Seattle in the wee hours: The unsleeping city

Bar patrons in Magnolia stand outside for a cigarette at 11:51 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Bar patrons in Magnolia stand outside for a cigarette at 11:51 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GRANT HINDSLEY, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 45 Caption Close Seattle in the wee hours: The unsleeping city 1 / 45 Back to Gallery

I've always been a night owl, with an uncanny ability to push one day into two. Some of my first moments with a camera in my hand were spent roaming through my childhood hometown. In the dead of night, I'd explore the quiet streets and the way the artificial lights and dark sky changed familiar scenes.

Several months ago, I responded to a chorus of sirens in my neighborhood by grabbing my photo equipment and darting out the door. The fire was luckily small and non-newsworthy, but I found myself roaming my neighborhood again in the wee hours of the morning. I was reminded of the peacefulness of a city at night and vowed to do some more exploring soon.

This past week, I headed back out, inspired to give it a go with a new twist: No glitz or camera tricks, just following a vibe. I aimed to find the people and goings-on throughout Seattle as the night slowly turned to morning. I hunted for figures in the night, silhouetted against store fronts, bars, and cityscapes.

It turns out Seattle isn't truly sleepless, and compared to my experience in many other cities, the night is mellow and desolate. The comfort of exploring the off hours of our ever-growing, bustling city did not disappoint.

I think I'll go out again just to remember what it's like to drive without traffic on open roads. That may have been the best part.