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By Allison Silverman
Special to the Almanac

Santa Cruz Avenue was awash with noise and energy as locals gathered Wednesday night to enjoy a block party and concert in the park on the first day of summer.

People, including mainly families, walked the streets, taking in the live music on every block.

Children got a chance to play with a basketball-throwing robot, created by Menlo-Atherton High School's Robotics Team.

Entertainment options included face painting, perusing booths set up by businesses, and eating. Many restaurants, including Amici's, Left Bank and Mataro, set up tables along the street.

A live band -- the Big Cat & The Hipnotics -- put on a concert in Fremont Park. The band drew people of all ages, enticing many to pull up picnic blankets and towels, or simply sit on the grass and enjoy the music.

The whipped cream pie-eating contest among current and former city officials was a major draw. On the Facebook "stage," which was booked for various events throughout the night, these officials battled it out to see who could find a piece of gum in a pile of whipped cream -- without using their hands -- and blow it up first.

Participants were Alex McIntyre, Glen Rojas, John Boyle, Andy Cohen and Peter Ohtaki. Another audience member, 7-year-old Michael, was asked to participate. When asked why he wanted to take part, he responded, "Cause I like pie." Mr. Ohtaki won.

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