June 2010 Downtown Gloucester Block Party Kudos From Erika Hansen

Erika Writes-

Thanks to all who contributed to the success of the first 2010 block party and to you, Joey, for being downtown’s biggest cheerleader!

Kudos to:

Linn Parisi — she did an incredible job walking up and down the street from 2p – midnight, efficiently & cheerfully problem-solving any issues that came up and doing all the "behind the scenes" things that make an event go smoothly.  She also brought husband Nick and daughter Lia who helped with cleanup at the end of the night.

Mark Farber — for managing the street closure:  from designing and ordering new user-friendly signs for the meters (and putting them up and taking them down) to arranging for delivery of the saw horses from the DPW and helping to set them up.

Annette Perrine — for providing the super fun Scottie Mac karaoke (2 highlights: an end-of-night performance of Downtown and the Kirk Family leading a rendition of Closing Time! as the "last song.")

Art Haven for doing a fantastic kids’ pirate art activity. 

Dave McCarley — for helping with whatever needed to be done

Kristen McCarthy  & Emerald Rae for sharing their amazing talents with us.

Kristen is an extraordinary tribal bellydancer (& block party played "matchmaker"!  After meeting Jennifer Goulart Amero through block party, Kristen will now be holding bellydancing classes at Jennifer’s Metamorphosis Studio (above Jalapeno’s — anyone want to sign up with me?!).  Kristen’s daughters (including a 5 mo. old!) got to see their mum wow the crowd!

The beautiful and talented Emerald Rae & her mate fiddled their way down Main Street stopping to entertain and teach dance steps along the way.  I believe your daughters joined in the dancing!

The Pirate Faire folks for entertaining us all along Main Street throughout the evening. (and to Ronn Garry for helping to set this up)

The Van Ness Group for providing and updating the web site — downtowngloucester.com

Blackburn Performing Arts & Cape Ann Community Cinema for their great participation

City Councilor and Main Street business owner Joe Ciolino for facilitating meetings and being an "on the spot"  resource

The residents of Main Street and environs who gave up parking spaces so we could block off the street

The Police and Fire Departments and the DPW for their help in ensuring safety

Gemma McCarley — for setting up saw horses, serving as "traffic cop", and helping to judge the Pirate Window Display.

Speaking of which, we have 2 winners to announce for Best Window Display:  Toodeloo’s Toy Store and Valentino’s Restaurant.

Toodeloo’s staff was in full costume and they even went so far as to craft a huge anchor outside the store and draw treasure maps and a skull & crossbones in chalk on the street.  Valentino’s showed great spirit and creativity as well with an amazing pirate display using all their windows.

Most of all, we thank all the merchants and restaurants who day in and day out make Gloucester’s downtown such a special place.

P.S. We send Feel Better Soon wishes to Janice Lufkin Shea & thank her for doing all she could to help with block party tasks from home even with a very uncooperative back.