What's Great in Greenwood?

There are better known neighborhoods in Seattle, maybe neighborhoods with a little more edge or more shopping along the main thoroughfare (although I'm not so sure about that) but when I was in Greenwood the other day the answer to this question presented itself over and over again. Seattle PI describes Greenwood as "Seattle's hidden treasure," an old fashioned neighborhood with a trendy edge.

In Balderdash Books and Art I chatted with a customer...a librarian from Gig Harbor who has an apartment there with her husband too as he works in the city at the moment. She told me her husband loves it because it's such a distinct community, with activities and trends and established traditions and a definite character. You would never need to go out of the neighborhood to eat, have coffee, shop, or any of the daily tasks and enjoyments of life.

Balderdash was a true neighborhood used book store, with loads of character and a white cat sitting on top of one of the bookshelves overlooking the shop. They had some great photographs on the wall, and told me all about the first Greenwood Art Walk, scheduled for Dec. 12. You can read about it on the PhinneyWood, a Phinney Ridge & Greenwood Neighborhood Blog. The corner I decided to explore this time was 85th and Greenwood Ave N, where there were so many intriguing little signs and shops that I didn't know where to look first.

As I strolled around peeking into some of the shops and generally soaking up the atmosphere, I agreed with my new friend's husband. This corner of the city has character and then some, a wonderful place to spend a few hours shopping, dining, and otherwise amusing oneself. The Taproot Theatre offers a seasonal production The Christmas Foundling by Norman Allen, and there is even a Moter Vehicle office to give you a good excuse to stop by, and take care of an errand at the same time.

Olive You, a Medeteranian Eatery, is on the corner of Greenwood Ave N. It not only offers a great menu and impressive bar, free parking, and delivery, but also offers cooking classes! Might be a winner for my daughter and I, we like to take cooking classes together when we get a chance...why don't some of you join us? Sounds like fun...

Olive You Restaurant is right next to a pair of personality filled shops, Tibet treasures at Pema Kharpo and Emma Jean's Consignments and Antiques. Next door is Sip and Ship, where surely Greenwood residents and visitors will be lined up sipping warming caffinated beverages while waiting to Fed Ex holiday packages to loved ones. I loved the Greenwood products here, t-shirts, caps, and water bottles all celebrating Greenwood. The water bottle would be a great stocking stuffer (hint hint...).

The espresso and organic chocolate shop Sweet On You is certainly cute looking enough to make me drive around the block again to find a parking space, but when I checked people's ratings of this shop on Yelp, oops, nobody really liked it, it seems...why not try some of the other places after checking them out on Yelp or another restaurant review site. Well, I could have spent another hour or two just exploring these few places, and that's just about 100 feet worth of sidewalk... Greenwood, I'll be back, probably by Wednesday!

Edy Kizaki
Realtor & Team Leader

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