Summer Streets taking over Phinney-Greenwood Friday night

We’re just about 24 hours away now from one of the biggest events of the year in Phinney Ridge and Greenwood. The third annual PhinneyWood Summer Streets (formerly called Greenwood Summer Streets) will close down Greenwood Avenue North from North 67th to North 87 streets to cars, and open it up for pedestrians, little kids on bikes, neighbors playing whiffleball, blowing bubbles and whatever else strikes your fancy.

A children’s obstacle course at last year’s Summer Streets.
There’s a lot going on, and we’ve highlighted lots of it in past posts here and here, but here are a few more highlights. (Feel free to promote any others you know of below in Comments, and check out the Seattle Department of Transportation’s map with a full list of activities.
Bring a can of food to help build Seattle’s largest canned food pyramid, in front of Ken’s Market at 73rd and Greenwood. All food will go to the Greenwood Food Bank.
The first-ever Coffee Taste Off for the best drip coffee in the neighborhood takes place in front of Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church at 75th and Greenwood. All 15 of the neighborhood’s coffee roasters were invited; seven accepted the blind tasting challenge: Mae’s Cafe, Starbucks, Ken’s Market/Zoka, Makeda/Seven Roasters, Diva Espresso, Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Café, and Green Bean Coffeehouse.
The winner will receive a certificate proclaiming them “PhinneyWood’s Best Drip Coffee.”

You can participate in a symbolic way to bring Phinney Ridge and Greenwood together: a Doggie Flashmob Wedding. One dog from each neighborhood – Zak from Phinney Ridge and Fiona from Greenwood – will get “married” at 7:30 p.m. at 85th and Greenwood. Bring your own dog and parade down Greenwood Avenue, starting at 74th and Greenwood (in front of Zak & Zoe dog boutique) at 7 p.m., with the happy couple.

Zak, left, and Fiona, right, will “wed” at 7:30 p.m. Friday during Summer Streets.
Several businesses are planning on having live music outside, including Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Café, 8310 Greenwood Ave. N. (Greg Spence Wolf will play guitar and mandolin from 6-7 p.m.) Then at 7:30 p.m. inside, Pacific Northwest Folklore Society presents traditional folk and blues with Ginny Reilly (of Reilly and Maloney).
The Phinney Farmers Market will stay open an hour later, until 8 p.m., in the upper parking lot of the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N.
It’s also the monthly Art Up Artwalk night, so almost three-dozen businesses will feature artwork, including some live painting in the street.
Metro bus routes 5 and 355 will be rerouted while the street is closed. Route 5 will travel on 3rd Avenue NW in both directions between North 67th and North 87th streets, and Route 355 will travel on 3rd Ave NW between North 85th and North 90th streets.
Barricades will be set up at 65th, 80th and 85th streets, because those streets will remain open. So pay attention to Seattle Police, who will provide safe crossings.