On Friday nights around 1988-1990, my dad and I would go walking on Broadway in Capitol Hill. I’m 42 now and have lived in South Carolina since 1993, but it ones of those 1-2 childhood memories I never forget.
We lived on Boylston Ave, and even as a 5-year-old, there was something magical about stepping out of an apartment, cutting through Seattle Central Community College, and in minutes being immersed in the pulse of the city. For a 5-year-old, Broadway felt larger than life— neon signs glowing, car lights streaking past, the sidewalks packed with people from every walk of life. It felt electric.
We’d usually start at Bulldog News across from the college and walk all the way to Broadway Market. I think it had a Fred Meyer in the basement and a movie theater on the top floor. On the way, we’d stop at Dick’s so I could get a Deluxe. Some nights we’d go to Pagliacci’s and I’d always get the pesto salad.
The punk rockers, the homeless people asking for change while eating in front of Dicks, and the shops contributed to that unique rhythm. Broadway felt like its own world.
It was my favorite part of the week — just me and my dad, side by side. I didn’t understand the sacrifice at the time but he had been living with leukemia since 1985. Those walks were not easy for him. He would pass away a couple years later in 1991 when I was only 8.
When I hear the stories of how expensive Seattle is now I realize how lucky I was — not just to have had that time with him, but to grow up with that kind of access to a living, breathing city. It’s something that feels increasingly rare today with the cost of living.
My dad was just a waiter in Chinatown. But somehow, he could afford to rent a small apartment in Capitol Hill and give me this experience — walkability, diversity, culture, and the feeling of being part of something vibrant.
Times change and I know it’s not the same as it used to be but I just wanted to give appreciation to Capitol Hill. It gave me lifelong memories that I’ll never forget.
submitted by /u/janseny7
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