Events

Generally Speaking: Back-to-back major events spotlight Bay Ridge

October 2, 2014 Theodore W. General

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Once again, Bay Ridge roared like a tiger with a fabulous weekend featuring two of its biggest events! On Saturday, it was the 48th annual Children’s Ragamuffin Parade which brought thousands of youngsters in their favorite costumes along Third Avenue from 76th Street to 92nd Street. For the girls, the most popular costume seemed to be Elsa or Anna, the princesses from Disney’s gigantic hit movie,“Frozen.”

This year’s parade was led by 2014 Grand Marshal Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello; and Ragamuffin Woman of the Year, Arlene Rutuelo. By far the best band in the parade was the championship Fort Hamilton High School Marching Band led by the school’s Performing Arts Assistant Principal Thomas Oberle. The youthful musicians were followed by the school’s Army Junior ROTC contingent led by Major Sang Lee, their senior instructor.

Then, on Sunday, it was the 41st annual Third Avenue Festival which originally started as an Oktoberfest over four decades ago. This major event, which features the longest street festival in the city, is run by the Third Avenue Merchants Association headed by Bob Howe. The event is coordinated by Chip Cafiero and Chuck Otey, a former President of the Bay Ridge Community Council. One of the performers at the Festival was Samantha Baragia from Anthony Marino’s Brooklyn One Troupe. She sang the 2014 Academy Award winning song “Let it Go” from Frozen.

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We just learned last week, the upscale Chinese restaurant Lai Yuen, which had occupied space in the Hamilton Building, on the northeast corner of 101st Street and Fourth Avenue for the past 15 years, lost its lease. Unconfirmed reports indicate another urgent care medical facility will be moving in.

Another major property is changing hands. The Cranberry (hookah) Restaurant at 9013 Fourth Avenue is out of business, and the property is being converted to another car dealership by the Plaza Auto Group.