North City Jazz Walk is a jazz festival and a street party

Smiling faces, good food, take the baby
and sit wherever you like
Photo by Jerry Pickard

By Diane Hettrick

The North City Jazz Festival Tuesday night was both a jazz festival and a street party.

If you bought a bracelet, you could go into a venue, sit down, and listen to a set before moving on to the next venue.

But if you had children or just felt like staying outside in the warm evening air, it was also a terrific street party.

Leena's remodel is complete and the restaurant is open.
But this night, they were on the street handing out ice cream cones.
Photo by Jerry Pickard

When it first opened, not a lot of people were on the street. This was a boon for people who don't like to stand in line. As the evening went on, more and more people came. There were long lines for venues and food, but somehow that was part of the fun. The atmosphere was happy and people were friendly.

Rain City Rotary beer garden, with Hook Me Up
playing by the building.
Photo by Jerry Pickard

With most of the North City business district on 15th NE closed from NE 175th to NE 180th, the whole street became a pedestrian mall. Several of the businesses moved to the street with food and free samples.

What is it about little boys and fire trucks?
Photo by Jerry Pickard

There was a fire truck, bicycle police, the emergency communications van, and a food truck. Rotary had an outside beer garden, carefully fenced off to keep it age appropriate.

The outside venues had chairs
This is Greta Matassa and the big band
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

Some very big acts were outside - Greta Matassa was on the Arts Council sound stage.

Eugenie Jones
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

Eugenie Jones was outside the new Bethel Lutheran location. Music spilled into the street. People danced.

People danced to the infectious Latin beat of Kiki Valera
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

If you missed it, it will be back next year. Mark your calendar. And thank all those hard-working volunteers who made it happen.