Tuesday night was absolutely gorgeous as neighbors all across the country came together to close off their streets and have block parties as part of the annual Night Out. The idea is to get to know your neighbors better to help combat crime.
About 30 people gathered in the 600 block of NW 73rd St. to celebrate with bubbles, chalk, a water table, and bikes and scooters for the kids.
The always popular Bubbleman entertained the kids at “Our Park” at 6th Avenue NW and NW 76th Street as part of the annual Greenwoodstock music fest.
The Phinney Neighborhood Association tells us that representives from 76 blocks picked up PNA membership materials and a free gallon of ice cream at Ken’s Market for their block parties.
Send us photos from your block party and we’ll add them to this post.
Tuesday is the annual “Night Out” against crime, where neighbors all across the country have block parties to get to know each other better.
The city of Seattle has a map of registered block parties (you can check it out by neighborhood). Those block parties will close off streets using garbage and recycling cans, or whatever else is handy. So, drivers be warned that you may have to take a circuitous route to get where you’re going. And block parties must quickly move those barricades if an emergency vehicle needs to come through.
In Lower Phinney/South Greenwood (for lack of a better term), neighbors of “Our Park” at NW 76th Street and 6th Avenue NW will be rocking out at the 7th annual Greenwoodstock, from 5-9:30 p.m.. Three bands will play, chef Tibero Simone will be grilling pizzas, and people will be square dancing in the streets. Everyone is invited to bring their entire block party, or just drop by after their own gathering.
This year’s theme is Americana music, with square dancing led by caller Sherry Nevins. Pre-recorded music will play from 5-6 p.m. while neighbors gather. Pickled Okra takes the stage from 6-7 p.m., Hot Cider String Band plays from 7-8 p.m, and The Grandtours play from 8-9:30 p.m.
Bring along your beach blanket or folding chairs for an evening of fun. The event is family, kids, neighbor and pet friendly. Don’t forget your applause, smiles, and tips for the wonderful bands that have offered up for free their time and talents. Stephen McClelland has again kindly shared his courtyard for the bandstand. Chef Tiberio Simone will be making his famous pizza again!
It is Night Out Against Crime/Block Party Night so bring your whole block party along. Mayor Mike McGinn, Council Members, and the media will make a guest appearance aboard the Family and Education Levy “Party Bus.”
Just north of Greenwood in the Broadview/Bitter Lake neighborhood, there’s a big party at Bitter Lake Community Center from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 13035 Linden Ave. N., with free hot dogs and ice cream, a bouncy toy for kids, carnival games, free giveaways, and a drawing for a $50 gift.
The Broadview/Bitter Lake/Haller Lake Neighborhood Plan is undergoing an update, and neighbors can see exhibits, participate in exercises, and stop by one of the booths and talk to City staff about how they use their streets and what types of businesses and services they would like to see in the Bitter Lake Urban Village. For more information on the update, please go to:
The 7th annual neighborhood music fest known as Greenwoodstock happens once again in conjunction with the annual Night Out, on Aug. 2.
Sixth Avenue NW will be closed between NW 76th and NW 77th streets, adjacent to the 6th Avenue NW Pocket Park (more commonly known as “Our Park”), for music and dancing in the streets.
Everyone is invited to bring their entire block party to the fest. Three bands will perform Americana and Alt Country (bands to be announced later). And Chef Tiberio Simone will be grilling his famous pizza (we’re told that last year he made 500 individual pizzas).
The crowd listens to one of the three bands at last year’s Greenwoodstock.
The national Night Out block party extravaganza is set for Aug. 2, and neighborhoods all across the country will participate by blocking off their streets to cars, hauling out the barbecues and getting to know their neighbors a little better. The Seattle Police Department’s Crime Prevention unit is the local sponsor of the event, which is designed to bring neighbors together to help prevent crime.
A Night Out 2010 block party at North 89th St. and Linden Avenue North in Greenwood.
Register your block party with SPD, and then, on Aug. 2, put up some kind of barricades (those large green recycling bins work pretty well). You can even print off block party invitations or Night Out logos to create your own.
In addition to registering your block, you can also add your event to a city-wide calendar, so everyone can see where their nearest block party is.
SPD is providing updated information on Night Out on a Facebook page. It’s also a good place to ask questions and get answers about the event.
So many people have sent in pictures from their Night Out block parties Tuesday night, here’s another round for you.
Mark sent us this shot from a combined block party for NW 82nd St. and NW 83rd St. at 6th Ave. NW. Mark says Engine 21 and a police officer stopped by during the evening.
Jodi sent this pix of the Canote Brothers playing old timey tunes on fiddle and guitar at the NW 75th St. near 6th Ave. NW party. (We happen to have video of the Canote Brothers playing at the Phinney Farmers Market on May 29.)
Becca sent this shot of her party at 1st Ave. NW at North 70th St. “We had badminton and a Barbie ATV to entertain us, along with four-month-old twins and octogenarians and all ages in between. Good times had by all!”
And Amy sent some great shots of their party at North 83rd St. and Fremont Ave. Here’s an overview shot of band ”Red Heart Alarm” playing what Amy called “gruntry – grunge/country. It was fabulous!!! Loved by all!! And our best block party yet.”
Our sister site Maple Leaf Life is reporting that last night’s Seattle Night Out could have been the last one, due to budget cuts. Here’s the full story from Maple Leaf Life:
By Mike Ullman, Maple Leaf Life
Wednesday evening thousands of Seattle residents joined in the giant block party that is National Night Out against crime. Our news partners The Seattle Times reports more than 1,000 blocks in the city celebrated.
It might be for the last time.
Night Out in Seattle is a function of the city’s six civilian crime prevention coordinators, who work directly with the neighborhoods but could see their positions axed, as we reported earlier.
Seattle faces a multi-million dollar budget shortage, and the six, including North Precinct coordinators Diane Horswill and Neil Hansen, have been told they’ll lose their jobs next spring when grant money runs out.
Today Marc Phillips, president of the Maple Leaf Community Council, let us know that “this is likely the last year (for Night Out) due to budget cuts.”
Horswill confirms: “I think it is important for neighbors to know that the services we provide including block watch, community meetings, security consultations, personal safety and Night Out will be gone,” she e-mailed today.
“Although the budget won’t be official until late Fall we (Crime Prevention Coordinators) were told that the 3-year-grant that we have been working under for the past year or so will be applied to other positions/programs as of 3/31/2011.”
The crime prevention coordinators do the time-consuming administrative work of orchestrating the neighborhood programs under their city contract, in addition to working directly with residents doing everything from setting up block watches to going door to door to warn about recent crimes. They were part of the police budget up until last October, when the positions were funded with the federal grant money.
“We’re encouraging folks to contact the mayor, Councilperson Burgess, and Chief Diaz to fund this vital service,” Phillips said.
Taking full advantage of an opportunity to build community and create safer neighborhoods, people took to the streets tonight to renew acquaintances and meet neighbors for the first time during National Night Out.
Greenwoodstock, one of the bigger events in the area, drew a steady crowd of people who played in the park…
and listened to three bands…
as they munched on grilled pizza margherita.
Here’s video of the event, featuring the Bubble Man and Jeff Fielder and Black Market, as well as shots of the the pizza. Mmmmmm, pizza….
Send in your pictures and we’ll post the best here.
Andy sent us this photo from 68th and Greenwood Avenue North, where Mayor Mike McGinn stopped in for the festivities, as did the Engine 21 firefighters, who are new neighbors.
Here’s a picture from Tom on 2nd Avenue, NW, where it looks like there was food aplenty for the 40 people and six canines attending.
Dan P. sent in this photo of the scene at 89th and Linden where more than 50 people showed up and they had a badminton net stretched across the street:
Here’s a sharp pic from Christy taken on 79th between Linden and Fremont avenues.
Neighborhoods in cities around the country will celebrate National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday. The idea is to get together with neighbors you already know well, plus the ones you hardly ever see, to talk about how to keep your neighborhood safe. You can exchange phone numbers and email addresses, find out what people’s work schedules are so you know if something is suspicious at their house while they’re gone, and just generally be in the know.
One of the many block parties in Phinney Ridge last year.
We’ll be celebrating with our block. Please send us photos of your block party so we can publish a roundup later that night or the next morning.
And our news partners, The Seattle Times, will be compiling stories and pictures from Seattle Night Out block parties. You can tweet a report and photo (via Twitpic), and use the #nwnightout hashtag so they can see what people are up to.
Greenwood neighbors were treated to a different kind of grilling last year.
Don’t forget that the sixth annual Greenwoodstock music fest is also Tuesday night. Organizers invite everyone to bring their entire block party over to the 6th Avenue NW Pocket Park at the corner of 6th Avenue NW and NW 76th Street for a free concert with several bands. Music starts at 6 p.m. and lasts til 9:30 p.m. Schedule and performer lists here.
And the Phinney Neighborhood Association will give you a free gallon of ice cream for your block party if you hand out PNA membership materials. Pick up your PNA packets and ice cream at Ken’s Market, 7231 Greenwood Ave. N., from 3-6 p.m. Tuesday.
The annual Night Out Against Crime is next Tuesday, and we know many folks in the neighborhood are planning block parties to celebrate and get to know their neighbors better. Send us your photos after your block party and we’ll post a compilation.
The 6th annual Greenwoodstock free neighborhood music fest is held on the same night as Night Out, from 5-9:30 p.m. at “Our Park” at the corner of 6th Avenue Northwest and Northwest 76th Street. The block between 76th and 77th will be closed to traffic.
Painting by Greenwood artist Stephen McClelland. Poster graphics by Greenwood designer Lisa Anderson.
Bring along your beach blanket or folding chairs for an evening of fun together. The event is family, kids, neighbor and pet friendly. Don’t forget your applause, smiles, and tips for the bands that have offered up their time and talents.
It is Night Out Against Crime/Block Party Night so bring your whole block party along. The first two hours are intentionally quieter so block parties can come and represent and still have a chance to meet and talk with their neighbors. Show up with your own block banner like at the Olympic Opening Ceremony if you like.
The schedule:
5-6 p.m.: Gathering and chatting time, music by DJ DR. B. Neighbor and caterer Tiberio Simone will be making pizzas on the grill again.
6-7 p.m.: Bar Tabac – “Picture yourself magically transported and sitting in a Paris Bistro with a wineglass in hand listening to Gypsy Jazz, Tango, and Dub with the ghost of Django Reinhart playing along. This wonderful band features players from Bellingham and Seattle. Jonathan Sampson on acoustic electric guitar and trombone; Carrie Robinson – acoustic guitar; Aaron Harmonson – upright bass; Terry Wergeland on accordion and trumpet; and Andy Piper as percussionist using a suitcase, snare drum and washboard.”
7-8 p.m. Sweet Secrets – “Sweet Secrets is a fun family-friendly all-ages Seattle rock band. They have a pleasant warm tone that envelopes and inspires the listener to absorb their unique lyrics. They describe themselves as Seattle indie-pop for smart sexy people like you. They kindly offer all their music for free download on their website. Featuring Roger Lloyd’s great vocals, electric guitar and sexy shaved head; Eric Severtson’s warm lead guitar and effects that remind me of Jennifer Turner’s tone when she played on Natalie Merchant’s “Tigerlily” CD; Corrina MacFarlane’s lovely violin touches; Corey Knafeltz and Logan Bender’s super solid drum and bass support.”
8-9:30 p.m. Jeff Fielder and Black Market – “Black Market is like listening to a live double record set. They are a compilation band of some of the best musicians in Seattle. Their music can take off in any direction imaginable, so they are likely to knock your socks off! Jeff was the subject of the watercolor painting by Mareth Warren on last year’s Greenwoodstock poster. Here is your chance to see him rockin’ in person! Jeff Fielder on electric and acoustic guitar, Dobro and vocals (Sera Cahoone; Lindsay Fuller; Mark Lanegan/Isobel Campbell band); Andrew McKeag on electric guitar and vocals (The Presidents of the United States of America; 70 Proof; Shuggie); Ty Bailie on Hammond B3 organ and keyboards (Paul Allen Band; Dept of Energy; The Glass Notes; Davy Knowles Band); Kevin Sweeney on vocals (The Flying Nuns); Sean Divine on harmonica and vocals (Jelly Rollers; Jeff Fielder); Andy Stoller on bass (Traci Chapman; Chuck Prophet; Pete Droge); Mike Musburger on drums (Fastbacks, Posies, Thee Sgt Major III; Mark Pickerel and the Praying Hands); Perry Morgan on drums (Souvenirs, Glass Notes, Gary Reynolds; Lost Dogma).
