The Return of Community?

[Eldritch]

Today, I was doing some community outreach work with SFFD and SFPD at a block party out in the Sunset. The Block on 21st Ave between Kirkham and Lawton had done the work to close off the street, rented a bouncy castle for the kids, had tables set up for community outreach neighborhood groups, and some of them had set up tables to let people know about their own business and advertise to their neighbors. There was live music, people were grilling and sharing tons of foods, kids were playing in the street, neighbors were hanging out and getting to know each other.

I lived 3 blocks away like 10 years ago and stuff like this just didn't happen back then. I thought it was awesome, good healthy community behavior of the type that is needed to repair our nation. I remember things like this back when I was a kid in the 70's and 80's, but it seemed to me by the Late 90's it had mostly died out as practice, just like trick or treating.

I'm curious if others are seeing this as a trend, or was this perhaps an isolated incident?

 

[bojangle]

Out in the suburbs, trick or treating is alive and well. It never went away. Go to a place that's not too inner city, and not too rural, and you'll find trick or treating on Halloween.

Block parties are a little harder to come by, but certain streets still do it on an annual basis, or whatnot. 4th of July is a popular time for them.

 

[budgie45]

I live in the sunset there always blocking off streets here for little block parties,

 

[MrIncredible]

I host the neighborhood party here every year.

I like knowing my neighbors.

 

[lefty]

I host the neighborhood party here every year.

I like knowing my neighbors.

Wow!!! That is really cool of you.

I have participated in the annual event of National Night Out https://natw.org/

It is a really cool way to get to know the local LEO's and to get neighbors out of their houses and get to know each other.

I have these amazing neighbors who spearhead the event on our block. They have all of the events in front of their house and it's really nice and organized. I kinda wish that EVERY neighbor would have a table set up in front of their home, so that you can 'WALK' the neighborhood and get to know who lives where-- not just go to that one house and eat and mingle.

So, this year I set up a table in my driveway and rolled out my grill and smoker and served neighbors bar b q, as they walked by. A few stopped and mingled for a while. It was really nice and I wish that more people would participate.

 

[Godsdarling]

Small towns still do it, I think city has more trust issues. We do summer movie nights and BBQs on my block. Every Thursday our entire town does a classic car show parade where we all hang out and watch and look at classic cars. Stores still shut down for Friday night football at the high school, but that is small town living. My friends that live in the city are scared of their neighbors :laughing

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

I live in the sunset there always blocking off streets here for little block parties,

i think this guy knows,
... better

There are tons of block parties in San Francisco. In fact, missed one yesterday, missed one last Sunday (kinda on purpose, went somewhere else)

but the simple fact is, traffic.

 

[MrIncredible]

Wow!!! That is really cool of you.

I have participated in the annual event of National Night Out https://natw.org/

It is a really cool way to get to know the local LEO's and to get neighbors out of their houses and get to know each other.

I have these amazing neighbors who spearhead the event on our block. They have all of the events in front of their house and it's really nice and organized. I kinda wish that EVERY neighbor would have a table set up in front of their home, so that you can 'WALK' the neighborhood and get to know who lives where-- not just go to that one house and eat and mingle.

So, this year I set up a table in my driveway and rolled out my grill and smoker and served neighbors bar b q, as they walked by. A few stopped and mingled for a while. It was really nice and I wish that more people would participate.

Thanks man.

That walking thing seems neat.

At the first house I lived in out in the boonies, a bunch of households would celebrate New Years together-we'd spend an hour/house and each house would serve their best drink.

Obviously, sloshed by the last house.

Good times.

 

[Eldritch]

i think this guy knows,
... better

There are tons of block parties in San Francisco. In fact, missed one yesterday, missed one last Sunday (kinda on purpose, went somewhere else)

but the simple fact is, traffic.

Yeah, like I said, 10 years ago when I lived there, this wasn't a thing. I think it is a good trend. Certainly I have seen Trick or treating be long gone in the suburbs except for the deeply residential areas.

I've often suspected these things move in generational trends, and am hoping this is a positive turn..

 

[CABilly]

Good neighborhoods run in cycles. Kids grow up but people are reluctant to move out. My neighborhood was built in '88 and its just now turning over, the original owners are retiring and moving out and there are more families with kids moving in. Right now there are kids in the court across the street laughing and playing basketball.

I admit I'm a shitty neighbor. I just don't want to deal with nosy Nancys and gossip (spend some time on Nextdoor and you'll wish for a giant comet to hit your neighborhood). I know the people on one side of my house and am friendly with most of the rest. I do like to BBQ in the front yard for Halloween and it's nice to chat up the neighbors then and share some food and a beer with 'em. But otherwise we all just kind of keep to ourselves.

 

[AbsolutEnduser]

Yeah, like I said, 10 years ago when I lived there, this wasn't a thing. I think it is a good trend. Certainly I have seen Trick or treating be long gone in the suburbs except for the deeply residential areas.

I've often suspected these things move in generational trends, and am hoping this is a positive turn..

It's possible there are a few things going on together.

maybe when you lived there, you missed a poster or two and bam! you missed a block party.

BUT. Also what's been happening, since 2009 there is actually an increase of kids in the city (actually kinda naturally b/c the economy was straight up for years in THIS City)... hence there may be increase of block parties. Think about it yourself, you don't make a block party without kids (Think of the bouncy castle.)

the bigger parties I mentioned have been going on for decades. For example Cole Valley fair is the smallest / big 'fair/block party' that I know of.

but don't read thaaat much into it,.... it is simple, with an uptick of economy, kids and more people -- more parties might show up.

But there will be/is/might be a reverse trend---there are new concrete/steel condo buildings and correct me if I'm wrong people in them don't wanna walk around mingle with "neighbors" much. Order online, don't go to the store to feel the community... depends.
This might be a slight uptick, might be an increase due to kids, or it might cancel out. :dunno

Oh BTW I know like ALL of my neighbors.

Neighborhoods here are built in 1850 or 1916, depending, so it seems a stretch to find the original owner. OR expect anything.

 

[Eldritch]

It's possible there are a few things going on together.

maybe when you lived there, you missed a poster or two and bam! you missed a block party.

BUT. Also what's been happening, since 2009 there is actually an increase of kids in the city (actually kinda naturally b/c the economy was straight up for years in THIS City)... hence there may be increase of block parties. Think about it yourself, you don't make a block party without kids (Think of the bouncy castle.)

the bigger parties I mentioned have been going on for decades. For example Cole Valley fair is the smallest / big 'fair/block party' that I know of.

but don't read thaaat much into it,.... it is simple, with an uptick of economy, kids and more people -- more parties might show up.

But there will be/is/might be a reverse trend---there are new concrete/steel condo buildings and correct me if I'm wrong people in them don't wanna walk around mingle with "neighbors" much. Order online, don't go to the store to feel the community... depends.
This might be a slight uptick, might be an increase due to kids, or it might cancel out. :dunno

Oh BTW I know like ALL of my neighbors.

Neighborhoods here are built in 1850 or 1916, depending, so it seems a stretch to find the original owner. OR expect anything.

That is what I was thinking. Most of the kids running around were born since I moved out of the neighborhood. A lot of the people I talked to were newer Home Owners, but their parents lived in the neighborhood. Like they had left for college and careers, then come back now that they were older and had more money to buy a house in the neighborhood and have some of their own kids. it was a good vibe.

 

[Shaggy]

Thought this thread was going to be about the Dan Harmon TV show. I’ll see myself out...

 

[Abacinator]

Thought this thread was going to be about the Dan Harmon TV show. I’ll see myself out...

Thread needs more Alison Brie

 

[Eldritch]

Thread needs more Alison Brie

You know, I never really watched that show. Is it worth it? It always looked to me like a poor mans Parks & Rec.

 

[Shaggy]

Highly recommend it. If you like Parks and Rec or Arrested Development you’ll enjoy it.