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.