Festival Will Add to Seventh Street Festivities
Because inclement weather forced the cancellation of this year’s popular Belmont Festival on Seventh Street, the Garden City Chamber of Commerce wants to make it up to disappointed residents.
Trustees unanimously agreed to allow the chamber to close 7th Street for a “mini festival” of sorts to coincide with this year’s chamber-sponsored first-ever Garden City Restaurant Week, to be held Monday, July 20, through Thursday, July 23, from 6 to 10 p.m. each day. The four-day event will culminate with the festival Friday, July 24.
Participating Garden City restaurants will offer three-course price-fixed dinner selections. As of press time, participating restaurants include Calagero’s, Garden City Hotel’s Rein, Grimaldi’s, Jin East, La Nonna Bella, Leo’s, Lord & Taylor’s Signature Cafe, Mumon, Novita, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Seventh Street Café, Suchi Ya, Uptown Grille, Walk Street and Waterzooi. Additional restaurants who wish to participate in Restaurant Week may call Russell Ciolli (Grimaldi’s), chair at (917) 217-3470.
“To make up in a smaller way for the disappointment shared by all at the cancellation of the Belmont Festival this past June 5, at the close of Restaurant Week, on Friday, July 24, from 6 to 10 p.m., the chamber will sponsor a ‘restaurant festival’ for Seventh Street restaurants and eateries. Participating restaurants may offer culinary specialties outside their establishments just for this one event,” Althea Robinson, chamber executive director, said.
Seventh Street will be closed from Franklin to Hilton avenues during the fair. The Fivestone Band, offering classic contemporary rock, will add to the festivities. A rain date has been set for Saturday, July 25.
Trustees believe the event will not only help local merchants, but kick off summer in Garden City. “This event will not only help the merchants who suffered losses due to the cancellation of the Belmont Festival this year, it will raise spirits of the town and remind us all that we live in the kind of community [with excellent restaurants and wide walking streets] where an event like this can be held,” Mayor Robert Rothschild said.
Trustee Dennis Donnelly, liaison officer to the business community, added: “With the unfortunate rainout of the Belmont Festival, trustees felt it was important to permit the business sector to try to recoup some of the lost opportunities that resulted. We all look forward to an exciting week of restaurant specials and especially to the culminating festival on 7th Street.”
Garden City Police Commissioner Ernie Cipullo said he would do his best to assign officers to direct traffic and keep the streets in order.
Donnelly noted that all restaurants in the village – not just those located on Seventh Street – are taking part in Restaurant Week. “As far as whether this will be an annual tradition I personally hope so,” Donnelly said.
For questions and participation in Restaurant Week, call Russell Ciolli, chair, at (917) 217-3470; call the chamber at 746-7724 for information about the “restaurant festival.”
