Tag Archives: below broadway

CHS Pics | Summit Block Party 2015

Posted on by

IMG_9680
IMG_9634

IMG_9692

Here’s a look at Saturday’s 2015 Summit Block Party — it’s a view of Capitol Hill culture, art, and music armies of developers desperately want to embrace and extend. The fourth annual day of music and art matured, reportedly, in 2015 under new leader Adam Way. “On the whole, there is a (push) for quality,” Way told CHS, with a wink. “I don’t want people to feel like the free admission wasn’t worth it.” Of course, this year there were still irate neighbors, some occasional bursts of loud and obnoxious rock, and various shenanigans that are likely to accompany a grassroots music festival in the middle of some of the densest blocks in the densest neighborhood in the PNW. Like the lined-up-for-upgrades Summit Inn apartment that partly inspired it, Summit Ave is also going to see more change. In the meantime, its street festival manages to grow along with the rents.

More pictures, below.

Continue reading →

Summit Block Party matures along with the building that helped inspire it

Posted on by
(Image: CHS)

(Image: CHS)

IMG_22122015 could be the start of a new era for the Summit Block Party. In his second year as lead organizer, Adam Way is taking a more professional approach to the fourth annual day of free music, food, and beer happening this Saturday.

Special events permits have been acquired, t-shirts and other merchandise produced, and liability insurance purchased. Way even got the city to close street parking on the Summit Ave block between Howell and Olive for the party and secured a $1,000 Department of Neighborhoods grant to help offset costs.

“On the whole, there is a (push) for quality,” Way said. “I don’t want people to feel like the free admission wasn’t worth it.”

“I don’t want people to feel like the free admission wasn’t worth it.”

At the same time, the building on the block that had been the street party’s creative source is undergoing a similar transformation. The DIY madhouse days of the Summit Inn came to an abrupt end last year after it was bought out by developer Brad Padden who plans to renovate the entire building next year.

The Summit Inn and its resident community were key in getting the block party off the ground, but when Padden increased rents by $100 with promises of further increases, many tenants moved out. The original Summit Block Party organizers also decided to step away from the event this year. That doesn’t appear to be dampening the party. Way has made peace with the City and the new Summit Inn owners, who have agreed to provide electricity for the day-long event. “We’re just trying to do our part,” Padden said. Continue reading →