UPTOWN — First Ascent will host a grand opening celebration at its new Avondale and Uptown locations all weekend long from Dec. 11 - 13.
The climbing gym, which is scheduled to open in the old Borders Bookstore at 4718 N. Broadway "at the very beginning of December," made the announcement via Facebook last week.
For renderings of the First Ascent in Uptown, click here.
Most of the grand opening celebrations will take place at the Avondale location, but those interested can celebrate with friends, food and music in Uptown Saturday from 9 p.m.-12 a.m.
The full schedule:
• From 5-10 p.m. on Dec. 11 in Avondale: Chris Sharma will be climbing and signing posters at the location. A Boo Coo Roux food truck will be offering food.
• From 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Dec. 12 in Avondale: Pre-opening members are invited to a climbing session with Sharma. A food truck from Yum Dum Truck will be serving up dumplings.
• From 3-8 p.m. on Dec. 12 in Avondale: Attendees can test their crate stacking, slack lining, speed climbing, dyno and pull up prowess in a competition complete with prizes for the top performers. Live bands will begin after 5:30 p.m. The competition will be fueled by a Pierogi Street food truck.
• From 9 p.m. to midnight on Dec. 12 in Uptown: Celebrate the spot's grand opening with food, friends and music. There will be no climbing at this event.
• From 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Dec. 13 in Avondale: Bring out the entire family for climbing, ziplining, face painting and more. A food truck from 5411 Empanada will be available for hungry climbers.
Jonathan Shepard, one of four founders, said there have been some delays in construction in Uptown, but the plan was always to open the Avondale gym (which the company considers Logan Square) and roll out the second gym a few months later. Unlike the Avondale location, the Uptown gym will be a bouldering gym, a form of climbing without ropes or harnesses, Shepard said.
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