One week ago, the owners and staff of The Red Avocado served their last customers. They have spent the week getting all of their equipment out of the building, but there are still two days left before the bulldozers will arrive and take away all that remains of 521 E. Washington.
I ran into Co-owner David Burt at the co-op this morning, and he asked me to help him get the word out about his plans for today.
Starting around 10 a.m. this morning, he has invited all comers (kids definitely included) to make murals all over the walls of The Red Avocado. I’m not sure if this goes for the exterior as well as the interior, but bring some paint and find out for yourself!
And, really, do bring paint. He said they didn’t have that much as of this morning, so please bring some paint, some brushes and other supplies down to The Red Avocado for a day and night of good, clean (well, probably not clean) community catharsis.
Future ghosts interested in haunting the 500 block of Washington, from Van Buren to Johnson, will also be pleased to hear that Dave has loose plans for a dance party tonight, starting around 9:30 p.m.
The Red Avocado is all out of food and drink, so please be a good guest and bring some. Though the zoning issues at play might be complex, today, all I’m feeling is the profound loss of one of Iowa City’s most special places. A little bit of dancing will do me good, and I’m sure many of you feel the same way. I hope to see you down there tonight as we drink our last gulps of The Red Avocado.
i tried to get the clerk’s office to show me the video or help me find the notes re the 1983 mtg that our mayor & co said tied their hands when so many of us spoke out weeks ago at council mtg. guess what? there was NOT a specific mtg re these bldgs just THE GENERAL ARE was zoned cb something or other =central business. YAY for the art will stop by with house paint…but it’s HIDEOUS that bulldozers are gonna knock down 100 year old bldgs that narrowly missed being historic pres..and i think that was BEFORE they did the basement dig out beauty..wish we had a nice lawyer out there to file a STOP THE DEMOLITION injunction. the loss of this block is really encouraging me to look for another home. it sucks sucks sucks.YES and also i’d like a bowl of soup. best to all. STOP THE BULLDOZERS paint the town thanks for sharing!
Please somebody take pictures? I doubt I’ll be able to make it out.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barefootadrianne/sets/72157629093500553/
Just a few shots from that afternoon of painting.