Neighbors gathered for National Night Out, an annual get-together held on the first Tuesday of each August. The event, which started in 1984, now spans all 50 states, ranging from cookouts to city-wide festivals. Top, a group congregated in between 22nd and 23rd Avenues on 3rd Street NE, bringing out tables, chairs and food before setting up a bonfire. Middle, some of the block parties included live music. Bottom, neighbors, friends and family spent the evening together. (Mike Madison)
Above, residents indulged in a potluck-style meal while connecting with their neighbors. Bottom left, a group of residents posed for a photo in the midst of their block’s party. Below, top to bottom, siblings Maddie and Jack Henschel. Jack said National Night Out represented a “community that stands up for each other and cares.” Joe Macko played the accordion at his block party. “It’s National Night Out. I do this every year,” he said. A former block captain — the person in charge of coordinating the party — he was “always trying to get people involved in the community. What you do for that always comes back.” Neighbors could request their streets get blocked off for the event. Gordy Ellis has lived on his block since 1976. “To me, everyone looks a lot younger, but that’s because I’m a lot older.” (Mike Madison)
