Photo by Vladimir Korostyshevskiy.
BayFest 2012 turned into the biggest BayFest ever, drawing as many as 134,000 people to Emmons Avenue for a day to celebrate the waterfront, organizers said.
Archive for the tag 'celebrations'
Photo by Erica Sherman
Approximately 200 people turned out to honor those veterans who’ve given the ultimate sacrifice in serving and protecting our nation, as the community celebrated the annual Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day Parade and Observance.
Organized by the Sheepshead Bay – Plumb Beach Civic Association, the event brought together veterans from almost every conflict going back to World War II. Gerritsen Beach’s Nicole Hidalgo sang the National Anthem; she, too, is a veteran of sorts, having sung at 9/11 tributes and professional sports games.
The event, as always, included a motorcade of classic cars, which line up near the memorial site on Emmons Avenue, near Brown Street and the Miramar Yacht Club.
Helping the marchers keep pace was the Bishop Kearney High School marching band, and students from other local schools were honored with awards for winning Memorial Day-related contests.
Assemblymembers Alan Maisel and Helene Weinstein, as well as State Senator Marty Golden, were in attendance.
This is a sponsored announcement from Bay Improvement Group.
Completely free, with no tickets needed, BayFest 2012 is Brooklyn’s largest waterfront celebration. Scheduled for Sunday, May 20, from noon to 6pm along eight blocks of Emmons Avenue overlooking Sheepshead Bay and Kingsborough Community College, BayFest 2012 will offer music by over 20 bands, including Jay & The Americans (who got their start in Brooklyn) as well as twenty young, up-and-coming groups on a main stage, mobile stage, and 10 piers (8 blocks).
Something for Everyone
BayFest 2012 is an all-ages event that, in addition to music on every pier, will feature dance troupes; gymnastics displays; and a United States Merchant Marine Academy kick-off that includes a color guard, drill team demo, and rampart trumpet performance. The Brooklyn Nets Mobile basketball unit; FDNY smokehouse; FDNY fireboat water display; and educational exhibits by organizations like the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the New York Aquarium, and the Brooklyn Public Library are also planned. A kids’ zone will offer face painting and amusements, and an arts & crafts area for making something to take home. BayFest 2012 will also feature raffles; food, drink, and performer merchandise sales on docked cruise ships (Piers 8, 9, and 10); sponsor tables with information and giveaways; and much more.
Event Details
What: BayFest 2012: Brooklyn’s Largest Waterfront Celebration
Where: Emmons Ave. from E. 27th St. to Ocean Avenue (Piers 1-10), Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY
When: Sunday, May 20 from 12 noon to 6pm
Bay Fest 2012 Program Guide Proof
The above is a sponsored announcement by Bay Improvement Group. Sheepshead Bites has not verified the claims made in this advertisement. If you represent a business or organization and would like to make an announcement to tens of thousands of locals, e-mail us at advertising [at] sheepsheadbites [dot] com.
First of all, for all those mommies out there who didn’t catch our Facebook post yesterday: Happy Mother’s Day! Hope you had a terrific one.
Mother’s Day, of course, was not the only event worth celebrating this weekend. On Saturday, May 12, Sheepshead Bites officially turned 4-years-old! Happy birthday to us!
To celebrate, we’re once again throwing ourselves a laid-back, dressed-down birthday party. Oh, and for those Facebook fans, this is the Mystery Event we created.
So what’s the deal? Well, our gracious hosts at the Knights of Columbus – Baron De Kalb have again agreed to let us use their scenic pier and waterfront tap room to have a grand ol’ get-together. And, yes, they’ve also agreed to serve up some brewskis at rock-bottom prices. And, yes, we’ll also serving up some free food (and distributing it much more wisely than last year!).
As for the rest of the details, we’ll be teasing you with bits of info as we get closer to that date.
Oh, the date! I didn’t even mention it, did I?
June 29 at 8:00 p.m., 3000 Emmons Avenue. Suggested donation only $10.
See you there.
Jumaane WIlliams
It’s no longer about the Super Bowl or World Series fanatics – New York City leaders want real American champions to parade down the Canyon of Heroes.
Southern Brooklyn representatives united in favor of a new resolution that urges the mayor to produce a ticker-tape parade for the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, of District 45, introduced the resolution to give the war veterans a welcome home they rightfully deserve.
Williams’ resolution says the city is passing on an opportunity to uphold tradition and honor the bravest among us.
“Sports champions and near champions, celebrities, foreign dignitaries and veterans of wars and conflicts in World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam and the first Gulf War, have all marched down Broadway to a cheering crowd and skies full of ticker-tape, confetti, paper streams and the like,” the resolution states.
Councilmembers representing Sheepshead Bay and other Southern Brooklyn neighborhoods agree.
“I have co-sponsored Councilman Williams’ resolution, and am proud to have done so,” said Councilman Lew Fidler. “I have been calling upon the Mayor to have this parade for some time.”
Other’s felt this was long overdue. “I cannot think of a group that is more deserving of being honored with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes than the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Councilman David G. Greenfield. “We owe our freedom to these brave men and women and they deserve to be recognized and thanked for their service.”
Councilman Vincent J. Gentile, representing Bay Ridge and parts of Bensonhurst, also agreed with Williams – stating priorities must be changed. Gentile stated sports teams are honored at large every year, but veterans do not receive the welcome home they deserve.
“Are [veterans] not the real giants here?” said Gentile. “Not only is it the right thing to do and it’s the least we can do for these brave men and women to honor the sacrifices they’ve made to protect our freedom abroad.”
Domenic M. Recchia Jr., the councilman for Coney Island and Gravesend, stated he supported Councilman William’s proposition “100 percent.”
With all of the positive feedback and support from local Council Members, Williams said it is now up to the mayor to make the right choice.
“A number of my colleagues, including Speaker Quinn, have expressed support for a ticker-tape parade in the past,” Williams told Sheepshead Bites. “I hope they all decide to rally behind this legislation so we can send a strong message of support to our veterans and that Mayor Bloomberg will put politics aside to do what’s right.”
The mayor is opposed to the parade, agreeing with Pentagon officials who say New York City should wait until all veterans have returned safely.
Councilman Michael Nelson acknowledged the timing issue but agreed with Williams’ resolution whole-heartedly.
“While the Pentagon may reason that it is premature to pay tribute to the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, I firmly stand alongside Councilman Williams and many New Yorkers who feel otherwise,” said Nelson. “I certainly cannot think of a more fitting way to acknowledge our most worthy heroes, these brave veterans, than by celebrating our pride ‘New York City style’ – with a ticker-tape parade in their honor.”
Photo by Joe Comper
It’s more costume madness! Purim celebrations hosted by various community organizations continue throughout the week, but the Shorefront YM-YWHA (3300 Coney Island Avenue) helped kick it all off with a Purim party on Sunday.
Hundreds came out to the event, donning costumes and noshing away at scrumptious hamentaschen. They took to the rock climbing wall, the inflatable rides and the arts and crafts table, with a judged costume contest wedged in there as well.
Shorefront Y said they were proud to host the event, and happy so many people in the community participated.
“Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Purim Carnival, it was a real blast!” said Anna Bronfman, program director at Shorefront. ”Purim is a wonderful holiday and we are happy to celebrate it together with our family of community members.”
Photo by Joe Comper
There was Mario and Luigi, and big ol’ bees, Avatar wannabees and dolled up Barbies. And it’s not even Halloween!
Approximately 1,000 neighbors donned costumes and turned out for Kings Bay YM-YWHA’s annual Purim Carnival this past Sunday, enjoying kiddy rides, clowns, games, giveaways and, of course, Hamantashen cookies.
“This was the largest Purim Party in Brooklyn,” Leonard Petlakh, executive director of the Kings Bay Y, told Sheepshead Bites.
The Jewish holiday commemorates the rescue of the Jewish people from ancient Persia, and has featured costumes since at least the 15th Century to reflect God’s “hidden” role in the miracle of their survival.
Not hidden at the event was Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, as well as representatives of State Senator Marty Golden, Councilman Lew Fidler, Assemblymember Helen Weinstein and Councilman Michael Nelson – who all turned out to partake in the festivities.
Source: Nate Steiner / Flickr
Congregation Israel of Kings Bay has two Purim events lined up. Firstly, they will hold a Megillah reading at 6:30 p.m., March 7, followed by a Purim party at 7:10 p.m. at 3903 Nostrand Avenue. The party will feature delicious hamantashen (yummy, triangle-shaped, fruit-filled pastries), graggers (noisemakers), Purim bags, prizes, a raffle and more. The next morning, the synagogue will hold a second Megillah reading, on Purim itself, at 7:00 a.m., March 8. For additional information, call the synagogue at (718) 934-5176.
A scene from last year's event. Photo by Erica Sherman
The Kings Bay YM-YWHA will once again be holding its annual Purim Carnival, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., March 4 at 3495 Nostrand Avenue between Avenue U and Avenue V.
The entire family is welcome to this free event, appropriate for children of all ages, which will feature kiddy rides, clowns, carnival games, arts & crafts, music, holiday performances, and a costume contest. All attendees can hope to enjoy free giveaways as well as delicious Hamantashen cookies. Kosher food will be available for all.
The indoor festival commemorates the Jewish people of ancient Persia’s rescue from annihilation at the hands of the evil Haman (whom the above-mentioned “Hamantashen” is named for), as told in the Hebrew “Book of Esther.”
For more about the Kings Bay Y and its various programs, call (718) 648-7703, email info@kingsbayy.org or go to www.kingsbayy.org.
A scene from last year's BayFest. Photo by Erica Sherman
With BayFest 2012 — Sheepshead Bay’s preeminent waterfront festival — a mere four months away (slated for May 20), the Bay Improvement Group (BIG), which organizes the event, will be holding its next BayFest planning meeting at 8:00 p.m., January 10 in the meeting room of the Comfort Inn, 3218 Emmons Avenue at Brigham Street.
Last year’s BayFest boasted dozens of performances on multiple stages stretching 10 piers and eight blocks along Emmons Avenue, so bring a friend and get involved with the Bay’s premier maritime arts and musical event, which features fun and educational activities for all ages.
To learn more, go to www.bigbayfest.org, www.bayimprovementgroup.org, or call (718) 646-9206. You can now also visit BIG on their YouTube channel, as well as BayFest, “like” them on Facebook, and tweet at them on The Twitter.
