The Bed-Stuy Alive! Collective is proud to present the 9th Annual Bed-Stuy Alive! Week celebration takes place from Sat., Oct. 12 – Sat., Oct. 19.
The Collective includes: Bridge Street Development Corporation, Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, the Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Inc., Community Board 3, the Bedford-Stuyvesant Artists’ Association, Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA, the Bedford-Stuyvesant Gateway Business Improvement District, and the Coalition for the Improvement of Bedford-Stuyvesant.
“We are pleased to be a part of this event, which will showcase our great businesses, restaurants, artists, and homes,” stated Emilio Dorcely, executive director of Bridge Street. The week is designed to promote economic development, neighborhood pride, tourism, the community’s cultural richness, and the unique heritage and diversity of the people who live in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
The excitement begins on Oct. 12, with the Gala Kick-off Street Festival, which will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Fulton Street, between Marcy and Brooklyn avenues. The 10:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony is a special time that is set aside to honor the community’s best with the 5th Annual Tohma Y. Faulkner Community Awards. The awards are named for a young community activist who died in 2008, and reflect her unserving commitment and dedication to the neighborhood that she loved.
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and New York City Council Member Albert Vann will both be retiring this year, and the ceremony will recognize their long-standing support. All day, Fulton Street will be filled with a dizzying array of activities for everyone to enjoy. Restoration Rocks takes the stage at 12 noon, with a jamming concert that will feature Big Daddy Kane.
The Third Annual Bed-Stuy Food and Family Day will be a part of the festivities for the first time. Sponsored by the Coalition for the Improvement of Bedford-Stuyvesant, the packed line-up of activities will include the popular Super Foodtown Tour with Free Giveaways, cooking workshops, and a fun-filled grilling competition. A farmers’ market, health screenings, and information from municipal and civic organizations will reflect this year’s theme – Live Healthy, Live Well, Live Green. Adding to the mix will be the the delicious flavors of the Savor Bed-Stuy Food Court and the lively Children’s Village, packed with games, face-painting, a pop-up library, a rockwall, and fun-time learning experiences. The colorful Bed Stuy Marketplace will be a shopper’s paradise, featuring a bounty of hand-crafted wares from local artisans.
MORE EXCITING EVENTS DURING THE WEEK
Savor Bed-Stuy
The Savor Bed-Stuy event will have a rich taste of soul, as foodies from all over are invited to dine at old favorites and sample some of the neighborhood’s newest eateries. On Thursday, Oct. 17, restaurants will welcome guests for a Taste of Soul adventure. On Friday, Oct. 18: A Sip of Soul will introduce visitors to a few of Bed-Stuy’s best wine bars that will present special wines from Africa, among their offerings.
The 32nd Annual 10K Run, Walk and Ride, Oct.13
Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation will present the 32nd Annual 10K Community Run, Walk and Ride. One of NYC’s premiere 10Ks, the race welcomes people of all ages and fitness levels. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. with the race starting promptly at 10am. A Kiddie Run, Awards Ceremony and post-race refreshments will follow.
Light the Path Night, Oct. 14
Members of block and tenant associations, as well individual residents, will be asked to place a candle in their windows as a sign of encouragement for all of the children as they begin a new school year. “ As ‘elders’ in the ‘village’, we must continue to shine the light on pathways that lead to quality education, viable jobs, good citizenship, caring neighbors, and loving families. That is the legacy that has sustained Bedford-Stuyvesant and made it strong,” said Dordy Jourdain, Executive Director of the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA.
The 10th Annual Studio Strut, Saturday, Oct. 19
The Bedford- Stuyvesant Artists’ Association will present the 9th Annual Studio Strut from 12pm through 7pm. This free, self-guided tour showcases the community’s many galleries. Begin by picking up your map at Zion Gallery, 152 MacDonough Street. For more information visit www.besaa.org/.
35th Annual House Tour of Bedford Stuyvesant, Oct. 19
Sponsored by The Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant, the 35th Annual House Tour of Bedford Stuyvesant will take place from 9am through 5:00 p.m., delighting visitors with a look inside some of the community’s historic brownstones. Tickets for the tour can be purchased at Boys and Girls High School, Fulton Street between Schenectady and Albany avenues. Proceeds from the tour support college scholarships for high school graduates. Visit www.brownstonersofbedstuy.org for more information.
Bed-Stuy Alive! builds on the work of so many residents, from all walks of life, who dedicated themselves to the ongoing revitalization of our community. With the Tohma Y. Faulkner Awards, we honor their spirit. We hope folks from all over will come out and take part in the exciting Oct. 12th kick-off, and come back again and again for the happenings during the week of celebration,” said Brenda Fryson, chair of Bed Stuy Alive! 2013.”
Information about participating businesses can be found on the web at bed-stuyalive.org.
