Why Seattle is fun ... sort of: Today So Far

As we exit 2022, I thought we could do something a little different and end the year with some appreciation and gratitude for the city and region we live in. But first, ask yourself: Is Seattle fun?

This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for December 30, 2022.

What makes Seattle fun?

That's a question I posed to TSF readers and KUOW's audience earlier this month. You can read all about that here, but here is the gist: Seattle didn't rank very high on a list of "most fun cities," and I argued that "fun" depends on who you ask and what they feel is "fun." Beyond that, Seattle is part of a unique region, which is part of its overall "fun" appeal.

Some TSF readers weighed in, such as Coleman who lives in West Seattle and notes that it's a short drive to the water to spot some whales.

"During the summer and I eat ice cream and build sand castles on Alki Beach while my kids play in the Sound. Then I am a short walk to the 'Junction' which always has something to do. With Easy Street being the fun center of it all with live in-store events and delicious pancakes. West Seattle is most definitely fun."

Edwyna would disagree, and wrote me to say that Seattle is not "fun." It's beautiful, scenic, intellectual, and caring. It has museums, art houses, plays, and movies.

"But I would not ever describe our rich region as 'fun.' I would describe it as a lovely place to call home," Edwyna said. "....How about 'pleasurable'? Fun for me was surfing in Hawai’i where I lived for so many years, raising my family. Fun might be being with a girlfriend and both of us enjoying some activity or venue. Fun is playing with my great-granddaughter Peach Lilo Hokulani ... Fun is when my older daughter visits from Philadelphia and we are all together. Fun is getting ready for a holiday and we’re all squished in the kitchen at the same time."

The conversation among KUOW's audience over on Facebook had a similar range of responses. Some said that certain neighborhoods are more or less fun, or that Seattle was fun in the 1960s and has gone downhill since. One person really felt passionate that, "Gentrification has taken a toll on Seattle," which isn't really a comment on fun, so I'm not sure where that was going, but then again, it's social media, so there you go.

I also put this issue to KUOW's staff and got a range of reasons Why Seattle is Fun:

John Sullivan (IT) simply said, "Neon-bending lessons."

Clare McGrane (producer): "The ample amount of nerdy things to do!!! Game stores, barcades, comic-cons, etc. Also we have a great live music scene. We have a lot of great homegrown artists and spaces for artists of all size and genre to find an audience and play live."

*Note: While "barcade" is a common term used to describe arcades that are also bars, the name "Barcade" is trademarked. Seattle doesn't have any actual "Barcade" locations, but does have a wealth of arcades, pinball hubs, and other bars packed with fun.

Hilary Lee (project manager): "For me most of my fun = places to drink. We have so many cool cocktail bars, distilleries, tasting rooms, wine makers, too many breweries, cideries, locally made hard kombucha and seltzers, more breweries, and annual festivals around drinking!"

Jessica Dial (finance): "We can hop on a ferry quite easily. Very budget-friendly way to get out on the water and go somewhere else. Also, very easy access to lovely hiking, even in the city in small parks/on small trails."

Vicky VanHout (traffic coordinator): "Fun = variety, in my opinion. We got sports, we got bars, we got craft breweries/wineries/distilleries, we got video and board gaming, we got hiking (even urban hiking! The Centennial Park/Elliott Bay Park trail on the waterfront is two miles long and really lovely), we got historical tours, we got art museums and art walks, we got concerts everywhere, we got planes, trains, boats and automobiles, we got antique markets, we got foodie hotspots, we got every kind of volunteer work and hobby club and funky class under the sun. I just found out about the neon-bending lessons ... No matter what you're into, in search of, or didn't know you wanted, Seattle has it."

Michaela Gianotti (marketing): "Alternative sports! Friday night dodgeball at Cal Anderson, birth place of bike polo, and pickleball (Bainbridge Island)."

Dyer Oxley (nerd): "Seattle is part of a Northwest community that, together, adds up to a pretty fun place to be. Seattle has live music and arts. There's hiking over there, sailing over here, Magic the Gathering just about everywhere, and Ciscoe Morris over there. There's a comic con most months. Plus, Seattle has around 800 pinball machines, and Western Washington has nearly 2,500, making this region one of the most popular pinball areas on the map.

What really makes the region fun is its DIY culture with people taking their passions to new heights through food trucks, quirky shops, breweries, festivals, and more. It's also great for people watching, like that guy who uses an umbrella in the sun, or older suburbanites dancing to live funk music, or drivers attempting to strap canoes/kayaks on top of their cars which far exceed the length of their vehicle."

AS SEEN ON KUOW

During a year marked by historical firsts and changing systems, residents of the Seattle area faced moments of both hope and disillusionment over the course of 2022. KUOW photographer Megan Farmer was there with her camera. These are the photographic highlights of 2022. (Megan Farmer / KUOW)

DID YOU KNOW?

The song "Auld Lang Syne" is commonly sung at New Year's Eve parties at midnight. What is an "Auld Lang Syne"?

This poem/tune originated with Scottish bard Robert Burns in 1788, though Burns was likely mixing lines overheard from other poems and common sayings with his own original work. The original words were Scottish, but it has evolved into modern versions with the same theme: Reflecting on the past, the people around you, and relationships that matter. While much of the lyrics have changed into modern English, the phrase "Auld Lang Syne" remains. This is one of those terms that roughly translates, and basically means "old times," "long ago," "old long since." The interpretation I like best is "for the sake of old times," or "for old time's sake."

Aside from New Year's celebrations, "Auld Lang Syne" is sung at weddings, graduations, Scout events, Burns clubs, and other special events throughout the year.

ALSO ON OUR MINDS

2022 was a big year for EV battery plants in the U.S. How big? $73 billion big

Multiple EV battery factories — plus even bigger ones from Ford and General Motors — are part of a remarkable industrial shift worth billions. Automakers are preparing for electric vehicles, currently around 6% of new vehicle sales in the United States, to conquer a huge share of the market in just a few years. That means companies will need a tremendous number of batteries.

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