Somerville artist Greg Cook, who came up with the idea for the party, decided that sad people should be together, instead of having their pity parties at home in their pajamas.
“A pity party is usually a kind of party you have by yourself to wallow in sadness—wear pajamas, binge on ice cream, listen to sad songs,” he wrote on Facebook. “Now imagine that as a free, community, block party in Union Square on the evening of Sept. 17. Sad for the whole family.”
The block party had 4,700 RSVPs by the time of the event, and turnout was massive. The event featured “sad bands, depressing clowns, melancholy poetry, and video games that you just can’t win,” and, of course, ice cream — as no pity party could be complete without it.
— Jorge Quiroga (@JorgeWCVB) September 17, 2015
“Mainly we’re thinking funny-sad, but we’re genuinely depressed by troubles in our lives and the world. Seriously. Let’s call this a funny exorcism of all that’s been getting us down. So turn that grin upside down and help us make Somerville the saddest town around.”
Cook pitched the idea to the Somerville Arts Council’s cultural director, and she encouraged the artist to make it happen.
“The second he put it out there, the media and the public responded,” Rachel Strutt told Boston.com. “It really resonated with people. I think it’s met with a mix of amusement and curiosity, but perhaps it also resonates with people because they do want to commiserate.”
— Jorge Quiroga (@JorgeWCVB) September 17, 2015
Unfortunately, the event ended up spinning off tons of traditional pity parties, as people who could not attend took to the Facebook event page to express their despair.
“Throwing a pity party for myself now because I cannot attend tonight,” Natasha Rosenberg wrote.
“Stuck at home, just realized that your Union Square is 3,000 miles away from my Union Square,” wrote Steven Ottományi. “Isn't that pitiful? I am there with you all in pitiful spirit, but I am physically at home, in stinking Southern California, all alone. So very alone. Fat and ugly and alone.”
The City of Somerville Health Department was also on hand to provide information and resources about depression.
