Fourth of July - DC Style

Before we joined the Foreign Service, we lived on one of the greatest blocks in Berkeley.  Our street had an amazing sense of community and it was best exemplified by our annual block party on the Fourth of July.

Each year on the Fourth of July, we'd close the street.  The barricades and permit came from the city, but the decorated signs announcing the party were done by the neighborhood kids.  They'd gather to make the signs and then we'd load the barricades on a wagon and troop to the ends of our block to officially close the street.

At that point, all the neighbors would bring their BBQs to their front yards and start the grills up.  We'd move our lawn furniture into the street and erect tents and tables for the communal food.  At some point, the Scrabble crew would start playing their game, the kids would fill water balloons and music would begin playing.  Some year's we'd have a band and do the Electric Slide in the middle of the street.

We'd always have a parade.  The kids (and some adults), would decorate their bikes, scooters, hats - whatever, and ride down the street playing kazoos.  One year we even had a City Councilmember attend!

We'd also have a neighborhood Egg Toss.  It was a contribution the very first year by a neighbor whom I'll call "Egg Toss Man" and was such fun that it became a yearly tradition growing larger each year.  Eventually we had to have a smaller version for the under 10 set.

So this year I was a little concerned about the Fourth of July.  We wouldn't be with our fabulous neighbors.  And the kids would be away at Camp Grandma and Bompa.

But luckily we had a friend from California come to visit and a Vibrant Colleague invited us to her neighborhood party.  They have a wonderful annual event that gets capped off with a visit to the rooftop of their local school to watch the fireworks over the Capital.  Pretty amazing!

It wasn't Berkeley - but it was pretty spectacular!