Diva Hood: Ballard

Emi Meyer at the Ballard Farmers Market. Thanks to Dana Landon and It's My Darlin' for the Photo!

Ballard is a small village onto itself nestled in Northwest Seattle. Tucked up over the ship canal and way west of I-5, Ballard used to be the quiet inexpensive hood where one would hunker down to raise a family. But that was 1995. Fast forward to 2011 Ballard is not the quiet little hood it used to be. Currently it is one of the most populated hoods in the city with about a 50/50 split of renters & owners. Gone are the Norwegian gift shops and Swedish pancake places (although there are few small remnants of Ballard’s past still around). They have been replaced with Parisian style boutiques, chic restaurants, art galleries and bars a plenty. Folks who are traveling to Seattle often ask the Divas where they should go for live music, cute shops, fabulous bistros, a happening scene, quaint homes, etc. Often our answer is “Go to Ballard!”

As a really young kid my family would travel to Seattle from a little town in Oregon and stay with an uncle who lived in Ballard. Back then it was a land of cheap rentals and a spot for my fisherman uncle to share housing with other working class folks. As Seattle has changed so has Ballard. From Swedish pancakes to farmer’s market slow food cuisine and from fishermen to recreational boater. As Ballard goes – so does Seattle!

Personally, I love Ballard for their year round Farmers Market, one of the biggest in the city. Walking through the rows of stands, I love nabbing a few pounds of baby turnips and a Salmon from our one of our fav Diva Deals folks – Loki Fish Company. It makes my Sunday come alive.

Diva pal Dana Landon from the local fashion blog It’s My Darlin’ captured what I think is today’s vision of Ballard at the Farmers market. Outside of a organic produce stand she found singer song writer Emi Myer. I adore her vintage coat with her little brown boots as she strolls through the market. Quintessential cute gal in Ballard on a Sunday!