Street party

Back when we lived in TO, our street would have a street wide yard sale, the first Saturday in June I think it was.  We'd save up all the junk to put out and sell.  In a good year we'd make 25 or 3 bucks and get rid of a ton of crap.  The rule was that once it went out, it didn't come back again, the yard sale ended with a goodwill run.

The best part though was that all the neighbours then got together later that afternoon for a big old barbeque, everyone hauled out tables and grills and chairs, brought their own plates and salads and deserts, I think we pitched in 5 bucks to buy the meat, but maybe not.

Then we'd all sit around till late shootin' the shit with the kids running around as it got darker and darker.  It'd usually still be going on when I went to bed.

Here in Catalunya we had a street party today, I think just cause we wanted to do it!  Of course it's Catalunya so it was a little different, there were 130 people, we paid in advance so they could buy the ingredients and we had paella (very good paella indeed) and salad, bread, wine, water, deserts (potluck) coffee and chupitos or digestives - shots of liquor at the end of the meal.  There was a band that played some terrible music far too loud, and it was great.

Here's a couple of photos:

Now that's a big pan, no?  Actually, they come much bigger.  Btw, you need a kilo of rice per 10 people,

Street's all decorated (the garbage cans don't add to the beauty of the whole thing, but what the heck.)

One pan is frying onions and garlic, the other peppers and tomatoes for the sofregit.

Cooking the meat.

Meats out, add the rice and fry it up to get more flavour.

Now we've got the meat and the artichokes in, and the broth has been added as well.  15 minutes to go!

View from the terrace....

mmmmmmmm........

Kids are busy.....

finishing touches

putting out the fire...

It was delicious....and I have to say that I love these kids of events.  Really do.