Streetplay.com: Street Events

111th Street Old Timers Block Party

Summer Fun

Organizers of the 111th Street Old Timers Block Party Stickball is part of the tradition for the 111th street old timers event

Streetplay's Summer Scoop
• 111th Street Old Timers
• Stickball World Series
• Back to Brooklyn

Discussion

• Streetplay discussion home

Organizers of the 111th Street Old Timers Block Party Click for bigger picture
More photos at NYBoricua.com

111th Street Event Organizers Recall Old Friend

Click for bigger picture

Some of the organizer for the 111th street Old Timers Block Party take a moment to enjoy the day
For more than 30 years, the second Sunday of July has included a block party in Manhattan on 111th Street and 5th. With stickball in the morning, musicians, politicians, and large crowds throughout the afternoon, the 111th street Old Timers Day is considered one of El Barrio's summer highlights. What most people don't know is that this happy event started on a more somber note, as a memory to a friend who died much too young.
John Nuco, one of the Old Timer's Day original organizers recalls. "We started this in 1968. Our friend Richie Olmo had died the previous year of cancer of the stomach at 29 years old. He was a very popular guy on the block; a pitcher for our stickball team (the Dandy's), a ladies man, and a good friend."
"When he died, one of the guys, Nicky, said 'Let's do something to remember Richie next year. Let's make a little party for him.' In '68 I got contributions from some of the local stores and we made a party on the block. It was a small thing, maybe 150 people stopped by throughout the day. We cooked some food, gave it away and gave away sandwiches and beverages. We just kept doing it for 4 or 5 years and it stayed about that size, but when Charlie came out of the service, he took over, got sponsors and the event really grew."
For close to 30 years Charlie Candelario has been the main force in making the event the success it is. He recollects "At first we got the guys to start putting away a couple of dollars a week, so that by the time the summer rolled around we'd have enough money to buy the food and beverages. As things went on, some larger companies, started contributing product. Budweiser began sponsoring the event in the mid-70s."
The 111the Street Old Timers Festival is now perhaps the City's largest Block Party. The mornings remain dedicated to stickball, with games played as the festival gets set up. Afternoons cook with tons of people and a Latin sound. Still, Charlie likes to keep a low-key presence and a strong memory of what the event is for. "We created this festvial in memory a guy we grew up with and loved. Now it's for people from all over to return to the old neighborhood and hook up again with family and old friends."
Return to Streetplay's Summer Events
Visit NYBoricua.com for more photos