Summer Streets & Artwalk to close down Greenwood Avenue Friday night

by | Aug 10, 2010

This month’s Art Up Artwalk features a record 38 participating businesses, in conjunction with the annual Seattle Summer Streets program. Greenwood Avenue will be closed to vehicles from North 65th Street to North 87th Street from 6-9 p.m. Friday (65th, 80th and 85th streets will remain open to traffic).
Businesses are sponsoring a variety of fun things for everyone of all ages to do, from the always popular Bubbleman to dancing in the streets.

(Photo of last year’s Summer Streets by Brian Hart.)
The idea behind Summer Streets is for pedestrians and cyclists to better connect with one another and shop at their neighborhood businesses. Last year’s inaugural Summer Streets in Greenwood-Phinney drew plenty of people who drew with chalk in the middle of the street, held a guerrilla knitting party, played a wiffleball game and browsed neighborhood shops. Summer Streets is sponsored by the City of Seattle’s Department of Transportation and the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce.

(Novice and experienced knitters created a “river of yarn” at last year’s Summer Streets.)
Here’s a selection of fun happenings scheduled:
Metropolis & Rising Stars at 7321 Greenwood Ave. N. are hosting the Bubbleman from 6-7 p.m. and again from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Kids can get their face painted inside of Rising Stars from 6-8 p.m. And Greenwood resident Mayor Mike McGinn will be in front of the building at 7 p.m. to hand out prizes to those who participated in July’s Walk Bike Ride Challenge.

(The Bubbleman draws a crowd at last year’s event.)
The American Dance Institute at 8001 Greenwood Ave. N. is hosting Ballroom, Flamenco and Hip Hop Dance Classes in the street.
Tasty art gallery at 7513 Greenwood Ave. N. is hosting an outdoor tea party and live art.
The Defenders of Greenwood will let children (and excited parents) sit in their fire engine and learn more about fire safety at the temporary Fire Station 21 at 6801 Greenwood Ave. N.

There’ll be live music by The Shed Boys in front of the Phinney Neighborhood Center at 6532 Phinney Ave. N.
A group of folks are putting together a wiffle ball game at North 73rd Street and Greenwood Avenue North.
Sustainable Greenwood Phinney is hosting a ‘60s “Dancing in the Streets” party in front of Santoro’s Books at 7405 Greenwood Ave. N.
Naked City Brewery & Taphouse at 8564 Greenwood Ave. N. and Bleacher’s Pub at 8118 Greenwood Ave. N. are sponsoring a pub crawl.
Also, Maryhill Rats is sponsoring a skateboard slalom, and Seattle Children’s Hospital will have a kids’ obstacle course.
Friday is also the kick-off for the 5th annual Gumshoe 5K Walk, a fundraiser for the Greenwood Senior Center. Purchase an entry form for $20, then follow the clues on a three-mile walk around the neighborhood, discovering quirky garden art and interesting houses and businesses. Turn in your completed entry form and be eligible for a drawing for gift cards from Fred Meyer. (Stay tuned for a more detailed Gumshoe post in the next day or two.)
And stay tuned for a separate post on the Artwalk, with a list of participating businesses, artists, etc.

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