Seattle Living

Ballard: Best Seattle Neighborhoods 2013

Comfortably cool.

By Rachel Hart March 29, 2013

ballard_0

This article originally appeared in the March 2013 issue of Seattle Magazine.

The more “come as you are” of Seattle’s two major super ’hoods (see also: Capitol Hill), this northwest Seattle area is a cool—but not too cool—burg where middle-aged parents can wear their Patagonia fleece and have their Ethan Stowell eateries, while singleton 20-somethings, with their chunky hipster glasses, cocktail-hop down Ballard Ave. With choice boutique shopping (Lucca; Curtis Steiner) alongside bigger shops for staples (Ballard Market, Trader Joe’s, Fred Meyer), a movie theater (Majestic Bay), decent public schools, parks and play spaces, the wealth of eating and entertainment options means there’s barely a reason to venture across the Ballard Bridge. And it’s all knit together with cozy residential blocks tinged with shades of Scandinavia.

Famous for: Transforming from an independent-minded Scandinavian fishing village to a hip, family-friendly foodie enclave. See: 1907 annexation, The New York Times’ love affair with The Walrus and The Carpenter, and Seattle mag’s shameless adoration since 1999.

Don’t miss: Syttende Mai (Norwegian Independence Day) parade every May 17 at 6 p.m. along Market Street.

Go-to for out-of-town guests: The year-round Ballard Farmers Market (Sundays, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.)—as much for people watching as for the locavore’s bonanza.

 

Hot micro ’hoods: Old Ballard Avenue—now (over?) saturated with boutiques, restaurants and bars—and Market Street anchor Ballard at large, but pocket neighborhoods from Crown Hill to Old Town have plenty of their own personality. The micro-center of my corner of Ballard, Whittier Heights at 70th and Alonzo streets, includes foodie favorites Delancey, Essex, The Fat Hen, Honoré Artisan Bakery and The Pantry (for cooking classes; thepantryatdelancey.com). The aptly named “Stumbletown” (the strip of 65th Street between Eighth Avenue NW and Third Avenue NW on the easternmost border between Ballard and Phinney Ridge) takes over after hours with its street full of bars and taverns, and a tight cup of Cafe Bambino coffee, come morning.

Ballard Block watch: Recently christened by Kendall Jones of the Washington Beer Blog as “The Brewery District,” Ballard’s newest micro ’hood—the mixed/industrial area south of NW 50th Street between 17th and 14th avenues NW)—has newcomer microbreweries Reuben’s Brews, NW Peaks and Hilliard’s joining Maritime Pacific Brewing Company—perfect for an evening of beer tasting.

>> Seattle mag editor Rachel hart has been a Ballard resident since 2001

Join The Must List

Sign up and get Seattle's best events delivered to your inbox every week.

Follow Us

Living: The Lightness of Seeing

Living: The Lightness of Seeing

Challenging ‘Lopez Lookout’ project places a premium on spectacular scenery

The regulators and nesting eagles weren’t the only ones peering on with interest. The third largest of the San Juan Islands at 30 square miles, Lopez is home to about 3,000 year-round residents known for friendly waves at about anything that moves. Islanders are also known for their intense interest in protecting their remarkable environment….

A History Museum at Home | Sponsored

A History Museum at Home | Sponsored

Creating your own mini galleries with art, photos, and objects you love

  Everywhere you turn in Brendan’s home is a piece of history with a compelling story. A small delicate piece of metal stamped with a man and lion sits inset against a vibrant red matboard. “This is a gladiator fight ticket from the Colosseum in Thracian during the slave uprising in Rome. The time of…

A Poetic Quality of Light

A Poetic Quality of Light

Portage Bay floating home embodies a feeling of spaciousness

Suzanne Stefan rides a housing bubble that bursts many times each day. Stefan, a cofounder of Seattle architecture firm Studio DIAA, combined light, sound, and materials to create a bright, 650-square-foot floating home on Portage Bay (the eastern arm of Lake Union) that reverentially reflects its idyllic surroundings. Bright, but not dazzling, as glare, contrast,…

Crescent Bar: An Undiscovered Gem | Sponsored

Crescent Bar: An Undiscovered Gem | Sponsored

Legacy vacation spot turns luxury home destination

Turning south from Highway 28 midway between Wenatchee and the Gorge Amphitheater begins a weaving descent down to the Columbia River that brings back memories for many — some going back decades. The unmistakable vistas overlooking this stretch of the Columbia, set against a 500-foot basalt cliff, imprints an image hard to forget. And yet,…