Nothing Beats a Block Party for Community Bonding

Block parties are what neighborhood is all about.

This past weekend, my no outlet street made up of only 15 houses threw it’s second annual block party. We opened it up to friends and had a blow out!

What makes a good block party:

People/neighbors coming together with a common purpose. Coming together to plan and then set up for the bash was a great way to break the ice and start working together. We broke bread (catered Mexican food and brought our own deserts) and shared adult beverages on a beautiful June night with a fantastic band.

Like everybody else, the people on our block seem to always be busy. At times, too busy to be neighborly. Super friendly, wonderful people these days seem to have a tougher and tougher time figuring out how to spend quality time with one another. I was reminded that one interesting reason for fewer neighborly conversations is the movement of homes having front porches to having private backyard patios and decks.

The Civic Character of a Front Porch – great article.

“Busyness” has always been the enemy of relationship building.  Work and never ending kid activities are obstacles to finding time to form neighborly relationships. TV, Cable news, Netflix and staring at Facebook or Twitter on your cellphone or Ipad have also filled/wasted many hours of a person’s week.   I guarantee if we had a front porch to sit on, there would be many more opportunities to say hello, wave or invite a passing neighbor to come over and share a few minutes or more together.

Our block party came about for a few reasons. The first, after having a band play at my 20th anniversary business party, several people told me they couldn’t wait to hear them again. Our block had some recent turnover and we decided to have a party to help us all get to know one another. The first block party was hatched and we had a rocking band and a great time!

The best part about having a block party was the new communication that sprung up between us neighbors. Not only did we not have everybody’s cell number before having the party, but some of the neighbors were so new that not everybody was on a first name basis prior to.

Group text’s started flying as everybody wanted to jump in and help. Our community/neighborhood bonds were growing. It felt really good. Having the party in early June serves as a springboard for more summertime neighbor friendly activities.

It’s shockingly easy to plan a block party. Pick a date, share the date and watch the community/neighbors get after it. Pot luck food, wireless bluetooth speakers, BYOB and lawn chairs is all you really need.

My favorite part of the party was the impromptu after-party. Six of us gathered on our patio (wish I had a front porch) and sung songs as two of our newest neighbors took turns playing guitar by our fire pit into the wee hours of the night.

Neighbors can have an amazing impact on your life. Our neighbor based social life has greatly improved since the party last year. One of our favorite past times is playing the card game, Euchre’. It’s a four-person card game that can be played anytime, last minute, over drinks, by the fire, on the porch,  A perfect neighbor thing to do.  

“Bags” is another easy, last minute game that can be played anytime.

I’d love to hear about other “neighborly” games or activities that people are doing without having to make a reservation or get in a car or plan at all to do spur of the moment with people on your block.   

Please share your spontaneous neighbor get together ideas below:

Summer doesn’t start officially until later this month. I’m hoping to have my most neighbor filled summer since when I was a little kid and all we did was play with our neighbors. I’m turning off the TV (unless watching a game with neighbors) and looking forward to a great summer.

Wishing you the same!

First Class Block Party Outhouse Toiletries! haha