Release Date:
November 15, 2005
Contact: Michelle Karshan
Telephone: (212) 613-6033
mkarshan@aol.com
For links to related posters, see below
Brooklyn’s
Downtown Atlantic Avenue to Kick off Holiday Season with Annual
Tree Lighting Festival, Window Design Competition and Children’s
Clothing Drive.
- City Councilman David Yassky to officiate Tree Lighting
- Santa Claus as Special Guest
Brooklyn, New York - November 15, 2005 - On Thursday, December
1, 2005 at 6:00 p.m., the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation,
together with the merchants and restaurants of downtown Atlantic
Avenue, will host this year’s annual Atlantic Avenue Tree Lighting
Ceremony at the Belarusian Church, corner of Atlantic Avenue and
Bond Street in downtown Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighborhood. The
event is free to the public and complimentary holiday treats and
refreshments will be provided by local Atlantic Avenue restaurants.
The Tree Lighting Ceremony is sponsored by the Atlantic Avenue
Local Development Corp and merchants and restaurants of Atlantic
Avenue.
City Councilman
David Yassky will officiate the tree lighting and a panel
of prominent artistic Brooklynites serving as judges for the Annual
Atlantic Avenue Holiday Window Design Competition will announce
this year’s winners.
Santa Claus will be present for the festivities and will greet
children and receive their Dear Santa letters.
Once again choruses of Christmas carolers made up of children
from local Public Schools 261 and 38 will participate in
this annual local gathering in which several neighborhoods surrounding
the boulevard converge to bring in the holidays together.
This year’s event will serve as a collection point for children’s
clothing to be donated to the Coalition for the Homeless.
“With the recent revelation that poverty is on the rise in New
York City, and more specifically in Brooklyn, we think it key
that our annual holiday event continue to be actively engaged
in addressing these issues through both charitable work as well
as economic development of our region,” said Ian Kelley,
president of the Board of downtown Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue
Local Development Corporation.
Kelley is pleased to report that new stores and restaurants
have recently opened along downtown Atlantic Avenue, which he
explains, "further develops those neighborhoods bordering Atlantic
Avenue, provides jobs locally and regionally, and adds additional
charm to the boulevard."
Many stores along Atlantic Avenue, from Flatbush Avenue to the
waterfront, will remain open late on Thursday evenings throughout
December, and will stay open late every night the week leading
up to Christmas. Several restaurants along the avenue will offer
specials to late night shoppers.
Background on Window Design Competition
The Annual Atlantic Avenue Window Design Competition is based
on artistic merchandising and creative window display. The award
is given to merchants for their aesthetic contribution to the
neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn
and Boerum Hill.
Competitors must have their window designs installed by 6PM on
November 30 when the panel of judges will “walk the avenue” to
view and assess individual store windows based on the following
criteria: original creative concept; use of materials; display
technique; merchandising acumen; execution on a holiday theme
and eye catching appeal for pedestrians.
The panel of judges was selected based on their artistic merit,
diligence and accomplishments in the fine, visual and media arts
-- and they must live and work in Brooklyn. The judges for this
year’s competition are Bob Korn, Boerum Hill resident and
graphic designer; Claire Klarewicz-Okser, renowned
artist; Lisa Shimamura, founder of COlab Projects Group,
and founder and producer of Brooklyn's annual Atlantic Avenue
ArtWalk; Jamel Gaines, Co-founder and Artistic Director
of Creative Outlet, Dance Theatre of Brooklyn; and Ellie Winberg,
who is known for her artistic work in paper and serves on the
Board of Directors of the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition.
Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation
The Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation, originally
formed in 1974, is a not-for-profit organization committed to
the economic development of the Atlantic Avenue area from Fourth
Avenue to the East River waterfront in Brooklyn, New York. In
addition to producing the Atlantic Antic, one of New York City’s
major cultural attractions, and other special events, the organization’s
activities include implementation of streetscape improvements,
historic storefront preservation, and advocacy on issues of importance
to the retail and residential community. The Atlantic Avenue Local
Development Corp. is charged with bringing to fruition the Atlantic
Avenue Master Plan which was conceived by the Atlantic Avenue
Leadership Conference, a collaboration of 50 local community groups
and businesses including the Atlantic Avenue Local Development
Corporation.
Directions: (2,3,4, 5 to Nevins Street, A,C to Hoyt Street, R
to Lawrence Street, F to Jay Street)
For further information, please contact the Atlantic Avenue Local
Development Corporation at 718-875-8993
Editors: Please contact mkarshan@aol.com
for images of unique holiday gifts available on Atlantic Avenue
between Flatbush Avenue and the waterfront.
For holiday poster for this event, click HERE
For Shop & Dine poster relating to late night shopping, click
HERE
