Traffic along Wallingford Avenue, above 40th Street, began to build by 11:00 a.m. As I mowed my lawn, I marveled over the families that hauled their blankets, coolers, chairs, strollers, and kids 8 blocks down the hill. By 3:00 p.m. the rain pretty much put the kibosh on my yard work, and the steady stream of people tapered down to a trickle. But around 6:00 p.m., the thickening crowd resumed their pilgrimage to Lake Union.
During a dinner party at my neighbor’s house, we spied an older couple celebrating their independence by sparking up a joint on the sidewalk. They lingered in front of the house until it was finished, and went on their merry way, seemingly unaware of the 6 sets of eyes fixed on them. But honestly, what’s worse—watching a couple share a doobie on the street, or listening to the random illegal fireworks all day long?
Shortly before 10:00 p.m., we left the house and joined the masses. We heard the radio simulcast all along Wallingford Avenue, as we snaked our way past the couches and chairs. The fireworks bloomed in the night sky, dazzling everyone on the street. Neighbors danced and sang to the soundtrack, including tunes by Sly and the Family Stone, Michael Jackson, Nat King Cole, Joe Cocker, and the Stones. Among the “ooh’s” and “ahh’s”, revelers belted out the words to “God Bless America”.
When it was over, the couches were returned to their respective homes, and neighbors pitched in to pick up the trash along the sidewalk and on the street. The northbound march had begun, and continued until about 12:30 a.m. Looking out of my front door this morning, I never would have guessed thousands of people trekked down my street during a 12-hour period yesterday. In addition to our neighbors, we have those awesome volunteers to thank for that, which I did as I spotted three of them cleaning up around the corner this morning. 
All in all, it was a good Fourth of July here in Wallingford, and the view from up here just can’t be beat!
It was okay this year, although I think the money spent on blowing things up could be better spent on charity – a la Ivar’s last year….. signed, a Wallingford resident
We hosted a wonderful family-friendly gathering at OmCulture, just a couple blocks north of Gasworks. Music all day and night and an amazing view of the fireworks. The fireworks were jaw-dropping awesome!!!!
Equally awesome was the fact that, in spite of the throngs passing by the building all day and night, all the beer cans and bottles and other recycleables made it into the recycle container in back even though it was overflowing. Then, get this, the hordes of yellow-vested clean-up volunteers not only picked up every scrap of debris on the streets, they cleared all the beer cans and bottles out of the top of my recycle container! Over the top!
I love running a business in Wallingford. I also had the great luck this month to find a beautiful rental on 36th and Corliss, just a block from OmCulture. I had a house on 43rd and Sunnyside from ’83 to 93. After a 17 year hiatus, I am a full-fledged Wallyhooder again. Hooray!
Hiya-I’ve had ~25 4th of July parties on my deck in lower Wford and this year’s was a huge hit. The only major downside was the radio simulcast on 97.5? (Kiro). The DJ’s talked through the entire production with their riduculous comments on the display. You could barely hear the music which, I’m sure, was cleverly orchestrated by the producers. I fired off an email to Kiro after the production, to which they haven’t responded. That said, the community spirit on 7/5 was uplifting – I don’t think Wallingford has ever been so clean. Cudos to Starbuck’s for organizing!