KayaFest
KayaFest

Smallman Street
May 27
Noon – 10 p.m.

Summer is arriving a few weeks early in the Strip District.

Taking its passion for the cuisine and culture of the Caribbean Islands, South America and the Pacific out of the dining room and into the streets — Kaya is gearing up to host its free and festive block party.

Turning Smallman Street into a vibrant tropical spectacular, KayaFest will showcase fresh and bold Caribbean-inspired fare and global music and entertainment — from pulsing Brazilian drumlines and elaborate dances, to mellow Rastafarian syncopations and groovy trip-hop beats.

The nationally touring headliner is legendary Bronx-based turntablist DJ Logic, who will be joined by MonoNeon — one of the last musicians to work with Prince before he passed away — on bass.

Heating up the streets will be Pittsburgh-based performers Starship Mantis, Shaq Nicholson, The Clock Reads, Timbeleza, Brahctopus and Truth and Rites.

The mouth-watering outdoor menu will feature everything from spicy street tacos and pork belly skewers to grilled corn on the cob and rum punch.

Jennifer has worked at the Mattress Factory, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Dahesh Museum of Art and is co-author of Pittsburgh Signs Project: 250 Signs of Western Pennsylvania. She also is co-coordinator of Handmade Arcade. Musically, she is in a band called The Garment District and is a founding member of Brooklyn's The Ladybug Transistor.