Trendy Third Block Party
7-10 p.m. Saturday
23rd Street Courts
www.trendythirdokc.com
Slowly, but surely, the revitalization of N.W. 23rd Street is happening, with new restaurants, shops and services. It's especially evident at the 23rd Street Courts, the collective name for a short row of refurbished bungalows playing home to a number of businesses.
What does all this community revival call for? A block party, obviously.
The 23rd Street Courts hosts the Trendy Third Block Party on Saturday. It's hoped to be just the first of many.
"The inspiration was, we have seen how these communities have helped everybody around," said Erin Cooper, who leases space in the vintage boutique Mister Rabbit, 2411 N. Guernsey, for her store, Pippin + Pearl. "They've helped businesses, they've been a place for artists to go, and we wanted that for our area."
Trendy Third Block Party celebrates not only the shops and services of the 23rd Street Courts, but the whole community along N.W. 23rd. It also highlights the fact that many of the shop owners are not only young women, but several are also mother-daughter teams.
"Each of these women have independently started these businesses," Cooper said. "It's a unique facet of this community."
With a new vintage shop in the back, Starlite Salon, 719 N.W. 23rd, will have giveaways. Next door, attorney Carson Brooks, 723 N.W. 23rd " the only male owner of the group " will host an open house.
At Cuppies & Joe, 727 N.W. 23rd, stop in for desserts, coffee and live music. Meanwhile, Wild.Flower, 733 N.W. 23rd, will host a holiday sale.
"Our store's very warm and cozy. We're going to have old-timey Christmas music playing, and we're going to bake some of our family traditional Christmas things," said Kaleen Connell, who co-owns the shop with her mom, Margo Connell. In fact, Margo will bake her secret-recipe peanut butter fudge for the event.
Mister Rabbit will feature a showcase of photography from artist Rex Barrett of Glass Eye Studios, along with jewelry by Bella Vita, and accessories and apparel by Headdresses Handcrafted Goods. Headdresses' limited-edition Trendy Third tee is available at Wild.Flower and Pippin + Pearl.
In one of the empty bungalows, Deep Fork Grill will set up catering and a cash bar. And just a few blocks away, Big Truck Tacos, 530 N.W. 23rd, celebrates the grand opening of its merchandising shop next door with an open house, sidewalk sale and food.
"I know each of us has had our own events," Connell said, "but when you think about all the fans of each individual place coming, it will hopefully be a big event and a lot of people will come out for us and spread our name."
Cooper hopes the Trendy Third Block Party will be just the first of the community events planned for this revitalizing part of the metro.
"We're hoping to help raise awareness in the community about our area and hopefully attract more local businesses," she said.
above 23rd Street Courts members. Photo/Rex Barrett
