Skip to content
News
Link copied to clipboard

Kenney's indoor block party: Mascots, bright lights, and the Geator

Jim Kenney celebrated his inauguration as the city's 99th mayor Monday evening in a huge atrium of the Convention Center that was filled with songs from the 1960s and '70s, and featured dancing mascots, colored spotlights, and 1,500 people.

Mayor Jim Kenney's opted to host a Inaugural Block Party at the Pennsylvania Convention Center instead of an inaugural ball on Jan. 4, 2016. Mascots from area teams join legendary DJ Jerry Blavat on stage while images of the Mayor are projected.
Mayor Jim Kenney's opted to host a Inaugural Block Party at the Pennsylvania Convention Center instead of an inaugural ball on Jan. 4, 2016. Mascots from area teams join legendary DJ Jerry Blavat on stage while images of the Mayor are projected.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer

Jim Kenney celebrated his inauguration as the city's 99th mayor Monday evening in a huge atrium of the Convention Center that was filled with songs from the 1960s and '70s, and featured dancing mascots, colored spotlights, and 1,500 people.

"How do you like the block party?" Kenney asked to cheers. "No black tie, no gowns. We're good, we all come from neighborhoods, we know how it is."

The block party-theme celebration, necessarily indoors on a 33-degree evening, felt more like a megabar mitzvah and wrapped up around 8 p.m. after about 21/2 hours. Philadelphia legend Jerry Blavat opened the night and had people doing the electric slide less than 30 minutes in.

Nyisha Chapman danced to "Cupid Shuffle" with several Philadelphia college mascots - the Temple Owl, the Penn Quaker, the Villanova Wildcat.

"Probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience," she said. "I think this is great. It's casual, it's down to earth and involving everyone. I think he's going to be a great mayor, very progressive - just look at how he's bringing people together."

The evening was by invitation only, but tickets were free. Guests were encouraged to donate to the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia as part of a campaign to bring in money for the cash-strapped schools. The entertainment (save Blavat) was all Philadelphia school groups, including a jazz band from the High School of Creative and Performing Arts that played "The Sound of Philadelphia" as Kenney left the stage into a throng of selfie-eager fans.

Joan Schwartz, 66, of South Philadelphia, bopped in her chair as "The Twist" played. She's retired from working in constituent services at City Hall, but her husband, a ward leader, knows Kenney well. "I love him. I think it's such a great idea for a party, and he's got the Geator," she said. "I've seen several mayors, and I just think he's going to be one of the great ones."

Blavat seemed to trace Kenney's 57 years through music as only a DJ alive for two decades longer than the new mayor could. He played such classics as "Do You Love Me" and ended with "Lean on Me," which he said is one of Kenney's favorite songs.

Kenney spoke for less than two minutes, focusing mostly on the fund-raising campaign and pushing attendees to donate. He called the fund a way, albeit small, to help as bigger funding issues get resolved in Harrisburg. Heading into the evening, the fund had raised $650,000. The night of the party, the electrical workers union, a big supporter of Kenney's during the campaign, pledged $100,000.

The Carpenters union donated $100,000 last week.

"Instead of wringing our hands and giving up, we're going to put back into music programs, art programs, reading programs," Kenney said.

Kenney also used the opportunity in front of hundreds of businessmen and lobbyists to put out a call for anyone interested in renting the mayor's box at sports games and concerts. That revenue, too, will go toward the fund.

The night, catered by Philadelphia food trucks, featured battered fried cheese curds, pulled pork sliders, Korean cheesesteaks, boneless buttermilk fried chicken, red velvet cupcakes, and French toast doughnuts.

People posed for photos holding small dry-erase boards with their own pledge for Philadelphia - a nod to Kenney's recurring theme that constituents and government must work together to create change.

Allegra Armstrong, 21, held a sign reading, "I pledge to support public schools." Her boyfriend, Aidan Jamison, 22, took a more lighthearted approach: "I pledge to pay my taxes."

State senators, at least one congressman, and leaders from around the city and the state mingled and toasted to the new mayor.

Asked if the evening were more fun than Michael Nutter's celebrations, Council President Darrell L. Clarke said, "I didn't go to Nutter's." He said this one, "while an inaugural event, still feels extremely informal - that's why you see people having so much fun out here. Just the music makes you want to dance."

Kenney isn't the first to dial back the black-tie inaugural ball theme. Nutter billed his 2008 inauguration at the Navy Yard as a celebration, not a ball.

Before Kenney left the stage, he put out one final push for fun - and funding.

"Let's get to work tomorrow, but let's party tonight," he said. "Have fun. Let's take care of our kids and make our schools the best they can be."

jterruso@phillynews.com

215-854-5506@juliaterruso