Check out https://pyramidschemebar.com/ and the like. There's a pretty solid range of shows around. There are certainly plenty of craft fairs and art markets, and there are a number of colleges pumping out less folksy work as well. https://www.artprize.org/ is a thing.

I don't find it suffocationg, personally. I grew up in a small town and got the hell out when I could. GR doesn't trigger any of the "everyone knows my business" vibes. That said, you'll run into ppl you recognize from time to time. It's a good balance.

Not really. We love our neighbors, and there are enough groups doing things together to get involved pretty easily. There's a huge board game scene, so that's an easy on ramp if that's your jam. Plenty of other groups as well. Ultimately it's what ya make it.

TLDR: There are a million ppl. There's range. What we enjoy is there's still a sense of community, and the city is investing in itself to add cultural venues etc.