Rock the Block Squirrel Hill

October 18, 2016/Rick Handler

East End Mile, an innovative jazz group, performs as the moon rises in the background.

Saturday night Murray Avenue in the heart of the Squirrel Hill business district was transformed into a festival setting for Rock the Block. The festival, organized by the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition, was replete with craft vendors, food trucks, bands, brews, and many local businesses and restaurants.

Please click the photo below to bring up the photo gallery:

Lighted booths line the Murray Avenue promenade.
Squirrel Hill now has its own namesake beer, Fighting Squirrel Nutty Ale Beer. Brew owner, Barry White of the Squirrel Hill Sports Bar, seen here with his beer girls Jenn Niedermeyer (l.) and Amanda Coe (r.) and brother's Kenny Holtzman (l.) and Gregg Holtzman (r.)
People browsing the booths of the I Made It! Market.
The Coop Chicken and Waffles food truck on the scene. Earsell Fitzgerald (in window) prepares food for a customer while his brother Justin (standing in the truck) restocks. Also working in the truck is Nikki.
Carson Cashman (l.) and Lou Manione (r.) play cajon tablets. Their Louson CajonTabs are custom made and modeled on a Peruvian percussion instrument.
The crew at Wok of Life food truck rapidly preparing hungry patrons' orders as the Eat'n Park lighted Smiley Cookie sign illuminates from above.
East End Mile, an innovative jazz group, performs as the moon rises in the background.
East End Mile jamming. Emerson Jay and Nevada Color were also on the night's bill.
View from the back of the drum kit of East End Mile.