Bed-Stuy kicks off holiday
season Tree Lighting ceremony
From left: James Hill, Brooklyn Rising; Wanda Saez, Wells Fargo; Dale
Charles, Bed-Stuy Gateway BID and Krissy Moore, Well Fargo. Bed Stuy
Gateway BID
Caribbean Life, December 10-16, 2021 27
By Courtney Ingalls
Where to See Santa in NYC!
For all New York families celebrating
Christmas, one of the many activities
you have on your list is to have
your kids visit Santa Clause. Due to
the pandemic, many spots were not
offering Santa visits last year, but
now there are many ways to see Santa
in NYC, both in person and virtually!
So whether you decide to see Santa
IRL or want to stay away from the
crowds and see him in the comfort
of home, we have all the spots to see
Santa in 2021!
Psst… Check out Kwanzaa Celebrations
Happening in NYC!
Where to See Santa In-person In
NYC
Gregs Trees– Multiple Locations
December 10-12
Known as NYC’s one-stop Christmas
destination, Greg’s Trees is offering
a couple of different opportunities
to spend time with Santa. On
December 10th, join Santa at The
Springs location to make wreaths,
take pictures, and watch a spectacular
light show. On December 11th
(McCarren Park) and December 12th
(ABC Playground), bring the family to
take a photo with Santa that you can
cherish forever.
Macy’s Santaland– Midtown South
or Virtual
151 W 34th St, New York, NY
10001
Now through December 24
Explore the magical Christmas
Village at Macy’s Santaland while
also getting time to visit Santa! Since
Santaland is expected to be a crowd
favorite this year, families are asked
to make a reservation to see Santa
online in advance so your kids will
have time to tell Santa about their
Christmas list and, of course, to get
an adorable picture. Macy’s also offers
a new interactive digital experience
for those who would prefer to meet
Santa virtually.
Santa Claus is Coming to Estuary
– Brooklyn Bridge Park
159 Bridge Park Drive, Brooklyn,
NY 11201
By Nelson A. King
After the successful launch of its
Winter Wonderland 2.0 popup Holiday
Marketplace, Bed-Stuy Gateway BID,
in concert with Van Alen Institute’s
Neighborhoods Now program and Wells
Fargo’s “Hope USA” initiative, joined
forces with Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration
Corporation for its annual Tree
Lighting ceremony.
“The illuminating event kicked off
with a strutting performance by The
Empire Marching Elite marching band
and included inspirational sounds from
The Brooklyn Interdenominational
Choir,” said Bed-Stuy Gateway BID in
a statement.
Hosted by New York State Assemblywoman
Stefani L. Zinerman, the
family-friendly affair included volunteers
from Age Friendly Brooklyn, and
seasonal greetings from Bridge Street
Development Corporation’s Executive
Director Gregory Anderson; Bed-Stuy
Gateway BID Executive Director Dale
Charles; and Wells Fargo Sr. Vice President
Krissy Moore. Music was provided
by DJ Barry Blends.
Bed Stuy Gateway BID said its Winter
Wonderland 2.0, operates 11:00 am to
5:00 pm, weekends through Christmas,
at Restoration Plaza’s Amphitheater.
“Launched during Small Business
Saturday, the fresh air popup holiday
marketplace offers a warm, environmentally
safe, social-distanced space
for local merchants and seasonal vendors
to sell their goods and services,”
Bed Stuy Gateway BID said.
It said that this holiday season,
through its “Hope, USA” campaign,
Wells Fargo joined forces with business
districts in 16 cities across the country,
including Brooklyn, “to help encourage
giving hope a hand by supporting
small businesses and promoting shopping
locally this holiday season.”
“In Bed-Stuy, the ‘Hope, USA’ support
has allowed Winter Wonderland
2.0 to double vendor space from last
year, create an outdoor dining experience,
provide a safe staging area for
families to meet, greet and take photos
with Santa,” Bed Stuy Gateway BID
said.
It said that thanks to the support
from Zinerman’s office and the Restoration
Plaza, “the Winter Wonderland 2.0
popup holiday marketplace is “providing
family friendly seasonal activities
and programming.”
Some of the upcoming include an
apple ice sculpting and Hip Hop Closet
Fashion Show.
This Saturday, Dec. 11, at 10:00 am,
Restoration Plaza, with support from
Brownstoners of Bedford Stuyvesant,
Lion Club, Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta
Phi Beta sororities, will host the RFK
Memorial Holiday Party.
Bed Stuy Gateway BID said the family
friendly event will take place at Restoration
main lobby, and will include
kid friendly activities and gifts.
At 1:00 p.m., Zinerman, along with
the 56th District People Living with
Disabilities Committee, will host a Disability
Access Resource Fair at The Restoration
Plaza Studio 1 Arts Building,
247 Herkimer St., Brooklyn.
The open forum will include a panel
discussion moderated by Deon Jones,
kid-friendly fun activities and a special
visit from Santa.
Launched in May 2020 by the Urban
Design Forum and Van Alen Institute,
Neighborhoods Now partners with local
organizations leading their communities’
recovery by building coalitions of
architects, designers and engineers.
With a grant from Wells Fargo’s
Open for Business Fund, Neighborhoods
Now will continue throughout
2022 in Bed-Stuy, Chinatown, Jackson
Heights, Kingsbridge, the Lower East
Side and Washington Heights.
Where to see
Santa in NYC