For Immediate Release
Contact: Liana Hawes
718-855-9854
or
212-530-7542

Shopping Fever Hits Atlantic Avenue
October 19-20, 2003 with Walk The Windows
2-day Shopping Festival and Window Art Showcase

Borough President Markowitz leads Shopping Brigade to Help "Build The Boulevard"

September 30, 2002 Brooklyn, NY- Organizers of the popular Atlantic Antic street fair in Brooklyn are throwing another fall shopping party, this one decked with blocks of store window art and things to do even if shopping is not your bag. It kicks off on Friday, October 18, with Building The Boulevard, a cocktail fundraiser, followed by Walk The Windows of Atlantic Avenue -- 2 days and 10 blocks of sales, food, festivities and visual installations, October 19-20 on Atlantic between Hicks Street and 4th Avenues.

From minimalist to historic, store windows designed by local artists will showcase the unique nature of Atlantic Avenue as a retail strip from Hicks Street to 4th Avenue. Purveyors of everything from designer sofas to olive oil will host special sales and in-store events. Shoppers can expect tastings, fashion shows, appraisals, crafts, readings, urban archaeology, storytelling, cooking demos and the friendly service, distinctive goods and exceptional deals Atlantic Avenue is known for.

"Atlantic Avenue is a great place for Brooklynites to shop for just about everything...It's Brooklyn's Main Street," said Borough President Marty Markowitz, adding "The future of Brooklyn is being written on Atlantic Avenue and I encourage everybody to enjoy this incredible experience." Markowitz will demonstrate his commitment to the area's retail economy by leading a Shopping Brigade down Atlantic Avenue on Saturday October 19.
A town hall meeting will follow to discuss "Building The Boulevard," a master plan that promises to transform Atlantic Avenue into a safer, accessible and pedestrian-friendly street.

Highlights as follows:

Friday October 18

6:00-9:00 p.m.
Kick-off Cocktail Party and Fundraiser to benefit creation and implementation of a master plan for Atlantic Avenue. Live music. Epicurean delights by celebrated Brooklyn restaurateurs. Location: Axelle Fine Arts, 314 Atlantic Avenue between Smith & Hoyt Street

Saturday October 19

1:00 p.m
Marty Goes Shopping! Borough President Marty Markowitz and city officials lead a Shopping Brigade down Atlantic Avenue. Location: Flowas, 349 Atlantic Avenue between Bond & Hoyt Streets

1:30 p.m. Town Hall community meeting with Master Planners to discuss "Building The Boulevard" Master Plan and share visions for the Atlantic Avenue community.
Location: YWCA, 30 3rd Ave, corner of Atlantic Ave

Sat - Sun
October 19-20
12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m

IN THE STORES/ON THE STREET: Atlantic Avenue merchants between Hicks St. & 4th Ave: Storytelling, cooking demos, vintage fashion show, face painting, interior design consultation, wood carving, furniture appraisals, costumed characters, mortgage analysis, lectures, weaving, pony rides, window art, live bands, street performers, archaeologists artifacts with clues about life in Brooklyn 150 years ago, dub poetry, gumbo, cider, java, couscous and more.
The public is invited to all events.

Atlantic Avenue spans three historic districts and is a major hub for antiques, contemporary home furnishings, fashion, middle-eastern markets, and international cafes. A host of new merchants now line Atlantic Avenue such as Axelle Fine Arts, Bark, Brawta, Butter, Breukelen, Cooks Companion, Gumbo, Flying Saucer, Flowas, Foundation, Jelly, KEA, Kimera, Lewis Gallery, Little Eric, The Melting Pot, The Reeds, Silk Road Antiques, Southern Comforts, Zawadi and Zoe Papers.

Walk The Windows is produced by the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation (AALDC) as part of Building The Boulevard, a master plan put forth by the Atlantic Avenue Leadership Conference. The Conference is a broad-based coalition of community organizations and businesses convened to make Atlantic Avenue more pedestrian friendly and stimulate economic development.

For more information, or to contribute to Building The Boulevard, please call AALDC at 718-875-8993.