c/everett-wa

My $40 rain barrel from the city program is already paying off this spring

I picked up one of those discounted rain barrels from the Everett public works sale back in March for like $40. Hooked it up under a downspout in my backyard last weekend and after that big storm Thursday it filled up in just a few hours. Used that water yesterday to soak my tomatoes and peppers instead of turning on the hose. Has anyone else tried these city rain barrels or know if they do another sale later this year?

PSA: Don't pay for that premium parking pass near the marina

I dropped $150 on a "guaranteed" spot by the Everett Marina for the summer, ended up fighting for space every weekend anyway. The free lot a block west had openings like 80% of the time, total waste of cash. Anyone else get burned by those overpriced parking schemes?

Can we talk about how much harder it is to find a decent parking spot near the waterfront now?

I swear, five years ago I could just roll up to the marina lot on a Saturday afternoon and grab a spot within a few minutes. Now, especially after they redid that whole area off Marine View Drive, it's a total zoo. Last weekend I circled for 25 minutes before I gave up and parked way over by the community college. What happened to the old lot that used to be behind the Grand Avenue Pub? Did they just get rid of it for those new condos? Has anyone else had better luck on the side streets off Pacific?

Tried running the Snohomish River Trail after dark last week and almost tripped over a beaver

I was out past 9pm near the Legion Park entrance and that thing scurried right across my path, has anyone else run into random wildlife on that trail at night?

I finally figured out why my car kept overheating at the Smokey Point Walmart lot

Sat there for 20 mins after shopping last Saturday watching steam pour out, then this old guy walks over and points out my radiator cap was loose. Anybody else had random strangers save them from a tow truck bill?

Changed my mind about taking the bus to work

I used to think taking Community Transit was a waste of time compared to driving. Then my buddy Dave pointed out I was spending $180 a month on parking alone downtown. He showed me his bus pass cost $68 for the whole month. I tried it for two weeks and found I could read or nap instead of stressing in traffic. Now I actually look forward to the morning commute. Has anyone else switched from driving to the bus around here?

Got a $200 pressure washer from Costco and it barely cleaned my driveway

I bought a cheap electric pressure washer last month thinking it would save me money, but it took me three hours to do what a gas one could do in 30 minutes. Anyone else have better luck with a specific brand around here?

PSA: That old roofer on Broadway told me to stop using a torch on flat roofs...

I was up on a job near the Everett marina last Thursday, doing a TPO membrane repair. An old roofer who was walking his dog stopped and said I was making a mistake using a torch for the seam welds. He said it weakens the material over time and I'd be back in two years. I brushed him off at first, figured he was just old school. But then I did some research that night and found out he was totally right for this type of roof. The heat creates micro-cracks that lead to leaks. I switched to a hot air welder the next day and it worked way smoother. Has anyone else had an old timer give you advice that actually saved you a headache?

Used to fight morning traffic on I-5 to get to my desk job downtown

Switched to starting my shift at 6am last winter and now I breeze through Everett in 15 minutes flat. Anyone else find a weird schedule that actually works better around here?

Showerthought: The new coffee shop on Colby has the best espresso in town

I stopped into that little place called Anchor & Bean yesterday morning before heading to work. Their latte art was nice but man, that espresso shot was smooth with zero bitterness. I've been getting my coffee from the chain places for years and never realized what I was missing. Has anyone else given them a try yet?

Lost my keys at the Everett marina last Saturday and found them with a trick

I was dropping off crab pots at the 10th Street boat launch and dropped my keys right into the gravel. After 20 minutes of digging around, I used a strong magnet from my tackle box to sweep the area and pulled them up from under a rock. Has anyone else used a magnet for lost metal stuff around here?

That coffee shop on Hewitt had a sign about the weather that stopped me cold

I was grabbing a cup at The Bistro last Wednesday and they had this little handwritten note by the register that said 'average annual rainfall in Everett is 37 inches, but we get 158 days of measurable precipitation a year.' It hit me that those numbers mean most of our rain is just a light mist rather than a downpour. Made me think about how I always complain about the drizzle but really it's why everything stays so green around here. Has anyone else noticed how many overcast days we actually get versus heavy storms?

Trying to find parking near the waterfront on a weekend is impossible now

I used to just roll down to the marina area on a Saturday morning and find a spot no problem. But around last summer, I noticed it got brutal - I circled for 25 minutes near the Port of Everett lot. Now I either go at 7 AM or just give up and park like half a mile away. Has anyone else just stopped going down there on weekends because of the parking situation?

Spent three hours trying to get a permit for a shed in my backyard

The Everett city website said it was a simple online form, but the zoning map was wrong for my block near 19th and Rucker. I had to call four different offices and wait on hold for over an hour total just to get the right paperwork. Anyone else hit a wall with city permits that should have been easy?

Rant: The parking lot at the Everett Costco is a total mess right now

They've got half of it blocked off for repaving, so everyone is crammed into the other side and it took me 15 minutes just to find a spot yesterday.

TIL a trick for getting through the Everett DMV line faster

Honestly, I went right at 2:30 on a Wednesday after hearing that tip and was out in under 20 minutes. Anyone know if the Smokey Point location is any better?

Remember when the Everett Mall was the only real shopping spot?

I used to drive from Mukilteo just to hit the Everett Mall for everything, clothes, shoes, even groceries at the old Safeway. It was packed every weekend. Then they built that big shopping center up by I-5 with Target and all the other stores. I gave the mall a shot for a few more months out of habit, but the selection kept getting worse and the place felt empty. Switched to doing my main shopping up at the new center about a year ago and it's just easier. Parking is simpler, I can get everything in one trip, and the stores actually have what I need. The mall feels like a ghost town now compared to how it was. Anyone else make that switch and notice how much time it saves?

Just found out how many people live in Everett now

I was looking at some city data online yesterday and saw the 2023 population estimate. It's over 111,000 people now... I guess I just still think of it as a smaller town. That's a big jump from the 110,000 or so I remember from a few years back. Makes you wonder where everyone's moving in from. Has anyone else noticed it feeling more crowded lately?

Just realized how much I've been missing out by not walking the Lowell Riverfront Trail more often

Last week, I was stuck at home with a bad mood and decided to force myself out for a walk there. I ended up watching a seaplane land on the Snohomish River right as the sun was setting behind the train yard. It was one of those perfect Everett moments you don't see from your car. I've lived here for 3 years and basically only drove past that park. What other spots around town have that kind of simple, quiet vibe?

I tried taking the 512 bus to Seattle during rush hour yesterday

I needed to get to a meeting downtown and figured the bus would be easier than driving. I got on at Everett Station around 4:15 PM, thinking it would be busy but manageable. The bus was packed by the time we left, and we hit standstill traffic on I-5 almost immediately. What should have been an hour trip took over two hours. I learned that the afternoon commute from Everett is way worse than I remembered, and my phone died halfway through so I couldn't even check the time. Next time I have an evening appointment, I'm leaving at 3 PM or just working from home. Does anyone have a better strategy for getting to Seattle from here without a car?

The city's new parking meter app crashed right when I needed to pay on Hewitt

I was trying to park near the library on Thursday afternoon to grab a book I had on hold. I opened the app on my phone to pay for an hour, and it just kept spinning and wouldn't load. I stood there for like 10 minutes trying to get it to work before I had to just leave. Ended up parking in a paid lot a few blocks away for 8 bucks. Has the app been glitchy for anyone else lately?

Talking to a barista at Narrative Coffee about the new apartments on Colby

She mentioned how many new people are moving here for the tech jobs, but none of them seem to know about the old Everett shipyards, which made me wonder what else gets lost when a place changes that fast.

Showerthought: The 'Everett' pronunciation debate is actually a north vs south Everett thing

I keep hearing people from Casino Road say 'Ev-er-ett' with three clear syllables, but folks around Grand Avenue Park say 'Ev-rett' like it's two. Which one is actually right, or does it just show what part of town you're from?

Remember that old guy who ran the bait shop on the Everett waterfront? He told me once, 'The river used to be so clear you could see the salmon run from the dock.'

TIL the Everett library's tool loan program is actually pretty solid

I always figured it was just a gimmick, but my pressure washer pump died last week and I needed a socket set to fix it. A guy at the hardware store on Colby told me to just go to the library. They had the exact set, let me borrow it for free for 7 days, and it worked perfectly. No fees, no hassle. Anyone else tried this and know what other tools they have?