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The dictionary definition of tailgating is “to participate in a picnic that is served from the tailgate of a vehicle, as before a sports event,” but Recreation Services and the Arts Society are kicking it up a notch. Music, dance, art, activities, food and drinks, and more will be part of the fourth annual Block pARTy 11 a.m. Saturday on Parsons Street between Hamilton and McCartney Streets, opposite the Fisher Field entrance, leading up to the 1 p.m. kickoff of the football team’s game against Princeton.
Music and dance performances will be held on two stages:
Hamilton Street
11:05-11:15 Civil engineering major Dan O’Neil ’06 (Lincoln, R.I.) and electrical and computer engineering major Amanda Driscoll ’06 (Princeton Junction, N.J.)
11:20-11:30 Jadrien’s Crew (dance group with intercultural development coordinator) Jadrien Ellison ’01)
11:35-11:45 Hillel Society: Jewish studies and psychology double major Benji Berlow ’06 (Palmerton, Pa.) and art and B.S. biology double major Sara Kreisel ’07 (North Bellmore, N.Y.)
11:50-noon Hispanic Society Dancers
12:05-12:15 Soulfege (mixed a cappella)
12:30-12:40 JAMM Club
McCartney Street
11:10-11:20 a.m. Martial Arts Club
11:25-11:35 Cadence (female a cappella)
11:45-11:55 Leopards Dance Club (new student-run dance company)
noon-12:10 p.m. NIA Steppers
12:15-12:30 Pep Band
12:35-12:45 The Chorduroys (male a cappella)
Food will be provided in a street fair style with culturally specific options by Sodexho, The Almond Tree Manor, Bombay Grille, and The Quadrant. Students with Lafayette ID may pick up a voucher for free food at Hamilton Street.
Students can de-stress by making stress balls, be amazed by a magician, have a portrait drawn by a caricaturist, and feel like a kid again with balloon animals. A special appearance by the Leopard and friends will get the crowd ready to cheer on the football team.
Mardi Gras beads and masks will be sold to benefit Hurricane Katrina disaster relief.
Other activities will include pinch pot and custom bead jewelry making, free raffles of art and sports goods, and free Rita’s Italian ice (while supplies last).
Exhibitions and sales of art will feature silk screened scarves by art and English majors Greg Herchenroether ’06 (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Jesse Tron ’06 (Pelham, N.Y.), drawings and paintings by Gina Colaizzo’09 (Philadelphia, Pa.), jewelry by psychology major Lisa Klenn ’06 (Quakertown, Pa.), and paintings by Brett Lambie ’09 (Upper Montclair, N.J.).
Art to play with and purchase will include a giant magnetic poetry board, custom buttons, henna tattoos, spin art, candles, paper crown decorating, spring-flowering bulbs, hair braiding, face painting, arts of Latin America, a graffiti wall, bracelets, personalized bandanas and t-shirts, recycled blank books, and the Mardi Gras masks.
Organizational displays will be presented by International Students Association, Arts Society, Student Movement Against Cancer, the Counseling Center, W.O.R.D.S., Marquis Players, Japanese Interest Floor, Lafayette Environmental Awareness and Protection, Marquis literary magazine, Hispanic Society of Lafayette, Africans Creating African Consciousness and Interest Abroad, Aya, Questioning Established Sexual Taboos, Association of Lafayette Feminists, Students for Social Justice, The Jamming Association of Modest Musicians, Nia (a multicultural women’s organization), Martial Arts Club, Ceramic Society, Hillel Society, Association of Black Collegians, Asian Cultural Association, Lafayette Activities Forum, and Engineers Without Borders.
The Block pARTy is sponsored by the Office of Recreation Services, Arts Society, Lafayette Intercultural Networking Council, Office of Residence Life, Department of Athletics, Office of the Dean of Students, and Maroon Club, with support from Counseling Center and Sports Marketing Club, and with thanks to City of Easton, Lafayette Plant Operations, Public Safety, Williams Center for the Arts, Office of Athletic Communications, Student Government, and Parsons Street neighbors.