No, it is a very laid back city that is more libertarian if anything. Ashley McGraw is a good firm to work for as well and is located downtown. So, it's not too far from the Armory Square district of Downtown Syracuse.
It's a good area if you like snowboarding, as there are some ski areas close by. Toggenburg, Song Mountain, Four Seasons and Greek Peak are within 30-40 minutes. Then, you have the Adirondacks which are about an hour and a half from Syracuse.
As far as an area similar to Seattle, you would probably like the Westcott area. It's known for being a liberal part of the city and has festivals, nice parks and the University close by.
Here's some information that you might like:
Westcott East Neighborhood Association
Westcott Street Cultural Fair
Westcott, Syracuse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Westcott (good links on this site on the right)
Westcott Community Center
Toggenburg Mountain Winter Sports Center
Welcome To Four Seasons Golf & Ski Center
SONG MOUNTAIN RESORT
Greek Peak Mountain Resort
labradormtn.com
Adirondacks Mountains official travel guide - hotels, hiking maps, canoeing & kayaking maps, fishing, skiing, golfing, historic sites - New York State Adirondack Regional Tourism Council (http://visitadirondacks.com/recreation/skiing2.cfm - broken link)
armorysquare.com Armory Square Syracuse New York
Armory Square :: Official Website for Historic Downtown Syracuse, NY
Armory Square - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clinton Square, Armory Square and Downtown Syracuse NY
Hanover Square, Syracuse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hope this helps and if you need any more info., just holler.
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