May-Day Adjacent Mifflin Street Block Party Canceled

[jesse_the_k]

It began 51 years ago with a riot. I first attended in 1974, without a police presence. I vividly remember hearing Holly Near and Jeff Langley performing from the back of a truck.

It’s continued in various forms—officially sponsored and not; city-sanctioned and not; police dressed in blazers and national guard in riot gear. Today the police said, "nope." Their notice was wry and very ahistorical:

This Saturday was to be the spring gathering largely known as the Mifflin Street Block Party.

“While MPD has historically taken a fairly tolerant view of the Mifflin Street Block Party, this year is different,” said Chief Vic Wahl, adding, “Any parties or gatherings occurring are in violation of the Governor's ‘Safer at Home’ order. Please do what's best for public health and stay home.”

Is there a standing unofficial event in your part of the world?

Comments

[muccamukk]

Well, 4/20 went virtual this year, though legalisation largely killed the point of it the last few years anyway.

Mifflin was a defacto 4/20 party

[jesse_the_k]

...as well.

At least in the first decade, the smoke was visible from space.

(Then student culture swerved to beer, beer, more beer and beer.)

Re: Mifflin was a defacto 4/20 party

[muccamukk]

Right okay. Here you had to show up at the art gallery at 4:20pm on 4/20 with a spliff, or it didn't count. Though the exact timing was subject to everyone being stoned.

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

At most you're 29 minutes early or late, for some timezone. Unless you'd be slipping over the international dateline.

[yourlibrarian]

Not that I can think of, but then not being much of an events person I'd probably be the last to know! But I remember for a few years when living in Orlando, the neighborhood did have a potluck get-together once a year.

These days I imagine neighborhoods might be very split between residents who are on a local online portal of some kind and those who aren't.

[chanter1944]

Call me a complete square, but I'm grateful I won't have to wade through a drunken crowd or step on an abundance of cheap beer empties if going anywhere come block party time. I'm much more the family-friendly neighborhood block party type, which I imagine surprises you very little?

I do like the sound of the version you attended in '74, though. :)

[libskrat]

Can't disagree! I hope everybody has the sense to listen, this year.

[jesse_the_k]

Yeah, I hope so as well -- but the current sponsors are a t-shirt company that are still advertising the party!

[libskrat]

AAAAAAAAAAAARGH.

[jesse_the_k]

They finally updated their web page to create a virtual party on FB. So, someone got a clue.

[jesse_the_k]

It was indeed delightful! That same year I moved to Mifflin Street for a year, so I have plenty of experience with the huge detritus the block party generates.

[boxofdelights]

One of the kids next door turned nine. I was wondering how they would celebrate. The only thing that happened outside the house was a giant birthday card/small yard sign, that her friend made and put in her front yard. Good keeping each other safe!

[tarasacon]

That was a sweet response from the friend, and good for any parental types who facilitated it.

[jesse_the_k]

Excellent! I'd like a Burma-shave-like series of happy birthday wishes, and I sure hope that after Labor Day it won't be needed/

[tarasacon]

Historically, the Kentucky Derby is on the first Saturday in May. (Not this year, for only the 3rd time in history.) However the day before, the first Friday of May, is the Kentucky Oaks, which is the equivalent race for fillies.

The Oaks is less expensive and less crowded than the Derby and so is an unofficial local holiday. Some businesses will close so people can attend the races. Local television coverage happens all day - there are up to a dozen races, with the Oaks as the penultimate one. The color theme is pink, for breast cancer survivors, most attendees comply so the stands are very colorful. (A portion of the profits go to various cancer organizations.) On the TV they feature the most dramatic and vivid of people’s outfits, asking basic “Is this your first time attending?” and “How far did you travel?” and “Where did you get that hat/suit/dress?” questions. I have mixed feelings about both horse racing and pink for breast cancer, but it’s still festive and “Yay, Spring!” so I try to watch on TV when I can.

[tarasacon]

And some of the Black community in Louisville celebrate Juneteenth. I give it another few years before the city council tries to appropriate it in some way.

[jesse_the_k]

Appropriating Juneteenth is so many kinds of wrong, and white hipsters gonna hipster.

[tarasacon]

They haven’t appropriated it yet, but I am cynical enough to assume they will sooner or later. This is a city where Gay Pride events are required to be family friendly. Celebrating a riot? No way. Money to be made on carnival rides? Heck yeah! :/

[jesse_the_k]

family friendly Pride makes my eyes cross and steam leak out my ears.

[jesse_the_k]

OH! Any occasion to get dressed fancy and particularly wear hats. I'm a big fan of hats.

Will this be canceled as well?

[tarasacon]

The Derby was rescheduled for September. Somehow none of the articles I have read about the decision have mentioned whether or not The Oaks will still be happening the day before, or if it was canceled outright.

Sexism: it’s for horses, too.

[tarasacon]

You would love attending or watching coverage of The Derby and The Oaks. The hats are amazing. :)