84 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • MAY 3, 2018 FOR BREAK
BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Wondrous World’s Fare weekend
vschneps@gmail.com
Tears rolled down my
cheeks as I walked down
the VIP line entering the
World’s Fare. The guard asked
me, “Are you okay?” and I said,
“These are tears of joy!”
And it was truly a day of pure
joy, pride and excitement. For
the last two years, my son Josh
had been planning a huge festival
he conceived -- “the World’s
Fare,” a celebration of diversity
through food, drink, art, dance
and music, and now it was all
there before my tearful eyes.
The enormous parking lot of
Citifield had been set up Friday
in the pouring rain with tents
and signs color-coded by continent,
an enormous, centrally
located beer garden and another
smaller one for a VIP pavilion
set up with white spongy
sofas for our sponsors and special
ticket holders. So I figuratively
“walked around the
world,” tasting foods from
108 nations.
I thanked the God above for
shining his light on me and
my family by having clear,
crisp, blue skies to share the
dream of the Fare with our
city. If ever there was a time to
celebrate diversity, it is now —
and there is much to celebrate.
Elizabeth joined forces with
her brother and even drew in
my daughter Samantha to help
with some of the last-minute
details. This was truly a family
affair and from my perspective it
was shared by thousands of families
who came to see what we
had created!
My family had traveled to
Disneyworld in February and
the kids collected stamps from
all the countries in Epcot in their
keepsake “passport.” So we created
passports for our World’s
Fare and our guests could travel
the world, and have each vendor
stamp them.
For me, another highlight of
the event were the two bandstands,
one sponsored by Dime
Bank and the other by Halstead
Real Estate. One featured talented,
high-energy bands and the
other, dance troops (thanks to
my friend Joan MacNaughton
of Leggz Studio in Rockville
Centre) performing ethnic
dances from around the world.
What energy! What excitement!
I loved how the crowd also
danced to the music.
Then I think my jaw dropped
and never closed as I watched
the Sumo wrestlers we brought
from Japan take to the mats set
up in the center of the 190,000
square feet of Citi Field’s parking
lot! The 600-pound wrestler,
Yama, was a gentle giant. We had
to provide him with two seats on
the airplane, but it was worth the
expense!
Yama’s skill and size were
nothing I had ever seen up close
and when his partner offered to
wrestle people in the audience,
Sumo wrestlers were sponsored by TD Bank
my nine-year-old grandson
Jonah volunteered. I was delighted
but frightened. But leave it to
Jonah! He took the pose to begin
the “match” and within short
order was up in the air being
twirled by the pro! What a sight!
It was a memory of a lifetime.
The joy in the air, and the positive
vibe given off by everyone
from the visitors to the vendors
-- who included food, beer and
wine purveyors as well as merchants
selling wares from around
the world -- seemed infectious.
There was a poignant moment
when I was at the Army booth
with my kids and a woman came
over to one of the officers and
said, choking back tears, “I’m
an Army brat and being at the
World’s Fare, I feel so lonely and
miss so dearly my dad. Would you
give me an Army hug?” Indeed
he did and she walked away with
a smile on her face. What a cherished
moment!
Then walked over the Brownsville
C ommu y
Culinary Center
booth. Its patron
Claus Meyer, our world class
star chef who just returned from
cooking for Pope Francis, supports
and nurtures the group
Jona
which provides programs
to train inner city kids
on the culinary skills.
For every ticket purchased
Saturday and
Sunday, we donated a
dollar and presented a
check for $10,000 to the
program. Its work changes
lives and we were delighted
to support their efforts.
There is an expression,
“Build it and they will
come!” They did and they
did and they did, and we were
thrilled that everyone asked us
when we will be doing it again.
Stay tuned ......
VICTORIA’S
SECRETS
Victoria
SCHNEPS-
YUNIS
tweet me @vschneps
ETS
m
Inspiration of the Week
If We Learned From Dogs -- Author Unknown
We would …
Always run to greet our loved ones when they come home.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Experience the ecstasy of the wind in your face.
When it’s in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play every day.
Thrive on attention and touching
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
Stop to lie on your back on the grass.
Drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree on hot days.
Show when you’re happy, let those who made you that way
know it!
Forgive those who scold you and ... show them you love
them. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had
enough. Be loyal and never betray a friend.
Never pretend to be something you’re not.
Never give up -- if something you want is buried, dig until
you find it.
And MOST of all... When someone is having a bad day, Be
silent, sit close by and let them know you love them.
Courtesy of Investors Bank Morning Juice newsletter
Jonah, Blake, Morgan and Addy got metal name tags from an Army officer
Jonah up in the air
Flushing Bank gave out bags with the world map on it.
Great bands performed on the Dime stage.
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