One of the most exciting days of the year in Brooklyn is when Bar Tabac trucks in mounds of sand to hold its annual Pétanque Tournament. Now in its seventh year, over 80 teams flew in from all over the world to compete (the game is very similar to bocce) and the streets are opened to pedestrian life.

It's not just the action and attraction of the tournament that makes it special. People lounge about, eat great culinary delights, kids skateboard, friends play foosball, and listen to great music - the kinds of things that we need to happen more to make the sometimes hectic, noisy streets of NYC more palatable. If livable streets advocates are looking for a good model of what draws people to an event, look no further.