PHOTOS: Third Summer Stroll on Third saunters on

Third Avenue was the place to be Friday night, August 5.

The Merchants of Third Avenue invited Brooklyn natives back to the designated 10-block stretch of Third Avenue, from Bay Ridge Avenue to 80th Street, to bask in the assortment of hidden gems right under their noses in Bay Ridge. The al fresco dining, book signings and family friendly fun attracted a crowd of a few thousand strollers.

“We now average between 1,500 to 2,000 each Friday night and, as you can see, the greatest single grouping of participants are parents with their young children who welcome the chance to get out of their homes as the weekend starts and stroll down Bay Ridge’s colorful and entertaining thoroughfare,” said Merchants Executive Secretary Chuck Otey.

The five-year-old program gives Brooklynites a place, closed off to traffic, to congregate on hot nights where they can reunite with old friends, eat great food and enjoy live entertainment. The Merchants provided a stage where community groups performed, while the “restaurant row” of Brooklyn sponsored its own bands.

Local business and talent took the spotlight and reminded all of everything that Bay Ridge has to offer.

The Summer Stroll on Third Avenue has been recognized as one of the best outgrowths of the city’s Weekend Walks program, run by the Department of Transportation, that promotes a sense of community and invites the entire neighborhood to get involved.

On August 12, Third Avenue from 80th Street to 90th Street will be closed off to traffic to host the fourth and final Summer Stroll event.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.