52 Weeks of Neighboring - 6/24

Tip of the Week – Host Flamingo Friday on your block or in your apartment complex.

Flamingo Friday is a tradition we heard of through the grapevine as we’ve learned neighboring strategies from others. Here’s how it works:

Place a few plastic yard flamingos in your front yard on Monday. For the very first Flamingo Friday, also deliver a paper invitation to your neighbors explaining that you will be hosting a front yard get-together on Friday evening. If you live in an apartment complex, you may need to reserve the community room or common area in advance. The flamingos will signal to your neighborhood that you’ll be hosting Flamingo Friday that week. On Friday, whoever is interested is welcome to show up in the evening to socialize.  After the first gathering, there will be no need for paper invitations or door-knocking, just put the flamingos out.

The specifics are up to you. Flamingo Friday can include: music, lawn games, fire pit, cookout, potluck meal, or a cornhole tournament. Whatever your Flamingo Friday protocol is, make sure to let your neighbors know, so they know what to bring on Friday and what to provide if they choose to host.

There are two aspects of Flamingo Fridays that make them great. First, they are an organic type of family-friendly block party that requires minimal preparation and is easy to repeat. Second, the goal of Flamingo Fridays is to establish a tone of welcome in your neighborhood. This posture of open welcome is the perfect place for neighboring to begin.

As you spread the Flamingo Friday fever around your neighborhood or apartment complex, snap a picture of the fun at your Flamingo Friday. We love hearing the stories of your neighboring experiments, so keep them coming. They encourage and inspire us.

Happy neighboring!