Street fair goes local in Park Slope this weekend
New Yorkers can quit their belly aching about generic street fairs that peddle the same old socks and sausage. It’s different at Brooklyn’s Fabulous Fifth Avenue Fair, thanks to its local-merchants-first policy.
At Fabulous Fifth Avenue Fair, the neighborhood’s many destination restaurants and bars occupy the space in front of their businesses, setting up tables and chairs to serve food, wine and beer. Fifth Avenue’s varied boutiques also set up shop directly in front of their stores. More than 200 local businesses are slated to take part in the fair this Sunday, May 18 on Fifth Avenue between Sterling Place and 12th Street.
The Shop/Eat Local movement has deep roots in Park Slope, says Mark Caserta, executive director of the Park Slope Fifth Avenue B.I.D. “The ‘merchants first’ tradition dates back decades,” he says “and it gives [fair] a unique, community feel. We work to give priority to our own avenue’s businesses—and the result makes us distinct from every other street fair in the city—and a lot more fun.”
