in our neighborhood, all the garages are in the back of the houses so there are alleys that connect the streets.  so whenever the kids are playing, they're in the alley.  there's a party?  in the alley.  we're inviting people to an event?  don't forget 'the alley'.  we love our neighbors and feel like we won the neighborhood lottery when it comes to our street.  we all genuinely like each other as do the kids (all 13 of them).

malcolm had his 5th birthday party in the alley a couple of weeks ago and i snapped a few photos:

the birthday boy