Ballard

Vantana Row on 14th /  by Akira Ohiso

I spotted the Vantana Row touring van parked on 14th Ave. NW behind Ballard Market (Town & Country) this morning. I will never call it Town & Country because it’s deeply wired in my 54-year old noggin and you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Plus, a rebrand is always a sell out. 🤘

They played a show on Sunday, June 30th, at Add-A-Ball in Fremont, along with Fresh Produce, Fuuls, and I’ve Never Been Here Before. Their music sounds like a drum set fell out of the back of the van, along with the love child of Stormtroopers of Death and Big Stick, in a good way.

According to SF Weekly, the van is their home/studio/concert venue, and they are known to play inside and broadcast the show on live TV for passersby. It was before noon when I snapped this pic, so my guess is they were sleeping.

“People Have Cats” is dope. I have two. 🐈‍⬛🐈

Market Off Market /  by Akira Ohiso

Anker Ballard Flats has a new business coming into their ground-floor retail space. A new sign says, Market Off Market. I have not found any additional information about this business. Is it another brewery, a mini grocery store (15-minute neighborhood energy), a restaurant, or something else? There is a new retirement community across the street, which might support a local milk-and-eggs market.

The location is also across from Gilman Playground, a community gathering space for dog lovers (illegal), sports leagues, families with young kids, summer camps, high school kids smoking doobies on the bleachers, and pickleball enthusiasts. A general store would do steady business.