Summer Streets to take over Greenwood Avenue on Aug. 12

The third annual Summer Streets event happens on Friday, Aug. 12, as Greenwood/Phinney Avenue is closed to cars from North 65th to North 87th streets from 6-9 p.m.
Summer Streets is designed to turn a major street into a playground free from cars for an evening so that neighbors can connect, play and get to know their neighborhood businesses. It’s in conjunction with the monthly Art Up Artwalk.
Last year, Greenwood Avenue was filled with people playing whiffle ball, drawing with chalk, riding their bikes, watching the Bubbleman perform, listening to live music, and children going through an obstacle course.

The intersection of Greenwood and 74th was packed last year.
Sponsored by the Seattle Department of Transportation, the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce and the Phinney Neighborhood Association, organizers this year decided to change the name from Greenwood Summer Streets to PhinneyWood Summer Streets to “convey the unity of the community.”
Neighborhood businesses are starting to plan their activities, from an open mic outside Santoro’s Books to aerialists from Versatile Arts will perform at the intersection of Greenwood Avenue North and North 76th St.
Tasty art gallery and collectibles shop at 7513 Greenwood Ave. N. is hosting an art fair with some of their favorite artists; live music from Gavin Guss; a fire-spinning, stilt-walking performance by Cypris of Exuro Entertainment; and a live food art exhibition by Greenwood’s own “sensual chef,” Tiberio Simone, who will create food art on bikini-clad models in the front window to promote his new book, “La Figa ~ visions of food and form.”
Also planned: Skateboarders and trick bikes will show off their skills in a “Go Zone”; A-1 Piano at 7020 Greenwood Ave. N. is planning to bring a piano out into the streets for anyone to play; American Dance Institute at 8001 Greenwood Ave. N. will host street performances; Makeda Coffee at 153 N. 78th St. will have a face painter from Hazel Salon & Organics; Seattle’s largest food pyramid of canned food (to be donated to the Greenwood Food Bank); and a blind taste test of several of Phinney-Greenwood’s finest coffees.

A children’s obstacle course kept kids entertained at last year’s event.
While the streets will reopen to traffic after 9 p.m., organizers hope that many businesses will offer activities and specials to keep patrons around longer.
If your business would like to participate, or you’d like to volunteer, check out the Summer Streets Get Involved page for more information. If you have equipment you’d be willing to lend for the night, such as amps for live music, please contact Sheri Hauser at Tasty at 206-706-3020.
Businesses are also encouraged to post what they’re doing on the Summer Streets Facebook page.