Browsed by
Tag: public event

Now, Where Do We Go from Here?

Now, Where Do We Go from Here?

Thanks to everyone who took the time to follow the story about The Hoods and our response to it, we’ve had hundreds of new visitors to this site over the past 48 hours. We hope that it won’t be a one-off and that many of you will return to stay abreast of much less incendiary news about neighborhood developments and events.

Whether you agree with our point about The Hoods or not, we want to invite everyone with a stake in Emerson-Garfield to participate in our ongoing efforts to improve the neighborhood from the bottom up. Contrary to stereotype, Emerson-Garfield’s neighborhood council and planning committee aren’t a cabal of grumpy old men griping about kids on their lawn — the groups are diverse, they’re vibrant, they’re active, and they’re always looking for ways to become more of all those things.

Some of the biggest challenges we’ve historically faced are ignorance and apathy, but The Hoods has shown that people can become informed very quickly if the incentive is there, and that those people are anything but apathetic about their neighborhood.

So, where do we go from here?

Don’t limit your concern to a single of outburst of controversy. Don’t limit your comments to a single blog post. Don’t sour on an issue because of criticism. Instead, show up to neighborhood council and planning meetings. Speak your mind. Offer your input. Make suggestions for improvement. Help with the legwork. Because neither the individual councils nor The Hoods are the sole arbiters of what our neighborhoods are or what they can be. That takes all of us working in concert.

Here in Emerson-Garfield, there are two meetings this week that would welcome new faces, new voices, and new ideas:

  • Neighborhood Planning, 6pm on Wednesday at Corbin Senior Center. This is an initiative that is working toward a documented vision that could guide the neighborhood for the next decade and beyond.
  • Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council, 7pm on Wednesday at Corbin Senior Center. This focuses on practical issues and improvements such as crime updates, new playground equipment in the parks, and event planning.

If you’re fired up and live, work, or own property anywhere in Emerson-Garfield, we hope to see you at one or both of these meetings.

The Hoods: A Neighborhood Arts Show, Sept 7

The Hoods: A Neighborhood Arts Show, Sept 7

Spokane design project The Hoods will hold its debut arts show celebrating Spokane neighborhoods on Friday, September 7 at the Bon Bon cocktail bar in the Garland business district. It kicks off as part of First Friday and will run the entire month of September.

The group says that this marks the city’s first contemporary arts and design show with a neighborhood focus. Designers from local agency Seven2 have partnered with freelance designers Joel Barbour, Karli Ingersoll, Jesse Pierpoint, Eric Smith, and Nick Tibbetts to create logos, posters, and printed artworks that celebrate the spirit of Spokane’s communities.

The graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers who formed The Hoods have created campaigns for some of Spokane’s largest companies as well as for nationally recognized brands. They came together earlier this year when they realized they had an opportunity to celebrate the intersection of Spokane’s history with its modern culture.

If you plan on attending, you can RSVP on the Facebook page for the event. Anyone with media questions or an interest in participating in future shows should contact Karli Ingersoll via e-mail or on (509) 863-7235.

As Emerson-Garfield representatives, we encourage everyone to attend in support of their own neighborhoods and to see what these great local designers have cooked up, but we have to confess to harboring mixed feelings about this show. Please visit tomorrow to read why.

Community Garden Harvest, Aug 31

Community Garden Harvest, Aug 31

It’s harvest time! Come learn about Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood’s new community garden.

Emerson Community Garden was started this year with the vision of fostering neighborhood relationships and providing wholesome fresh produce to garden members and neighbors.

The garden members are hosting a free neighborhood corn feed this Friday, August 31 at 6pm in Emerson Park. Chicken and corn will be provided. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. All are welcome.

Instead of each person gardening their own rented plot, Emerson Community Garden is a shared gardening experience where members share in the work and in the harvest from the garden as a whole. There are opportunities for involvement at various levels. It is a great way to meet neighbors, learn about gardening, and enjoy the fruits of gardening!

For more information contact Paul and Sara Kimball at kimballs09@gmail.com.

(This post was written by Sara Kimball, who heads the Emerson Community Garden and also serves as the community development representative for the Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council.)

COHBC Parking Lot Party, Aug 26

COHBC Parking Lot Party, Aug 26

Christ Our Hope Bible Church (COHBC for short) will be hosting a party in their parking lot [map] on Sunday, August 26 from 6 to 8:30pm. It’s the church’s first event of this kind. And if it goes well, it’s possible that there will be many more.

There will be live entertainment, fun activity booths, and food. Singer/songwriter Eric E will be laying down electro-acoustic grooves, and magician — sorry, illusionist— Matthew Light will amaze and astound with his legerdemain.

You don’t have to be a member of the church to take part. In fact, you can come from any religious or nonreligious background. The point of this Parking Lot Party is to give people in the neighborhood a place to come together and socialize. COHBC has already become a big supporter of Emerson-Garfield by hosting garage sales and events like this one, as well as taking part in other neighborhood-wide events.

COHBC could use more volunteer help for this parking lot party. If you’d like to offer a hand, please contact Bob DeLateur via e-mail or at (509) 893-8644.

N. Monroe Vintage, Hearts and Flowers Family Event, Aug 24

N. Monroe Vintage, Hearts and Flowers Family Event, Aug 24

Several neighborhood businesses on North Monroe — including The Heart of Spokane, The Hub Tavern, Destiny Floral, TheRetroVixen, Blackwood Designs, Paint in my Hair, and Fabulous Finds — are holding a family-friendly event called North Monroe Vintage, Hearts and Flowers to help raise money for the Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant.

It will take place on Friday, August 24 from noon to 6pm along the stretch between 2901 and 3036 N. Monroe [map].

The flyer for the North Monroe Vintage, Hearts & Flowers family event on Friday, August 24 from noon to 6pm.

The event centers around a canned food drive but will also feature face-painting, a small vintage fashion fun with al fresco modeling out on the sidewalks, barbecued hot dogs, and more. All they’re asking is a donation of two cans of food.

You’ll also have a chance to make a small donation in the form of a $3 raffle ticket. The prize is an original artwork donated by local artist Cecile G. Charles.

Beyond all that, it will be a great opportunity to browse the shops that help make North Monroe unique. There will be a few vintage cars and motorcycles, and the Spokane Humane Society will also be there with dogs and cats in need of a good home.

Someone from the Women’s and Children’s Free Restaurant will be on hand to answer questions about their organization. The WCFR is a great resource for many low-income families across Spokane and a huge supporter of our neighborhood.

Check out the Facebook page for the event to see who’s going. For more info about the fundraiser, get in touch with Cecile or Susan at (509) 443-4799 between 10am and 5pm, Mon-Fri.