Sunnyside Shines
www.qns.com I LIC COURIER I JULY 2018 17
Sunnyside Shines has launched a
summer series of ‘Bliss Plaza Pop-Up
Markets’ over several weekends this sum-mer
at 46th Street and Queens Boulevard
(under the elevated 7 train). The markets
will take place the final weekend of each
summer month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the
first weekend kicked off to great enthu-siasm
June 23-24th, and will continue
the weekends of July 25-26 and August
28-29. Vendors are local businesses,
entrepreneurs, and craftspeople eager
for an opportunity to raise the visibility
of their products in one of Sunnyside’s
most highly-trafficked locations.
Vendors for the first weekend included
makers of 3-D printed jewelry, handmade
ceramics, neighborhood-branded wear,
fresh-pressed juice, Argentinian-style
empanadas, and Romanian-style funnel
cakes. Mid-day performances of live mu-sic
and dance, along with a plaza seating
area, allowed for patrons and passers-by
to further enjoy the market.
Sunnyside Shines Executive Director
Jaime-Faye Bean indicates that the Pop-
Up Markets are a way to help highlight
the area’s unique storefront businesses
alongside emerging entrepreneurs and
local artisans. “The response to our
first market weekend was really great,
with both residents and neighborhood
businesspeople really excited about this
opportunity to buy unique, locally made
goods in one of our public spaces.” She
notes that due to the positive response to
the first weekend, the number of vendors
for the July and August markets has been
increased from 8 to 12.
Bliss Pop-Up Markets is funded in part
through the Neighborhood Plaza Program
of the Horticultural Society of New York.
In accordance with the grant, Sunnyside
Shines is contracting with the Queens
Night Market to manage the series.
Confirmed vendors for the remaining
summer markets include AmusePooch
(locally made dog treats), Artist & Crafts-man
Supply (art supplies and unique cre-ative
gifts), Bliss Street Creamery (hand
churned ice cream), Bright and Blue
Designs (hand illustrated paper goods),
Coffee Tossy (café drinks and baked
goods), Cooldown Juice (cold pressed
juices), Just Add Beer (marinades and
dips made for beer pairing), Liene Bosque
(screen prints and sculptures), LoveUna
(handmade baby items, scarves, and
bags), Marikit Designs (handmade jew-elry
and flower headbands), NYCProud
(neighborhood apparel and products),
R Plus D Designs (3D printed jewelry),
Rehn Masi Ceramics, Shay Dinsmore
Shop (handmade felted adornments and
home goods), SoleLuna (artisanal Italian
products and hot food), and TreeStar
(Handmade natural soaps and bath and
body products.) Vendors who wish to
inquire about potential future markets
are requested to reach out to Sunnyside
Shines at info@sunnysideshines.org.
BLISS PLAZA POP UP MARKETS
Photo credit: Jason Russo
BRING UNIQUE PRODUCTS AND
CRAFTS TO HEART OF QUEENS
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