I went to block parties all the time while growing up in New York. A neighborhood would petition the city to block off the street, then invite everyone they knew to bring lots of food and fun. It’s a tried and true formula used by community-minded neighbors all over the country.
So what happens when you hold a block party in the middle of Silicon Valley? The formula is not much different, except that you and your kids might learn to solder metal or hack some code rather than face painting or bobbing for apples.
This past Sunday, the City of Palo Alto along with four other organizations – Innovation Endeavors, Talenthouse, Super Happy Dev House and Institute for the Future – held the first inaugural Super Happy Block Party as a way to bring the technology and creative communities together for a unique one day event on High Street in downtown Palo Alto. Yes, there was food and balloons, but only in startup land would a block party also include a live hackathon, “silent disco” and even “VC Office Hours” where entrepreneurs could just walk up and pitch their idea to venture capitalists.
A unique event for a unique place. I’ll definitely be back next year.
Attendees enter and leave the hackathon held at Talenthouse during the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, Califronia.
The Day Star Zome at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, California.
Inside the Day Star Zome at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, California.
Inside the Day Star Zome at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, California.
Matt Haze, a “silent disco” DJ, spins his tunes at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, Califronia.
Matt Haze, a “silent disco” DJ, spins his tunes at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, Califronia.
A hacker works on his code at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo alto, California.
A woman check her cell phone at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, California.
A hacker works on his code at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo alto, California.
A pair of hackers work on their code at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, Califonia.
A bulldog poses for a photo while his guardina hacks code at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, California.
A hacker sets up a window display of showing the Git Hub code checkins made by other hackers attending the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, California.
The ArtisMobilus roving art gallery parked at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, Califronia.
Part of a mural displayed on the side of the rover ArtisMobilus bus at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, California.
Venture Capitalists hold office hours for entrepreneurs in a parking garage at the Super Happy Block Party in Palo Alto, Califronia.
Two yound children are taught to solder at the Super Happy Block Party held in downtown Palo Alto, California.
Two hackers discuss a project in the Hacker Dojo at the Super Happy Block party held in downtowan Palo Alto.
A group grathers to play ping pong at the Super Happy Block Party held in downtown Palo Alto, California.
A hacker intently works on his laptop in the Hacker Dojo at the Super Happy Block Party held in downtown Palo Alto, California.
Entrepreneurs enter and leave a parking garage where venture capitalists are holding “office hours” during the Super Happy Block Pary in downtown Palo Alto, California.
