Build A Community- Throw A Block Party
BY GEORGINA YOUNG-ELLIS

Residents of Welling Court happily joined in the second annual block party on the street.

Organizing a block party is easier than one might think. All it takes is eager participants, a few flyers, and a $15 permit. According to the inhabitants of Welling Court, an out-of the way block near the corner of 12th Street and 30th Avenue, the payoff is enormous. On Saturday, May 10, the day before Mother's Day 2008, Welling Court enjoyed its second block party in a year. Since the 10th actually was Mother's Day in Mexico, where many of the street's residents hail from, the celebration was well-timed.

Around 2 p.m., the official start time of the party, a blockade was put up to discourage traffic on the one-way street, and little by little, people came out of their homes, moved their cars off the block and started sweeping up. Telephone poles were festooned with streamers and balloons. Then one table appeared, then a party tent, another table, several chairs, a barbecue grill, then another, and another, and by 3 p.m. the aromas of cooking food filled the air. An hour later, folks were gathering in earnest, laying out abundant offerings to share with their neighbors. Kids enjoyed the freedom from the traffic and ran up and down the street or rode their bikes and scooters with abandon.

At 5:30 a local teenage band, Sounds Children Make (www.myspace.com/soundschildrenmake), performed a short set of alternative/punk-rock numbers for the captivated crowd. When they finished, the musicians were rewarded with freshly made taquitos and tostadas from a table laden with authentic Mexican food. After the performance, boom boxes sprouted and Latin music filled the air.

Walking up and down the block, one could sample hamburgers, hot dogs, a variety of Mexican culinary delights, roasted corn, Peruvian ceviche and all sorts of grilled fare. Nothing was for sale- everything was freely shared.

Victor Vasquez of Mexico City commented: "It was nice last time, better this time, it will be better next time. We should organize a little better, but it was good. When we see each other now, we say hello, like neighbors should. The beautiful thing is that we're like a family. In my country we have a saying, 'Don't judge people until you know them'. This guy over here, I've seen him on the street for 20 years, but never said hello until tonight."

Fernando Gonzales, also of Mexico City and owner of the Lime Jungle Restaurant, added, "Nice party. We should join up the tables so everyone is together. My people don't open their hearts right away so we need someone else to take the first step, and I'm glad they did. I love this block. I don't live here anymore, but when I want to feel like I'm home, I come here."

George Paschalidis, from Greece, remarked, "We can meet our neighbors, have international food, and even live music!"

Fabrizio Sotelo of Argentina observed, "You can see kids playing, riding bicycles in the street-like my country."

Everyone was eager to thank the organizer of the party who chose to remain anonymous, but who maintained that all he did was make a flier, put it on each family's door and apply for the permit from the Community Board, warning that the board requires the submission approximately 60 days in advance, along with signatures from several residents. "It's the people of the neighborhood who made the party," he said. "We all did it together."

The festivities wrapped up around 10 p.m., but the children enjoyed the party spirit a while longer and played on the street as music lingered. Nelson Gil of Peru summed it all up: "The party was beautiful!"