More July happenings

Madison Park Days begins this week

It's become an annual tradition in the neighborhood to follow up the Fourth of July holiday with a sidewalk sale, a Kid's Parade, and a picnic in the Park.  Nine times out of ten, it seems, the weather for all of these events is better than weather on the Fourth, though apparently our bad memories of a couple of rainy Independence Day fireworks are improperly skewing our inexact weather statistics. On the other hand, we can't remember a single bad Madison Park Days parade!  Sunny and fun for all---animals included!

The sidewalk sale begins on Thursday, July 5th, and extends through Saturday, July 7th.  Saturday is also parade day, with the line up in front of the Wells Fargo branch at 11:45 a.m and the parade beginning promptly at noon.  The leisurely stroll down Madison Street, a ten-minute affair, will be consummated with a food-and-drinks extravaganza at the Park, the whole thing sponsored by the Madison Park Business Association.

MPC inaugurates Monday dinner parties

Beginning on Monday, July 9, Madison Park Conservatory will be hosting a multi-course dinner each Monday night featuring a "singular, coursed, prix fixe menu created around a guest Farmer, Winemaker, Boozehound and/or Chef," to quote from a recent MPC missive.  Progressive seating will begin at 5:30 and end at 8:30, with only 50 guests accommodated, so reservations are recommended. Courses and prices will vary with the night, "but four courses and $42 are good touchstones to remember." Details and menus will be available on MPC's website under Events, but here's the official rundown for the upcoming dinner on July 9:

"Stokesberry Sustainable vs. Local Roots: Two of our favorite farm families join us on our maiden voyage. We adore and rely upon Jerry and Janelle Stokesberry to provide us with improbably great chickens, eggs and Icelandic lamb. Nobody produces more pristine Old-World and heirloom vegetables than Jason Salvo and Siri Erickson-Brown do at Local Roots. We'll bring the best of each to your plate."

Epiphany hosts Summer Concert Series

Madrona's Epiphany Church is presenting a summer concert series this month, with performances by a wide array of musical artists. The concerts will be held every Friday night in July, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., outside in the Courtyard the Church. You are invited to "bring your kids, friends and family, blankets or lawn chairs, drinks and a picnic! Everyone is welcome whether you have a connection with Epiphany or not." If it rains, the event will be moved into the Church's Great Hall.

Here's the schedule of musical performances:

July 6th: Brass Band Northwest (shown above)
July 13th: Sambatuque
July 20th: Anzanga Marimba Ensemble
July 27th: Genesee Ramblers: Old Time Barn Dance

For more information you may call Epiphany Church at (206) 324-2573 or visit the website.

The Bike/Walk/Ride Challenge is on!

Madison Park residents are being challenged again this summer to give up their cars and, at least part of the time, bike, walk or ride (transit, that is) instead.  Those entering the July/August Challenge are eligible to win valuable prizes (top prize: an electric bike) and will be able to bask in the glow of doing something good for the betterment of the world--or at least the local environs.  Details on how to participate are available here.

Cafe Parco offers wine tasting

Those interested in something a bit stronger than what's being served at the Madison Park Days picnic on Saturday might want to make a detour to the courtyard of Cafe Parco for some wine tasting.  Robert Ramsay Cellars and Airfield Estates will be featured, with sampling "provided on the house" from noon until 3 pm.  Wines will be available for purchase by glass or bottle.

[Madison Park Conservatory is located at 1927 43rd Avenue E., Epiphany Church is located in the Madrona / Denny Blaine area at 38th Ave, between E. Howell & E. Denny, and Cafe Parco is located at 1807 42nd Avenue E. Wine glass photo by Sébastien Barillot on Flickr.com.]