Block Party

Tomorrow is the annual Elmhurst Uptown Downtown Block Party. Eleven hours of food, music, vendors, sales - - and it conflicts directly with York's homecoming. I guess that's one way of making sure York Road isn't overrun with teens. I mean, that must be why they scheduled it for that day, right? Make it family friendly, non-threatening, more room to roam - - and to do that, make sure you have it on a day when you're certain that a significant portion of the population will not attend, that portion being those who a) hang around all day long, b) spend money, and c) make anyone over the age of 50 or under the age of 10 feel uncomfortable.

Will anyone spend more than 45 minutes there? I mean, it's a noble idea, and these festivals are always good for bringing dollars into the city. But this seems like a feeble grasp.

When a typical Wednesday night "Cars Under the Stars" covers more real estate than a city festival, do we really need the festival? Or do we need to re-think it, make it larger, make it something worth attending?!

Really want to make it a "block party?" Start it at 6:00pm. Have food and music. Let some of the business remain open if they want to. Throw a bonfire in the middle of the road. Cut the live music at 10:00 (city rules), but let the people/food remain until midnight.

Hey! That's kinda what the teens do each Friday and Saturday night downtown! Well, ain't that a funny coincidence . . .