Why in the World Would We Throw a Space pARTy?

Sometimes it’s easy to grow a bit too accustomed to our surroundings. We get used to the way things are and stop imagining how things might be. That said, it’s important to shake things up from time to time, so that we all might see things a little bit differently.

Recently a small group of Northside artists, activists and business owners started to dream up some ideas for events that would do just that. We wanted to create something that attracted life and vitality. It’s easy to forget how important that is sometimes. Renovating streetscapes and buildings is essential, but it takes more than that to truly revitalize a community; people need to have fun, feel safe, and connect to one another. A great city space is one that is alive with spontaneity and joy. 

We started to imagine storefronts filled with art, other sites alive with music, and sidewalks bustling with people. We didn’t have the time or budget to plan a festival event that would close down the streets, so we started to get creative. What if we spread the party throughout an entire City block? We were on to something, but we needed a theme to rally around.

We saw the spaces on a block filled with energy and activity. Spaces…yes, spaces. Hey, why don’t we make this a space pARTy? We all liked the play on words, and we all love… space (Who doesn’t, really?).

To set the record straight, the Space pARTy is about having fun and getting people to experience North Salina Street differently than before. This might be the best way to invite others into helping imagine the future for this neighborhood. In the months ahead, we hope to dream up more events, large and small, spaced-themed and otherwise, that will celebrate and showcase this great neighborhood. The Space pARTy is just the beginning. One small step for man, but perhaps a giant leap for the Northside…