University District

While the name of this neighborhood obviously suggests a college-centric community, Seattle’s University District (often nicknamed the “U-District”) is a suitable neighborhood for many types of people, not only students. At the same time, it would not be right to describe this area without including the University of Washington. Founded in 1861, UW is one of the oldest universities in the Northwest, as well as the largest. This does mean that many local businesses and apartment residents do cater to the college crowd and display a good amount of Husky pride.

The U-District is one of the most conveniently located neighborhoods in Seattle. It is bordered by I-5, which can easily reach downtown Seattle going southbound, while northbound I-5 is a quick way to get up to the Northgate area for shopping and entertainment. It is also one of the most extensive bus hubs in the city, with an enormous number of routes servicing the area, making it very simple to get to downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill, Northgate, Sand Point, the Eastside, and more. Furthermore, public transportation users are in for a treat in 2016, when the Sound Transit Light Rail project is supposed to be finished; this area will be linked with Capitol Hill, downtown Seattle, Rainier Valley, and Sea-Tac Airport.

The University of Washington draws people from all over the nation as well as the world, resulting in a melting pot community. University Way, known as “The Ave” to locals, is one of the neighborhood’s main thoroughfares and is a perfect example of the diversity the U-District has to offer. The Ave and its surrounding streets are home to myriad restaurants offering affordable cuisine from all over the globe; there is especially an abundance of Asian fare, notably Thai and Japanese. A number of bookstores, both new and used, also line the streets, as well as clothing boutiques, imported goods shops, coffeeshops, and bars. While the restaurants and shops are welcoming to all ages, most of the nightlife to be found in the U-District is very college-oriented, and patrons who have matured past the freshly-21 crowd may find themselves more at home in the neighboring areas of Wallingford and Ravenna. Venturing further from the Ave and campus area, a more upscale, commercial experience can be found at University Village, a large outdoor mall containing a wide variety of shops and restaurants.

Entertainment and recreation in the U-District is not limited to eating and shopping. The neighborhood has six movie theaters which play a mix of mainstream, arthouse, and foreign films. It is also home to a handful of live comedy and improv clubs, and the UW School of Drama often puts on high quality theatre productions at low ticket costs, open to the public. The university also hosts many live music events throughout the year, both student-based and professional, once again open to the public. A community feature not to be missed is the University District Farmer’s Market, Seattle’s oldest and largest neighborhood market, offering a cornucopia of fresh produce, baked goods, botanicals, and more. For sports fans, Husky Stadium provides a whirlwind of college sports viewing opportunities. Athletes will also appreciate the U-District’s proximity to the Burke-Gilman Trail, a popular trail for cyclists, walkers, and runners which is also a very efficient mode of commuting throughout the city. The U-District offers plenty of outdoor spaces, such as Ravenna Park (which has a playground, ballfields, tennis courts, and a jogging trail). For a more unique experience, the UW Waterfront Activities Center provides canoe and rowboat rentals to the public.

This neighborhood has other educational venues besides the UW itself. For younger students there is the University Child Development School, the University Cooperative School, and the Jewish MMSC Day School. On the topic of religion, the University District possesses a large and diverse collection of places to worship.  University Presbyterian Church, University Lutheran Church, and University Christian Church are just a few of the most popular Christian churches in the area. For those of the Jewish faith, there are Chabad House and Hillel UW, among others. For those in search of a diverse experience in an accessible area of Seattle, University District may be the ideal neighborhood. While the University of Washington is the setting for many exciting activities and opportunities, anyone – not only students – can gain a valuable cultural education while living in this bountiful community.