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POP Allston to kick off with block party, offers local shops a launch pad – Metro US

POP Allston to kick off with block party, offers local shops a launch pad

For Allston residents, the first weekend of September means that many are just about finished unpacking their earthly possessions and getting accustomed to new homes. As a welcoming fiesta, Allston Village Main Streets and Do617 are hosting the free, all-ages first-annual Allston Christmas Block Party at the new POP Allston space.

“Allston is the most bumping part of Boston,” Vivant Vintage owner Justin Pomerleau said. “It’s changing fast and we want to bring a punk/gypsy market feeling to an already vibrant area.”

POP Allston will open its doors for the first time from noon to 6 p.m. on Sept. 7 with live music, food and plenty of merchandise for sale.The space also offers a yoga studio, a DIY bike shop and artist studios.

Allston Village Main Streets are encouraging people to walk, bike or take the T to the venue and can even take advantage of free bike valet provided by CommonWheels Bicycle Co-op.

The three story space has two floors worth of a skatepark, where Orchard Skate Shop owner Armin Bachman will teach skate lessons.

“This is a very creative and interpretive space for skateboarding,” Bachman said. “This is a jump-off point for all of us involved. It’s amazing that it all came together.”

They are also opening a new shop in the North End near Hanover and Commercial Streets with the coming of the long-awaited skate park in East Cambridge.

“This is a great time for people to come try out skating if they are new to it, or brush up if they already have some skills,” Bachman said. “We want skateboarding in Boston to be accessible for people of all walks of life. This block party is the perfect place to set that in motion.”

Pomerleau is also debuting a new project, the Oliver Best Vintage Market, a huge flea market which will run every Saturday from Sept. 19 through May. The Labor Day event will have 25 vintage dealers and six vintage arcade cabinets from BitFest, offering everything from odd and interesting antiques to throwback style clothes.

“We want this to be an all-year around destination,” Pomerleau said. “We want this to be around in the winter so people will have a place to go when the weather is awful. People now can have a place to spend a day when they need to get out of the house and check out really cool stuff.”