Seattle?

[daniellaaarisen]

So I'll be living there the next five years of my life (unless a miracle happens and my parents decide to pay for NYU).

Thoughts on the city? Advice? Good spots to visit (food, coffee, music venues, etc)? What do I need to know?

[LukeA]

Are you going to have a car? Seattle's public transportation is below average for a metropolis of its size & density. The famous monorail exists mainly for show/historical artifact, their light rail is still in its infancy, and the buses are, well... buses. Individual neighborhoods aside, its not a very walkable city (AKA Boston) in general. There are several nice neighborhoods in the city- I like the Phinney Ridge neighborhood, FWIW.

Seattle likes to think of itself as the capital-of-everything of the Northwest, so the restaurant scene is halfway decent by default. Plenty of bars, cool concert venues. There are also ferries to scenic places like Whidbey Island, which I've heard are cool.

Nothing too original (especially coming from San Francisco, geez- tough road to follow), but better than most cities all the same. Even a half-assed Vancouver, BC is better than pretty much anywhere else!

[daniellaaarisen]

Originally Posted by LukeA

Are you going to have a car? Seattle's public transportation is below average for a metropolis of its size & density. The famous monorail exists mainly for show/historical artifact, their light rail is still in its infancy, and the buses are, well... buses. Individual neighborhoods aside, its not a very walkable city (AKA Boston) in general. There are several nice neighborhoods in the city- I like the Phinney Ridge neighborhood, FWIW.

Seattle likes to think of itself as the capital-of-everything of the Northwest, so the restaurant scene is halfway decent by default. Plenty of bars, cool concert venues. There are also ferries to scenic places like Whidbey Island, which I've heard are cool.

Nothing too original (especially coming from San Francisco, geez- tough road to follow), but better than most cities all the same. Even a half-assed Vancouver, BC is better than pretty much anywhere else!

I doubt I'll have my car.... but Capitol Hill is in a relatively central location right? Will it be easy to get to some cool places from that area?

Yeah, I don't think anything will ever beat San Francisco in my mind.... I just love that city way too much. But I liked Seattle from my visit and hopefully it'll grow on me in the next five years.

[Dodfather]

I have a friend who was born and raised in Seattle and is now living in the UK - he still LOVES Seattle though! I'm meeting him in a couple of hours and so will ask him for some tips. Which part of the city will you be living n?

[hayley]

Luke's a cranky pants about Seattle, nothing's as cool as Portland, blah blah blah.

The light rail is getting better, their bus system is okay. One of my best friends moved there about a year and a half ago, I like to know what's going on in his city so I subscribe to Slog, I'd recommend checking it out. Seattle's big free weekly is The Stranger, Slog is their blog - they have a lot of posts / reviews / recommendations for shows, happy hours, restaurant reviews, etc. - http://slog.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/

[David]

There is imminent peril for those who live in Seattle.

[Tango]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

Thoughts on the city? What do I need to know?

This song: 'the bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle . . . .'

[LukeA]

Dani, the Capitol Hill neighborhood is quite nice- you'll enjoy it. Convenient enough to downtown, plenty of things to see/do in walking distance, etc.

Originally Posted by hayley

Luke's a cranky pants about Seattle, nothing's as cool as Portland, blah blah blah.

Nope! Just being even handed There are plenty of things to like about Seattle. Its in the Pacific Northwest- that's about as built in of an inherent advantage as you can get. Its perfect for people who like Portland but wish it was more like Los Angeles (for better or worse)

[Dodfather]

Hey Dani,

Here's some info from my buddy from Seattle:

There are great restaurants along Pike street. My favorite greek gyro restaurant is there.

The Public Market is fantastic. I recommend going there to get mini-doughnuts, and then skip down to Spice Market (a tea store in the Public Market) and get a free sample of spice tea.

Kells is plastic paddy bar to try out along there.

Also, there's a great little french restaurant right by the market called Campagne.

Oh, and Pike Place Brewery makes some fantastic microbrews.

Further, I suggest going down to Pioneer Place, there's a great Underground Tour to take, plus lots of great little shops (artsy type shops including great record stores) and some restaurants.

Check out tons of great coffee shops (including the original Starbuck's on Pike Street).

Teriyaki is always good to try just about everywhere.

[nailatixela]

Originally Posted by David

There is imminent peril for those who live in Seattle.

I wonder if Dani thought about this when considering what college she would attend.

Pretty major factor.

[Ghost_Tracker]

Originally Posted by daniellaaarisen

So I'll be living there the next five years of my life (unless a miracle happens and my parents decide to pay for NYU).

Thoughts on the city? Advice? Good spots to visit (food, coffee, music venues, etc)? What do I need to know?

Well first of all, congratulations!


Okay so - - - I went to Seattle once with my family - there's a restaurant there which is at the top of a tower - it's circular, and it rotates! I don't remember the name of it; but it's famous enough that I think you'll probably hear about it automatically when you get there. Anyway I don't know about the food - it was so long ago that I don't remember that - but it's worth going to simply 'cause the rotating view is so cool! .....

[vivfox]

Originally Posted by Ghost_Tracker

I went to Seattle once with my family - there's a restaurant there which is at the top of a tower - it's circular, and it rotates! I don't remember the name of it; but it's famous enough that I think you'll probably hear about it automatically when you get there. Anyway I don't know about the food - it was so long ago that I don't remember that - but it's worth going to simply 'cause the rotating view is so cool! .....

The Space Needle?

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by Dodfather

Hey Dani,

Here's some info from my buddy from Seattle:

There are great restaurants along Pike street. My favorite greek gyro restaurant is there.

The Public Market is fantastic. I recommend going there to get mini-doughnuts, and then skip down to Spice Market (a tea store in the Public Market) and get a free sample of spice tea.

Kells is plastic paddy bar to try out along there.

Also, there's a great little french restaurant right by the market called Campagne.

Oh, and Pike Place Brewery makes some fantastic microbrews.

Further, I suggest going down to Pioneer Place, there's a great Underground Tour to take, plus lots of great little shops (artsy type shops including great record stores) and some restaurants.

Check out tons of great coffee shops (including the original Starbuck's on Pike Street).

Teriyaki is always good to try just about everywhere.

Okay, well, if we're talking about touristy things, you can't miss Beecher's Cheese near Pike Place. I'm addicted to their Mac & Cheese.

[Zombie]

Originally Posted by vivfox

The Space Needle?

Yeah. I would not recommend eating there when there are so many other awesome places to eat, but I suppose it's okay for a tourist-y thing one time.

My sister & I try to get out to Kokoras on California Ave whenever possible, because...yum. If you like Greek food, that is an excellent place to get it.

Duke's Chowder House has best chowder in the city. We always go to the one on Alki Ave SW, but they have another location closer to downtown.

And if you like pho, walk you into a What the Pho? somewheres, partly because the noodles are good & decently priced and partly because it's called What the Pho? and that makes me smile.

I will come back when I remember where else I eat things when I am out there.

[desertangel]

You probably know about the rain. It is serious.. long-lasting, days on end rain for weeks and months. Takes some getting used to. If you don't love coffee, you will. Being that you're in central California, you may not have too much trouble with SAD, but then again, you might...so, coffee. Jimi Hendrix is buried up there so you will be in good company. LOL! Say high to him for me.