"Cheap Bastard" recommends Wallingford freebies

By Tyler Steele

Humor writer and Wedgwood resident David Volk has released “The Cheap Bastard’s Guide to Seattle,” the latest travel book in a national series targeted at not only tourists but locals looking to have fun without breaking the bank.

“I think it’s for everyone in Seattle,” Volk said while relaxing at Ravenna’s Espresso Express. “Times are tough, and it doesn’t look like things are changing anytime soon. It’s really all about doing the things you’d already do  for less, and working within the system while having a good time doing it.”

After the series received commercial success in New York, Chicago and Boston, Globe Pequot Press decided to tackle the Northwest.

“We needed an insider’s perspective for the book,” Editorial Director Amy Lyons said by phone from Guilford, Connecticut.  “This one is very much for the person that lives in Seattle.”

“I’m the perfect person to do this book because I know how to pinch pennies till they scream,” declared Volk, who makes his living as a freelance journalist. “I wrote about what I’ve been doing for years — surviving on cheap haircuts and happy hours.”

A resident of Seattle for the last 20 years, Volk highlighted some of his favorite places for inexpensive and free entertainment in Wallingford:

• Wallingford Art Walk on the first Wednesday of every month:  The event also features live music, artist demonstrations, a youth art contest, a raffle, restaurant discounts, and…rickshaws.  The walk goes from 6 to 9 p.m.  In early 2010, the event expanded to a year-round schedule (pg.216).
• Wallingford Wednesday Farmers Market at 1815 N. 45^th St.:  Fortunately, there’s an option for people who love to try and buy from local producers and those who just can’t be bothered to run the gauntlet down to Pike Place (pg.100-101).
• Meridian Park at 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N.:  Adults also like the park because it’s home to Seattle Tilth, a non-profit organization that teaches people how to garden organically.  None of its classes are free, but it does hold a free harvest festival in September (pg.131).

Tyler Steele is an intern for our sister site PhinneyWood.  He is a journalism student at the University of Washington.  Read more of Tyler’s interview with David Volk on Wedgwood View.