Block Party!

The Washington Heights Boulevard Bash featured many booths for neighbors to be an active part of the community. All photos by Brian Jacobson.

The gigantic (and often, beer-soaked) festivals are winding to a close with the end of summer in Milwaukee.  But there are still plenty of celebrations of the neighborhood going on, including two we decided to check out this past sunny Saturday.

First we hit Artworks for Milwaukee‘s “Safe Place Block Party,” which took place just south of 5th and National on the near south side. It was there that we listened to spoken word from P.O.E.T.I.C. (Positivity on Earth Teaches Inspirational Change) members, mosaic glass art, poster-making, artistic face-painting, a food truck and Italian Ice vendor (donating proceeds to Artworks), and kids even visited with the police officer with a chance to hop in the squad car.

It was a chance for the group to go social as they look to showcase their programs (like arts internships for at-risk high school students) through live exposure and use of social media. TCD explored Artworks’ programming as part of our “Know Milwaukee” series earlier this summer – read more about them here. 

Next up, we headed northwest to the diverse and tranquil Washington Heights neighborhood around 53rd and Washington Boulevard. There on a three-block stretch, members of the WHNA presented live music, arts and crafts, market-style shopping for local artisans and business owners, a bouncy house, and more importantly, a chance to sign-up and examine programs and green efforts within the area.

You can check out both parties in our slideshow below, or visit our flickr set here.