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Phinney Ridge and its nearby sister neighborhood of Greenwood are north of Fremont and east of Ballard. This is a great destination when you feel like strolling as much as shopping. You can park near the Woodland Park Zoo and walk the length of Phinney Avenue (which becomes Greenwood Avenue farther north). You'll be right near Green Lake and, on a clear day, will be looking out across at the Cascade Mountains to the east, and the Olympics to the west. Sure, the area's a bit spread out, but the stores, coffee shops, and restaurants on this 2-mile stretch are sweet and affordable, and make for a pleasant afternoon.
Greenwood Pencil Box---which is fairly new but truly feels like old-school Seattle---carries a range of fun writing-related items like T-shirts, notebooks, creative prompts, books, games, and other novelties. And of course, pencils: the shop is an authorized dealer of “feathery smooth” Blackwing Pencils. The seemingly anachronistic Pencil Box benefits two local nonprofit organizations that foster learning and creativity in youth and young adults.
A gem of an independent bookstore, Phinney Books is owned by local eight-time Jeopardy! champ and reading enthusiast Tom Nissley, who's stocked his charming shop with an expertly curated selection of books, including many titles by local authors and a whimsical section for kids.
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