New in town? Let hyperlocal sites, Twitter and iPhone apps be your guide

Exploring Seattle

Starting over in a new city is a daunting task. As overwhelming as unpacking can be, it’s even more overwhelming to feel lost when looking for basic amenities like good Chinese food.

Fortunately, as a tech-savvy millennial, I’ve got a ton of hyperlocal sites and social media tools at my disposal. A variety of free applications have had a huge impact on my move and my adjustment to Seattle.

Before making the 3,000-mile move from Charlotte to Seattle in June, I used Craigslist to weed through rental listings and set up showings for our apartment-hunting trip. I created a Google Map that defined the area where we wanted to live, then mapped each prospective apartment to make sure it fell within our boundaries. I used Google Maps Street View to investigate apartment listings, particularly the ones that sounded too good to be true, like that adorable bungalow overlooking Lake Union that just happens to be located under the interstate.

Now that I’m in Seattle, I chronicle life in my new city on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Vimeo so that my friends and family around the world can see what I’m up to. I also joined Seattle’s professional groups on LinkedIn so I can find out about networking events and opportunities.

I read the Wallyhood blog daily and learn something new about my neighborhood each time. As my boyfriend and I walk around Wallingford or Green Lake, I find myself sharing tidbits I learned on Wallyhood. “Did you know a new restaurant is opening there?” I’ll say. “There was a car break-in on that street last night,” I’ll point out. People typically find hyperlocal news interesting when it’s hyperlocal to them. It’s true – I don’t care all that much about a car break-in 10 miles away. But I definitely care about stereos being snatched from cars a couple blocks from my apartment.

Then there’s the sometimes-frustrating task of figuring out where to go for dinner or drinks. Trying new restaurants and bars is fun, but I occasionally miss the confidence that comes with going to a familiar favorite. I search Yelp reviews before going to most new places and find myself evaluating restaurants based on their average ratings because there are just too many varied reviews to wade through. Although Yelp isn’t the only factor in my decision-making process, I doubt I’d go to a place with a rating lower than three stars. (Disclosure: I worked for Yelp last year as a Charlotte scout.) When I’m on the go, I use the Yelp and Urbanspoon iPhone apps to sort through the vast offerings of restaurants and bars. When I’m overwhelmed by the hundreds of Thai restaurants listed on Yelp, I welcome the randomness and simplicity of the Urbanspoon app.

Twitter has been a much better resource than I ever expected. I follow hyperlocal bloggers from Fremont, Ballard and Capitol Hill to find out what’s going on in nearby neighborhoods. How else would I have known to go watch a record-breaking zombie flash mob in Fremont? I follow CitySearch Seattle and GoTime Seattle, which often tweets about which happy hours going on right now and upcoming concerts. (I just downloaded GoTime’s Happy Hours and Nightlife iPhone apps, which I’m excited to try out.) Tweets from Seattle’s magazines, journalists and niche sites help keep me informed about city news and cool events. I also rely on my Twitter followers and Facebook friends. When I post updates asking for suggestions about restaurants or activities for out-of-town guests, my followers/friends respond with good recommendations.

And when all else fails, I seek advice from Brenna. She’s that knowledgeable friend who can tell you the best drink specials, when chicken is on sale at QFC, which hair stylist to trust and which boutique has the nicest employees. Brenna is the perfect type of person to contribute to sites like BargainBabeLA.com, which is powered by Serra Media’s Townluxe platform. Some day soon, I’ll have just as much Seattle knowledge to share with others. But I doubt my habits will change. Now that I’m hooked, I’ll always scour Twitter for good finds, get neighborhood news from hyperlocal blogs and research nearby restaurants on my iPhone.

- Amy Rainey