Just Do It

Square Rootz Hella Hearts You Jam

by Liz Tung

Sat., July 12, 5-9 p.m., $5, Whole Foods roof, 929 South St., 215-733-9788, squarerootz.net

Maybe it was all the ironic dance parties. Maybe it was the unfortunate leg warmers revival. It definitely had something to do with the VH1 specials. Whatever the case, people finally got sick of the '80s. Leading the vanguard of a new, more relevant nostalgia is Philly/Brooklyn-based Square Rootz Collective. The street-beating lifestyle and media group will celebrate its one year anniversary with their Square Rootz Hella Hearts You Jam, styled after the glorious summer of '92.

Although '92 certainly recalls the halcyon days before George W. (or even feisty White House interns) was a speck in America's eye, Square Rootz is summoning a different kind of history — that of carefree summers. Collective member Marly Pierre-Louis hopes that the rooftop party will help elicit simpler, cheaper times. "We were thinking about childhood summers and how fun they were, because you didn't care about anything. As long as your bicycle had air in the tires, you didn't need money because you had your friends," she says. And so Square Rootz has thrown in all the stomach-churning staples of childhood — jump rope, Hula Hoop and slushies — along with some more grown-up delights, such as catering by South Street eateries Ms. Tootsie's and the Shouk Lounge. Additionally, a DJ will be on hand to spin '90s hip-hop and old-school tunes.

Best of all, partygoers are asked to come dressed in '90s gear, which means you can finally break out those cargo pants and baby tees you've been saving just in case.