On Tuesday night, I joined hundreds of residents at local National Night Out events in the Ward. I first stopped by Sherwood Recreation Center for the 1st District NNO Kick Off. Hundreds of neighbors filled the track and field area. MPD officers were manning the grill, talking with neighbors, and helped set up a moon bounce, slide and dunk tank. A band played in the background as everyone mixed and mingled.

A special thanks goes out to Bobby Pittman, citizen co-chair PSA 102 who helped organize and coordinate the Sherwood event (and he’d be the first to tell you he had a lot of volunteer help from the neighborhood). 1st District Commander Kamperin was there, as were ANC Commissioners Raphael Marshall, Mark Dixon and Gladys Mack (there may have been others, I just didn’t see everyone).

After spending some time talking with neighbors, I then headed over to the other NNO event at 13th and Potomac Ave, SE. When I arrived, the block was closed and neighbors filled the street with kids playing with balloons and eating Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. I chatted with ANC Commissioners Will Hill and Kristen Oldenburg, and then a special treat took the stage. Nearly a dozen young women who work with Little Lights Urban Ministries in Potomac Gardens performed some song and dance routines. Everybody was having fun and clapping along. The event was organized by several volunteers, a special thanks goes to Robyn Hansen and Rachel Blair who helped pull it all together.

So, did you do anything on National Night Out? Let us know if you joined any of the events or headed down the National Mall for the larger national events.