What U missed at the U-District Street Fair 2009.

May 16th and 17th of this month marked the 40th Anniversary of the University District's annual Street Fair. The fair is self-described as "country fair meets urban retail corridor" and is the nation's longest running street festival. It takes place every third week in May every year, and encourages people to come dressed in clothes from their favorite decade. The event features two main stages for musical performances, and also is host to over 300 craft and food booths along with various street performers. You can learn about the fair's history at it's website.

This year was no exception, the fair stretched down University Way NE between NE 50th street and NE 41st street, and was packed from beginning to end. If you missed out this year that's too bad, but here's a look at what you missed that will hopefully motivate you for next year!
Here's a map of the fair.















The biggest part of the fair is by far the retail. Make sure you bring a full wallet next year because you'll stop every ten steps to look at another intriguing booth. Pictured above are just small examples of the kinds of things you can buy. Decorative bird houses that have been colored and designed in strange ways. Gourmet Chocolate for those with a sweet tooth. And one lady was getting a lot of attention with her brightly colored dresses.

















There were also quite a few esoteric booths. One booth featured quill pens for sale, made of wood, feathers, or a combination of both. Drums and bongos were also for sale at another nearby booth. And hemp enthusiasts were attracted to a booth featuring water-pipes and other glass pieces that are strictly for tobacco use only.











Art was also a large part of the fair. Most of it was for sale but some of it was a performance itself. Such as the artists above who drew a large crowd as he used both brushes and spray paint to create this intriguing mural.








The art for sale ranged from hand-painted landscapes to abstract photos and sketches. But they were all very expensive! It seemed that the more affordable option was to get an original sketch of yourself by cartoon artists.















The smell of many different foods gathered at NE 47th street, combined with the heat of the day your senses were assaulted as you entered the food court. It was by far the busiest part of the fair, every booth had a tremendous line crowded in front of them. Every kind of fair-type food you could imagine was on hand. Philly steak sandwiches, roasted corn, teriyaki, shish-kabobs, cotton candy, and of course elephant ears. But on such a hot day, the best looking thing to most people was ice-cream and frozen lemonade.







Different kinds of performances were all over the place. Further down NE 47th street was one of the main stages. Different bands played throughout the day, playing music from four different decades the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. Along with a few modern bands at other times.









The other performers were a bit more... freakish? One man laid across a bed of nails and had a volunteer stand on top of him. Another band played strange music and was dressed in pirate-gypsy type clothes. While another two men just stood around and let people pay to staple them. For a dollar you could staple their stomach, for five dollars you could staple their sides, for twenty you staple the bill right between their eyes! Well, that was what they offered most of the people there were reluctant to try that.















There were some educational booths, bit you really had to be there in person so you could read and here about the information. And that's what the U-District Street Fair had to offer. In addition to some belly dancers on the way out. Hopefully after seeing this you'll know that the U-District Street Fair is a lot of fun and has a lot to offer. Less depending on your budget, but still fun for those pinching their pennies. Be sure to check it out next year!

Click here to learn about other upcoming events in Seattle's University District.

Hot Spots of the U-District

Within Seattle's University District you're likely to find a diverse mix of cultures and people. Though the area is mostly home to students and faculty of the University of Washington, those students and teachers are diverse among themselves. In light of this fact the University District's busiest street, University Way or "The Ave" is host to a large number of different shops and restaurants catering to the unique tastes. In this week's post I thought I'd point out just some of the unique Hot Spots of the U-District.

Just a block west of University Way on the corner of 45th St and Brooklyn Ave NE is the University of Washington Tower. At it's base just outside it's lobby, stand the Museum Without Walls. A new outdoor museum dedicated to the U-District's history. The exhibit currently on display is "Open to Question", a group of doors that catalog the history of activism and civil rights movements within the U-District

A great stop for those interested in social justice and local history. Some of the doors are made of chalk boards and welcome visitors to write something about themselves relating to activism.
http://www.udistrictmuseumwithoutwalls.org/





After you've had your fill of history and education, stop by Zanadu comics, the local comic and graphic novel shop. The shop's been a part of the U-District since 1987 and since then has focused on bringing it's readers a full selection of lesser-known alternative comics as well as mainstream books. Zanadu is located on NE 45th St and Brooklyn Ave NE.
http://zanaducomics.com/


Now that you're out of the comic shop, it's okay to get your hands a little slimy and smelly. So why not stop by one of the U-District's longest surviving shops, University Seafood and Poultry. Founded in 1945 the shop has not changed much since then, it still provides fresh seafood and poultry to the U's residents. Located on NE 47th St at and Brooklyn Ave NE.
http://universityseafoodandpoultry.lbu.com/


In the mood for an artsy independent movie and want to see it in an independently run theater? Well then you should stop by The Grand Illusion Cinema. They're Seattle's first independently run movie theater, originally opened in 1968 by Randy Findley, who is now the head of "Fox Searchlight Pictures" Fox's indie film division, that's brought us film's like Sideways, and Juno. They specialized in showing foreign and revival films. The theater was so successful it prompted Findley to open the Seven Gables Cinema and start the Seven Gables Theater chain. The Seven Gables theater chain was eventually consumed by the Landmark Cinema Corporation but The Grand Illusion managed to stay out of the deal. You'll find The Grand Illusion at the corner of University Way NE and NE 50th st.
http://www.grandillusioncinema.org/


After walking up and down the University District's famous Ave, you've got to be hungry. There are so many different choices in terms of food on The Ave, but there's a new hamburger joint that all should try. A Burger Place has only been in the U-District for a few months, but they truly represent the essence of high-quality but affordable food that should be found in a place full of students.



Going into A Burger Place, you don't even have to talk to the staff. All you have to do is fill out a a basic ticket, checking which vegetables, sauces, cheeses, and size burger size you want. Along with three kinds of french fires: straight, curly, steak, or onion rings. They also offer chicken breast sandwiches and Salmon burgers. There prices are extremely affordable and the food itself is top notch. You won't find a better burger in the U-District and possibly in all of Seattle.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com


During this brief sample of what the U-District's Ave area has to offer, you've been educated with activism, entertained by comics, picked up some fish for dinner, seen an old revival film, and have tried a new and exciting restaurant. But you've only experienced the tip of the U-District's iceberg. In order to fully experience everything the neighborhood has to offer you have to be there yourself to see and stop by the things that personally call to you. Hopefully, I've peaked your interest just enough to get you out there!