Seattle Real Estate & Homes For Sale | Seattle, Washington » International District

Seattle Tours for Everyone

Marybeth Cicirello — Wed, 12 May 2010 05:00:31 +0000

20th Century Architecture across from Moore Theater

Got the sunshine bug? Pulled out your shorts and sneaks yet? Here’s something you might enjoy on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday (Apr-Dec). For inquiring minds: when you notice fern motifs on the interior of Macy’s downtown or stone eagles perched on top of the Seattle Athletic Club’s building; and for guests who are visiting our city and wanting to explore ~ Seattle Architecture Foundation (SAF) offers an array of city tours highlighting architecture, details, design and art! Moving out and about to experience urban Seattle and our neighborhoods enlightens participants and sparks conversation. Here are some that you can discuss afterward over an outdoor dinner and a glass of fine NW wine: Green Building Tours (The Cobb and Skinner Buildings tour. Or The Starbucks Center tour.); Art Deco Diamonds and Gold; Design Details Lions, Griffins and Walruses; Harvard Belmont District historic millions and quite a few more. See you around town…looking up!

Marybeth Cicirello * 206.214.6556 * marybeth.cicirello@exprealty.com * Downtown Seattle Real Estate

The Seattle Market – is it true?

Marybeth Cicirello — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:00:53 +0000

Here’s a common misnomer, but one that we all use often and for different reasons: “The Seattle Market.” But really, to mix up all the neighborhood data into this one market snapshot is like mixing all the primary colors till they’re brown, and then trying to paint a rainbow with it. Seattle is comprised of neighborhoods – each a primary color with more complex shades & layers beyond that. What $350,000.00 buys in Capitol Hill (maybe a 1-bedroom condo), is completely different from what the same amount buys in Arbor Heights (maybe a 2/3-bedroom house and yard). Your pennies stretch differently per neighborhood. And we haven’t even gotten into streets and blocks within the neighborhood!

Seattle Neighborhood market data is unique to each...

As of April 25, 2010, the statistic is that a median single-family home in “The Seattle Market” is $392,731.00 and I can say confidently right now, there is no move-in ready 3-bedroom house on Montlake, Capitol Hill, Mount Baker or Queen Anne for this price. But in Maple Leaf? Yes this price point will buy a house and yard, maybe a nice 2-bedroom mid-century home. In West Seattle? Yes definitely in some micro-neighborhoods in West Seattle this is possible. In Beacon Hill? Yes again, a mid-century or Craftsman bungalow at $392,731.00 is definitely possible. So for buyers, it quickly becomes clear what neighborhoods your price point allows and this makes your search constructive and efficient. And for sellers, be the best option in a certain bracket within your neighborhood, because even in this economy, we still see multiple offer situations if you’re priced right. Buyers know a good residence when they see it!

Marybeth Cicirello * 206.214.6556 * marybeth.cicirello@exprealty.com * Downtown Seattle Real Estate

Dim Sum at Sun Ya Seafood Restaurant

Edy Kizaki — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:13:46 +0000

Seattle’s Internatonal District is famous for it’s exotic flavors and a myrid of choices, and rightly so. One of my family’s favorite Sunday morning activities is heading to one of the traditional Dim Sum restaurants sprinkled throughout the International District. Last week it wasn’t even Sunday, but we were nearby it was lunchtime, and what are we waiting for? Sun Ya Seefood Restaurant was nearby and we stopped in.

One of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, the International District was at first Seattle’s Chinatown, which emerged at the edge of Pioneer Square in the 1880′s as Chinese immigrant workers arrived to work on the city’s emerging railroads, coal mines, and salmon harvests. Now over 100 years later it has matured into the only neighborhood in America where Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Vietnamese and Southeast Asians live and work together, side-by-side. For Seattlites, the bounty of authentic and diverse asian cuisines is first rate. But as I said, my family can’t resist the dim sum. The restaurant we went to has a long history in Seattle, not to mention it’s own parking lot which is important in the crowded area where parking is at a premium and the lot charges are pretty high. Inside are tanks with live fish, shrimp, crabs and lobster, and a row of roast ducks hangs invitingly behind glass as well.

You can also take a Chinatown Tour, and there is the yearly Seattle’s Chinatown-International District Summer Festival 2009 taking place on July 11 and 12 at Hing Hay Park! There are dancing dragons and lion dances, firecrackers popping, taiko drumming and a whirl of food and treats. There is also a special kid’s activity corner where the whole family will find enjoyable themed activities.

605 Seventh Ave. S.
Seattle, WA
Phone: 206-623-1670

by Edy Kizaki,
Realtor & Team Leader