The Canlis restaurant is hosting its fourth annual surprise Block Party for the neighborhood this Sunday, August 15, from 12 to 3 p.m. at Little Howe Park/East Queen Anne Playfield (located at 1912 Warren Ave N).

The restaurant, which celebrates 60 years on the hill this year, says the party is a  way of getting the community together for a fun time and saying thanks.

The Block Party will be stocked with free burgers, prepared on-site by Canlis staff, shaved ice, live Hawaiian music, face painting, and a special appearance by Queen Anne firefighters.

And following tradition, the party will culminate with an epic tug-o-war battle between Canlis and the Queen Anne neighborhood. (See pictures from last year’s block party here).

Last year the Canlis Block Party raised over $1,700 for the Queen Anne Helpline. This year all proceeds will benefit the Queen Anne Farmers Market.

Swing by the event, or follow the action on Twitter at #CanlisBlockParty and @canlis.

The inaugural Seattle Restaurant Week in April was such a success, another one is planned for October.

Four Queen Anne restaurants were involved in the first week, including Betty, Canlis, Crow, emmer&rye, How to Cook a Wolf, Ponti Seafood Grill, Portage, Ten Mercer, Paragon, and Via Tribunali. This time around, organizers are turning to Seattle residents to find out what restaurants they’d like to see on the list. Offer up suggestions via Twitter (@SeattleRW) or look for them on Facebook. Each restaurant submitted will be contacted to join in the 10-day foodie celebration.

The second Seattle Restaurant Week, from October 17 to 28, will offer the same deals as the first–a $25 three-course dinner menu and optional $15 three-course lunch menu, Sunday through Thursday.

The inaugural Seattle Restaurant Week, described by organizers as “the biggest celebration of dining out that our region has ever experienced,” is kicking off this Sunday, April 18 when 106 of the best restaurants across town will offer 3-course dinners for $25 Sunday-Thursday until Thursday, April 29.

Not surprising, nine Queen Anne restaurants are on that list:

1. Betty Restaurant & Bar
2. Canlis
3. Crow Restaurant & Bar
4. emmer&rye
5. How to Cook a Wolf
6. Portage
7. Ten Mercer
8. Paragon
9. Via Tribunali

“Queen Anne is making a huge showing for Seattle Restaurant Week, drawing people from other neighborhoods and definitely keeping their own neighbors happy,” wrote SRW PR representative Heather Jensvold.

Take a look at the full list of participating restaurants, some of which will be offering $15 3-course lunch specials as well, here (.doc).

Seattle Restaurant Week is a project of the Seattle Restaurant Cooperative, a group of Seattle restaurateurs, and is being sponsored by our news partner, The Seattle Times, alongside many others. More information here.

The 3rd annual Canlis Backyard Burger BBQ Block Party that took place at the East Queen Anne Playground last Sunday afternoon was not only a good time, but a massive success. According to Canlis Private Dining & Promotions Assistant Rachel Lund, attendees of the block party raised over $1,740 towards the Queen Anne Helpline, an organization dedicated to providing a variety of aid services to residents and neighbors of Queen Anne.

This breaks last year’s record of just over $1,000. The turnout was incredible, considering they only announced the party 48 hours in advance. They do this to keep the block party a truly Queen Anne event, Rachel said, though news of the event spread like wildfire even at a moments notice.

When asked if he was surprised at the big turn-out this year, Mark Canlis said,

Not Really. Word travels fast in this neighborhood. It’s a tight-knit community, and Queen Anne enjoys a good party.

In addition to raising money for the local organization, the block party also supplied over 1,300 burgers and 600 milkshakes to partygoers. The restaurant hosts the party every year as a way of saying thanks to the Queen Anne community.

Canlis Restaurant hosted their 3rd annual Canlis Backyard Burger BBQ Block Party at the East Queen Anne Playground this Sunday afternoon.  Managing Owner Mark Canlis said that after 59 years on Queen Anne, this was the family-owned restaurant’s way of saying thanks to the community and to do something fun to get everyone together.

More than one thousand people attended this year’s CB5, which was moved to the lower level of the playground for more space.  Not a bad turnout, considering the party was only announced 48 hours earlier.  Everyone was invited to stop by for free food and live music.

Chef Jason Franey (left) and his team grilled 1,200 homemade Canlis burgers for hungry attendees.  Dick’s Burgers blended nearly 600 of their famous chocolate shakes.  There was also Hawaiian shaved ice, freshly sliced watermelon and Tim’s Cascade Chips for people to grub on while Dry Soda and Jones Soda quenched everyone’s thirst.  There are worse ways to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon!

Chris and Alice Canlis joined the band Kana on stage. (Thanks, skibum1175!)

In the annual Tug-O-War game, it was Canlis versus Queen Anne.  The Canlis team did their best to win…

…but they weren’t any match for these fierce Queen Anne competitors. 

A giant stock pot collected donations for the Queen Anne Helpline.  Last year’s event raised more than $1,000 for the organization.  We suspect this year’s BBQ raised even more.