Home › Forums › Open Discussion › WS Seattle Street Fair…booooring
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July 16, 2012 at 5:31 pm #604003
freerangeMemberWas it me or was the street fair this year booooooooring. Sure, the bands are always pretty good but man, not sure I am up for having 90% of the same stores in the junction just move into the street. If I wanted to shop at them, I’d go into their stores and other day. Just not much new or exciting, same ol’ same ol’.
July 16, 2012 at 6:21 pm #763951
aimymichelleParticipantit was way more boring then it has been in the past.
July 16, 2012 at 8:52 pm #763952
Betty TMemberGuess I didn’t miss much. I’d planned to go in afternoon But a nap instead. Then went to dinner for birthday. Sounds more enjoyable.
A friend and I went to the Fremont Fair on the Sunday. It seemed much better than WS. Can walk the sidewalks just fine.
July 16, 2012 at 10:08 pm #763953
freerangeMemberYeah, just the same stuff from inside the junction stores outside….not much fun in my opinion.
July 16, 2012 at 10:26 pm #763954
WSratsinacageMemberWere there fewer hawkers? That’s why I don’t go much anymore. Seems like it’s just a big “sign up for this, drumming up business” thing with a side of loud music at night.
July 16, 2012 at 10:31 pm #763955
KevinParticipantI would tend to agree with the previous comments. I attended the first day of the Ballard Seafood Festival on Saturday and had a lot more fun at that venue.
July 16, 2012 at 11:38 pm #763956
WSBKeymasterHey, all … As both a longtime Summer Fest co-sponsor (which doesn’t mean we plan it, just that we support it) and community journalist, wondering if you would care to share:
1. What do you WANT to see, then? Please offer suggestions so the folks who spend the whole year planning it can consider them. (Or e-mail info@wsjunction.org …)
Five years ago, in the relatively early days of WSB, Dave Montoure asked if we would pose the question to the then-readership, what do you want to see? (Here’s what they answered: https://westseattleblog.com/2007/03/think-summer ) … I know planners are always interested in feedback.
2. What is exciting at other festivals that you don’t find at WSSF?
From the perspective of having to pretty much *live* Summer Fest, by choice (we could just sit home and not spend 26 hours helping answer questions in the info booth, but it’s fun!) – here are some of the things you MIGHT have missed.
-Many people have griped to the Junction Association that there’s not ENOUGH local business participation. This year, indeed, it looked like more. The mix included businesses that are not in The Junction, such as Avalon Glassworks from Luna Park, PInk Gorilla Games from Morgan Junction, a couple that come to mind.
-Local food too – The Swinery, Matador, Bang Bar, Freshy’s, Pizzeria 22 sold food as well as the usual visiting “deep-fried pb&j” and “strawberry shortcake” types.
-At GreenLife, presentations ranged from “Backyard Beer Making” to an Occupy West Seattle speakout about the economy (and I’m sure they wouldn’t have kept opposing viewpoints off the stage)
On the Alaska Stage, events ran from the Police Vs. Fire wing-eating contest (hey, in Ballard it’s just people stuffing their faces with lutefisk, ew) to Caspar Babypants to belly dancing …
And that’s just a sample.
Seriously, let the Junction Association know what you WANT to see/experience, if you’re not finding it.
And if you’re really looking for something different … next year half the east side of the south block will be a construction zone. Maybe there can be a fence-art contest. Just kidding. Sort of.
-TR
July 17, 2012 at 2:24 am #763957
JayDeeParticipantIt might be that the schedules aligned and non-local vendors had to make a choice. I know the WS Farmers Market has no Seabreeze Farms presence because they sell several times more product up in Ballard, strange as it seems. My two cents.
July 17, 2012 at 5:47 am #763958
dhgParticipantGot there at 10 am Sunday. There were maybe 25% of the exhibits opening. Perhaps I had the opening time wrong? They looked to be as excited as I was, which is to be not thrilled at all.
July 17, 2012 at 6:38 am #763959
justadumbguyParticipantdhg,
You did in fact have the wrong start time for Sunday … from TR’s article
‘FINAL DAY: Rain or shine, the festival carries on – once things get under way for the day at 11 am (an hour later than Friday/Saturday) …’
July 17, 2012 at 1:43 pm #763960
SueParticipantMy pet peeve about the festival is that many of the booths close 2+ hours early in the evening. By 6pm the entire Green Life section was closed, and many of the booths. I’ve worked a festival before where we were specifically told there would be NO closing early. Seems unfair to those who get there later in the day.
I also noticed while walking that there are a lot of places where the asphalt is uneven and a trip hazard. I’m wondering if these areas might be marked by organizers so nobody has an accident. I never noticed this while driving, and I don’t normally walk in the middle of the street like that. :)
July 17, 2012 at 3:41 pm #763961
dhgParticipantI am surprised there isn’t more synthesis. A booth for a bank can be pretty boring but a booth that is, say, Umpqua bank presents 3 local photographers would be more interesting. Ally your business with the arts and increase exposure.
July 17, 2012 at 3:51 pm #763962
trickycooljParticipantI stopped by Friday after dinner time, as I had some STP riders overnighting at my house and wanted to show them my new neighborhood. We walked up and down California around maybe 7:00. I appreciated seeing some of the Junction stores open with sidewalk sales as I was able to finally see what all the stores sell and there are now many I will go back to instead of running down to Target. Unfortunately as we got to the southern end of California everything seemed to close up shop. I wasn’t sure if only beer gardens/music was open past 7pm or what but I was really disappointed. We were gone for the STP all weekend so it was my only opportunity to see my first Summer Fest. Seemed very similar to the U-district street fair, which I’ve been to for many years so maybe I won’t go too out of my way to attend Summer Fest if it conflicts with the STP again.
July 17, 2012 at 3:59 pm #763963
miwsParticipantI would have liked to see Mother Nature not be such a B***h, in how she destroyed Furry Faces Foundation’s, and several other vendors “tents” with the high winds.
It basically put F3, and I don’t know how many others, “out of business” on Sunday.
Fortunately, though, AARF was kind enough to take over the selling of F3’s doggie neckties, it’s just that F3 couldn’t continue to make/sell the pet I.D. tags…
“I’m coming for you, Mother Nature!”
Mike
July 17, 2012 at 4:02 pm #763964
The Velvet BulldogParticipantInteresting that so many people found it boring, because I found myself laughing out loud more than usual at some of the work the artists were presenting.
I mean, the prints with Jesus and dinosaurs?? OMG, LOL for like 15 minutes. Or the artist who combined found landscape paintings and added prints of Star Wars characters or Bob Ross! LOVE! Kicking myself because I forgot to go back to the tent with the artist who had shirts and prints of his work where I wanted the yeti holding out his arm to create a swing for a little girl. Squee!
Did you stop by the Furry Faces Foundation booth and talk to Teri Ensley? That woman has the energy of five people and was selling hand-made doggie ties to slip onto dog collars as an F3 fundraiser. TIES! ON DOGS!
Also, my longtime friend Mary is the proprietress of the Kranial Komfort booth and is a scream to talk to. AND I saw my WSHS Biology instructor on Friday AND Saturday, and stopped by the info booth to chat with Tracy and Patrick.
Soooo, maybe I’m easily entertained, but I found that talking with the artists and folks in the booths makes it way more fun.
Oh, I also applied to be a doggie foster-parent through the AARF booth and now we’re taking care of a dog!
SO NOT BORING!
SUE: Throwing some fluorescent paint on that uneven street in front of the yoga studio at the south end of the junction would be a very good idea.
July 17, 2012 at 4:11 pm #763965
freerangeMemberKinda feel like I did say what I wanted by saying what I didn’t want. Don’t care about the businesses in the junction just simply moving outside to sell their stuff. Anything different or out of the ordinary, even if it’s not local stuff, would be more interesting than what I can see/buy any day of the week of the year…….
July 17, 2012 at 4:23 pm #763966
HuindekmiParticipantI loved having the local food vendors Pizzeria 22 and Matador make for much better street fair food than an overpriced deep fried corndog. My son enjoyed the bouncy houses – he slept *really* well that night. My wife enjoyed shopping the local sales. I enjoyed hearing the New Orleans style line band come marching through the junction on Friday night. The only downside… Shoofly running out of pie.
July 17, 2012 at 4:24 pm #763967
SueParticipantTVB, that is *exactly* the area I’m talking about with the uneven ground, south-end near the yoga studio. Every year I trip on it. You’d think I’d learn by now. :)
I agree that it was the least boring of the last few years. Some interesting stuff to look at and actually made me come back more than once which I don’t think I’ve ever done. And TVB, if you liked the Jesus art, you should check out the art of Marty Gordon – I absolutely *love* his stuff after seeing it at Arts West a while back. Check out his website, What Would Jesus Glue: http://www.martworks.blogspot.com/
July 17, 2012 at 4:43 pm #763968
TanDLParticipantWell I had a perfectly lovely time at the Street Festival. I got to meet some of my neighbors, pet some really cool dogs, chat with local business people, enjoy a variety of arts & crafts, laugh at kids playing on the big blow-ups, and savor a delicious hot dog followed up by a custard ice cream cone while people watching. Sorry some of you couldn’t find any joy at the Fest. It was there to be had and I look forward to it every year.
Regarding some of the booths closing early: I’ve worked trade shows and street fairs in the past and it’s usually 10 or so hours a day of standing, talking, booth set-up/maintenance and sweating. It’s tiring work and I appreciate that most of the vendors remained pleasant in spite of the sweat, weather issues and dealing with large crowds. I can cut em some slack.
July 17, 2012 at 5:17 pm #763969
miwsParticipantJuly 17, 2012 at 7:51 pm #763970
Ms. SparklesParticipantNo one mentioned Moss Metal Art – over the course of the 3 days I bought 7 pieces from them…Love Them!!!
My girls and I also bought some really cute hats & gloves at Kranial Komfort =-). AND got some great old black & white photos of Luna Park from and postcards of Alki pinup girls from…the guy whose name escapes me.
But I did my homework ahead of time reviewed the vendor list and found the ones who hand made their items and/ or were local.
My ONLY complaint was that the operators of the bounce houses didn’t leave enough space for us parents to stand and not be in the way of people trying to line up.
July 17, 2012 at 8:02 pm #763971
trickycooljParticipantI think the big take away for all Seattle street festivals is that the vendors are all the same from fest to fest. I went to the U-district Street Fair in May, so I already saw the Star Wars/Bob Ross paintings and the Jesus on a Dinosaur cards. Hilarious yes, but 2 months ago, in a different fair. So the moral for those that find it boring, don’t go to every fair. They all recycle vendors and bands. U-District, Bite of Seattle, West Seattle, Capital Lakefair even…
July 18, 2012 at 4:24 am #763972
changingtimesMemberI must say from a vendor prospective the cost for a booth at the west Seattle fair was more then double the bigger fairs with guarnteed more people attending going on the same weekend. As a small growing company out of west Seattle we really wanted to attend but from a profit making stand point it was just to expensive. Maybe if the rates were lower there would be a more variety of booths.
July 18, 2012 at 5:09 am #763973
redblackParticipantTVB: i loved the unusual cards booth, and i bought some post cards.
and if i hadn’t attended this year, i wouldn’t have found a local artist and bought some colorful – and affordable – oil paintings for a semi-dark and dreary room.
not to mention seeing alcohol funnycar, a band that i last saw at RKCNDY in 1994. not my remembered perception of what they were when i was 24, of course, but i still had fun. i particularly enjoyed watching the crowd wince and shunt their kids away when they dropped multiple f-bombs.
then there was the soul cover band of 20-something “kids” that played at shadowland on saturday. verry, very tight musicians.
all-in-all, good neighborhood entertainment and food, and within walking distance. and who can complain about shutting down vehicular traffic through the AK junction for 72 hours, just so our little burg can get its collective rocks off?
a big thanks to all who made it happen. don’t let the haters get ya’ down. ;)
July 18, 2012 at 3:45 pm #763974
SueParticipantchangingtimes, I hear ya on the vendor costs: I have an energy work business here in West Seattle, and would love to have had a booth to meet people and get my name out there. But as a service industry they require me to “provide a service” in my booth in order to pay a lower rate ($350, I think), or else I would be a commercial business at about $1,000. The work I do can’t really be done in a booth at a festival if you want any kind of meaningful experience that’s worth the $. In fact, one of the things I do (Reconnective Healing) tells us at certification that we are not permitted to do it at festivals/fairs for that very reason.
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