Greenwood - Seattle, WA

Greenwood has an interesting history. Settled on a swale, it was originally known as Woodland, becoming Greenwood in 1907. After attempts to make the area a cemetery, Greenwood underwent development in the 1920s and was taken over by Seattle in the 1950s.

Greenwood's diverse locals celebrate favorite traditions, including the annual Greenwood Classic Car Show, a tradition since 1993. But it's not just the locals who have all the fun — the annual Greenwood Seafair Parade attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Greenwood hosts a colorful cultural scene, with local theater, gallery strolls and classes of all kinds. Sign up little rock-and-rollers for music lessons at the School of Rock on 85th Street, and then, stop at Avanti: Art & Design and marvel at beautiful paints and prints. Catch a play at the Taproot Theater, and if the acting bug bites, sign up for a class or two.

Greenwood's dining scene is central to its nightlife, and with a bevy of bars, plenty of ethnic restaurants, and numerous coffee shops, the neighborhood serves up a slew of fantastic food and drink along Greenwood Avenue while creating a laid-back, humming night out on the town. Start the day off with brunch at Pete's Eggnest where the friendly staff serves up chicken-fried steak and eggs with biscuits and chorizo scrambles. Come hungry, as the portions are huge, and don't forget to try their melt-in-your-mouth crispy hash browns.

Kick-start a night out on the town with dinner. At the Stumbling Goat, seasonal fare such as succulent roasted bone marrow with mushrooms or grilled octopus with romesco truly gives you a taste of the town's savor. If burgers are more your thing, stop at Naked City Brewery & Taphouse and nosh on a juicy bacon burger or vegetarian beet burger alongside one of the dozens of beers on tap while you enjoy live music.

If you're not tapped out after sampling beers at the Taphouse, head over to Teachers Lounge to relax and enjoy cocktails amongst a throw-back theme to school days. Try the "Ed Rooney" cocktail, a nod to the principal who couldn't catch a break from Ferris Bueller. For a real authentic Greenwood experience, hop over to the Baranof Restaurant, an authentic old dive bar that serves up pub fare, stiff drinks and laughs with the locals from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day.

Life is short, and the night is young, so head over to the Lamplighter Public House and munch on some house-smoked BBQ and Thai chili wings. Enjoy a chilly pint on the dog-friendly patio, or play pool and watch the game on the ample TV screens. Trivia nights abound here, so keep your ears peeled to show off your smarts.

For more pursuit of trivia, head to Tim's Tavern on 105th, a classic neighborhood bar where you can kick back with the friendly bartenders on Taco Tuesdays, and join the crowd for a rousing round of karaoke on Wednesdays. Tim's has live entertainment every night, so give your pipes a rest from karaoke and enjoy a showcase of local Seattle singer-songwriters or a poetry open mic while finishing a plate of juicy BBQ ribs and a frothy pint of one of the rotating microbrews on tap, including the one and only Tim's IPA. This place also slings pizza from Sodo in Georgetown, so go ahead and quell those late-night pizza cravings.

The majority of Greenwood is centered around Greenwood Avenue, which runs south from N 105th Street and merges into Phinney Avenue to the west of Woodland Park Zoo and Green Lake. North of 85th Street, Greenwood doesn't have many sidewalks, though the area is quite bikeable, with designated bike lanes on Greenwood Avenue and bike-friendly roads throughout the neighborhood.

If you're not a cyclist, you can easily make your way to Greenwood by public transit, as King County Metro Transit offers bus routes, park and ride services, ride shares, and light rails. The 5 runs from Linden Avenue down Greenwood Avenue every few minutes, and the Link Light Rail runs to and from downtown Seattle regularly.

If you're traveling by car, the Interstate 5 runs both north and south through Greenwood and is bisected by multiple highways. If you're heading into town from the east, the I-90 and state route 520 bisect I-5 in downtown Seattle proper, making it an easy few miles drive north on I-5 to Greenwood.

If you need a quick ride home from the pub, services like Uber are available. You can also easily access cab services like Yellowcab to take you around the area.

If the weather's clear, you'll definitely want to enjoy the outdoors in Greenwood, especially at one of the area's parks. Hang out at Greenwood Park, and enjoy your lunch at the picnic table, and then shoot some hoops afterward on one of the ample courts while the kids play on the modern jungle gyms, complete with obstacle courses. Head out on the grassy field for a game of catch, and you might spend hours at this hidden treasure.

If you want to take your furry friends along, Sandel Playground allows dogs, though be sure to keep Fido on a leash. Walk the dog while the kids play on the slides and merry-go-round, and get in a game of volleyball or basketball on one of the well-maintained courts and really take in all that fresh air.

Greenwood features affordable housing and shopping for those who want a city feel without the exorbitant price tag. Grab a beer, and you're only out about $4.50, and it's even cheaper if it's during happy hour. The cost of living is relatively low in Greenwood, and even if you're just renting a place, the price for a 1-bedroom apartment averages between $1,000 and $1,200 per month.

Greenwood Gas prices average a slight 1 percent above the national average, so you might fare better taking public transit, as passes range around $2.50. If you need to drive to work but want to save money and spare the environment, consider the King County Metro rideshare program, where you can carpool with other folks going your way, and you can even choose a zero-emissions vehicle if you're watching your carbon footprint.

Greenwood's shopping attracts outsiders because of its eccentric variety and budget-friendly prices. If you have a thing for antiques and thrifting, you're definitely in luck. Venture inside one of the neighborhood's many antique stores that populate Greenwood Avenue, and get ready to have your socks charmed off. Step into Johnson & Johnson antiques and find stately mission-style furniture and other period pieces, or if you need some fresh threads, head into Labels Consignment Clothing, where you'll score on good finds of used name-brand clothing.

For something more meditative, call upon Rigdzin, the personable owner of the Tibetan antique and gift shop, Pema Kharpo. He'll help you find a intricately handmade Tibetan rug or a set of prayer flags, and you won't be able to resist buying some of the fragrant, spicy incense that lured you into the store in the first place.

Greenwood's used bookstores are right up there with its antiques — you can't miss these gems if you're out and about. Step into Phinney Books, an independent shop with shelves of carefully chosen literature in a wide range of genres, from history books to graphic novels. The place also carries gift items like stationery, games, and chocolates. If you have an appetite for a good book and something to munch on, head to Couth Buzzard Books and Espresso, a neat little bookstore cafe venture that draws in the community with open mic poetry slams, jazz music, impromptu jam sessions, and board-game nights. Sip a drip coffee or even grab a Fremont Brewing Co. beer with a personal pizza after you peruse the impressive array of used and new books — a fine way to spend the day.