St. Mary’s Orthodox Church hosts Bay Ridge Eats for a Cause

Event Helps Raise Money for Church Renovation

October 17, 2017 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

From left: Bay Ridge Eagle Senior Editor John Alexander, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, City Council candidate Justin Brannan, Denise Alexander and Leigh Holliday Brannan at Bay Ridge Eats for a Cause. Photos by Timothy Coan

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In an effort to raise money for its ongoing renovations, St. Mary’s Orthodox Church hosted its third Bay Ridge Eats for a Cause (BREFAC) event on Saturday.

Food, drink and music filled the church hall as 165 guests attended the popular restaurant tasting. Attendees had the opportunity to sample food from 11 of Brooklyn’s finest restaurants including Blue Door Souvlakia, Campania, Chadwick’s, Circles Café, Gulf Coast, The Little Flame, Le Sajj, Paneantico, Positano, Salty Dog and Tacos El Nopal.

Guests enjoyed music by Cliff Massab and The Bitter End Band. They performed a wide array of selections, from pop favorites such as (“I Think We’re Alone Now”), southern rock staples (“Heard it in a Love Song”) and closed with a crowd-pleasing cover of the Eagles’ “Hotel California.”

St. Mary’s pastor, the Very Rev. Fr. Michael Ellias, thanked the BREFAC committee and recognized Democratic City Council candidate Justin Brannan, who was celebrating his birthday with his wife Leigh Holliday Brannan, owner of the Art Room at 8710 Third Ave. in Bay Ridge.

The food at each tasting station was donated by the participating restaurants. By the end of the evening, St. Mary’s raised almost $9,000.

While the parish community of St. Mary’s is celebrating its 100th anniversary, the current church at 192 81st St. and Ridge Boulevard was built in 1950.