Arts

South End celebrates Summer Solstice

by Julie Walker
Wednesday Jun 25, 2014

Sunny, mild weather blessed the South End's back-to-back summer solstice celebrations last weekend: Friday's Summer Soulstice and Saturday evening's Fte de la Musique, a multi-venue outdoor music festival. While the Summer Soulstice offered a leisurely, afternoon-into-evening event in Blackstone Square, Fte de la Musique presented simultaneous performances at the Mills Gallery and Design Within Reach at the Boston Center for the Arts Plaza as well as in Union Park and Ringgold Park, which hosted a family themed event. Both events were in their second year and grew in attendance and scope this year.

In addition to music, the Summer Soulstice offered attractions for all ages and a variety of interests. The entertainment included All of the Animals, back for a second year with rock classics; the Derangers, whose surf-guitar sound heralded the summer's arrival on classics such as "Misirlou", the Allman Brothers' "Jessica" and "Ghost Riders in the Sky". Attendees ate picnic dinners on blankets on the grass while others ate at the tables provided at this year's event, sampling the varied wares of Bone Daddy's Burgers, Frozen Hoagies, Makin' Jamaican and Taco Party food trucks. Somerville Brewing Company's beer garden on West Brookline Street adjacent to Stella was a hit with its distinctly adult libations. The Z Spot fitness studio offered a fun workout with its Zumba demonstration, while Blackstone Community Health Center's play equipment on the West Brookline-side quadrant of Blackstone Square kept children amused all evening. Washington Gateway Main Street (WGMS) was the main sponsor of the event, and WGMS Executive Director Jennifer Effron was very pleased with the Soulstice's outcome, estimating the total attendance at the 4:00-9:00 PM event at about 600. "We were so excited to host the Summer Soulstice again, and this year was even better than last year! It was a great way to bring the diverse neighborhood together with something for everyone. Main Streets is about supporting the local community and this is truly a great community." Effron added, "I want to especially thank the D4 police for their help and also Stock Pot Malden and Friends of Blackstone and Franklin Squares for their sponsorship."

Boston joined cities around the world including Geneva, Switzerland; Tokyo, Japan; Amman, Jordan; Dakar, Senegal in welcoming the first day of summer with Fte de la Musique, which began in Paris in 1982. Among the revelers were French Consulate officials Fabien Fieschi, Consul General and Attach Eric Jausseran. Community Music Center of Boston (CMCB) sponsored the festival with the French Consulate and Make Music Boston. Each venue offered delectable treats, from appetizers and hors d'oeuvres at the Mills Gallery and Atelier 505 Design Within Reach to Ben and Jerry's ice cream at Union Park and Ringgold Park. Fte de la Musique offered something for all ages, from appetizers and hors d'oeuvres at the Mills Gallery and Design Within Reach to free Ben and Jerry's ice cream in Union and Ringgold Parks and kids' sunglasses with silly French sayings at the information table. Design Within Reach and the Mills Gallery also threw their doors open to visitors, the Mills beckoning art lovers to its provocative exhibit, "Jordan Eagles: Blood Dust". Attendance at Fte de la Musique's park venues was estimated at about 200 families, while about 100 people gathered in front of the Mills Gallery and Design Within Reach.