BYSUSANTAYLORPHOTOSBYJIMCHILDERS
ThinkNorthParkandcoffee,craftbeer,yogaandpizzacometomind.Coffee,craftbeer,yoga,pizza,repeat,coffee,craftbeer,yoga,pizza.
OurNorthParkculturealsoincludesanappreciationforpublicart:colorfulandabstractmuralsontheexteriorwallsofUniversityAvenuebusinesses,finelycraftedmuralsinsidethenewBaronsMarket,graphicdesignsonutilityboxes,studiosandgalleriesonRayStreet,artclasseson30thatArtAcademy,winebareventspairingcabernetwithpainting,andthelively,inter-activeCommunalBrushstrokeseventsatTrueNorthTavern.
SinceJuly2015,TuesdaynightsatTrueNortharemorethanburgersandbeer.At9p.m.thedanceflooraccommodateseasels,paints,andbrushes,andpatronsareencouragedtoexpressthemselvesthroughart.Noexperiencerequired,apolitegrouplineduptodabble;justafriendlywaytomeetnewpeoplewhiletheDJspinsSmokeyRobin-sonandother“SoulTrain”tunes.Onecustomer,RachelCadelina,graciouslysharedhercanvaswithastranger.
Alongthesouthinteriorwallofthespaciousbar,fourorfiveartistsdisplaytheirownworkforsale.OneeveninginNovember,EnriquePlazolaandFadiJakhadseveraldrawings,asdidPatrickSeibt,whosaidthatTrueNorthwasthebestvenuetosharehispaintings.
TrueNorthTavern’smanager,DavidCabal,isproudoftheTuesdaynightgatherings,andheenjoysbringinginlocalartistsandDJs.Thenightwaschilly,butat9p.m.whenCommunalBrushstrokesgotunder-way,theretractableglassdoorsfacingthesidewalkcamedown,pro-vidingwarmthandsecurity.
AlsopopulararetheSundaymorningfootballbrunches,andCabalhopestoaddSaturdaybreak-fastfare.
Outfrontisamplepatioseating,whiletheinteriorisspaciousandcomfortable.AlargeU-shapedbarrunsdownthecenterofthespace,hightablesandbarstoolsarescatteredaroundthefloor,andseveralboothsprovideforaniceplacetoenjoythemanybiscuitandbunchickenandburgercombos.
CabalispartialtoBell’s2-HeartedIPA,butthebeerlisthassomethingforeveryone.Serviceisefficientandcourteous,thefoodistastyandplentiful,andtheatmosphereiswelcoming.Thecrowdtendstowardthe30-40agegroup.
TrueNorthTaverniswell-run.Severalsecuritypersonnelkeepaneyeonthings,andthetavernhasapositiverelationshipwithlawenforcement.Adjacentlocalbusinessesareappreciativeoftheboostinbusinessthattheyhaveseen.CommunalBrushstrokesonTues-daynights,triviaandbingoonothernights,dinnerandabeverage,spendingtimewithNorthParkneighbors—alladduptoafunexperienceandeasynightout.