Latest news with #blockparty
CTV News
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Edmonton's Chinatown holds block party to celebrate the area
Edmonton Watch A group of business owners and volunteers held a block party in Edmonton's Chinatown over the weekend as part of an effort to attract people to the area. CTV News Edmonton's Connor Hogg was there.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spokane block parties will often be cheaper after City Council waives fees
May 19—Neighborhoods in Spokane will soon be able to more easily and cheaply close down their block for a party or community event between June and Halloween. Championed by City Councilman Zack Zappone and cosponsored by Councilwoman Kitty Klitzke, the Spokane City Council on Monday voted unanimously to approve the "Play Streets" program, which authorizes the mayor's office to reduce the barriers to blocking off a residential street for a block party. The proposal was first unveiled in April during a news conference touting a number of measures to increase pedestrian and bike safety on Spokane's streets, including banning right turns on red lights on Main Avenue downtown. "Whether it's neighbors wanting to come together and close our street to allow kids to play on the street, do a spontaneous chalk art festival, close down the street and have a barbecue ... this is an opportunity for people in your neighborhoods to come out, meet your neighbors, have that connection and bring back that life to our neighborhoods," Councilman Zack Zappone said at the April event. Outside of the cost of the festivities themselves, local leaders have identified two costs for hosting a block party that the city would like to eliminate in many cases: application fees for a permit to shut down the street, and the physical road barriers themselves. While it will mostly be up to the administration to craft the program, Monday's ordinance does specify that application fees will be waived for closing down a residential, nonarterial street so long as it is open to the public and limited to a single block. Administration personnel have expressed interest in the purchase of signage and road barriers that residents could check out from the local library for free, further reducing costs for a block party, though this purchase would likely have to be approved by the City Council at a later date. "I think we need this," Klitzke said at an April committee meeting where the ordinance was briefed. "I think it will be an improvement over the folding chair with an 8.5 -by -11 sign that my neighborhood has been using for a decade." Councilman Jonathan Bingle, who noted he owns a trivia business, argued that the program would spur events and encourage neighbors to meet each other and better appreciate their neighborhood. Neighborhood councils often also don't have much money to put on events, so easing those costs could allow for more activity, he added.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Corey Avenue businesses celebrate reopening after withstanding back-to-back hurricanes
The Brief Businesses on Corey Ave. celebrated reopening after withstanding back-to-back hurricanes last fall. The entire city was invited to a block party featuring the lighting of the historic Beach Theatre, a ribbon-cutting and a huge celebration, honoring their grand re-opening and their resilience. You can also support the businesses on Corey Avenue by attending their Sunday market on Sunday, May 18, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. ST. PETERSBURG BEACH, Fla. - Like so many businesses across St. Pete Beach, storm surge and wind damage from back-to-back hurricanes last fall completely destroyed stores, restaurants, and even a theatre that sits along popular Corey Ave. What they're saying "We have been closed for three months," said Jasmine Hunter, owner of Coastal Cottage. "We had a lot of work to do, and we had 30 vendors that rely on the store." "It was pretty bad in here," Jasmine's co-owner and husband, Vince Hunter, added. " It's hard to imagine when you look at it now, but when you first opened the door, the front window was broken and sand was all over the floor, everything was just laying all over the place, the ceiling even dropped down." While the cleanup was a shocking and painful process, shop owners like Elizabeth Nowak, of Elizabeth's Bartique, say it was reassuring to see just how many people came together to help them; from their Corey Ave. neighbors to complete strangers. "You had a dumpster on each corner of the street filled with all the damaged items," Nowak added." Clothing, store fixtures, it was just something out of a war zone, but we all came together." READ: St. Pete leaders discuss infrastructure and storm preparedness ahead of hurricane season "It's been a long road, but luckily, with the support of our neighbors and everyone around us, it's been a great recovery," said Ken Hautmann, owner of 'Chill' Restaurant & Bar. "Some of the locations are still not open up on the street, but we're getting closer. I'm moving forward, and we're looking forward to the rest of the stores being able to open." Saturday was a celebration of just that, as the entire city was invited to a Block Party featuring the lighting of the historic Beach Theatre, a ribbon cutting and a huge celebration, honoring their grand re-opening and their resilience. "It's not just a celebration of our opening, but it's a celebration of the community also coming together," Vince Hunter stressed. "I mean, they were all dealing with so much, but at the same time, they were so great to all. The businesses here." "It's absolutely the greatest feeling," Nowak said as tears welled up in her eyes. "It's emotional. But we are big. And we're not going away." What you can do You can also support the businesses on Corey Avenue by attending their Sunday market on Sunday, May 18, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Regina Gonzalez. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
