In the week ahead you can enjoy music, dining, community activities and school programs in and around the Wedgwood neighborhood.
The cleanup work of the Reimagining NE 85th Street project received vouchers for free trips to dump debris. Another work party will be held on Saturday morning, May 14th.
Enjoy barbecue and music at the Fiddler’s Inn this weekend and don’t forget the final performances of high-quality theater (The Addams Family) at Nathan Hale High School. Next weekend in two performances only, May 20 and 21, is The Music Man at Eckstein Middle School.
A popular annual school program is Science Night at Wedgwood Elementary. On Thursday evening, May 19, everyone is invited to see displays of science projects and tables from community sponsors.
The Eckstein Bikes activities in the month of May 2016 encourage and reward students for biking to school. Check out the event schedule: Wednesday, May 18, is donut day; Wednesday, May 25 is pancake day!
For adults traveling to work or school by bike, there is a Celebration Day with snacks for you, too! Friday, May 20, is Bike to Work Day and the Bike Shack will have a table on 25th Ave NE at NE 77th Street, curbside, from 6 to 9 AM with breakfast items. The Bike Shack shares space with the NE Seattle Tool Library and is a great resource for the Wedgwood area. You can ask for bike advice and see if they will inflate your tires for you!
Can you contribute to the Wedgwood neighborhood by participating in a service project? On Saturday morning, May 14th from 9 to noon another work day will be held to cut back vegetation near the corner of 85th & Ravenna. The Wedgwood Community Council supports the work of this block association and its application for street improvement funds.
A lively group of Wedgwoodians met to plan for food trucks.
A Food Truck Committee has formed and will meet again on Wednesday evening, May 18th. Do you know of any food trucks who could come to Wedgwood? Two initiatives are underway: one, to get a food truck for the Picnic Place site at the corner of NE 86th Street which is owned by the Parks Dept; and secondly, a food truck-round-up event which is tentatively planned for Saturday, September 17th, to be held at the Gathering Place at Hunter Tree Farm, 7744 35th Ave NE. Contact us if you would like to attend the upcoming food truck planning session or other initiatives which are forming, such as a Wedgwood Graffiti Clean-up Team.
We will be at the corner of NE 86th Street for another food truck planning meeting on Wednesday evening, May 18th at 7:15 PM.
On Saturday morning, May 21st, we will be at the Picnic Place from 9 to 11 AM not for a formal meeting but for a meet-and-greet time for anyone who wants to hear about what WCC is doing.
In recent weeks there has been a lot of “food venue excitement” in and around Wedgwood. The longtime Chinese restaurant at 7347 35th Ave NE re-opened with a refreshed interior, expanded menu and a new name, Cherry Blossom BBQ. The long-anticipated Veraci Pizza at 7320 35th Ave NE will have a Grand Opening on Monday, May 16, from 11 AM to 9 PM.
Another restaurant building which is being remodelled, the former Ying’s at 8500 Lake City Way NE, is to become part of the Growler Guys franchise. The business owner has posted videos explaining the business and what is being done to upgrade the building. Valarie’s history blog has the story of road houses on the Ying’s site in former years.
In news from other neighborhoods, the Hudson House Pub at 8014 15th Ave NE closed on Friday, May 13, with just a note on the door and an indication that there is a new owner. No word on whether the departing owners were scared off by the impending Growler Guys or not.
The long-empty Waldo Hospital building at 8511 15th Ave NE is being torn down. An assisted-living senior residence will be built in its place, in the approximate footprint of the building and with preservation of the trees on the eastern half of the site.
Gas company emergency response at 7317 35th Ave NE on May 12th. Photo courtesy of Seattle Fire Department.
Have you heard about the pedestrian bridge which is to be built over the freeway? The bridge is to connect the Northgate Transit Center and the future light-rail station, with North Seattle Community College on the opposite side of the freeway. At their meeting on Tuesday evening, May 17th, the Victory Heights Community Council will hear a presentation about the bridge project. Meeting info includes the advice to bring your own chair — the Victory Heights group meets in a preschool and the chairs are a bit small for adults.
Last but not least, we are thankful for quick reporting and quick response to the gas leak at 7317 35th Ave NE on Thursday, May 12, at a storefront which is being remodelled. The Hairmasters and Rxtra Care Pharmacy closed in March and a new fitness studio will be put in. No details on what happened or what caused the gas leak, but with the recent gas explosion in the Greenwood business district we are happy that all was quickly dealt with in this situation.
By the way, if you hear sirens or see fire trucks racing by, you can check Real-Time 911 to find out what is going on. Another gas leak was posted on Twitter by the fire department on Friday, May 20, at the intersection of NE 93rd Street and 40th Ave NE. It was reported that there was no danger of an explosion.