UPDATED, July 17: An estimated 1,200 people turned out for the second annual Arlington Alive block party and Regent Theatre events on Saturday, July 12.
You know an event is maturing when a politician shows up, and Attorney General Martha Coakley, a Democrat who is running for governor, spoke on the outskirts of the gathering.
The event was sponsored by the Arlington Tourism and Economic Development Committee (ATED) and town businesses, including YourArlington.com. See all sponsors here >>
“It went pretty well given that a lot of folks are away this time of year,” said Roly Chaput, who staffed ATED’s booth.
An afternoon’s bright sun drove many in search of shade, and they found it among the monuments next to an under-construction Central Firehouse.
By 1:30 p.m., the Band That Time Forgot turned back the clock 44 or more years with a pulsing “Woodstock” (CSN&Y), “Purple Haze” (Jimi Hendrix) and “Spirit in the Sky” (Norman Greenbaum). They played where cars usually fight for spaces in Broadway Plaza.
You could get a bite to eat — Argentine cuisine from Tango, Indian from Punjab and downright American from Menotomy Grill.
Or visit a variety of booths, a kind or preview of Town Day two months early. Represented were the Regent Theatre; ACMi, the cable-TV studio; the Arlington Center for the Arts and the Book Rack.
Others with booths were Sun Run Home Solar, PSG Photo Solutions, the Capitol Square Business Association and Brigham Square, the apartments near Shattuck’s and the bikeway.
Jewelry and artwork was for sale, as was hope, promoted by Margy Rydzinski, who has operated Arlington Entrepreneurs since 2008.
Among the best attended booth was Play Time‘s, on the American Alarm lot across the street from the business itself, where kids crowded over crafts.
For a complete list of the vendors and others, click here >>
Walking away, I heard a new music group introduced. The Hardy Boys weighed in with Joe Cocker’s “Feeling Alright.”
That was the mood.
Arts schedule: Summer to OctoberIn addition to the Summer Arts Block Party, Arlington Alive is excited to share and promote the following selection of arts and cultural events in the community this summer:
Robbins Library Summer Concert Series: Ben Rudnick and Friends
July 17
Chairful Where You Sit public art exhibit and auction July 18–20
Robbins Library Summer Concert Series: Liz Buchanan and Friends
July 22
Robbins Library Summer Concert Series: Jeremy Lyons’ Delta-Silly Music
July 29
Robbins Library Summer Concert Series: Ethan Rossiter and the Jamberries
Family Concert
Aug. 14
Arlington Chamber of Commerce Summer Concerts on the Green:
4EverFab, Beatles tribute band
Aug. 20
Robbins Library Summer Concert Series: Matt Heaton and the Outside Toys Sept. 4
Arlington Town Day
Sept. 13
Arlington International Film Festival
Oct. 15-19
For more information and a full listing of events, visit ArlingtonAliveMA.org.
Arlington Alive came into being via public discussion that culminated in a workshop in June 2012. It came alive with a block party last July.
This story was published Thursday, May 15, 2014, and updated July 17 to add photos.
