Since 2015, the Seattle Art Fair has been delighting art lovers across the world with its impressive showcase of modern and contemporary art from the Pacific Northwest.“There’s a lot of interesting and unconventional art to see, especially when it comes to the freedom that off-site programming allows. Portland artist Jessica Jackson Hutchins has appropriated a decommissioned public bus shelter, and transported it to the Fair grounds. This large-scale outdoor sculpture will be a prominent installation on the North Plaza at the CenturyLink Field,” says Max Fishko, co-founder of artMRKT and the Director of the Seattle Art Fair.Visitors will also have opportunities to get up close and personal with the art. “Inside the fair, they’ll be interacting with sculptor Sean Townley’s floor-based sculpture, 7 Diadems, consisting of seven boulder-size copies of head molds made from a monumental ancient sculpture of the Roman Juno,” adds Fishko.Fishko took time out from his busy schedule to tell Blouin ARTINFO about his favorite spots to unwind and find inspiration in Seattle.What are your top recommendations for things to do in Seattle at this time of the year?It’s summertime in the Pacific Northwest, so I recommend people get outside. The Olympic Sculpture Park at the Seattle Art Museum is a great art-seeing addendum to the Fair. Or Alki Beach Park.What are some secret places in Seattle that everyone should discover?In terms of art, or art-related tourism, I would recommend Steve’s Weird House for an odd afternoon. It’s a private art gallery slash museum in the private house of a guy named Steve. It’s a fun house of weird stuff, like giant conjoined twin animals.What restaurants, bars, and cafes would you recommend in Seattle and why?I think coffee tourism is a great way to crisscross Seattle and see just about every neighborhood. Elm Coffee Roasters, Analog Coffee, QED Coffee, Zeitgeist. In terms of a scenic view, I like to go to Westward, which is right on the north shore of Lake Union, for a full plate of oysters and a beer. Seafood is a must, and I’d also confidently recommend Taylor Shellfish or The Walrus and the Carpenter to get your fix.Where would you go and what would you do if you had a free morning or afternoon in Seattle?You only have to do it once, but I think taking a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel is a must. It’s like riding the Eye in London— you can’t beat the view.Where would you head to in Seattle for the best shopping and what would you buy?I always stop into Totokaelo for their curated “art objects,” which range from odd fruit bowls to prismatic sculptures. The flagship Filson store is in Seattle, and that’s a must for stocking up on flannel, and outdoors gear that you can wear to work.Where would you recommend people stay (hotels, B&Bs) when they visit Seattle?I like to go with the classic option. The Fairmont Olympic Hotel doubles as a historic landmark, and it’s a five minute walk from the Seattle Art Museum. But for a contemporary boutique hotel downtown, you can’t do better than the Thompson Seattle.What are the best places to see and buy art in Seattle?Seattle has many world-class galleries, all of whom are participating in the fair— so any visitors this week will have a chance to see them all in one place. I recommend checking out the booths from Greg Kucera and James Harris’s galleries. And if you want to see art, at museums with great permanent collections, I’d start at the Seattle Art Museum, and then see The Henry, which is the art museum attached to the University of Washington, and The Frye.What are the best places to see live bands or musicians in Seattle and why?Seattle has one of the best live music scenes in America! For the tourist, I think, it would make sense to combine a trip to watch fishmongers sling fish at Pike Place Market with a show at The Showbox at The Market.What upcoming projects are you working on?Art Market Productions produces contemporary and modern art fairs, and we have many upcoming projects in cultural hubs all over the US, including Art on Paper New York, Art Market San Francisco, Texas Contemporary, and Miami Project. Click here to view a slideshow on SeattleThe Seattle Art Fair runs from August 3 to 6.  Read more