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2006 07 28

Random Rippling

Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v03n15)

It was a Party on the Avenue

posted: Jul. 28, 2006

The first annual Broad Ripple Street Fest was a blast. The BRVA and Exclamation Point Events put on a great party. Early estimates are that 10,000 people visited Broad Ripple Avenue, partaking of tasty eats and enjoying the music on the stage in front of Subway. The Avenue was closed to traffic from College Avenue to Winthrop Avenue. This, of course, was a tremendous disruption to the Village, but it was worth it. My morning coffee and trip to the post office was especially tricky, as Carrollton Avenue was blocked on the north and is one-way south!

The fest started at 3 P.M. and lasted until 10 P.M., when the crowds dispersed into the bars and pubs. The Gazette staff covered all seven hours, except when some of us ducked out for a bit to cover the Indiana Speed season opener game at BRHS.

The weather was hard to believe after a week of temperatures around 95 and high humidity. This was the first outdoor Broad Ripple fest since daylight savings time took effect. It seemed strange to leave an all-day event while it was still light out.

The crowd changed as the day progressed. Families with strollers, and residents all of ages strolled the Avenue during the early fest hours. Later in the day, the crowd density grew dramatically as the typical late-night Broad Ripple types packed the street.

Radio station X103 broadcast live from their tent that was set up on Guilford Avenue. Very cool Saturn sports cars were displayed in the Subway parking lot. Anticipating the success of the event, several smaller events and vendors staked out territories just outside the area.

Shalimar, Pizza Express (now Hot Box Pizza), Marco's Pizza, The Alley Cat, Qdoba, Uncle Artie's BBQ, and The Broad Ripple Steak House had booths on the Avenue.

The music line-up was Autovaughn, One in the Same, The Elms, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, and Todd Snider.

It was fun to walk around without worrying about getting run over. Hopefully there will be another Street Fest in 2007. The next two big events in the Village are the Midwest Music Summit on August 10-12, and the Sunflower Market Broad Ripple Village Classic 5K/10K on August 13, 2006.