PHOTOS BY BOB KRASNER
Organizers Christopher Hardwick (standing, center, silver hair) and Abbby Gehman ( seated in front of Hardwick) surrounded
by mermaids, merme and costume lovers.
Spending Sunday in the park with
mermaids in the East Village
Lawyer Jerry Goldman is serenaded by the group on the occasion
BY BOB KRASNER
What do you do when one of
your favorite events – the Mermaid
Parade – is cancelled due to
COVID-19? If you are MC/Actor/
Performer Christopher Hardwick
and Abby Gehman, owner of the
bar “Lucky” on Avenue B, you
get your friends together on the
corner of 10th Street and Avenue
B for a “Renegade Mermaid
Parade.”
Actually, Hardwick tells us,
they had the blessing of the Mermaid
Parade folks to call it that,
so it was more of an authorized
renegade event (and who doesn’t
love a good oxymoron?).
A couple dozen fabulous examples
of creativity and visual
wit paraded around mostly for the
benefi t of each other, as it was not
a widely publicized event.
Samara was also a prize
winner. She was personally
responsible for creating her
mask and the boat that rode
on a sea of purple.
“We just wanted to be in
costume and bring life and
positivity to Avenue B,” explained
Hardwick.
Passersby who happened upon
the scene got to see the fashion
Ain Lotz, competig in an outfit
of her own design.
show/costume contest, as participants
competed runway style for a
prize package containing a feather
boa and gift certifi cates for restaurants
and bars on Avenue B.
Luna, who created her revolving
headpiece, walks the
runway.
When the show was over
and the prizes were disbursed,
Gehman generously bought the
crew drinks at “Dream Baby”,
putting the icing on the cake for
a very happy group.
Craig the Fish Head swam
away with first prize.
Photographer Victoria Golos
walks the runway
of his birthday.
Christopher Hardwick, the
sole judge of the runway contest,
casts a critical eye.
Schneps Media September 3, 2020 15