block parties

[elements.livejournal.com]

Earlier this evening I went to a block party on Boston Ave, and had a great time. I'm curious if any of the new folks I met there are also LJ users/davis_square-ers....

Also, I'm curious what other streets/neighborhoods do block parties. I'm really liking this whole "actually getting to meet your neighbors" concept. If I had a few co-conspirators, I'd like to try planning one for the Willow/Mallet/Lowden area sometime (probably late Spring).

I hope to be at the RedBones block party tomorrow evening (6-8 pm), maybe see some of you all there?

Comments

[ron_newman]

Every summer there is a Day Street block party, on the short Cambridge part of the street. Unfortunately it is sometimes (always?) the same day as ArtBeat.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

I'm told that Josephine Ave does a block party every year in September, but I moved to the neighborhood last October and haven't heard anything about this year yet.

[ron_newman]

Brandon Wilson, who works for the Historic Preservation Commission at City Hall, could probably tell you more about that block party. She lives on Josephine Ave. Call her at City Hall or e-mail her at bwilson@ci.somerville.ma.us .

[bex77]

Francesca Street, at the corner of 89 College Ave., is having one next Sunday, 9/16 from 4-6 pm. Spearheaded by First Congregational Church, the one that hosts Theatre@ First, but usually attended by old and new neighbors along all the streets over there, with food and music and fun.

Permit?

[harryoreilly.livejournal.com]

Anyone know if you need a permit from the city at all to toss one? I think it's a great idea to get people together. I've lived around here most of my life, but a lot of people are new now and I'm just recently back. I'd like to get to check the new people out. What a better way then to roll out a couple of kegs.

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

Both Wallace and Chandler streets have annual block parties in the summer. Wallace St. is usually in July and Chandler in August or September, I think.

On Wallace, at least, we get a permit from the city and close the street from like 10-3 so there are no cars and the kids can play in the street. Several people roll out grills and everyone contributes food and liquid refreshments. No kegs though, at least not yet. We print name tags with people's names (of course) and a picture of their house so you can see who lives where. In addition, people from the neighboring streets (Wallace, Park, Chandler) are all invited so you can meet the whole 'hood at the same time. It's a fabulous way to meet the neighbors and once you meet at the party, you're much more likely to say hi to people and eventually get to know your neighbors and form a stronger community. I think it contributes significantly to the neighborly feel of the street.

Re: Permit?

[elements.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think you do need at least one permit from the city. There are issues around closing down streets, and fire codes and stuff. I'm planning on looking into it. (And there are sadly probably strong odds that the kegs wouldn't be OK for an all-ages street party.)

[folktraveler.livejournal.com]

That sounds sweet. Unfortunately it's the same day as the Boston Folk Festival...

Re: Permit?

[amethystmoon.livejournal.com]

If you don't mind the street staying open, and don't want to deal with permits and do want kegs, you could just go knocking on doors and coordinate w/ your neighbors to all throw parties in your own yards on a particular day. We would occasionally do this kind of thing in a town I used to live in, it was very informal, everyone would wander from house to house with beer cups, no one minded, and it was on enough of a side street that kids always played in the street anyway.

[ceo]

Hi!

[elements.livejournal.com]

Hi! Yes, I met you! I was the impostor not from Boston Ave :D.

[spud.livejournal.com]

There is actually a block party planned for Sunday the 16th in my neighborhood (1st Annual Orchard Street Block Party). It's being put together and hosted by Representative Carl Sciortino, who happens to live on our street. (The Medford Orchard Street; not the Somerville one)

We're actually looking forward to it. We have a good mix of home-owners and Tufts short-term student renters here, so I think it will be nice to bring everyone together.

Re: Permit?

[houlette.livejournal.com]

I was involved with the planning of the Boston/Pritchard block party yesterday (did I meet any of you there?). If you want to hold it in the street, you need to get an event permit from the Department of Public Works (a one-page form) and then once that's approved you can get "Road Closed" signs from the Traffic and Parking office. Getting No Parking signs is a trickier proposition, as we discovered -- you're better off just asking your neighbors not to park on that section of the street during the party time.

I don't think alcohol can be served publicly, though.

An interesting side note is that we had a bunch of local politicians show up since it's an election year. Aldermen, one of the mayoral candidates, school committee members....

Re: Permit?

[ron_newman]

Which mayoral candidate was there?

Re: Permit?

[houlette.livejournal.com]

It was Suzanne Bremer, the progressive candidate. My wife and I talked with her for quite a while and she was passionate about government transparency, public transit, smart development, affordable housing.

Fred Berman, who's running for alderman at large, was also there. We had a pretty fascinating discussion about zoning. He was involved in the negotiations for the Assembly Square development.

[makoshark.livejournal.com]

I was planning on showing up to the block party tonight.

[allli.livejournal.com]

bay state ave. had one just this past saturday. sadly i could not go. hello bay state ave-ers!

[pullmeunder.livejournal.com]

When I lived on Porter street a few years ago, I remember there being a block party there. Can't remember if it was for Francis street or Porter though.

[dawneliz.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was gonna say ours (Bay State Ave) seems right up their alley (block?).

It was fun. The karaoke machine crapped out after like 3 songs (theory being that too many little kids pressed too many buttons in too short a time period).

Howdy from the mid-block!

[crazybone.livejournal.com]

Block parties rock. I remember having them almost every year on the street I grew up on. Sadly our place in Porter Square is at the intersection of a main street and a frequently used cut-through so it might be a bigger issue traffic wise than a side street.

Re: Permit?

[elements.livejournal.com]

I also saw Denise Provost (state rep) and Bill White (alderman) there, and Sean O'Donovan (current ward 5 alderman). I'm told Joe Lynch (ward 5 challenger) was also there but I missed him.

Did I meet you there? I don't have a self-pic icon but let's see, I was the one who introduced myelf as an impostor to the party cos I'm neither Boston nor Pritchard. I got there late, probably nearing 6. Short chubby gal with short brown hair.

[elements.livejournal.com]

You missed a good party! Crowded, but nice.

[elements.livejournal.com]

Are there any side streets near you that you could try to work together with? Your street might not be easy to close but maybe something that intersects your street is.

[elements.livejournal.com]

I forget which specific date she said, but I saw Brandon at the RedBones thing tonight and she said last weekend of September. I just don't remember which weekend day.

[elements.livejournal.com]

and, forgot to say this, i gave her my email addy so hopefully i'll learn which date soon.