On Saturday, July 15, the Silver Room Block Party turned 53rd Street in Hyde Park into a giant outdoor festival, overflowing with live music, pop-up art exhibits, spontaneous dance parties, and vendors selling food, books, clothes, and tchotchkes. Now in its 14th year (and its second year on the south side, after relocating from Wicker Park), the block party had something for everyone.
Photographer April Alonso and videographer Morgan Elise Johnson went to Hyde Park to soak up the fun, and they’ve shared their views of this day filled with joy.
The 2017 Silver Room Block Party
Giovanni Broughton and others dance to the beats onstage as Pete Rock prepares his set at the Blackstone Stage. Denzel “098” (L) and James “098” (R) of Designer Junkie pose for a photo near the Blackstone Stage at the Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park. An artist, promoting Hendricks Artworks, paints portraits on the Blackstone Stage at the Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park. Artwork made by DREDSKE inside the Doerr building, which hosted artist’s paintings and musical acts People peruse the paintings inside the Doerr building at the Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park. A DJ plays music as people come through the Doerr building at the Silver Room Block Party to look at the artwork and dance—just as Justin “Senpai” Imo does. Marcus “DA GOD” Prater (L) and Justin “Senpai” Imo dance to the DJ at the Doerr building at the Silver Room Block Party on July 15, 2017. A DJ plays music as people come through the Doerr building at the Silver Room Block Party to look through the artwork and dance. Larissa Johnson, of the South Shore neighborhood, sits near the Harper Court Stage at the Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park. Pete Rock performs on the Blackstone Stage at the Silver Room Block Party on Saturday July 15, 2017. The crowd dances and sings as Pete Rock performs on the Blackstone Stage at the Silver Room Block Party on July 15, 2017. Pinqy Ring performs with backup dancers and singers on the Blackstone Stage at the Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park on July 15, 2017. Pinqy Ring performs with backup dancers and singers on the Blackstone Stage at the Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park on July 15, 2017. Pinqy Ring performs with backup dancers and singers on the Blackstone Stage at the Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park on July 15, 2017. A ceremonial performance before Ron Trent’s set on the Harper Court Stage at the Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park A ceremonial performance before Ron Trent’s set on the Harper Court Stage at the Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park A ceremonial performance before Ron Trent’s set on the Harper Court Stage at the Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park Twilite Tone performs at the Royal Hands Stage at the Silver Room Block Party in Hyde Park. The crowd dances to Twilite Tone at the Royal Hands Stage.
