There’s not a single story to how a community celebrates July 4th — it’s a kaleidoscope of images and experiences. Berkeleyside asked its community to tweet, Facebook, send photos to Flickr, blog and comment on how it spent a Berkeley 4th. We used Storify to tell the tale.
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Hey, Berkeleysiders! 4th of July weekend started 24 hours ago. Send us your stories, pics, tweets — #Berkeley4th: http://bit.ly/mShR32
And from comments on our July 4th posts, a variety of experiences:
Patsypol: “Two wonderful events..a neighborhood potluck lunch with old friends from the last thirty years and now some grandchildren and then a private backyard barbeque with gin and tonic in the fading sun, Paul Thorn on the CD and a few illicit fireworks. I always make two cakes decorated as American flags..one for the friends and one for my spouse and me. Perfect. Lucky us.”
Berto: “I’m working on a presentation for a conference later this month. Yay!”
Stefan Lasiewski: “We host our annual block party on July 4th. Close off the street, get out the umbrellas and shade structures, rent a bouncy house, fire up the grills and hang out with the neighbors.”
NannyState: “A Berkeley 4th of July is freezing your ass off sitting on the rocks at the marina watching the soft glow of fireworks going off in the fog above your head. Then walking two miles back to your car because you parked above San Pablo.”
Berto wasn’t the only Berkeleysider who was caught in the mundane:
What we really did with our 4th of July. Which do you like? #berkeley4th http://instagr.am/p/HATTs/
Jana Bouc blogged: “Why not make every day Independence Day and claim your right to freedom from whatever holds you back? Today I chose the freedom of sketching blueberries in my sketchbook instead of struggling with other ‘work’ I’ve been doing in the studio.”
Here’s what came out:
Some unnamed unicyclists had a more vigorous approach to freedom, with help from the Berkeley hills and Jimi Hendrix:
Soshana O’Keefe posts on our Facebook page: “My son Ian excited about his flag and the fire engine parked on Shattuck and Rose.” As you can see:
Other photographers were out in force. Tim Ereneta captured some Cesar Chavez Park kite-flying, and Keoki Seu felt all patriotic with flags aflutter:
A Windy Fourth
Feeling Independent
Food plays a big part for many people.
Susan Helmrich emailed us: “I don’t know how to tweet, but I made a plum torte and went to a barbeque.” From the evidence below, the plum torte looks a sight to behold.
@quitasarah, after those paint swatches earlier, found time for some scrumptious food as well:
Stone-Wood 4th of July #berkeley4th http://instagr.am/p/G_VXY/
Colleen Larkin emailed in: “Well…we enjoyed dinner and a cocktail…a view of SF & Berkeley’s displays from the freeway, but made it to a parking lot on 4th street for this shot…”
Lance Knobel (Berkeleyside co-founder) has been a journalist for nearly 40 years. Much of his career was in business journalism. He was editor-in-chief of both Management Today, the leading business magazine...
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