for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com OCTOBER 3, 2013 • business • The queens Courier 39 ▶business ‘Weekend Walk’ draws crowds BY MELISSA CHAN AND RACHEL LANDAU [email protected] A multi-block party that closed off parts of Bell Boulevard last weekend drew in nearly 2,000 people, local officials said. The Bayside Village Business Improvement District (BID) held its first ever “Weekend Walk” on Sunday, September 29. The event took place from noon to 5 p.m. along two blocks of the main commercial corridor from 39th Avenue to 41st Avenue. It featured free fitness classes, dance performances, music acts and specials offered by businesses, in conjunction with the BID’s second annual “Sidewalk Sale.” The two events were meant to increase foot traffic on Bell Boulevard and promote the wide variety of businesses on the popular strip, officials said. “Hopefully, we are going to get exposure,” said Barbara of Empress Travel, one of the many vendors. “Our neighbors are going to see we are here.” This was the first time in 20 years Bell Boulevard has been closed off for a community festival, BID officials said. “It was wonderful. We were really glad to see a lot of families,” said Bayside BID Executive Director Lyle Sclair. “We hope they’ll be coming back throughout the year, and we hope it’ll be an annual thing.” There are more than 400 businesses and property owners from Northern Boulevard to 35th Avenue, officials said, including long established eateries, beloved bars and a host of stores and professional practices. “You really get to know what’s available,” said Rosa Denny of Whitestone. “There are so many great things — different services, resources, restaurants. There’s just so much.” VISIT RICKY’S FOR ALL YOUR HALLOWEEN NEEDS Halloween is coming early to Long Island City. Ricky’s NYC Halloween Store, a family-owned business that has become the one-stop super shop for everything Halloween and beauty for the past 24 years, has opened up at 5-27 50th Avenue in Long Island City. Ricky’s offers fashion accessories, cosmetics, beauty supplies, Halloween costumes, hair care products and much more. The new site will be a temporary Ricky’s Halloween Store which will remain open until a week after Halloween. It will feature a warehouse style of shopping offering customers everything they need, from costumes to makeup, to create the perfect spooky Halloween. Richard Parrott, president of Ricky’s and a Long Island City resident, said the LIC store will also have a large focus on kids’ merchandise because of the large population of families and children in the area. Parrott said that when looking for a new Ricky’s location, he tries to find areas that have high traffic, interest and a large concentration of people. Ricky’s also has a location in Astoria at 30-83 Steinway Street. “I think it’s a great fit and it’s a great way to see how the neighborhood received the brand,” said Parrott. “I’m going to try to bond with the community, with the businesses here and bring some attention to the neighborhood.” Although the current Long Island City location is only temporary, Parrott has seen a good reaction from residents and visitors and said he is looking for a permanent home in Long Island City. Mathnasium of Forest Hills opens Instructors Cassia Lundberg and Richard Rosario and Kaitlin O’Neill, center director, celebrated the grand opening of Mathnasium of Forest Hills, located at 108-14 72nd Avenue. To learn more about their services, call 718-544-MATH(6284), visit mathnasium.com/foresthillsny or on Facebook at facebook.com/ForestHills.Mathnasium BUSINESS in the NEWS Spend ‘A Day at the Races’ The Bayside Business Association, Bayside Historical Society and Bayside Kiwanis will be celebrating “A Day at the Races” honoring Frank Padavan on Thursday, October 17. From noon to 4 p.m. at Belmont Racetrack’s Turf and Field Club, enjoy a lunch buffet and nine exciting races, Chinese auction and 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $75 per person/$700 for 10. For more information, call 718-229-2277 or email info@baysideba. com.
QC10032013
To see the actual publication please follow the link above