Cambridge Dance Party

Okay kids, I have finally done it. I have worn myself to the point in which I have become completely incoherent. Did not know what that point would be. Had thought my energy levels were limitless. Not so. These past two weeks I have gone out almost every night. Yesterday, I went to have lunch with old college friends C and C and practically fell asleep on the car ride home from Woodman's of Essex. When C asked me what was wrong as she saw the tears in my eyes, I had to admit I was yawning and could not stop. "So what have you been doing?" she asked. As I told her and her husband of my single gal "no sex in this city" stories, I realized it would be way too much to fit into one Monday blog entry.

The highlight of this week's activities was Friday night's girls' night out. A invited V and me to her last hoorah before her boyfriend returned from his vacation/military service. As in so many of my nights lately, we started off with a round of cocktails. It was a quality posse of women, diverse in every way, interests, looks and ethnicities, a real United Colours of Beneton ad. J, B, R, A, V and I, snacked on hot and spicy Cheezits with affordable red wine and watermelon Smiranoff twisters.

At ten, we decided to make our way to the Cambridge dance party. Below is the official description of the event:

The City of Cambridge is once again closing down Mass. Ave. Between Inman and Bigelow Streets (directly in front of City Hall) for its annual Dance Party. Each year, residents of all ages, from toddlers to teens, adults to seniors stop by for a little dancing on the street! And once again this year, hometown favorite DJ Joey Demers will be spinning the tunes, offering a varied selection that appeals to our diverse audience.
This dance extravaganza is a once a year opportunity for the entire Cambridge community to celebrate the beginning of summer with an evening full of music and friends. After dark, colorful lights will be launched, adding to the magic of the evening.

It was an amazing night. It was humid and 75 degrees out. I wore jeans and a t-shirt, which I began to regret as we made our way into the crowd. My jeans stuck to me as streams of sweat made it down my back. I did not care. DJ Joey was spinning hip hop and funk, from the 70's to today. A pointed out that he was not beat mixing, but that was okay because every song made us shake our groove thangs. I felt like I was in one of those movies in the 70's about block parties in Brooklyn. Everyone was dancing on the street, and a few old black women were fanning themselves with paper watching the young ones making a spectacle of themselves.

Community parties bring out interesting characters. A man with Down syndrome wanted to dance with us. J gave him some dancing tips and he seemed to be having a good time. My favorite were the sassy 12 year old girls. They mocked our moves, but when they were in the center of our dance circle they busted out with some serious style. There was the inevitable group of boys who tried to dance with us, eurotrash, which was evident by the Mickey Mouse polo shirt. Guess every girls' night has a few of boys mixed in. They struck out and we kept dancing.

By eleven fifteen, we were ready for some refreshments. My hair was wet with sweat, and my feet hurt from the uncomfortable shoes. We went to the People's Republik, met more boys and drank some more.

V and I called it night after that. J, B and A went on to have many more adventures at the Phoenix Landing. While bars and dance clubs are fun, I kind of wish the outdoor festivities kept going. There is nothing like an old fashioned block party to make a fantastic and complete summer.