“I’m the other John Jennings,” said John Jennings, above, who was purchasing a knife from STRATA, recently.  He was Referring to Portland’s City Manager by the Same Name, Differing Spelling.

Jordan Milne, Founder of the Award Winning Hardshore Distilling Co. and Organizer of the Block Party.

Evan Atwell, Owner & Sharpener of knives at  STRATA at the Black Box Rentals on Washington Avenue.

You are invited to the 3rd Annual Washington Avenue Block Party on Saturday, June 8th from 11:00 am to sundown according to Jordan Milne, organizer of the event. For the first time, there will be over 25 businesses participating in the event- a substantial increase from previous years according to Milne,  founder/distiller of Hardshore Distilling (the best gin in the nation) in the former J. J. Nissen building.

There will be distilleries, breweries, meadenries, kombucharies, and restaurants galore.  Each business will provide its own unique extras such as music, an ice cream truck, games, etc.

Evan Atwell, Owner & Sharpener of STRATA, one of the newer occupiers of the Black Box Rentals has a very busy business.  He has hired an apprentice who will be on site on June 8 and hopes, weather depending, to be able to give a demonstration of his craft.  Evan opened three months ago and was busy from the get-go.

A partial list of businesses new to the Block Party this year are:  Forage, Island Creek Oysters, Bob’s Clam Hut, Root Wild as well as the businesses in the Black Box Rentals.

“We hope that our neighbors will show up and see all that Washington Avenue has to offer year round,” said Jordan Milne. “We have grown so much since last year and we want everyone to experience the changes.”  (Don’t forget to bring a treat for Hudson, the black lab who runs the show at Hardshore Distilling)!

Parking will be available at 107 Washington Avenue and at Romasco Street.