Stevens (Capitol Hill)

Are you ready for the ultimate Seattle running challenge? Try to run up any of the crazy steep hills in Stevens.

If youre not feeling the 25% grade (for real), you can head over to the arboretum, which is a really peaceful place to put in a few miles.

There are tons of paths in the Arboretum, but the park is long and narrow, so even if you dont have a map and just run wherever you feel like, you probably wont get lost. There are a couple main paths that run lengthwise (north/south), and these tend to be the busiest. But you can also explore a bunch of small trails branching off from those paths that wind around the different parts of the park. Thats generally the best option if its a hot sunny day, because the smaller paths have more shade and less people.

I like to run from one end to the other and back, maybe twice if Im feeling ambitious. Running through Marsh Island keeps it interesting, but last time I went there, there was a ton of construction getting back from East Montlake Park. If you run out to the Foster Island part of the park, you can wade into the water to cool off.

There are also a bunch of good restaurants in this part of the hill, so sometimes Ill get lunch afterwards. I like Vios Caf on Aloha because its super quick, amazing Greek food. They also have a little store that is kinda cool. Oh yeah, and the gelato. Which to be honest is the real reason I come here haha.

I like chilling in the Stevens part of Cap Hill before I go out for a show. Its a lot more laid back than the rest of the hill, and there are a ton of good restaurants, especially on 15th and on Madison.

You should check these ones out:

Luc is pretty low key, just have pizza and burgers, nothing too fancy. Good for a quick meal with some buddies.

Anchovies and Olives is probably my fave around here. They have seafood and tapas. The oyster happy hour is awesome. Its another Ethan Stowell restaurant so no surprise that its goodhes pretty much got the best reputation in Seattle. This one isnt too overpriced like some of his other places. Bonus!

Ernest Loves Agnus is a new restaurant opened by some of the Guild Seattle people. There was a lot of hype surrounding it when it opened last summer, and its not bad. But they only do dinner, plus brunch on the weekends. The happy hour is definitely worth it. The reason for the name is that apparently Ernest Hemmingway fell in love with a nurse called Agnus in Italy during WWI. Thats why its Italian food. The only sad part about this restaurant is that its in the old Kingfish caf building, which was SO GOOD. It closed last year.

Coastal Kitchen is where I go when I want breakfast for dinner. Or for Tuesday happy hour because they have $1 oysters from Taylor Shellfish Farms. Get your noms on.

How can I best explain what Stevens feels like?
Hmmm. Ok, go with me on this one. A few years ago, I went to the Grand Canyon. When we got to the South Rim, there were *hundreds* of tourists snapping pictures at the canyon’s edge next to the gift store. The number of selfies happening was slightly appalling. But our destination was not the gift store. It was a hike, and the trailhead began just about 100 feet away from the milling crowd. We started down the trail, and the canyon began to unfold before us. Literally within two minutes, we were nearly alone. It was gorgeous. All the tourists were still at the top, none bothering to take a walk down the trail right under their noses. All the better for us!

This is what Stevens is like, as compared to the main Capitol Hill area on Broadway. Full of amenities, yet refreshingly absent of selfie-snapping crowds, even though it’s only a few blocks from the (fun) madness that is the Pike/Pine corridor.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love downtown Capitol Hill. But when you want something a bit quieter, head to Steven’s. It somehow maintains a smidge of the small town vibe, despite being in the heart of the city.

Stevens is Bounded in the south by Madison Street, which has quite a few buses going through. Very convenient. To the north and east is the Arboretum, a gem of a park. And the western boundary of Stevens is simply the top of Capitol Hill, at 15th ave, which includes the large Volunteer Park.

It’s important to note that this is the top of the hill for two reasons. 1. You are more likely to successfully survive a tsunami (everyone’s been talking about this since the New Yorker article came out this year). So you’re on the safe side of the hill! Good work. And 2. The streets running east/west suddenly get very, very steep, as you head back down the hill. In fact, you can take a trip to Seattle’s steepest paved street here! It’s Roy Street, between 25th and 26th ave, at 26% grade. I dare you to try to sprint up it.

Most of Stevens is residential, with a blend of lowrise apartments, condos, and single-family homes. Because of this, you’ll find quite a few families, who like the quieter side of the hill. Most elementary kids attend Stevens Elementary School, though some on the eastern boundary are in McGilvra Elementary’s territory. Next, they’ll go to Washington Middle School, and finally, the large Garfield High School.

What about those amenities? Most restaurants and shops are on either 15th or Madison. There are dozens of options, and it’s fun getting to know them.

Some of my favorite places are:

--Ada’s Technical Bookstore and Café: This is nerd heaven. They have a fun and informative selection of technical books, with topics ranging from physics to coding to psychology, to fantasy, to comics. Just my style. I love working from here as well, while sipping one of their coffees.
--Canterbury Ale House: A cozy, unpretentious pub that draws you in on dreary days. Plus, it’s castle-themed! You get to combine your inner kid by being in a castle with your outer grown-up by drinking beer.
--Araya’s Place: As a vegetarian, I love this Thai place. Great value for lunch too.
--Volunteer Park Café: This one’s a bit out on it’s own, away from the other restaurants, next to (of course) Volunteer Park. I’d recommend a lazy weekend brunch and a stroll in the park afterwards.

One of the advantages of living in Seattle is that most anywhere you go you can see water, which is why it’s known as a port city. The Steven’s area is one of the areas that sees no water, but doesn’t lack the charm of a Seattle neighborhood; its charm is why it’s such a great place to visits. Who needs water when you have restaurants galore and funky and fun shops?

Coastal Kitchen is a must when you are in the Steven’s area. Known for fish this restaurant has a home kitchen feel with its old tables and friendly wait staff, the food is to die for and the service is the best. It blows away any of the other area restaurants.

Interlaken Park is a must when in the area, it’s over 51 acres of wooded area it’s a little piece of wilderness in Steven’s backyard. It’s not much of a place to have a picnic or to play catch with the dog, but there are great hiking and biking trails for those people in the city who want to get away without getting away.