Shamed by my own writing on the decline of civic associations and the rise of virtual communities on the web, I decided to throw a block party to get to know the neighbors better.
Husband and I plotted about how to organize such an event. The problem is that our block is so damn fertile. 17 kids spilling juice on the carpet doesn’t sound so fun. Husband thought the party might work best in the summer time when the kids can be outside.
A bar-b-que block party in the suburbs? Cool. Husband will be at the grill with a “Kiss the Chef” apron. I’ll come out with fruit salad. How many movies and TV shows have shown that scene? I suggested making it a theme party.
The <a href = "Edward Scissorhands Bar-B-Que. The wives would all have bouffant hairdos. Dogs would be welcome. Food would consist solely of brightly colored towers of jello with pineapple slices and ambrosia.
A Wisteria Lane Block Party/Wake. Hot pants and pumps, of course, for the women. And rolled up T-shirts on the guys to show off biceps. There would be a casket in the corner. Food would be largely inedible, but no one would care because everyone’s on the water and cabbage diet. Ritalin and botox for all.
I put forward several other suggestions. (There was also a great backyard party in Welcome to the Dollhouse.) But in the end, husband told me to forget it. He didn’t think the block would find it funny. So, I’m back to reading the blogs.
Apt. 11d 
Look, quit making fun of what is a great institution. I live in a city and we host a summer potluck for our street. Everybody loves it. The neighborhood association has a potluck for the six or eight square blocks it compromises on Memorial Day weekend. May I suggest an improptu holiday open house (we have done this too) or even a self-hosted housewarming party. Find a local teenager or two to supervise kids activities in the basement or do it during the day and make the kids stay outside. You want neighborliness, you gotta start somewhere. Quit being so cynical.
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Laura, I tend to agree with Mr. Salmanson’s content (if not the tone). These in-person relationships are very very important, and if you do indeed have to start somewhere.
Remember you don’t have to have *all* your neighbors over at once. You could start but just getting to know your immediate neighbors better. Even just arranging to share shoveling or leaf-raking duties (you do this week, I’ll do next week) can get you started in the right direction.
Good luck!
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heh. too cynical. I get that a lot.
But I didn’t really mean to bash block parties. I’ll arrange one soon. Sans irony. And I’m sure it will be fun.
The talk of the block party just conjured all sorts of images that Hollywood puts forward about suburban community life. It’s Hollywood that is cynical.
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Yikes, I didn’t mean to sound harsh. I must remember to not comment on posts when grading. I do think your right, Laura, about Hollywood introducing a tone of cynicism into the whole neighborhood project. From Seinfeld to Raymond to Deperate Housewives, the concept of neighbor is either the whacky or donwright evil. TV rarely gets this relationship right. Neighbors watch each other’s pets, take in the mail, act as emergency babysitters (like when one of my relatives was rushed to the hospital unexpectedly) etc. etc..
A get together could be a little ironic. Like a holiday open house with cheesy Christmas music (I highly recommend the new Barenaked Ladies CD and the somewhat older Cyndi Lauper Christmas CD)and weird cookies. But too much irony makes for a boring party. It starts feeling like department happy hour.
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