Monday, August 11, 2008

Why didn't we do this before?

After several years of chatting with neighbors about having a block party, two of us finally arranged one. We got permits, official city-approved barricades, food and an honest-to-goodness bouncy house.  The bouncy house was borrowed from a neighbor's suburban friends, but now that we've had one I am not sure you can have a block party without a bouncy house.

Bouncy House

Or without goats, for that matter. One of our neighbor owns a pair of pygmy goats, and nothing says "Portland Block Party" like goats on leashes. To be fair, the goats are very well behaved, leash trained and only tried to eat my plants a couple of times. Plus, they are cute.

Goats at the block party

The jazz musicians who live on the cross-street moved their practice session onto the porch so that we all could enjoy their music. Meat was grilled, children got pumped up on sugar and ran around until their tongues lolled out of their heads, and I met neighbors I have never seen before.

No one called the cops, but a local conifer did stop by to urge us to plant trees this winter. So I'd call it a win all around. We'll be doing it again next year. Maybe next time with a parade.

Conifer and Bill
One of my neighbors, making nice with a local conifer. 
Couch on the Street
Ada and a friend hang out in the living room set up on the street, 
complete with couch, rug and lamp.

7 comments:

  1. That looks AWESOME. And I'm so glad that Friends of Trees showed up.

    No bounce house at our block party, but we did have 2 bottles of urine in the parking strip the next day!

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  2. I'd like to have seen the conifer IN the bounce house.

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  3. What a great idea! My block used to have block parties, but that was before we moved here. Although I don't know about goats...

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  4. That is awesome. I want to do that, but I'm so disorganized. I grew up with a neighborhood block party every Labor Day - it was fabulous.

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  5. This is a great idea! I've heard of that sort of thing and it really does help create a safer and nicer community to live in.

    ~*

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  6. Man, I missed it! Sounds like a good time was had by all.

    Bouncy houses ROCK!!!

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  7. that looks like a mighty good time.
    especially the goats on a leash.
    hellz. yeah.

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