What area(s) do you service?
Seattle
How did you get into real estate and what do you love about it?
Kim started in real estate way back in 1998 as a way to continue to help people after leaving non-profit advocacy work. In 2008 her wife Chavi joined Kim and together they created Team Diva in 2010. We love helping cool people find Diva-riffic homes in Seattle. And we love supporting people who would not have had access to a career in real estate become top producers in this industry.
What made you want to live in your current area?
The Divas have lived in Seattle for over 20 years. Kim moved here from her hometown of Philadelphia originally doing political work. And stayed for the community. Chavi has always been a west coast person. Seattle just has a vibe that is hard to articulate. And of course the rest of the team are born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and are true locals.
What makes living in your area so special?
We love the people, the access to amazing fresh grown food and creators of our local culinary season. And of course we do the local the arts scene. Our theatre community is some of the best in the nation. We are surrounded by water with our beautiful Lake Washington and the Puget Sound. This means you do not have to go far to be gobsmacked by a stunning view. And the best part is that we are all within 30 minutes or so to some of the best the outdoors has to offer from skiing, boating, and of course hiking. It is a big city with super easy access to the outdoors.
A workday spent running around the neighborhood: what's your first stop and last stop?
First stop is always Empire Espresso in Columbia City. It is a super cool locally-owned coffee shop. The passion for the craft of coffee is amazing. And at night we love our friends who own Locus Wines in Pioneer Square. Pioneer Square is the oldest part of Seattle. And Locus Wines is making incredible Rhone-style wines with Eastern Washington grapes. We love people and makers who are just passionate about what they are creating and treat you like a local every time you walk in the door.
Best restaurant/bar? Favorite spot for coffee?
Seattle is blessed with a large Asian community. And in the last couple of years many second generation kids from our community have been opening absolutely spectacular restaurants. Award-winning Musang and Archipelago are profiling Filipino cuisine in unexpected and amazing ways. Pho is a huge staple all over Seattle. Pho Bac Sup Shop is serving Pho in Little Vietnam in a way that is absolutely transformative. Seattle and coffee are made for each other. Every neighborhood has its own roaster and favorite barista. In Shoreline, there is Black Coffee Northwest which is a BIPOC owned shop and has a non-profit component that teaches young people the basics of working in a craft coffee business. Herkimer Coffee is both a coffee shop and one of the best roasters in the Seattle. Moonshot Coffee in up and coming White Center neighborhood is an experience on to itself. And of course we love Dubsea coffee also in White Center and the Central Area.
A day in the life: how are you spending a day off in your neighborhood/area?
The Divas live in South Seattle in a pocket between Seward Park and Rainier Beach. On a "down day" we take the doggies for a walk through the neighborhood past Rainier Beach Urban Farms, through Pritchard Beach, and back through the neighborhood. During the day we love heading to Capitol Hill to meet up with friends for lunch and grab some books at Elliott Bay Book Company and stop in to say hi to our friends at Retail Therapy for some retail therapy. Lately we have been getting into Seattle's theatre scene. The 5th Avenue has been hiring underrepresented directors for many of their classic musical theatre shows. We are also loving Cafe Nordo's Dragon Lady and Dragon Mama series. Excited to see the final part of the trilogy, Dragon Baby, go to New York this Spring. Seattle is a choose your own adventure type of town. And with COVID it feels like you have to re-discover your own city and the magic and creativity that is within reach if you just look for it.
What's your favorite hidden gem?
We love taking visitors to Seattle's Sculpture Park. It is tucked away in the Belltown neighborhood close to Elliott Bay. You always discover something new and unexpected inside the park. And you get a view of the city that is unlike anything else you can imagine. You see a spectacular city skyline juxtaposed to the huge Olympic Mountain range. All the while there are ferries taking folx to and from the islands close to Seattle. The park is always changing depending on the season.
What is your favorite piece of your area's culture?
Our theatre culture is one of the strongest in the nation. Many large shows will start in Seattle first before going off to Broadway. We have a dedicated community of people who are constantly pushing the envelope. And you would not know this but Seattle was recognized for having more bookstores than any other city in the. nation. Yes we are a bunch of book and theater nerds in Seattle.
Tell us a fun fact about you!
We absolutely love throwing large parties with drag queens, DJs, burlesque performers, and so much more. Often you will see a Drag Queen or two in a listing video just to mix things. up and to have fun. And do not be surprised if we suddenly booked tickets and jetted off to New York City because someone we know is premiering a new piece off Broadway.
