure that is not at all what you are thinking of, but I would love an indoor wading pool and playground for year round use.
April 23, 2011 at 1:28 am #722957
SpeakLoudMemberI’m not thinking of a food establishment as there is a nice coffee shop next door to the space that I want to support and it is not my area of expertise or interest-except that I love food! I have thought of the indoor playground before for the 3 to 8 crowd but it gets complicated-babies-big 8 year olds little 3 year olds-not always a good combo etc…In my fantasy plan it would be an indoor wadding pool/park combo with a restaurant but that’s when I have millions to spend…..I thought I would focus my attention on the 3 and under crowd as we have LOTS of 3 and up efforts but it would have a nice indoor playground/gym as part of it! More thoughts would be great.
April 23, 2011 at 1:43 am #722958
DPMemberApril 23, 2011 at 4:18 am #722959
IrukandjiParticipantIndoor Kidspa. Warm indoors, warm water overhead sprinklers, drain in the middle, pony wall for easy observation. 30-minute sessions. Outside food allowed. Towels provided for $1.50 extra, each.
April 23, 2011 at 5:55 am #722960
nighthawkParticipantOur favorite activity this winter has been Seattle Gymnastic Academy-Columbia City Drop in Indoor playground ages 1-5. It’s not W. Seattle but it is easy to get there from here. Times are 11:30-12:30 M-F and 12:30-1:30…double check their website of course for current times.
They have all all the various equipment but they bring it down to little size when possible. My daughter LOVES it.
She also love Proletariat, she talks about their little play kitchen whenever we mention pizza. The only issue we have had at all in White Center is when we have had to park a bit down the street and walking past the smokers outside a bar. They don’t bother us, just hate walking through a cloud of smoke. That happens in the junction too sometimes.
April 23, 2011 at 6:02 am #722961
nighthawkParticipantOh and speaking on the pool idea. Montlake Terrace has an awesome pool/community center. The pool has this really cool toddler area with various depths (all shallow), some are just inches under water and some are about a 1.5. There are fountains and waterfalls. Very fun, just a trek from W. Seattle for any kind of regular visit. I know W. Seattle has a couple of pools but nothing like that aimed at toddlers.
April 23, 2011 at 9:02 am #722962
HMC RichParticipantSpeakloud, Yes, we travel to Proletariat and Full Tilt. Heck, when we want a few extra pounds we get the cheese curds with some A&W Root Beer. Nevermind that three cruisers pulled up to West Crest Park to check out one solitary individual there.
Speaking of warm pools, the Matt Griffin YMCA has a great warm pool for kids of all ages with parent changing rooms and lockers. Plus Mounger pool in Magnolia is a warm pool for kids too. Plus the Junction Y, SW Pool and the one in Lincoln Park, although not as warm, can be fun.
Puget Ridge Park is a great Toddler park. We found that through THE MOMS WITH TOTS group. Ercolini Park is one of our sons favorite places to go, plus Whale Tail near Alki.
My wife says there needs to be a place similar to Coffee To A Tea With Sugar….and Capital Hills VIOS for the 0-8 crowd. Lots of Moms have spoken with my dear wife about that. Coffee shop/cafe gated with a nice place to play for the kids.
I say there needs to be a weekend gym and playroom like at the YMCA in the Junction or like Little Gym. Or a McDonalds with a huge play area (Sorry, Midwestern roots coming out).
April 23, 2011 at 9:19 am #722963
SonomaParticipantWest Seattle kids are fortunate to be living so close to two Northwest treasures: Lincoln Park and Alki Beach. Toddlers love our parks, and, they’re free! No need to spend money on fattening snacks – let the little ones play outside (oh, and a bit of rain won’t dissolve them if you dress them right). Little kids just seem a lot more joyful when they’re outdoors, digging in the sand, flying high on the swings, chasing the waves, and collecting shells on the shore.
April 25, 2011 at 3:38 pm #722964
tttParticipantI agree with Sonoma– outside is always better for kids, and it always amazes me at how many people stay indoors on nice, misty-gray days (we live in Seattle people, a gray-misty day is a good day to play outside!)
I wish we had more outdoor parks with trees and play areas (like Hiawatha). Ercolini is nice, but on a sunny day there are too many people there for the size of the space and there are no trees for shade…
My husband would love a pub-style restaurant with a play space for the kids (I’ve seen these with an outdoor kid playspace in villages in europe).
I’ve heard about a cafe in Queen Anne called Twirl cafe where you pay $8.00 an hour for them to watch your child in their play space while you can have lunch/coffee, etc… haven’t been there, but that’s an interesting idea… anyone been there?
My west seattle wish: I’d like a drop-off childcare educational based play space for kids 6 and under where you pay by the hour– a place where kids can play, and do activities (no tv watching), and parents can pay by the hour so they can get errands done or go out to dinner while their kids are having fun and kept safe.
April 25, 2011 at 4:36 pm #722965
JoBParticipantDP…
it’s too easy to judge based on appearances…
i don’t find that a weird concept…
but then perhaps you are right
i have always walked to the beat of a different drummer.
April 27, 2011 at 10:10 pm #722966
AiMiParticipantRat City is improving,I would not stroll around with the kids though, too many fricking fast drivers. Our toddlers play at the parks in the summer, but it’s still too cold now for this time of year.
my wish: parent-children playground with fingers food, something like Kid’s Cove with a food court nearby.
April 28, 2011 at 7:29 pm #722967
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