Everett Street Tunes is a Hit

You’ve seen them on the streets and may have even sat down to pound out ‘chop sticks’ or Beethoven’s 9^th in D minor. They are the embellished
pianos featured in Everett’s Street Tunes, gaily and beautifully done up by local artists. The Post sought out Lisa Newland, Cultural Arts Coordinator
of the city of Everett for more details.

“We got the inspiration from Luke Jerram, a musician who started this in England and Wales in 2008. 2010 was the first year and it helped to increase downtown
business by 20% during August which is usually a slower retail month,” she says. She goes on to say that there is a lot of community enthusiasm for
the project. “Our citizens love Street Tunes! We just had typewriters throughout downtown for our ‘Word on the Street’ project and everyone asks, when
are the pianos coming? Many people love to try and go to all 19 pianos and have their picture taken at each one and it seems a lot of people bring
family and friends to town to play the pianos.” The pianos themselves are not repainted or redone each year, but left in the art project each year
as long as they are still playable. Some are veterans from the very first year placed.

The artists who decorate the pianos do it for a very small stipend and the love of art; all of the themes that you see are a theme of their own choosing.
Besides the contribution of the art itself, just the plain, on-going maintenance of the event is of a collaborative nature.

“We connect with local businesses that are open six days a week that are willing to cover the pianos up each night and when it rains. Both Behar’s and
Erickson’s furniture donate large plastic bags that cover sofas and mattresses to help protect the pianos for the three weeks they are outside.”

To cast your vote for your favorite piano, please visit www.everettwa.gov/streettunes. Please feel free
to post a picture of yourself in the comments or submit via our web portal, and we’ll post it online.

Here is a complete list of the 19 locations the pianos can be found, if you’re feeling up to playing a tune or challenging yourself for a little X-Marks-The-Spot
treasure hunt.

Street Tunes 2016 Locations

August 3 – 23

1. Imagine Children’s Museum, 1502 Wall St.
• Music Leopard Lounge byJanet Wold
2. Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt. Ave.
• Intertwined by Amber Forrest
3. Everett Library, 2702 Hoyt Ave.
• All Star Player Piano by Cathy Tanasse
4. Homestreet Bank, 2720 Hoyt Ave.
• Pacific Coast Rocks by Melana Bontrager
5. Renee’s Contemporary Clothing, 2820 Colby Ave. 
• Night Concerto by Anna Mastronardi Novak
6. Best Nails, 2906 Colby Ave. 
• Nature’s Melodies by Cassandra Reed
7. Major League Pizza, 2811 Colby Ave.
• The Phantom by Jeromy Sawdon
8. Clear Image, 2806 Colby Ave.
• Moonlight Garden Jam by Holly Stafford
  
  
9. Silver Cup Coffee, 2707 Colby Ave.
• Broadway Boogie Woogieby Si Newland
10. Petite Sweet & J. Matheson Gifts,2615 Colby Ave.
• Play Me a Tune in the Rolling Hills by Krista Jefferson
  
  
11. Wicked Cellars, 2616 Colby Ave. 
• Tickle My Keys by Jackie Cort
  
  
12. Wetmore Theatre Plaza, 2710 Wetmore Ave.
• Meow Art by Cathy Tanasse
13. Café Zippy, 2811 Wetmore Ave.
• Summer Reflections by Shannon Danks
14. Sno-IsleCo-op & Sisters Restaurant, 2804 Grand Ave.
• Produce Sounds by Elizabeth Person
  
  
15. Vintage Café, 1510 Hewitt Ave.
• Epoca Rosso by Alexander Vincini
16. Sol Food, 1405 Hewitt Ave.
• Jimi Hendrix Experience by Jesse Jeter
17. Scuttlebutt Brewery, 1205 Craftsman Way
• Mambo Kings Sing Songs of Love by Cheri O’Brien
18. Everett Transit Station, 3201 Smith Ave.,

Outdoors – Sun in Raven in Whale by Darrin Hess & Jane Meagher

Indoors –Joy Unspeakable by Kim Williams