Strolling through Seattle is a bit like watching an epic battle between art and commerce play out in real time, set against one of America’s most stunning natural backdrops. Homegrown corporate giants like Microsoft and Amazon may grab the headlines, but the city’s creative cred hasn’t been optimized out of town. Musicians still compose, art walks draw crowds, and craft brewers repeatedly up their game. Meanwhile, a revamped waterfront serves as the city’s new front porch, and a major light rail expansion across Lake Washington includes a first-of-its kind rail route set atop a floating bridge. In dining, the biggest ideas often start small, and reinvention is a constant. Pop-ups that built followings during the pandemic have leveled up to brick-and-mortar locations. Butcher shops and bakeries have spun off into full-service restaurants. And the talent pool continues to grow—it’s the sort of town where chefs relocate purely for the ingredients.…