SLIDESHOW: Music, arts and children’s Laughter fill the streets in the Phinneywood's Summer Streets event
SLIDESHOW: Music, arts and children’s Laughter fill the streets in the Phinneywood's Summer Streets event
Fun was had by all at the Phinneywood Summer Streets event
Lauren Elizabeth DiRe, Intern
Sat, 08/13/2011
By Lauren Elizabeth DiRe, Intern
Children flooded the streets when 20 blocks of Greenwood Avenue were closed off Friday night for the third annual PhinneyWood Summer Streets block party.
The family-friendly event provided activities ranging from “walking pianos” to aerial performances to obstacle courses.
And for those who needed a pick-me-up to hang with the high energy levels of the children, seven coffee roasters provided samples for a blind taste-off. People were able to try the brews and then pick their favorite one.
“People seem to really enjoy voting,” said Jeanne Barwick of Mae’s Phinney Ridge Café.
Several booths lined the streets selling various forms of artwork, and live performers could be seen every block or so exhibiting their talents.
Volunteers of America paired up with the Seattle Department of Transportation and the Senior Companion Program to construct a canned-food pyramid to donate to the Greenwood Food Bank.
Sydney Pawlak, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, said they were hoping to collect 30,000 cans to donate. Around 6:30 p.m., they were well on their way with 17,000, she estimated.
Further along the road, Versatile Arts performed acrobatics and various forms of aerial arts.
Thomas Heasley, a University of Washington graduate, executed his routine donning a full-length tiger leotard.
He bought it, he said, for their annual performance at the Woodland Park Zoo.
Although Heasley is pursuing his work in the aerial arts, “a lot of people just have day jobs and are just looking for other things to do beyond pilates,” he said. Aerial arts allow people to have a more interesting workout.
In addition to the performers and booths set up, people everywhere filled the streets with their own fun. Some drew chalk art while others played wiffle ball. People sang and danced, and bubbles could be seen floating above the crowd from over a hundred feet away.
The PhinneyWood Summer Streets festival is one of four put on by the Seattle Department of Transportation. The next one will be in Rainier Valley on Aug. 20.
