High-octane doggy fashion show kicks off Park Slope Summer Stroll

Michael Cerveris jams at Freddy's Bar after-party

July 11, 2017 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Only the most well-heeled pups will be competing in this Saturday’s Doggie Fashion Show at Park Slope Summer Stroll. Photos courtesy of Freddy’s Bar

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In Brooklyn, even doggy fashion shows have after-parties with live bands featuring Tony Award-winning actors and emceed by stand-up comedians.

It’s a classic Brooklyn tail — litter-ally.

This Saturday, July 15, catch the paw-some action at Freddy’s Bar 4th Annual Doggy Fashion Show, with a red-carpet entrance (6 p.m.) for canine stars, step-and-repeat banner photo shoot for pupperazzi and free doggy swag. Fur-tunately, you can also fetch a pup of your own at an animal adoption center.

After the parade of costumed critters competes for prizes (and for a good paws), two-time Tony Award winning actor Michael Cerveris (“Fun Home,” “Assassins,” “Sweeney Todd”) will perform with his pack at the after-party, beginning on Fifth Avenue at 7 p.m.

The fashion show celebrates the first of this summer’s Park Slope Fifth Avenue’s four Summer Strolls, when the street transforms into a giant block party, where you can wolf down some kibble, lap up delicious drinks, dance like a dingo, howl along with live music and go bow-wow over fabulous fashion.

Other activities include ping pong, a vintage car show, giant street chess, a giant rock climbing wall, mini golf and — I shih-tzu not — a pup-up park-in-the-street with a 79-foot turf lawn.

The stroll takes place from 5-9 p.m. on Fifth Avenue between 12th and 18th streets.

Only in New Yorkie

Cerveris’ dog Evangeline was a rescue who’s “half Brittany Spaniel and half a lot of other things,” Cerveris said in a statement. “Evie came to me at three months old and she grew up backstage in my ‘Fun Home’ dressing room. My last dog, Gibson was with me for more than 16 years … Life is good, life with a dog is the best.”

In his hours off-leash, Cerveris performs with his country band Loose Cattle. The all-star funk band The Push and Pull will be joining him on Saturday. Festivities move inside at 9 p.m., with live music from Brendan Eprile starting at 10 p.m.

“This year we’ll have an even higher stage to provide more space and superior pooch visibility plus a better sound system so no dog goes unheard,” said Freddy’s co-owner and paw-ganizer Donald O’Finn.

Providing play-by-play of the parade of mutt-couture will be comics Jim Search (finalist on NBC’s “Stand Up for Diversity”) and Courtney Maginnis (Brooklyn Comedy Festival, College Humor and NPR).

Entry is free; dog owners can register their modeling mutts between 3:30-5:30 p.m. on-site at Freddy’s Bar (627 5th Avenue). First prize is the coveted Xena trophy, named in memory of O’Finn’s beloved pit mix, a stray who went on to become a Freddy’s regular for 20 years.

O’Finn says the bar will be making a donation to charity from the proceeds. “A portion of beer sales will go to The Sean Casey Animal Rescue, reflecting our slogan, ‘Save a Pup, Drink Up!’” said O’Finn.

It’s the leash you can do.