A local’s guide to Seattle
- By Seth Sommerfeld
- Photos by Hayley Young
Seattle’s tucked-away location in the northwest corner of the country has always bred a brand of isolationist cool that can’t be manufactured. It’s given creative people a freedom to blossom slowly outside the nation’s gaze and has led to culture-shaping music and tech.
Although the prevailing stereotypes of the city still have not moved far past “rainy grunge place where they throw fish,” there’s much hidden under our winter’s gray clouds. While the booming tech industry is, unfortunately, driving out artistic types who traditionally lent Seattle its style and sound, it has also boosted the culinary scene. And there are still plenty of weird nooks of delight to discover, if you know where to look. The all-too-real “Seattle Freeze” might prevent us from being the most outwardly welcoming city. But play it cool and you’ll blend right in.
Meet Seth Sommerfeld
Seth has lived in Seattle since 2011. He was born and raised in Billings, Mont., with collegiate pit stops in Spokane, Wash., and Syracuse (go Zags, though) along the way. You can probably run into him at a concert.
Want to get in touch?
Email bytheway@washpost.comStay
Explore more of Seattle
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- The “original Starbucks” in Pike Place Market isn’t actually the original location. That one closed in the 1970s. Also, many of us can’t forgive Howard Schultz for selling the NBA’s Seattle SuperSonics to owners who moved the team to Oklahoma City.
- If you go to either of the two brick-and-mortar Amazon Books stores, you’re dead to us.
- To many Seattleites, umbrellas are a sign of weakness. If you want to give yourself away as a tourist, use an umbrella.
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