22 DECEMBER 1 - DECEMBER 7, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
Slope BID holds tree lighting
on Small Business Saturday
BY JAIME DEJESUS
JDEJESUS@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
It's beginning to look a lot like
Christmas in Park
Slope.
Right af ter
Thanksgiving, the
Park Slope Fifth
Avenue Business
Improvement
District
we l c ome d
shoppers and
browsers to
the strip with a
day of merriment
that culminated in
the lighting of the
holiday tree in J.J.
Byrne Park at Fourth Street.
Held on Saturday, November 25,
Small Business Saturday, the event
brought holiday cheer to attendees
of all ages.
According to BID Executive Director
Mark Caserta, the day was a huge
success.
"This was the biggest year we had to
date. The Fire Department estimated
that we had 1,500 people at the event,"
he said. "It was a good, fun, free event
to kick off the holiday shopping season
here on Fifth Avenue. We try to
focus on the families and it’s become
a great tradition. We change it up a
little bit every year because we try
to keep it interesting, but of course
the focus is the tree lighting. Santa
is always there. There were
carolers at the event. It
was just a lot of fun."
The day included
free cider, doughnuts
and treats
from local shops
Down To Earth
Markets, Bagel
World, Buttermilk
Bakeshop and Du
Jour Bakery, live musical
performances from
Urban Choir Project
and BK
Women's Songwriting
Lab, kids' holiday
entertainment and
crafts from Puppetry
Arts and
Bubbledad, strolling
carolers from
Opera on Tap,
Santa Claus cruising
the avenue in a
vintage pink Cadillac,
Frosty the Snowman, a
cookie giveaway from Michel
et Augustin and more.
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Corazon Aguirre
"Bubbledad really kept the kids entertained
as he did
amazing giant
bubble s ,"
C a s e r t a
said.
Caserta
added
in a statement
that
the event
helps the
local businesses.
"The vitality
of our small
businesses is what
makes Park Slope's
Fifth Avenue so special, especially for
the holidays when you're searching
for unique gifts for all
the people in your life,"
he said. "Our 520
small businesses
have everything–
classes
ranging from
k ickbox ing
to painting,
shops featuring
fashion, home decor,
jewelry, wine,
specialty foods, baby
clothes and toys and
gifts for the whole
family. Our tree lighting is the perfect
way to kick off Small Business
Saturday and the holiday season."
The crowd gathered.
The tree aglow.
Andrea and Julie Bortolato.
Eve and Willa
Moenning.
Lucia Lazzuri with
mom Kali Lamping.