Sights & Sounds of Summer

Sights & Sounds of Summer

When the clear, warm Northwest summer days finally arrive, Seattle-area nightlife and arts quickly spill into the great outdoors. Look for free events everywhere: parks host weekly concerts on the grass, and regional amphitheaters tweak their sound systems for the big acts. People hit the streets for art walks and festivals.

Weekdays at noon you'll hear the sounds of Seattle's free Out to Lunch (206/623-0340) concerts. From mid-June to early September, well-known music and dance groups perform outdoors in various places around Downtown while locals munch brownbag lunches.

Although the First Thursday Gallery Walk (206/587-0260) takes place monthly all year, in summer Seattle's talents show off their skills to even larger crowds. This artsy Downtown stroll, which centers on the galleries of Pioneer Square, runs from 6 to 9 PM. Street performances and espresso carts dot the sidewalks in between.

A cinderblock wall, a parking lot, and a projector set up on scaffolding entice throngs to drag their lawn chairs out for movies under the stars at the Fremont Outdoor Cinema (N. 35th St. and Phinney Ave., Fremont. 206/781-4230). Some movies are mainstream (The Matrix), some are classics (Casablanca), and some are hilarious, twisted flick (e.g., The Blob) with comedians from Jet City Improv dubbing the sound. There's a suggested $5 donation.

Casual, rocking concerts take place at Pier 62 & 63 (200 Alaskan Way, Downtown. 206/281-8111). The backdrop of Elliott Bay on a warm night can't be beat. Catch the sounds for free while on a waterfront stroll or from the edge of a sailboat cruising by the docks.

In Marymoor Park, you can enjoy a weekly dose of well-known performers whose music stars in the Concerts at Marymoor (6046 West Lake Sammamish Pkwy. NE, Redmond. 206/205-3661). Reserved seats and general admission lawn areas are available for catching eclectic acts that run from Norah Jones and the Irish Tenors to Meatloaf and Willie Nelson.

At the Chateau Ste. Michelle (14111 NE 145th St., Woodinville. 425/415-3300. www.ste-michelle.com) winery you can catch top international entertainers June through August during the Summer Festival on the Green. You can take a winery tour, have a picnic on the grounds, and then stroll by the vineyards, ponds, and gardens to the amphitheater.

On the stunning Columbia River bluffs about three hours east of Seattle, The Gorge (754 Silica Rd. NW, George. 206/464-2000) is still the major outdoor summer venue—even though White River Amphitheater in southern Auburn provides major competition. It's a hard-rocking place that can host more than 20,000 fans for the likes of ZZ Top, the Dave Matthews Band, and Steely Dan.

The White River Amphitheater (40601 Auburn Enumclaw Rd., Auburn. 360/825-6200) opens to a gorgeous backdrop of snowy Mt. Rainier. Carved Native American decorations on the buildings suit the beautiful location on the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation. Sit below the triangular roof or on the lawn (chair rentals are available) to listen to such well-known acts as Aerosmith, Beck, Fleetwood Mac, and Neil Young.

There's no better way to spend a romantic summer evening than at the Pink Door (1919 Post Alley, Downtown. 206/443-3241). Hidden away in Post Alley, steps from Pike Place Market, this cozy bar tops off its stunning Puget Sound and Olympic Mountains views with tantalizing drinks. Sip a violet martini on the covered deck, and you will know true bliss.