Sunday, September 22, 2013
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Windsor Fest Block Party Comes Alive With Electro Drive Band, Hot dogs, DJ Music And More!
Someone said that God must have helped in the planning of this event. Everything snapped in perfectly.
Windsor block party came off without much bugs, or even any sunburns. Yet one day before August 24, it rained a lot. We thought the block party would be all washed up. Who would want to come to a rainy, soggy block event?
The next day, the rain clouds disappeared miraculously. Me and Richard rose up early, blurry-eyed but determined to get the decorations up and the electrical plugs up and running. The night before, we laboriously blew up over a dozen balloons, hoping that the cat would not pop too many. Since I hate blowing balloons, I used a pumper which was still quite a slow progress. The same day, I received a text that a volunteer had called in sick due to the flu. The block party would have to be created with a handful of volunteers, but oh well, I thought, all one needs is determination.
As I rose to drink some coffee, Rich coaxed me to get out of the house before 9 am. We had to grab some more food at Costco and go to the flea market to get an electrical plug, or the band would not play. Taking only a few sips of coffee, I ran out the door. We zipped to the Costco only to find it still closed and the flea market the same way. With six hours to go before the block party, we were all a jumble of nerves since the decorations were not up yet.
We had barely time to grap some coffee at the Tim Hortons before we jumped into the car and covered some errands. Back home, the balloons got tangled with the flag decoration. We slowly undid the tangles and then Richard climbed the ladder as he tied the flag decoration to the trees.
Before long, Mike of Astro Drive had arrived and I mistook him for a guest. He didn't make much small-talk and asked for the wires. Another vendor, Martin was a bit more talkative. He offered use of his wonderful, hand-made music machines for attendees. Another vendor, Tony, who I met a day before at a Chinese festival, asked where to set up his egg roll booth. It was all coming together.
Neighbours offered use of their tables and chairs and little kids volunteered to place them in the block party area.
Around 4 pm, the band Astro Drive played and people started to arrive. Hotdogs and grape juice were the food of the day. Later, people dropped off items like fruit, cupcakes and Chinese food. Buy-Low Foods and Starbucks offered much-needed support.
Strangers even dropped in, after seeing the decorations from the street.
People who lived quietly in separate spaces for years were now talking to each other. Somehow some lives were changed that day. New friendships were born and perhaps a more hopeful attitude was also an outcome. Everyone was relaxed, friendly and happy.
All the hard work, the pressure of getting everything right was somehow forgotten when I looked into the eyes and the smiles of block party participants.
Windsor block party came off without much bugs, or even any sunburns. Yet one day before August 24, it rained a lot. We thought the block party would be all washed up. Who would want to come to a rainy, soggy block event?
The next day, the rain clouds disappeared miraculously. Me and Richard rose up early, blurry-eyed but determined to get the decorations up and the electrical plugs up and running. The night before, we laboriously blew up over a dozen balloons, hoping that the cat would not pop too many. Since I hate blowing balloons, I used a pumper which was still quite a slow progress. The same day, I received a text that a volunteer had called in sick due to the flu. The block party would have to be created with a handful of volunteers, but oh well, I thought, all one needs is determination.
As I rose to drink some coffee, Rich coaxed me to get out of the house before 9 am. We had to grab some more food at Costco and go to the flea market to get an electrical plug, or the band would not play. Taking only a few sips of coffee, I ran out the door. We zipped to the Costco only to find it still closed and the flea market the same way. With six hours to go before the block party, we were all a jumble of nerves since the decorations were not up yet.
We had barely time to grap some coffee at the Tim Hortons before we jumped into the car and covered some errands. Back home, the balloons got tangled with the flag decoration. We slowly undid the tangles and then Richard climbed the ladder as he tied the flag decoration to the trees.
Before long, Mike of Astro Drive had arrived and I mistook him for a guest. He didn't make much small-talk and asked for the wires. Another vendor, Martin was a bit more talkative. He offered use of his wonderful, hand-made music machines for attendees. Another vendor, Tony, who I met a day before at a Chinese festival, asked where to set up his egg roll booth. It was all coming together.
Neighbours offered use of their tables and chairs and little kids volunteered to place them in the block party area.
Around 4 pm, the band Astro Drive played and people started to arrive. Hotdogs and grape juice were the food of the day. Later, people dropped off items like fruit, cupcakes and Chinese food. Buy-Low Foods and Starbucks offered much-needed support.
Strangers even dropped in, after seeing the decorations from the street.
People who lived quietly in separate spaces for years were now talking to each other. Somehow some lives were changed that day. New friendships were born and perhaps a more hopeful attitude was also an outcome. Everyone was relaxed, friendly and happy.
All the hard work, the pressure of getting everything right was somehow forgotten when I looked into the eyes and the smiles of block party participants.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Counting Down The Days To Windsor Fest!
With the clock ticking and August 24 coming closer and closer, the dream is coming to a reality.
Windsor Fest is set to kick off August 24 and we have the band, the DJ and the food is ready to be bought.
Our neighbour's first block party is getting exciting, mostly because we have already lined up a few exciting vendors that offer music to kids and adults.
The band Astrodrive is going to be very exciting and they have promised to play two sets --that's almost two hours.
Our DJ is excited to be part of the lineup. He's an experienced DJ and dancer and will certainly provide the talent and the energy to be an important part of the night.
Still, there is lots of work and in a few hours, I'll know if we have another sponsor. Sponsors are great because it makes the event more diverse and will attract more people.
Recently, I had the good fortune of visiting a block party held in Vancouver and this event has continued for nine years. That's quite a feat.
This is the first year of what is hoped will be the first of many block parties on Windsor and Broadway Street. The first step is usually the hardest. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong who landed on the moon, one small step for us organizers, one giant step for the community.
Block parties are great for building communities and bringing people together to discuss issues, whether it be crime prevention or the environment.
We live in a world full of compartments where people do not really know each other. If we know each other a little better, we may be able to work to create a society where there is kindness and concern for one another.
I once lived in a small community in Hope and discovered my neighbour who lived alone and suffered from mental illness. I talked to her and hoped I would make her world a little better. She lived in a apartment filled with pictures of two small children and her place was decorated with children's things. I learned that her children was no longer with her for whatever reason. Perhaps it was her mental illness. She kept talking to me about her absent children.
Perhaps this day could be a life-changing event for some people. People may connect or discover something new about themselves or about society in general.
Windsor Fest is set to kick off August 24 and we have the band, the DJ and the food is ready to be bought.
Our neighbour's first block party is getting exciting, mostly because we have already lined up a few exciting vendors that offer music to kids and adults.
The band Astrodrive is going to be very exciting and they have promised to play two sets --that's almost two hours.
Our DJ is excited to be part of the lineup. He's an experienced DJ and dancer and will certainly provide the talent and the energy to be an important part of the night.
Still, there is lots of work and in a few hours, I'll know if we have another sponsor. Sponsors are great because it makes the event more diverse and will attract more people.
Recently, I had the good fortune of visiting a block party held in Vancouver and this event has continued for nine years. That's quite a feat.
This is the first year of what is hoped will be the first of many block parties on Windsor and Broadway Street. The first step is usually the hardest. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong who landed on the moon, one small step for us organizers, one giant step for the community.
Block parties are great for building communities and bringing people together to discuss issues, whether it be crime prevention or the environment.
We live in a world full of compartments where people do not really know each other. If we know each other a little better, we may be able to work to create a society where there is kindness and concern for one another.
I once lived in a small community in Hope and discovered my neighbour who lived alone and suffered from mental illness. I talked to her and hoped I would make her world a little better. She lived in a apartment filled with pictures of two small children and her place was decorated with children's things. I learned that her children was no longer with her for whatever reason. Perhaps it was her mental illness. She kept talking to me about her absent children.
Perhaps this day could be a life-changing event for some people. People may connect or discover something new about themselves or about society in general.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Windsor Street Block Party A Summer Must!
Why not celebrate summer by attending or volunteering for a block party?
It's a great way to get to know the neighbours, and get out an issue that needs to be discussed like crime prevention or other issues like water conservation or the need to be more environmentally friendly.
The city of Vancouver is very block party friendly and can provide traffic barriers and other essentials.
http://vancouver.ca/doing-business/block-parties.aspx
An Information meeting will be held at 975 e Broadway May 23 Thursday in the lobby where organizers will discuss a Windsor Street Block Party at 7:00 to 730 pm.
Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be served.
Since funding has already been approved thanks to a grant from the neighbourhood small grants program, the next step is to get the ball rolling and get people interested and excited.
If anyone knows any talented musicians who would like to perform for free at the block party, please email Cindy at wiser traveller@hotmail.ca. Musicians get to showcase their talent and promote their CD's as well as get more experience.
The date of the block party is tentatively scheduled for mid-August.
It's a great way to get to know the neighbours, and get out an issue that needs to be discussed like crime prevention or other issues like water conservation or the need to be more environmentally friendly.
The city of Vancouver is very block party friendly and can provide traffic barriers and other essentials.
http://vancouver.ca/doing-business/block-parties.aspx
An Information meeting will be held at 975 e Broadway May 23 Thursday in the lobby where organizers will discuss a Windsor Street Block Party at 7:00 to 730 pm.
Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be served.
Since funding has already been approved thanks to a grant from the neighbourhood small grants program, the next step is to get the ball rolling and get people interested and excited.
If anyone knows any talented musicians who would like to perform for free at the block party, please email Cindy at wiser traveller@hotmail.ca. Musicians get to showcase their talent and promote their CD's as well as get more experience.
The date of the block party is tentatively scheduled for mid-August.
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