Capitol Hill

One of the greatest things about Seattle is its diversity, and no neighborhood embodies this quality with more panache than Capitol Hill. This vibrant area is home to millionaires, starving college students, artists, free-wheeling 20somethings, and close-knit families alike. Almost anyone moving to Seattle can find what they are looking for on Capitol Hill, one of the city’s most densely populated communities.

The actual location of Capitol Hill is unquestionably convenient. The neighborhood is directly east from downtown Seattle, making the downtown shopping and entertainment districts an easy walk downhill from Capitol Hill’s main retail thoroughfare on Broadway Ave. There is no reason to leave Capitol Hill to reach any amenity, however; the neighborhood is bursting at the seams with shops, restaurants, bars, parks, entertainment venues, and anything else a Seattleite could desire. Main dining and retail areas to check out are 19^th, 15^th, 12^th, and the Pike/Pine Corridor.

Capitol Hill is home to one of the trendiest and up-and-coming dining scenes in the city. Everything from French to Spanish to Asian fusion to vegan comfort food can be found here, much of it conveniently served until the wee hours of the morning. The 12^th Avenue area in particular is becoming increasingly trendy, with a new hip restaurant or condo building opening seemingly every week. The bar scene is definitely not lacking either. Capitol Hill’s Pike/Pine corridor is home to a good chunk of these. Quiet wine bars and sophisticated gastropubs boasting extensive Belgian beer lists share the streets with hipster holes blaring rock music. Captiol Hill is also known as the center of Seattle’s LGBT life and is home to the majority of the city’s gay bars and clubs. Of course, it would seem inappropriate to neglect to mention the abundance of coffeehouses in the neighborhood; as can be imagined, there is a coffeeshop on every corner, most of them locally owned and operated. These days the Seattle coffee culture reaches much further than Starbucks, and Capitol Hill is proof of this fact.

A large portion Seattle’s performing arts and live music scene can be found thriving on Capitol Hill. Though the neighborhood is still remembered for its grunge scene in the 1990s, these days numerous live music venues offer everything from indie rock to electronica to folk music to hip-hop. Capitol Hill is also home to two movie theatres, both of which boast beautiful architecture and design and are part of the Landmark Theatres family, meaning they feature independent and art films. These theatres also participate in the Seattle International Film Festival. Luckily for true cinema aficionados, Capitol Hill also offers the Northwest Film Forum. For those who prefer live acting, a handful of fringe theatres operate in the neighborhood.

Capitol Hill is not just for those who want to cavort their way through myriad forms of entertainment, however. The neighborhood is home to a great deal of families, schools, and churches. Many private primary and secondary schools are located here, including Holy Names Academy, Seattle Preparatory School, and St. Joseph School. For older students, Seattle Central Community College is conveniently located in at the intersection of Broadway and Harvard, and the Jesuit Seattle University inhabits the border of Capitol Hill and First Hill. The University of Washington is also quickly and easily accessible through multiple bus lines running through Capitol Hill.  There is no shortage of churches in the community, either. Two of the most well-known and attended are St. Joseph Parish and St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral.  First Pilgrim’s Congregational Church, Westminster Presbyterian Church,  and a handful of Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Ethiopian, and Vietnamese churches are also options. There are no Jewish synagogues on Capitol Hill anymore, but the closest temple is very close, only a short jaunt away to neighboring First Hill.

Finally, though Capitol Hill is one of Seattle’s more urban and dense areas, it boasts many beautiful parks with there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the mild Seattle weather. Beautiful Volunteer Park is over 48 acres and home to a botanical garden/conservatory and the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Cal Anderson Park is popular with families thanks to its fountains, wading pools, and playgrounds. Interlaken Park is heavily wooded and perfect for romantic winter strolls. Roanoke Park, Thomas Street Park, and Louisa Boren Park are also in the neighborhood.

With its combination of entertainment, nightlife, retail, dining, schools, churches, and outdoorsy offerings, Capitol Hill truly has something for everyone and is a colorful neighborhood worth investigating for anyone looking for a new home in the city – old or young, singles or families. This dynamic community is a perfect example of the joys of living in Seattle.