⚽ The World Cup. The Wedgwood Park Update. The Cherries.

Happy Tuesday - and welcome to what is officially, undeniably, World Cup week in Seattle.

⚽ The US opened with a statement: 4-1 over Paraguay, the most goals this country has ever scored in a single World Cup match. Next up: Australia, right here at Lumen Field, this Friday at noon. If you don't have tickets, I put together a guide to World Cup viewing spots around NE Seattle - and there’s a new venue that announced late last week: Seattle Soccer House at Pacific Place. The Soccer House is already open, free, and air-conditioned through July 2. Giant screen, mini pitch, food and drinks, lodge-style seating. Good option if you've got kids in tow!

🍺 Also: did anyone else catch Icicle Brewing in Leavenworth on the national World Cup telecast of the Germany vs. Curacao game? Fun to see Washington state rep the sport.

🏙 Random local soccer fact: did you know that Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer grew up in Lake City? His dad ran a soccer store on Lake City Way. He played for the Lake City Hawks in the 1970s. Not a bad backdrop for a city that's been growing its soccer roots for decades.

🌳 And back to the neighborhood…quick update on the Wedgwood landbanked site - the park at 35th Ave NE and NE 86th St has a new timeline. Seattle Parks updated the project page a few weeks ago: construction is now pushed to Fall/Winter 2026/2027, delayed from the earlier Summer 2026 target. Permitting is the holdup - two separate permits across SDCI and SDOT. Construction documents are complete, so once those clear, they can break ground. This park has been in the works since 2013, survived a design firm going out of business, and had its construction funding pulled during COVID. It's close. Just not quite yet.

🎓 And one more thing - if you've got a grad in the house this week, congratulations! Whether it's kindergarten or college, it's a big deal. Enjoy the celebrations!

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

If you've got a curious 4th–8th grader, Verdafield runs outdoor science camp right in our neighborhood in Ravenna Park this summer. Blast Off! (July 6 & 13) has kids designing and launching rocket-powered vehicles. Power Up! (Aug 3 & 10) explores electrical circuits and builds renewable energy systems from scratch.

What makes Verdafield unique is who's teaching: a former MIT/NASA spaceflight researcher, a Boeing Technical Fellow and UW professor, and the engineer who built guidance systems for the James Webb Space Telescope. Not your typical summer camp lineup. (Can I sign up?!)

Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm. $499/week. Full scholarships available. → camp.verdafield.com

🎸 Teacher Band Jam — Wednesday (tomorrow!), June 18, 6:30pm (Ravenna Brewing Co., 5408 26th Ave NE)

The Roosevelt High School staff band, led by Ms. Mowry, takes the stage the night after the last day of school. One night only, adults only (21+), 100 tickets at $100 each — includes appetizers, two drink tickets, and a raffle ticket. No fundraising pitch, just a celebration of the music program. Ticket here!

⚽ US vs. Australia — Friday, June 19, noon (Lumen Field, Seattle)

Seattle's second World Cup match. If you don't have tickets, the Seattle Soccer House at Pacific Place is free and air-conditioned — or check the NE Seattle Wire viewing guide for bar options closer to home.

🍺 Beers & Beats at Hellbent Brewing — Saturday, June 20, all day (13035 Lake City Way NE)

Turntables & Trails brings its summer music series back to Hellbent for the second show of the season. Lineup: Tom Price Desert Classic, The Tripwires, The No. 3, Taste Testors, Silverburns, Alfredo Ghosts, and DJ Maxwell Edison.

🎤 GOLDEN: A K-Pop Kids Party! — Sunday, June 21, 11am (The Neptune Theatre, 1303 NE 45th St)

Doors at 10:30am for a family-friendly dance party featuring K-pop songs, movie soundtrack remixes, and iconic pop anthems. Costumes and dancing strongly encouraged. Tickets here.

🎸 Modest Mouse — Friday & Saturday, July 10–11, 8pm (5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 5th Ave, Seattle)

Mentioning this one early given Modest Mouse’s popularity: formed in Issaquah, Modest Mouse has been one of the Pacific Northwest's biggest musical exports for nearly three decades. If you know "Float On" you know them — but the catalog runs deep, from the raw indie rock of The Lonesome Crowded West to the multiplatinum Good News for People Who Love Bad News. Two nights at the 5th Avenue with Pinback opening, and a new album on the way this fall. → Tickets here

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

🍒 Roadside Cherry Stand (sadly I don’t know the name!) - Just opened next to Spooner Farms on 35th Ave NE, near the Wedgwood post office. Bing cherries, 2 lbs for $14. Rainier cherries are available today! Open around 8:30am daily. More stone fruits coming later this summer — worth keeping on your radar through August.

💅 French Nail | 7339 35th Ave NE

Now that the weather is hot and I'm in full sandal mode, I start babying my feet and toes - and French Nail is where I go. I’ve been going for a few years now and they never disappoint - my teenage daughter loves it too! My favorite is the gel pedicure here and the leg massage alone is worth the trip. The staff is lovely, the vibe is relaxed, and it's right here on 35th. If your feet have been neglected since last summer, this is your sign.

Open Mon–Fri 9:30am–7pm, Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 10am–6pm. Call ahead: (206) 522-5111.

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 — still spots available at a few

⚽ Where to Watch the World Cup Near NE Seattle — bars, fan zones, and one venue to check before you go

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

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