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Eat on the street: Downtown Batavia Block Party features music, munchies

Whether you consider it the end of the summer party or the kickoff to fall fun, there is no question about it.

The Downtown Batavia Block Party is the place to be for good food, and great entertainment.

"It shows that Batavia does have an active downtown area," said Kohl Meyer of O'Brien's Pub. "At last year's block party, the downtown was filled with people who had a great time."

From 2 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5, North River Street will be blocked off between Wilson and State streets for the entertainment stage.

The fun begins at 5 p.m. with the band Lightspeak and the continues with the band Field Day Rocks playing two sets at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. The entertainment stage will also feature dancers from the Batavia Academy of Dance at 6 p.m. and the Art in Your Eye Miniatures auction at 8 p.m.

The entertainment may take place on River Street, but the party is really a downtown event with restaurants throughout the downtown area offering $2 samples of specific menu items.

"We have Thai Village on Batavia Avenue serving kung pao chicken this year," said Britta McKenna of Batavia MainStreet.

"We're supposed to have good weather, in the 70s. So, it will be a great time to walk the downtown."

There are no tickets. You just need to bring your cash and plan on dinner downtown, because there will be plenty of menu choices.

What does $2 buy you? You can get an ice cream cone at Batavia Creamery; a mini Italian beef at Bulldog's; mini cheeseburgers, sloppy joes, BBQ turkey or cheese fries at Daddio's Diner. Then you can head back over to McDonald's for a Big Mac; RendezVu for a chicken slider; El Taco Grande for a taco; Fox's on the Grill for a pizza slice, ribs or sandwich; Tusk Thai for Pad Thai or pot stickers; and O'Brien's Pub for a cod filet with coleslaw.

Then you can finish the evening off with a cappuccino and scone at Limestone Café. Don't drink coffee? Then have a cookie and a lemonade.

After all that food, a walk will feel good.

"Last year was so much fun," said McKenna. "People were walking all over town, enjoying what each restaurant had to offer."

This is the third annual Downtown Batavia Block Party, which became a reality after the successful Bridge Bash that took place for the city's 175th anniversary celebration.

"In the beginning the restaurants didn't really know what to expect," said McKenna. "I remember that Tusk Thai had just opened and they were a bit overwhelmed the first year, but last year they had it all down, setting up an outdoor window and moving the orders very quickly."

Allan Soboj of Bulldog's is one of those people who came to Batavia, ready to be involved in the community as well as the business.

"I've been to the Taste of Chicago and everything there is so confined," he said. "Here it is a bit of a Mardi Gras atmosphere.

"The people were walking from restaurant to restaurant and really enjoying themselves."

Even some of the local businesses will be open to be part of the event. Hair salon Urban Style will be celebrating its first anniversary with food, fanfare and mini complimentary services. Their open house runs from 4 to 7 p.m.

"I've been in Batavia almost 20 years," said Kirk Jansons of Batavia Creamery. "It's a friendly, family-oriented town with a lot to offer."

Plan now to head downtown on Sunday to sample the restaurant offerings, enjoy the music and see how friendly Batavia can be.

More information, including an event map, is available at downtownbatavia.com or by calling the Batavia MainStreet office at (630) 761-3528.

Maps with a schedule are available at the Batavia MainStreet downtown information tent on North River Street at the event or at any of the participating locations.

Kevin Klein, left and Jeff Bartlett of Majors Junction jam at a previous block party event on North River Street in Batavia. Daily Herald file photo, 2005

<p class="factboxheadblack">Downtown Batavia Block Party</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> North River Street and throughout downtown</p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 5 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5</p>

<p class="News"><b>How much?</b> Entertainment is free; restaurant samples, $2 apiece</p>

<p class="News"><b>Details:</b> <a href="http://downtownbatavia.com" target="new">downtownbatavia.com</a></p>