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Malibu surfside news | August 16, 2018 | 3
Malibu Country Mart’s 6th annual Summer Block Party a hit
Barbara Burke
Freelance Reporter
“Ice Cream!” “Come
out and play!” “Go Nuts”
“Scoop up the Fun!”
“Smiles for Kids of all
Ages.”
Those fun phrases painted
brightly on the side of an
ice cream truck at the edge
of the parking lot set the
tone Saturday, Aug. 11, for
the Malibu Country Mart’s
sixth annual Summer Block
Party.
Caribbean and reggae
music played by Island
Rhythms set the lively vibe,
as excited children, with
parents and happy dogs in
pursuit, went from activity
booth to activity booth.
On a warm Malibu summer
day, the breezy playground
area was full of families
and friends relaxing and
participating in all of the
fun, free activities.
Children had plenty to do,
from face paintings to a petting
zoo to the Strike-a-pose
Photo Box, complete with
hats and other accessories.
“It’s fun to come out to
Malibu to make wonderful
waves of fun by snapping
adorable shots of kids smiling
so broadly,” said Chris
Ben, owner of Strike-apose.
Isabella Basseri, 7, chose
to try her hand at making a
spin art creation, intently
adding paint to make a colorful
design.
“I had a lot of fun working
with the spin art,” Isabella
said. “I also walked to
the beach with my dad and
sisters. It’s a fun day!”
Isabella’s father, Dr.
Robert Basseri, smiled as
he observed his daughter’s
delight.
“It’s a wonderful day and
Alianna Nassos, 5, admires the blue hair extension she
got during the Summer Block Party.
this is an amazing event,”
he said. “I can’t wait to
bring the kids next year.”
Caricature artists painted
images of happy subjects
donning hats of all varieties
and sporting smiles, as
onlookers gazed on and
sampled coconut mango
balls from Zuma Valley, a
locally owned company.
Down at the petting zoo,
Snuffy the Alpaca was
groomed for the day, as
the goats, miniature horse,
rabbits and other animals
allowed children to pet
them and get up close and
personal. Major, the pygmy
goat, was patient with curious
toddlers pulling on his
tail and touching his ears.
“We bring the animals
out to try to educate adults
and kids alike about what
responsibilities and details
are involved in taking care
of the animals,” said Jessica
Reyes, of Reptacular
Animals. “It is a good experience
for children to see
what such caretaking is all
about and how the animals
behave.”
Wags & Walks Adoption
Center shared the same
philosophy, as volunteers
gathered outside Paige, allowing
for potential adopting
families to get to know
the animals.
“We just wanted to do
a good thing today at this
event and help out the animals,
as well as our environment,
instead of life
always being so materialistic,”
said Alexa Ashley, of
Paige. “We wanted to share
genuine vibes and love.”
Across the street, outside
of the Starbucks, Get
Shaved offered free snow
cones, and Ray Woods and
his family happily took a
break from all of the action
and enjoyed shaved ice.
“We live in England, but
we come to Malibu each
summer and really enjoy this
annual event,” Woods said.
Olivia Taylor, 14, and her
friend Maya Julian, 14, said
they were thrilled with their
Jonathan Kritzer with his son, Ashton, dig into some ice cream Saturday, Aug. 11,
during Malibu Country Mart’s Summer Block Party.
Photos by Suzy Demeter/22nd Century Media
henna paintings of a hamsa,
with the eye in the center
— a talismanic symbol
used as a protective charm
of peace and harmony in
many cultures.
“I like the hamsa and its
message of peace and protection,
and it goes with
the bracelets that I design,”
Woods said.
Alianna Nassos, 5, said
she was excited to get her
hair braided with blue tones
that matched Malibu’s
skies and its waves, the latter
just a short walk from
the Country Mart.
“I’m excited to be here at
the fun, sun and surf event
today,” said Alianna’s
mother, Jenni Pulos-Nassos.
“We love Malibu.”
Ted Baker hosted Mom
& Pop Shop, which offered
all-natural popsicles
that were dairy free, had no
processed sugars and were
gluten-free.
Sandy Villetti walked
by Ted Baker as she showcased
Charlotte, a 3-yearold
Doberman up for adoption,
and tried Mom &
Pop’s strawberry lemonade
popsicle.
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3835 CROSS CREEK RD., #20, MALIBU
LOCATED IN THE COUNTRY MART
“The popsicle is delicious,
and it hit the spot,”
she said. “It’s a wonderful
day when we can bring the
dogs out and, hopefully,
someone here in Malibu
will make it a magical day
and adopt one of these
sweet animals.”
Music, magic, memories,
and moments with families
and friends — the Malibu
Country Mart’s annual
Summer Fun Block Party
delivered all of those again
this year, cementing it as
a favorite among the community.
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