SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES
Want to see a celebrity? Seattle ranks 5th on new ‘starstruck’ list
Oct 3, 2013, 9:31 AM | Updated: Mar 4, 2016, 5:52 am
It's not unusual to run into rock star Dave Matthews around Seattle, ranked fifth for star sightings in a new ranking. (AP file)
(AP file)
Seattle ranked fifth on a list of cities that are most likely to have celebrity sightings, according to Rent.com.
The site ranked the cities based on filming activity for movies and TV shows, as well as their music scenes – and just for good measure, it threw in the average rent in each city.
The site also includes “fun facts” such as: Most Americans, 34 percent, would be most excited to bump into Jennifer Aniston in their home town.
Rent.com’s Top 5 Celebrity-Sighting Towns
1. Wilmington, N.C.
Home of the hit teen TV show “Dawson’s Creek” (remember how cute Katie Holmes was?), as well as more than 300 movies, including “Weekend at Bernie’s,” “Nights in Rodanthe,” and “Cape Fear.” Newer TV shows, such as “One Tree Hill,” are also on location in the city.
Average rent: $943
2. Boston
Cult favorites “The Departed” (George Clooney) and “Good Will Hunting” (Matt Damon) were filmed in Boston, but the city’s biggest claim to fame may be the classic 1980s show “Cheers.” Exterior shots of the Cheers bar were filmed at the Bull & Finch Pub on Beacon Street. The pub has been renamed Cheers Beacon Hill and draws tons of tourists. Celeb sightings are common at Red Sox and New England Patriots games, Boston Common, and Back Bay.
Average rent: $2,323
3. Austin, Texas
Austin’s well-known live-music scene draws all kinds of celebrities. The city’s renowned South by Southwest summer music festival is a celebrity playground, as well as Austin City Limits and Austin Film Festival. The creative culture there tends to draw film productions to the town.
Average rent: $1,288
4. Chicago
Second City ranks up there with L.A. and NYC among cities for film and TV production. Several big-hit TV series use Chicago as their setting, including “The Good Wife,” “Shameless,” “Happy Endings,” and “Chicago Fire.” The city gave birth to some film classics, too. (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” anyone?) Chicago’s thriving improv scene has also given rise to some of the most famous comedians, many of whom went on to stardom as “Saturday Night Live” regulars.
Average rent: $1,566
5. Seattle
Forget the coffee shops. Seattle has produced some of the biggest names in music: everything from jazz (Kenny G) to grunge (Nirvana, Pearl Jam) and hip-hop (Macklemore). The Emerald City is also home to many blockbuster and indie films, as well as TV shows, including “Grey’s Anatomy” and Frasier. Rock star Dave Matthews is commonly seen around Seattle.
Average rent: $1,736
