So what else is there to be said about the Hester Street Fair before its big grand opening this weekend? Plenty! The organizers have been blessed with the kind of publicity money can’t buy. From Newsweek to the Twitterverse, the event was a media darling from the moment it hit the blogosphere last month.
Yesterday, we chatted with organizer SuChin Pak about what to expect when the doors swing open Saturday morning. One of the more lively areas is sure to be the family tent, where there will be all sorts of activities for the kids. This weekend, Soccer Super Stars (in collaboration with the Educational Alliance) will be getting the little ones moving. And right next door, Silkstone (the Orchard Street food company) will be offering up healthy snacks, including an omelet making station.
At the community table, there will be lots of information about neighborhood organizations and resources. The LES Business Improvement District will even be launching their Sunday art gallery tour from this area. There will also be information about the brand new LES Food Co-op here.
There has, of course, been lots of publicity about the food at the Fair. The booths will rotate every week, so look for a few surprises along the way. SuChin says they’re adding vendors all the time. Recently joining the lineup: Formaggio (from the Essex Street Market). Porchetta (in the East Village) has also signed up.
Buzz-worthy restaurants, vintage clothing, furniture and jewelry are sure to draw crowds from other neighborhoods. But SuChin says what’s most important to her is creating an event for the Lower East Side. She hopes the Hester Street Fair will help open the lines of communication — and provide a platform for community building.
The idea of staging a fair in this gated-off lot in Seward Park has actually been germinating for several years. Later this week, we’ll talk more about that.
In the meantime, here are the essential details for this weekend: the Hester Street Fair will be open Saturday and Sunday 10-6. It is located where Essex and Hester Street meet, right next to Seward Park High School’s basketball courts.
