Capitol Hill—A Community with Nary a Dull Moment

Offering edgy style and Bohemian flair Capitol Hill is a neighborhood of funky apartments and grand mansions. Pedestrian friendly with peek-a-boo views of water and mountains, the Hill is historic home to the gay community and wholeheartedly embraces its diversity. The Hill's vibrancy is a direct result of a youthful student population and a thriving arts and nightlife scene.

Capitol Hill is a neighborhood that doesn't fit easy stereotypes. The most urban, dense part of the city, this community often feels like a small town. Stroll Broadway or 15^th Avenue on a Sunday afternoon, and you're likely to discover tattooed twentysomethings walking alongside moms with strollers. You'll encounter the Broadway Farmers Market, a seasonal fiesta of food, flowers and music. Visit the newest city playground Cal Anderson Park, full of dog walkers, Frisbee players, and children sticking their big toe in the streaming fountain.

Along the Pike/Pine Corridor explore the vintage clothing stores, furniture shops, and coffee houses that give the neighborhood its sense of espirit de corps.

Check out the 12^th Avenue Business District with new restaurants and a theatre scene.

Then take a lazy stroll down Broadway, where you'll discover bronze dance steps set into the sidewalk that will inspire another rhythm altogether.

At the north end of Broadway, you'll soon arrive at the entrance to Volunteer Park, a large, forested urban oasis, replete with a glass conservatory built in 1912, the Seattle Asian Art Museum, and a water tower with splendid 360 degree views of downtown Seattle and neighborhoods near and far. Breathe in the view and spot your favorite Seattle landmarks from the Space Needle to the Lake Washington Floating Bridge to Husky Stadium.

After you've taken in the views explore the streets bordering the park and enjoy stately homes built when city forefathers envisioned Seattle as the capitol of Washington State. While the designation did not come to be, the mansions and single family residences with Craftsman and Victorian style contribute to the historical character and elegance of the neighborhood.

Capitol Hill, a community where funky and elegant co-exist, and create a concoction unrivalled in any other pocket of Seattle.

Play: There is never a ho-hum moment on the Hill. Explore the grand expanses of Volunteer Park, where you'll discover the Seattle Asian Art Museum, a lovely art deco building housing artifacts from a bygone era. While at the park, climb the water tower and drop by the conservatory where you'll find a multitude of plants and flowers. Cal Anderson Park beckons old and young to stroll by its fountains and maybe stop for a ride on the kid's swingset. Festivals include the Capitol Hill Block Party in July and a new street fair sponsored by Sustainable Capitol Hill in July. Bars/Nightclubs like Chop Suey, Moe, Havana, and Purr give the Hill its eclectic image, where gay and straight alike can mix and mingle. Don't forget the Seattle International Film Festival in May and June. Plus the historic Egyptian and Harvard Exit Theatres, which make movie-going an experience to remember. Northwest Film Forum and Capitol Hill Arts Center, in addition to the new Balagon Theatre round out the entertainment mix. Check out Seattle City Search for latest happenings: http://seattle.citysearch.com/

Eat: Home to over 100 restaurants Capitol Hill boasts Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, American nouvelle, creperies, Italian bistros, Japanese noodle houses, and old -fashioned burger joints, to name a few. There are pubs and wine bars, theatres and movie houses.

Stay: An array of Bed and Breakfasts are available on the Hill, including the Gaslight Inn on 15^th Avenue at www.gaslight-inn.com , the 11^th Avenue Inn Bed and Breakfast at www.11thavenueinn.com , and the Bacon Mansion near Volunteer Park at www.baconmansion.com .

Go: Capitol Hill is served by numerous bus lines, including the #49 and #43 which pass through the Hill via Downtown and the University District, #11 which connects Downtown, Capitol Hill, and Madison Valley and Park, and #10 and #14. The Hill is thoroughly walkable if you have the energy and willingness to explore the sloping hills. Likewise bicycle lanes on Broadway, Pike and Pine, and 15^th Avenue provide an adventurous way of seeing the neighborhood in all its glory. We are a pedestrian-friendly community!