What’s it Like Living in Seattle?

Is Seattle a nice place to live?

The other day, I was asked by a client what kind of city Seattle is and why would I live there?  Now that’s quite a question and not one normally that can be answered without writing volumes and volumes.  Having lived here the majority of my life, I take things for granted.  So I started to think what makes Seattle the city that it is.  For one thing, it is one of the most culturally rich and diverse cities in the country, especially for the pacific rim countries.   With Boeing, Microsoft and a slew of other internet based companies, plus the rich and fertile farms in eastern Washington, that ship some of the world’s finest apples throughout the country and world.  It is a mecca for international relationships.  As a result of the impact Seattle has internationally, we have some of the finest and broadest arts communities in the country, which will be the subject of this blog.

Where do  I start, well the most obvious to me is the abundance of museums, from Museum of History and Industry for a look at the how the area became Seattle to the Seattle Art Museum for those interested in the variety of classical and modern art in various forms.  In between are other museums highlighting different cultures spread throughout the city.  Much like Europe, most other cities throughout the state also have museums that highlight their history and the events that shaped their areas.

Next, visitors and residents alike flock to see the stage plays, such as Phantom of the Opera, Grease,  Stomp,  and coming soon…Wicked, at either the Fifth Avenue or Paramount Theaters.  Both venues are rehabilitated theaters that have been in existence for the greater part of the past century.  You have a choice of going through the season series or purchasing single showings.  There are also community theaters and other smaller venues that produce plays.  The other day, on the way to the Fremont area, there was a small group doing The Taming of the Shrew underneath the Aurora bridge for anyone that passed by.

The Seattle International Film Festival is one of the oldest and largest film festivals in the country.  This year from May to June, they showed 392 films from 55 countries, with 89 premiers in 600 screenings and all in 25 days.  The venues were spread throughout the city so that many could take advantage of seeing a wide variety of films from talented film makers throughout the world. 

After that you could take in the music scene where many talented musicians from all genres make their way to Seattle during their concert tours.  If you like classical, the Seattle Symphony is a great way to spend the evening.  There are also many smaller cities near here that have their own symphony orchestras.  My friend’s daughter is a violinist with the Seattle All City Chamber Orchestra and it is a great example of our talented youths having an outlet for their musical abilities. 

Opera is alive and well in Seattle as well.  This year their early focus is on Wagner’s Ring cycle and then it’s on to Verdi’s La Traviata, Il Travatore and Falstaff.  Or if ballet is of interest to you the Pacific Northwest Ballet has a full slate of upcoming performances.  The next offering will be Romeo and Juliet in September, followed by the Directors Choice and then the Nutcracker will again be on stage. 

These are some of the reasons why I love Seattle and why I think people of all ages are happy to be here.