"Center of the Universe" a Fremont Travel Page by Jonathan_C

So how does a neighborhood get to be known as the Center of the Universe. It's on our street signs so it must be official. Perhaps no one ever asked before. For residents, the official recognition is unimportant. Like any well loved community, Fremont is the center of our Universe. Over the years Fremont has gone from 'run down' to 'funky' to 'artsy' to 'hip' and you can still find some of each if you visit. But it's the people that make this neighborhood so special. Close to downtown Seattle, with a mix of university types, artists, planners and entrepeneurs, Fremont is a vibrant melting pot of ideas and activism. So you should come and meet the local residents besides the Troll. Come, if you can, for the Solstice Parade on the Saturday nearest the Solstice. Or at least stop by the Sunday Market or the Outdoor Movies. Here you will meet the eclectic, artistic, uninhibited folks proud to be known as Fremonsters.

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Still Life Cafe

Community Fremont

Fremontsters are unusually dedicated to living in and improving upon their neighborhood. There is truly something magic that draws fine people here and keeps them from leaving. Almost half of my neighbors that bought houses in the last decade have moved from somewhere else in Fremont. Those of us here can't imagine living anywhere outside of a six block radius centered on us. It's the kind of place where people walk the sidewalks, know their neighbors and take part in community projects.

I've always felt like 5% of the people in any community are doing everything interesting while the other 95% are watching TV, drinking bad beer or both. In Fremont it seems that 20% or more are engaged in making Fremont even more livable and interesting than it is already.

When you come to Fremont you should go beyond mere sight seeing and try to meet some of the people who live here. The Still Life Cafe is a haven for locals. The folks in History House will be happy to fill you in on many inside stories. Visit the Edge of Glass gallery or the Foundry to meet local artists. Walk Canal Park all the way to the pagan fire ring to travel the path my neighbors take into town. Visit the Sunday market or the Saturday Night Outdoor Movies to understand that thriving, viable communities are possible in America without automobiles.

Take your time in Fremont and pretend it's your home for a day. Arrive without a car if you can and enjoy being within four blocks of everything a reasonable person could want. Spend some time in the library and Dusty Strings. Go down to the rowing club and just watch life on the water. You could see everything in just a couple of hours but if that's all you do you'll miss so much.

Fremont, like any well loved community, will grow on you the longer you stay. Who knows, perhaps you won't leave. We'd love to have you join our 20%.

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Fremont Fine Arts Foundry

Artistic Fremont

Fremont is the live/work/play location for many Seattle artisits, nudists, pyromaniacs and other creative types. Their passions are best expressed in their own web pages so let me direct you to a few:

The Fremont Arts Council is the driving force behind the Solstice parade and many other fantastic events.

The ARF web site describes the activities of some of Fremont's fire artists.

John Cornicello, my neighbor, has a web site of his photographs of many Fremont Arts Council and community events.

As you'll see, artistic expression is fundamental to our understanding of who we are as a community. Art in Fremont is participatory, collaborative and community building with a major emphasis on fun.