LivinginSeattle–GettingtoknowtheneighborhoodsSeattleisacityofneighborhoods,eachwithitsownuniquecharacter.Therearesomethatarethemostpopularwithgradstudentsandtheyare(WesttoEast):Ballard,Fremont,Wallingford,GreenLake,CapitolHill,TheUDistrict,andRavenna.Theyarejustafewofmanyawesomeoptionsinthecity.            Ballard'sworkingwaterfrontprovidesviewsofathrivingmaritimeindustryandisthehomebasetothe

NorthPacificFishingFleet.Recentdevelopmenthasturnedthisonceblue‐collarenclaveintoahip,urbanvillage,butBallardstillmaintainsapedestrian‐friendlyatmosphere.OnBallardAve,anationallyregisteredhistoricdistrict,therearetrendyrestaurants,boutiques,andanactivenightlife.There’salsofreshproduceyear‐roundattheexcellentBallardSundayFarmersMarket.MarketStreetisBallard'smodernbusinessdistrictandhasgreatshops,theater,urbanparksandahostofrestaurants,manyfeaturingsidewalkcafés.Favorites:HappyHourat“TheMatador”;cinnamonbreadfrom“TheGrateful

Bread”;first‐runmoviesattheold‐timey“MajesticBayTheater”Fremontistheself‐proclaimed“CenteroftheUniverse”andfeaturesabohemian,offbeatlifestyle.CometoFremontifyoufeeltheneedformoreexcitementinyourlife.Oneglanceattheneighborhood’scalendarand

you’llseethereisalwaysapartyhere.Themainbusinessdistricthasahugevarietyofdifferenteateries,abrewery,aFairTradechocolatefactory,andaccesstooneofthebestsectionsoftheBurkeGilman–rightalongtheShipCanal.Withexcellentrestaurants,nightlife,avarietyoflivingchoices(homes,condos,townhomes,apartments)thisisagreatplacetocallhome.Fremontalsohasaprofessionalside‐companieslikeAdobeSystems,Google,andGettyImageshavechosenFremontastheirSeattleheadquarters.Favorites:Over50beertapsat“Brouwer’s”pub;thefreetastingroomat“Theo

Chocolate”;Russianpotatodumplingsat“Pel’MeniDumplingTzar”  

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  Wallingford hasanicemixofdown‐home,been‐here‐foreverplacesandtrendy,excitingplaces.Thebusiest

areaisalong45thStreet,whichisalwaysbustlingwithactivityaspeoplevisittheever‐changinglineupofrestaurants,bars,andshops.Fartherfromtheactionliestheresidentialareawithsomeprettycoololdhomes.Onthesouthend,WallingfordbordersthewaterandboastspopularGasworksPark,agreatplacetoplayFrisbeeandwatchthesunsetovertheSeattleskyline.Favorites:“Dick’s”drive‐inburgersand$1fries;“Chocolati”chocolatecafé;sorbetandgelatoat“FaintingGoat”gelato;locally‐madeartandclothingat“Wish”boutique

 Green LakeisahighlypopularneighborhoodbecauseofitscloseproximitytodowntownSeattleandthe

greatnumberofthingstodothere.Thepeopleherelovetogetoutside,whetherit’sjusttowalktothelibraryorgrabdinner,orheaddowntoGreenLakeparkforarun.Themostpopularactivitiesrevolvearoundthelakeitselfandincludewalkingorjoggingaroundthe2.8‐miletrack,rentingkayaks,orplayinginoneofthemanysportsleaguesthatmeethere.Thereisn’tahugenightlifescenehere,althoughyoucouldtakecountrylinedancinglessonsorcatchalivebandonFridaynightsatthepub.Favorites:Thelake;“Forza”coffeecompanywithaviewofthelake…

Capitol Hillisfunkyandfast‐paced,withanendlessnumberofcoolblockstoexploreandeasybusaccess.Duringtheday,markets,boutiques,andsalonsareabigdraw.Nightlifeishoppingwithclubs,bars,andmusic

venues,andyou’lloftenfindcoffeeshopsandrestaurantsthatmoonlightascocktaillounges.Individualityandfashionstatementsareencouraged,andtherealwaysseemstobesomesortofblockpartyorcommunityforumtoencourageresidentsandvisitorstomixandmingle.CapitolHillresidentsarediverse,andinthepastfewdecades,thepopulationoftheLGBTcommunityhasgrownquiteabit;it’snotuncommontoseerainbowflagsdisplayedproudly.Favorites:Craftbeersat“TheElysianBrewingCo.”;swingdancingat“TheCenturyBallroom”;thecrystalpalaceconservatoryat“VolunteerPark”;clubbingat“Neighbors”

TheUniversity Districtisaneclecticmixofurbanshoppingareas,historichomes,gooddiningdeals,andstudentnightlife.The“UDistrict”hasayouthful(46%ofitsresidentsareintheir20s)andrelaxedfeel,and“TheAve”(UniversityWay)isapopulargatheringplace,withlotsofindieeateriesandfunkyshops.MuchofthegraduatehousingprovidedthroughtheUWisintheUDistrict,andmanyoftheundergraduateslivingoff‐campusoptforhousinghere,anareathatisalsohometotheUniversity’sGreekhouses.Favorites:Sweetandsavorybiscuitsat“Nook”restaurant;brunchat“PortageBayCafé”;browsingattheindependently‐runUniversityBookstore

 RavennaisaquieterneighborhoodthanitsUDistrictneighbor,withavibethatsays“Wewanttobeinon

thefun,butwedon’twantittokeepusupatnight.”Ithasasmall,usefuldowntownon65thandalsoboastspeacefulhikingtrailsinRavennaParkandthepopularUniversityVillageshoppingcenter.ThisoutdoormallishometoafullspectrumofusefulandfunstoresfromCrateandBarreltoH&M,BananaRepublic,AppleandWindowsstores,J.Crew,anddozensmore.Favorites:“BoomNoodle”inUniversityVillage;diner‐stylesandwichesat“TheVarsity”on65th;settlinginwithagoodbook(orpaper)at“ThirdPlaceBooks”

     Information adapted from visitseattle.org and The Seattle Neighborhood Guide