Photo by María Helena Carey, who has had a lot of fun walking up and down East Capitol on the Fourth of July
I spent my Fourth of July mostly at home, barbecuing with my neighbors and relaxing. As darkness fell, some friends came over and we wandered down East Capitol to about 6th Street, where a group of about 30 neighbors – kids and dogs in tow – had gathered in the middle of the street to watch the fireworks over the Capitol Building. It would be hard to get more Patriotic and American than that!
But it got to me thinking, as we occasionally had to dodge traffic… Why not just close East Capitol from 6th Street to 2nd Street on the 4th from Noon until after the fireworks? We could have a giant community block party with activities for the kiddos, folks grilling and hanging out, maybe even a Best Pie on the Hill contest? I don’t know if there’s some legal restriction to getting the street shut down, or if it would work like it does on Barracks Row and H Street, where you need to get neighbors’ signatures. We could ask people to reserve tables in advance (byo table, but the space would be reserved). If you didn’t have a table, you could wander in and say hi to folks and/or maybe buy a wristband (proceeds to charity, maybe?) to sample the goods. I’m just throwing out ideas here.
I’ve been lucky enough to judge the amazing Walter Street Chili Cookoff a couple of times now, and I guess I’m thinking that system (neighbors all make big pots of chili, but folks can come and buy wristbands to sample all the submissions) works really really well. But, this is just an idea.
Does anyone know if there are restrictions to shutting down East Capitol? Does this sound like something you’d attend? Obviously this is just a “What if?” scenario right now, but maybe with enough neighborhood support, this could become another unique and fun Hill event?
ask tommy wells’ office. i think you’re on to something good here!
That would be so awesome for the 4th! I *think* the city has a rule against closing busier streets for block parties but this is definitely something to bring up with the ANC and Wells’ office.
No, please no. It may sound like fun for some but closing down a street from noon until 9 or 10 pm? Please consider ALL the difficulties this could pose for your neighbors and visitors to the hill.
I’m not sure I think it’s really that much of a difficulty as it’s ONE day, it’s a holiday where car travel isn’t recommended anyway b/c of all the traffic downtown, and there are a lot of alternate routes. Who drives on the 4th of July, anyway?
No, please no. It may sound like fun for some but closing down a street from noon until 9 or 10 pm? Please consider ALL the difficulties this could pose for your neighbors and visitors to the hill.
I’m in! To address the concern above, maybe make it west of 4th st, or at least keep 6th and 4th streets open for North and South traffic. The other streets aren’t much of a through street anyway. It would probably cost some money for the police to close the street down. Wasn’t there a post recently about how expensive it is to close the streets down for te Capitol Hill Classic?
I’m in! To address the concern above, maybe make it west of 4th st, or at least keep 6th and 4th streets open for North and South traffic. The other streets aren’t much of a through street anyway. It would probably cost some money for the police to close the street down. Wasn’t there a post recently about how expensive it is to close the streets down for te Capitol Hill Classic?
Love it, Nichole!
Love it, Nichole!
Great idea.
Would totally love that! Like a Hill block party.
Would totally love that! Like a Hill block party.