Come and rediscover Seattle’s oldest neighborhood.

Calling all Seattleites, Washingtonians, Pacific Northwesterners, new, old, or something in between: it’s time to rediscover this Emerald City of ours.  If we’re going to live in Seattle and call ourselves Seattleites, isn’t it about time we start living like ones?  Let’s branch out.  Walk away from just hanging out at Gasworks, munching at Dick’s or watching a movie at Pacific Place.  Let’s explore the neighborhoods within the neighborhoods.  Let’s find what’s really good in Seattle’s little hoods.

What better way to kick things off than to embark on an adventure in the little hood within Seattle’s first neighborhood: Occidental Ave.  Nestled in Pioneer Square in the shadow of Qwest Field (or, excuse me, “Century Link”), cobble stone-lined Occidental Ave is home to everything from popular clubs to underground bookstores to our very own Seattleite offices.  Here’s a few spots to check out if you’re in the neighborhood:

Deets on Eats

Picky palates and culinary adventurers, fear not: Occidental Ave can feed you both.

Hole-in-the-wall joints like Dome Burger and Pizza Pro may not boast the swankiest décor, but your wallets will rejoice at the affordable options and free additions.  A backyard BBQ-style double cheeseburger with unlimited access to the condiment bar (i.e. pickles, onions, tomatoes, sauces galore!) will only run you $6.  And the Pizza Pro man offers a free drink with any two slices of pizza, as well as a side of super-friendliness.  (Most times, he’ll grin with his pearly whites and toss out a genuine “It was my pleasure to serve you today.”)

For something with a little more ambiance, sit on the outdoor patio at Grand Central Bakery and Café for (mostly) fresh, locally sourced pastries, breads, soups, sandwiches and salads.  The staff raves about the Turkey and Chutney sandwich ($7.50) and their pecan sticky buns ($2.75) – sweet, soft, and flaky – let’s just say I now know what it means to love again.  “[The sandwiches we make] smell like Heaven and I want to steal it from the customer and eat it myself,” says one staff member.

For something a little sweeter, amble down the road to Caffe Umbria to chat with the bantering baristas (who genuinely seem to love barista-ing) before settling into a hearty scoop of pistachio gelato or one of their seasonal specialty drinks like the Café Assisi ($3), “a warm, sipping chocolate.”

The Haps

On any given day, you can check out the spontaneous art that crops up chalked on the ground or hanging as wooden seagulls from the boughs of trees.

And if art is what you’re looking for, head to the Occidental Park area for First Thursday, Seattle’s own Art Walk that showcases new exhibitions and artists each month in the many galleries around the area.  For an added treat, mosey to the downstairs of the Grand Central Bakery and wander through the brick tunnels to see the art brewing underground; or take a peek at Newberry Bookstore, a cozy nook crammed with used books with authors ranging from Rowling to Burroughs to Mann to Hemingway.

But if you’re just looking for a little Zen in the city, grab a drink or a treat and sneak over to the Waterfall Garden for a nature getaway.  Or just grab your bocce ball set and play a friendly match on the courts, right in the middle of the park.  Luckily, that’s an option, too.

Best Spot for a Brew-ha-ha

Don’t have tickets to the game?  Chill, brah, because Fuel Sports Eats and Beats has you covered.  This sports-bar-meets-nightclub is pumped full of twenty-somethings, ready to root for the Seahawks on big screen TVs or fist pump on the dance floor.  And with a happy hour menu featuring $3 well drinks and a wealth of $1.99 eats ranging from beer battered onion rings to pesto veggie penne pasta, there’s a little something for everyone.

So are you ready for something new?  Give that Red Robin on the Waterfront a breather.  Seattle’s out there waiting for you.

Know of any hap’nin’ neighborhoods that Seattleites need to explore?  Send Lena Park an e-mail and let her know!