Join the 78th Precinct for the National Night Out Against Crime

Tonight, it’s the 29th annual National Nite Out, a nation-wide crime prevention fest designed to build a sense of (crime-fighting) community among local government, police, and the rest of us. According to the NNO website, the mission is four-pronged:

1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
2) Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs
3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
4) Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back!

What exactly is going down is a little bit unclear, but according to Irene at the 5th Ave BID, “there will be some speeches” and also “food.” That, plus a chance to meet the officers of the 78th in a non-crisis, non-parking ticket setting.

Then at 7, the NNO events roll directly into the usual Tuesday night Dancing Under the Stars (the safest Dancing Under the Stars of all time!), tonight featuring the Latin-fusion beats of Sonido Costeño. To make way for NNO, the regular 6pm Rolie Polie Guacamole pre-show is rescheduled to 4:30 — a perfect crime-prevention aperitif for the preschool set.

To recap:

4:30 — Rolie Polie Guacamole
6:00 — National Nite Out
7:00 — Sonido Costeño

And like so many other things, it’s all happening along 5th Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets.