Crabbycrab

Seattle’s University District (or U-District) is buzzing hub of activity with something for everyone. With University of Washington, it’s Medical Center/Hospital and University “Ave” at it’s heart, the U-District features all kinds of activity 24 hours a day. The “Ave” has all kinds of retails stores, theaters and great restaurants, coffee shops and bars.

The neighborhood to the north is calm, fairly quite for an inner city neighborhood and has some nice parks. Ravenna Park is the largest park in the northern park of the neighborhood which has a baseball diamond, a large playground, a vast grassy area and a set of trails that lead southeast to Cowen Park.

The U-District’s western edge runs along Roosevelt and features some nice restaurants and bars. There is also some good shopping in Roosevelt Square, including a Whole Foods.

The area near the university and the “Ave” can be full of panhandlers and junkies at night, but it’s pretty well policed and very safe. The neighborhood is much calmer and absolutely safe. The park has it’s share of nightly residents and is probably best left alone after dark.

50th Ave west of 15th is a major arterial that also happens to be lined with single family homes. With a few commercial corners, it’s mostly used a viaduct between Interstate 5 and the Green Lake, Phinney Ridge and Ballard neighborhoods. There are a few schools near by, and a few parks with access to Woodland Park being the most notable.

University Way, more commonly referred to as “The Ave” or “University Ave,” is the main commercial district near University of Washington. The UW Book Store and Big 5 Sporting goods are the largest businesses on the Ave, but there are also nice restaurants, movie theaters and all sorts of retail businesses. After dark the Ave can become rich with pan-handlers and junkies, but it’ generally well policed and safe.

17th Ave is ground zero for University of Washington’s Greek system. Fraternities and sororities line both side of the street north of 45th. As it continues north the frats peter out into low rent virtual slums for students, eventually becoming nicer north of Ravenna park with old homes built in the 20s. Almost strictly residential, 17th is only news worthy during “Greek Week” when drunk coeds swarm punctuated by the occasional couch fire and arrests.

The north end of Green Lake is a trendy upscale place to see and be seen. With bars, coffee shops, boutiques and fine dining Green Lake Drive has something for everyone, day and night. The grassy park on the lake side of the road is a nice place for a game of catch or sun bathing. Crowded in the summer time with cruisers, cyclists and joggers, Green Lake Drive is just a great place to be.

Union Bay Place is a short, unassuming road with light commercial and residential on it’s north side and the backs of larger commercial businesses on the other. With medical offices and access for freight trucks, it’s primarily a commercially trafficked road. However it does offer access to the rear entrance to the University Village shopping center. This little short cut is a local secret especially handy on weekends and holidays when the Village is jam packed with traffic.

NE Blakeley is the road that hugs the rear, NE side of University Village. With a few single family homes, some huge condo buildings and a few light commercial and industrial buildings, it’s a nice mixed-use road. Access to the adjacent University Village shopping center can be rich with traffic, but Blakeley offers access to a back entrance as well as parking during the busy holiday season.

I was fortunate enough to live in one of the last vintage homes on Stone Way before the property was turned into one the ubiquitous, upscale condos on this arterial. Downtown is rapidly accessible via Highway 99 1 block over, and the trendy shops and restaurants are just at the intersection at 45th. The north end of Stone Way is rich with parks and recreation with Greenlake, Woodland Park and the zoo all right there.

This is the neighborhood you see in 1950s television series. With modest to opulent homes from the early twentieth century 40th Ave NE is typical Wedgewood. Good schools, small parks and basic shopping are all within walking distance. It’s a 10 drive the university and University Village shopping center. The mood is quiet and friendly if not a tiny bit pretentious.

NE 89th ST is located in the extreme North West boundary of the otherwise quite lovely neighborhood of Wegdewood. Within ear shot of Lake City Way, 89th is characterized by late 80s 2-story apartment buildings and vacant lots. Great deals on rent can be found, and the apartments, while not new are fairly nice. There’s nothing within walking distance except a gas station. Bus routes are within one block.

I lived here on NE 62nd by the corner of 15th. That’s right where the trails system that links Ravenna and Cowen Parks. It’s a beautiful residential street with one side lined with historical 1920s Craftsmen homes and the other side lined by a ravine containing trails. It’s a short walk to University Village and a short walk to the shops on University Ave. It’s a quite neighborhood but it’s close to bus routes and close to UW without being in the Greek “Party Zone.”

From Wedgewood south to the University District, 25th Ave NE is a light arterial that runs through middle-class older homes, with the occasional gas station and light commercial corner. The true highlight of 25th is it’s southern terminus along the west edge of University Village. Kitty-corner to the University of Washington, U. Village is one of Seattle’s premier upscale shopping centers.