⚽ Best Host City. Also: New Ice Cream on 65th 🍦

Happy Tuesday! And what a couple of weeks it's been. Watching the US fall to Belgium on Monday was a massive gut punch, but I'd be lying if I said Seattle didn't have a great run of it. The Athletic named Lumen Field the top stadium experience in the entire tournament. Action Network called us the best U.S. host city for fans — and Axios put it well: Seattle's biggest World Cup win wasn't on the pitch. There are 4 matches left and the final is this Sunday, July 19 in New Jersey, with France, Spain, England, and Argentina in the semis. Who are you cheering for?

🏟️ One thing the World Cup seems to have set in motion: a real conversation about Seattle Center. With over a million visitors coming through during the tournament, city leaders are starting to ask whether the campus deserves a major redesign. Nothing decided, but it's the kind of question that only gets asked when a city starts believing in itself a little more. I'm here for it.

🚧 The less welcome update: Revive I-5 is back. The construction pause for World Cup matches was a gift while it lasted. As of this weekend, northbound I-5 is down to two lanes across the Ship Canal Bridge, the express lanes are northbound-only around the clock, and the Roanoke Ave on-ramp is closed until mid-October. More details below — but the short version is leave early or take the bus.

📚 On a much better note: Lovestruck in Seattle - a Wedgwood bookstore turned one on Saturday, and they celebrated by hosting Julia Quinn — the author of the Bridgerton series — for a signing right there on 35th Ave NE. She lives in Seattle, which somehow makes it even better. One year old and already pulling that kind of energy. Also: a new ice cream shop just opened on NE 65th with a rotating flavor menu that has no business being this creative, and Wedgwood's Free Yard Sale Day is coming up July 25 if you want to clear out the garage or score something good.

Know someone who'd enjoy this? Forward it along — it really does help!

Held at The School of Drama on the UW campus and led by Emilia Kister, a longtime educator with a passion for the arts and teaching kids. Each week focuses on one art project, plus daily listening to music, exploring the UW campus, and outside play. Two sessions remain this summer:

        •        July 20–24 — Mosaic Week
        •        July 27–31 — Wire & Paper-Mâché Week

$400/week · Financial assistance available (send a message to Emilia directly at [email protected]). Spots open for both weeks!

Facebook: Emilia Kister Music & Outreach
Instagram: @emilia.kister_music.outreach

📚 Northgate Branch 20th Anniversary Party — Tuesday (TODAY!), July 14, 1–5pm

The Northgate Branch turns 20 today, and they're spending the afternoon doing what a library does best: making it worth showing up. Cake, refreshments, crafts, games, a photo booth, and a public program — plus a full week of family programming including a West African dance workshop, firefighter story time, a cempasúchitl mixed media workshop, and a magic show. Free and open to all. → Northgate Branch events

🌳 Maple Leaf Summer Social — Wednesday, July 15, 5:30pm (Maple Leaf Park Playground)

Once a year, Maple Leaf comes together at the park for food, music, and the kind of easy conversation that reminds you why you live here. MLCC's biggest community event of the year — whether you've been in the neighborhood for decades or just moved in, you're welcome. Free, no registration needed, just show up.

🏷️ Wedgwood FREE Yard Sale Day — Saturday, July 25, 10am

The whole neighborhood sets out free stuff — driveways, front yards, along the road — and you just walk around and take what you want. No transactions, no haggling, no "make me an offer." You can also sign up to host your own spot and get on the live map. A similar free event runs in Lake City on Saturday, August 15. → Sign up to host in Wedgwood

Something happening in the neighborhood? I want to know about it! Submit your event here. I review submissions each week before sending.

Montlake Blvd Closure — Friday July 17 (10pm) through Monday July 20 (6am)

Montlake Boulevard closes this weekend for sign structure work — replacing the old sign bridge with smaller structures. Closed sections include the SR 520 on-ramps in both directions, a stretch of East Roanoke, and Lake Washington Boulevard between Montlake and 24th Ave East. The westbound 520 off-ramp to northbound Montlake stays open, and a bike/pedestrian detour is maintained across the bridge. A second weekend closure is coming in August — details TBD.

🍦 Raindrop Creamery | A new scoop shop just opened at 2120 NE 65th St in Ravenna, and the menu is doing things. Rotating flavors — think Sweet Corn & Blackberry, Peach Cobbler & Lovage, Mango Coconut with Tajin — plus $1 toppings that go well beyond sprinkles (suya chili crunch, dulce de leche, plum jam). Rain or shine, blue sprinkles are always free. Check their Instagram for latest hours.

🥪 Mendocino Farms | The California-born sandwich and salad chain just opened at U Village (2696 NE University Village St) — right next to the space that will become Din Tai Fung's new, much larger location. If you haven't tried Mendo yet, the "Not So Fried" Chicken is the move. Creative combinations, fresh ingredients, and a lunch worth actually looking forward to.

🌿 Wedgwood Garden Club: If your summer plants are struggling and you're blaming your black thumb — Jacqueline Houston, a Master Gardener and longtime Wedgwood resident, has a reframe: you don't need a green thumb, you just need a little information. Her latest tip covers why your hydrangea is drooping, where to put that Japanese maple, and what actually belongs in a full-sun hell strip. Worth a read before you give up on anything. → Read the tip

🏘️ Neighborhood & City Policy

A quick note on something a lot of people have been asking about: Seattle's zoning is changing, and the changes are significant. Phase 1 of the One Seattle Comprehensive Plan passed in December 2025, allowing 4–6 units on what used to be single-family lots citywide. Phase 2 — which would allow 5–6 story mixed-use development along corridors like 35th Ave NE — is in progress, though currently on hold due to a legal challenge to the environmental review. The Wedgwood Community Council discussed this at their July 7 meeting. If you want to stay current, the interactive zoning map and sign-up for updates are your best tools. → Interactive zoning map | One Seattle Plan site

🫐 Spooner Farms Stand

There's a berry stand in the gravel lot next to the Wedgwood post office that I'd genuinely be sad if you didn't know about. Spooner Farms runs a seasonal stand at 7726 35th Ave NE, and right now they have blueberries, raspberries and marionberries — my favorite berry, full stop. These aren't grocery store berries. They're picked fresh at the farm and brought up the same day, meant to be eaten immediately. My girls demolish them in a single sitting, which means I have to pace myself at the stand or our entire week's budget goes to berries. No regrets, honestly. Open daily at 9am until sold out — and they do sell out.

In case you missed them — a few guides worth bookmarking for summer:

🎂 Where to Host a Kids Birthday Party Near NE Seattle: 17 Venues — from our backyard to worth-the-drive

🏕️ Last-Minute Summer Camp Options - (updated today!) still time to sign up for several of these

🌃 Date Night in Northeast Seattle — restaurants, bars, and spots worth staying out for

Can you guess the price of this real estate listing based on just one photo? Hint: 4 Bed, 4 bathroom, 2030 square feet

$1.425M
$1.55M
$1.67M
$1.75M

🎶 Save the Date: U Village Summer Concert Series | Starts Wednesday, July 15, 7–8:30pm at the Village Green, running through August. Free, with the beer and wine garden opening at 6pm.

Ongoing

Every Tuesday

Every Wednesday

Every Saturday

Every Sunday

🎸 Ravenna Brewing Sunday Fun Day | Free live music on the patio, 4–6pm every Sunday all summer, plus BBQ from Outsider BBQ.

🏟️ Seattle Sports Schedules

📌 Want to reach Northeast Seattle neighbors? Reply to this email to learn about sponsorship opportunities.