A Restored Pratt Street
Through improved and restored retail storefronts, renovated residential spaces, and curated programming, Pratt St is being rediscovered.
HARTFORD — A onesie party, a pillow fight, a super-duper hot-wing challenge, a dance showcase and a musician in an alien mask. All these will be combined on Oct. 22 from 6 to 10:30 p.m. on Pratt Street in Hartford, at a free block party whose organizer just wants people to show up, be goofy and have a good time.
Juju Camacho, the founder of Heaven Skate Park, says the Onesie Block Party is in honor of his son.
“My son had a onesie event at school. He went in his giraffe onesie. A lot of his friends said, no don’t do it. But he went in proud, rocking the onesie,” Camacho said. “It gave me that idea to do a onesie event. There’s nothing wrong with being different and being a weirdo and having fun.”
The person in the most creative onesie will win $50 in Bitcoin. “I always try to incorporate crypto currency into all my events as a means of payment of a prize,” said Camacho.
Another Bitcoin prize will be awarded to whoever wins the hot wing challenge. Chef Xavier Santiago of The Place 2 Be will present the challenge, in which competitors must eat 10 to 12 wings, at 1 million on the Scoville scale, in about 10 minutes, Camacho said.
The Scoville scale measures the heat of peppers. One million units is on the very high end of the scale.
“It’s a little bit crazy. You can’t touch your eyes. It makes you sweat out of your skin, your nose, your mouth. You must sign a waiver to participate,” Camacho said. The challenge will take place at 7 p.m.
Another feature at the block party will be a pillow fight. One hundred pillows will be handed out free.
Entertainment will be provided by Dok Brass, a finger drummer, known for his remixes and his alien mask. Camacho said other DJs will be at the event.
The event is still looking for performers and vendors. Those who are interested can call Camacho at 860-251-9858 or email sypher860@gmail.com.