The Phinney Neighborhood Association is asking whether this year’s Phinney Farmers Market should be extended a few weeks past the traditional Oct. 7 close due to this year’s late growing season.

Take the PNA’s two-question survey to weigh in on the issue.

Also, Friday is Kid’s Day at the Market. Remember pinewood derbies growing up? Do the same thing for free, but with zucchini instead of balsa wood. See the pickup Truck Farm, sing along with Gary Paine at 3:30 p.m., followed by songs in French and Spanish with the Polly-Glots from 5-6:30 p.m.

The weekend gets underway with a bang tonight with the monthly Artwalk and the annual Summer Streets happening simultaneously. Greenwood Avenue North will be closed to cars from North 67th to 87th streets so people can play in the streets. Check out the map of all the activities happening – including whiffle ball, hula hooping, live music, live painting, free electric bike rides, children’s obstacle course, coffee tasting contest, art fair, circus performers and aerial artists, dancing demonstrations, and a doggie wedding.

74th and Greenwood was packed at last year’s Summer Streets.

Plus, the Phinney Farmers Market at the Phinney Neighborhood Association will be open an extra hour, until 8 p.m., and bring a can of food and help the Greenwood Food Bank build Seattle’s largest can food pyramid, in front of Ken’s Market at 73rd and Greenwood.

See yesterday’s Summer Streets and Artwalk posts with some highlights.

Bring your old car seat to the Phinney Farmers Market at 6532 Phinney Ave. N. for recycling. It’s sponsored by CoolMom. Cost is $10 to cover the cost of recycling, but you’ll get a $10 coupon to use at Childish Things on Holman Road.

Author Erika Madden will sign her newly-released historical fiction novel “Year of the Angels” in front of Balderdash Books, 8536 Greenwood Ave. N. from 6-9 p.m. Friday.

Friday is open mic night at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church, 225 N. 70th st., starting at 6:15 p.m.

Seattle Public Theatre performs “Pirates of Penzance” Friday-Sunday at the Bathhouse Theater on Green Lake. Free, but donations accepted for the youth scholarship fund. Shows are 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Ginny Reilly of Reilly and Maloney performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, and “Seattle’s Bard” Jim Page performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Café, 8310 Greenwood Ave. N.

The 3rd annual Party in the Park is from 12-4 p.m. Sunday at Greenwood Park, North 87th Street between Evanston & Fremont avenues. Bring a picnic and enjoy three bands, and see the official opening of the new Community Garden.

Check out our Events calendar any time for what’s happening around the neighborhood.

January is a fairly quiet time in the neighborhood, but there are still a few events that might interest you.

Chuck’s 85th St. Market at 656 NW 85th St. is hosting a beer tasting by Ninkasi Brewing at 5 p.m. Friday.

Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Café, 8310 Greenwood Ave. N., hosts Jazz First Fridays with Kenny Mandell and Don Berman at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Free; food and drink available.

Empty Sea Studios at 6300 Phinney Ave. N. has its first taping for a new radio show, Rain City Tales & Tunes, from 8-10 p.m. Friday. “Rain City Tales & Tunes is a brand-new radio show which brings the Northwest’s best storytellers and musicians together onstage. Taped in front of a live audience at Empty Sea, the show features acoustic music and tale-telling. Each episode features a unique theme, and audience members are invited to volunteer for the storytelling spotlight. Produced jointly by Empty Sea Studios and KBCS storyteller Auntmama (Mary Anne Moorman), Rain City will be available to public radio stations this fall.”

GAIN (Greenwood Aurora Involved Neighbors) is celebrating the new year with a breakfast and neighborhood cleanup on Saturday morning. Greenwood Christian Church at 8018 Fremont Ave. N. is hosting a free breakfast from 9:30-10 a.m. The cleanup is from 10-11:30 a.m. Volunteers will pick up litter as well as clean leaves and debris from storm drains.

Montessori Garden, 6615 Dayton Ave. N., is holding an open house for prospective families at 10 a.m. Saturday. Kids are welcome and can participate in activities in the Kids Club.

Ridge Romp presents Caspar Babypants for a kids’ concert at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., in the brick building, at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Cost is $3 per person (babies in arms are free). Doors open at 10 a.m. A pre-show starts at 10:10 a.m., and Caspar Babypants (a.k.a. Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America) takes the stage at 10:30 a.m.

The Olive and Grape restaurant at 8516 Greenwood Ave. N. presents Spanish guitar music by Andre Feriante at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Woodland Park United Methodist Church, 302 N. 78th St., hosts shapenote singing at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. “Community singing — beginners welcome. No admission charge, no choir director, no rehearsal, no performance – just 4-part a cappella singing in the old American hymn tradition.”

Lots of general and holiday happenings in the ‘hood this weekend. Here’s a sample; check out our events calendar for more.

The monthly Greenwood-Phinney Art Up Artwalk is from 6-9 p.m. Friday, along Phinney/Greenwood avenues from North 60th to North 87th streets. Dozens of businesses will host artists from various mediums, some restaurants and shops will have specials, and several places have author book signings. Check out the full list on the artwalk website.

The Olive and Grape Mediterranean restaurant at 8516 Greenwood Ave. N. will have “nostalgic Turkish music” at 8 p.m. Friday from Kane Mathis, Jane Hall and Nursen Demiroz. On Saturday night, the Tarantellas will play “legendary favorite songs of Italy.”

826 Seattle, a free writing and tutoring program at 8414 Greenwood Ave. N., is having a book launch party from 6-9 p.m. Friday for “I Live Real Close to Where You Used to Live: Kids’ Letters to Michelle Obama (and Sasha, Malia and Bo).” Several 826 students’ work is featured in the book.

Hank Payne and Claire Favro from the Pacific NW Folklore Society perform at Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono, 8310 Greenwood Ave. N., from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday.

Neptune Coffee at 8415 Greenwood Ave. N. has “Arrested Development” Trivia at 8 p.m. Friday.

Empty Sea Studios at 6300 Phinney Ave. N. will record guitarist David Jacobs-Strain live in concert at 8 p.m. Friday.

The Eco-Chic Holiday Expo is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Phinney Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N.

The Shop Agora at 6417-A Phinney Ave. N. celebrates its third birthday with a special food and wine tasting event from 1-5 p.m. Saturday. Marco from Odom Wines will sample the following wines: Gosset Champagne (France); Santa Rita Carmenere (Chile); Badiola Super Tuscan (Italy); El Portillo Chardonnay (Argentina); Bouchard Pinot Noir (France).

Phinney Ridge author Bill Thorness will sign his two books from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday at Santoro’s Books, 7405 Greenwood Ave. N. His books are “Edible Heirlooms: Heritage Vegetables for the Maritime Garden” (Skipstone Press, 2009) and “Biking Puget Sound: 50 Rides from Olympia to the San Juans.” (Mountaineers Books, 2007).

He’ll also be giving away free heirloom vegetable seeds. “It’s not just for people who buy the book,” Thorness tells us. “I’ll be giving away Painted Lady Heirloom Runner Beans, a relative of the Scarlet Runner that is a bit more unique with pink, red and white flowers. It was named after Queen Elizabeth I, who was called the Painted Lady because she would appear in public in makeup, which was not common at the time.”

Bells of the Sound handbell ensemble performs Christmas favorites from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at Woodland Park Presbyterian Church, 225 N. 70 St.

So much happening around the neighborhood this weekend. Here’s a snapshot:

Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday.

The celebration starts with a parade from 6:30-7 p.m., an altar prayer service at 7 p.m., flamenco performance at 7:30 p.m., costume contest at 8:15 p.m., author reading from “The Mast of Oya” at 8:45 p.m., movies and Mexican bingo and face painting from 7-9 p.m.

The Día de los Muertos holiday is celebrated in Mexico and by Mexican Americans living in the United States and Canada. It focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. Day of the Dead is a time of celebration, partying and eating to honor the returning souls. The celebration traditionally occurs on November 2 in connection with All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars; honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed; and visiting graves with these as gifts.

Threshold Theatre presents “Spark in the Dark: Lighting Up The Evening with Your Stories” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Café, 8310 Greenwood Ave. N.

Neptune Coffee at 8415 Greenwood Ave. N. presents Anime trivia at 8 p.m. Friday.

Empty Sea Studios at 6300 Phinney Ave. N. presents The Golden Tree Story and Thousands at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $8 in advance, $12 at the door.

Wayward Coffeehouse at 8570 Greenwood Ave. N. presents “Masters of the Universe” at 9 p.m. Friday for its First Friday Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film Night.

Sit+Sip Holiday Home Accessories Swap at the Phinney Center at 10 a.m. Saturday. Pay $10 admission in advance ($15 at the door) and bring your home accessories (three items minimum) in good condition to swap for free. The swap rotates in 5 minute rounds; 30 people per round. All non-swapped items will be donated to Children’s Hospital Thrift Stores.

Help clean up Lower Woodland Park as part of Green Seattle Day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Register online for a work party.

The Olive and Grape at 8516 Greenwood Ave. N. is having its grand opening celebration from 1-4 p.m. Saturday. They’ll pass out food samples, have Turkish olive oil tastings, free baklava, live Turkish music, and a raffle.

Try your luck at the Greenwood Senior Center’s Casino Royale at 7 p.m. Saturday. $25 gets you food and a stack of chips to start gambling. The Senior Center is at 525 N. 85th St.

Professional storyteller and musician Avery Hill is at Couth Buzzard Books at 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 8310 Greenwood Ave. N.

The North End Jazz Quartet performs at 8 p.m. Saturday at Wayward Coffeehouse, 8570 Greenwood Ave. N.

Makeda Coffee hosts author/artist Milan Heger reading from “The Art of Freedom” at 3 p.m. Sunday at 153 N. 78th St.

Always plenty to do in Phinney-Greenwood and beyond this weekend.

The Phinney Farmers Market runs from 3-7 p.m. Friday in the lower parking lot of the Phinney Neighborhood Association, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., with dozens of vendors selling fresh produce, meat, eggs, bread, pasta, jams, cider, flowers, chocolate and more. Music by Tai Shaun from 4-6 p.m.

Friday is the Whittier Heights Salmon Feed at the Whittier Elementary Cafeteria, 1320 NW 75th St., from 6-8 p.m. They’ll also have veggie lasagna and hot dogs. Cost is $7 for adults, $5 for kids and seniors and $15 for families. Diners are encouraged to bring their own plates.

Fremont Oktoberfest kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday and runs through Sunday. There’s live music, a kids area, and the ever-popular Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving.

Maple Leaf has its own Oktoberfest celebration at Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, 10005 32nd Ave. N.E., from 12-5 p.m. Saturday, featuring live music by the Smilin’ Scandinavians, dancing demos from the Regenbogen Schuhplattlers, a raffle and silent auction and kids’ activities, including cider press demonstrations.

Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at Empy Sea Studios, 6300 Phinney Ave. N.

Guthrie Scarr performs indie rock at 8 p.m. Friday at Wayward Coffeehouse, 8570 Greenwood Ave. N. No cover. And Wayward’s biggest event of the year – Sereniversary – is from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, to commemorate the anniversary of the release of the film “Serenity.” Live music with Vixy & Tony and special guest Heather Dale, costume contest with prizes, Firefly/Serenity trivia quiz with prizes, and henna tattoos.

Light the Night Walk to raise funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is from 7-9 p.m. Saturday at Green Lake. There’s no registration fee, but each walker is encouraged to raise $100 in donations.

Urban Watershed Walking Tour from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at Carkeek Park Environmental Center, 950 NW Carkeek Park Road. Free, but please RSVP to events@pugetsound.org or call 206-382-7007.

“America’s Got Talent” semi-finalists the EriAm Sisters perform at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Seattle University’s Pigott Auditorium. All proceeds support Passages NW, which inspires courage and leadership in girls through the arts, science and nature. Tickets are $15.

You can always find out the latest happenings in our events calendar.

We’ve added a new, much enhanced events calendar to PhinneyWood. You can always find the most current events in the right column, or you can see all upcoming events on the PhinneyWood Events Calendar page.

On the calendar page, you’ll also find a link to submit an event. Our submission form allows you to write up your event the way you want it described. It even has a repeat function for recurring events.

Through the calendar, you can forward events to friends, add them to your personal calendar and schedule event reminders.

If you’re an event organizer, we encourage you to use our event submission form to ensure your event is quickly added and contains the details you want others to know about.

Get your tickets now for the very popular Phinney Neighborhood Association Wine Taste this coming Saturday.

The 20th annual social event features wines poured more than 20 wineries and shops at last count: Airfield Estates, Animale, Baer, Chatter Creek, Eaton Hill, Efeste, Elevation, Guardian, Hestia, Masset, Milbrandt, Northwest Totem Cellars, Picnic, Portalis Wine Shop, Sleight of Hand, Two Mountain Winery, The Vineyard Wine Shop, Ward Johnson, Windy Point, Yamhill Valley, Zerba.
 
A ticket gets you your choice of 10 tastes, hors d’oeuvres from Bill Drummond Catering, crab cakes from the presenting sponsor, Ballard Market, and Jazz music from Live Wire.

There is also a wine store featuring all of the participants’ wines.

Tickets are $25 for PNA members, $30 for the general public. Designated driver tickets are $10. You can get tickets at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., or online. The wine taste runs from 7:30-9:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 27. Maybe we’ll see you there!

Want a night out on the town without the kids? Woodland Park Zoo has a monthly Parents’ Night Out program where zoo staff will entertain your kids for the evening in the Zoomazium.

The “fun-filled and educational” evening program running from 5:30-10 p.m. is for potty-trained kids ages 4-11, and includes ”games, puppet shows, a movie and a live animal encounter,” plus a pizza dinner.

The cost is pretty reasonable, at $25 for the first child and $20 for each sibling.

The next Parents’ Night Out event is Dec. 11. The 2010 dates are Jan. 15, Feb. 6, March 6, July 17, Aug. 27, Sept. 25 and Nov. 5. Registration is by mail or fax only. More info here.

What you do with your time after that is up to you – one suggestion we’d make is to check out the Greenwood-Phinney Art Walk. The only question will be who will have more fun – you or your kids? 

A coalition of community groups, churches and local businesses are presenting “From Hiroshima to Hope,” Seattle’s commemoration of the victims of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and all violent conflicts, Thursday on the northwest shore of Green Lake, near the Bathhouse Theater.

The free event begins at 6:30 p.m. with music, poetry and paper crane folding. Japanese and Sikh calligraphers will write messages on lanterns for participants. The lantern floating ceremony will happen just after 9 p.m. 

Here’s a picture from a previous year’s event.

Peace Action of WA President Fred Miller, a member of the group’s planning committee, said, “if you study it by the headlines, war is about politicians and generals. If you study war by the battle, it is about soldiers, but if you measure who suffers and who dies, war is overwhelmingly about civilians. The politicians, generals and soldiers have their statues, holidays and memorials. For the billions of civilian victims of war, we’ll float lanterns on Green Lake.”

According to Miller, this event has been the largest commemoration of the bombing of Hiroshima outside of Japan. Because it’s on a weeknight, he expects about 1,000 people, but they’ve had as many as 2,000.

[Photo Credit: From Hiroshima to Hope]

Don’t forget to join neighbors and city planners at tonight’s Neighborhood Status Report Update meeting from 6-8 p.m. at the Phinney Center.

It’s been a long time since our neighborhood plan was updated, and the city needs to know what your priorities are as far as transportation, public safety, human services, bike paths, sidewalks, parks, housing, etc. This is your chance to have your voice heard.

We would love to hear from you whether you are unfamiliar with a neighborhood plan or you have devoted countless hours to the development and implementation of your plan. Come learn about the neighborhood plans and how they are achieving goals sought by your community and the City. Let us know how you and your community view growth and change in Seattle.

If you can’t make it, you can check out the virtual online meeting. More meetings are planned for October when the draft Status Reports for many neighborhood planning areas will be approaching their final form.

We’ll be posting a follow-up story, but feel free to email us your thoughts from the meeting, or put a comment below. Thanks!

Hundreds of hot rods and classic cars lined 17 blocks of Greenwood Ave. today for the neighborhood’s annual big event, the Greenwood Car Show.

Thousands of people from all over the Northwest enjoyed all the food, fins and fenders in beautiful weather.

Let’s start with a vintage 1909 Stanley Steamer Roadster, which cost $1,350 one hundred years ago. The price now? “Priceless,” says its owner.

For a slightly more affordable vehicle, here’s a $109,000 Tesla electric car, which can go zero to 60 in just 3.9 seconds. “It’s not a Prius,” said Dave, the owner, who explains there are 22 Tesla vehicles in Seattle. By the way, Dave tells us Tesla plans to open its first Seattle dealership later this summer.

Then there’s this 1939 Chevrolet for an overstated mobster look.

And a very unusual entry: a 1951 Buick Estate Wagon with a 1928 Willits Brothers wood canoe strapped to the top. The license plate: GOTWOOD.

We saw Lance Lambert of The Vintage Vehicle Show, along with his camera crews, shooting interviews for his TV show.

And of course, lots of great food, like Mr. Gyros here.

Thanks to everyone who helped put on this year’s event, especially the Greenwood Knights. We posted a few more photos after the break below…