
Thanks to Orchard Street resident Hayley Smith for sending this photo from Sunday — showing the crowds descending on the DayLife street festival. By all accounts, the “pilot” event was a big success, drawing several thousand people to Orchard between East Houston and Delancey for an urban backyard barbeque of sorts.
Bob Zuckerman, executive director of the LES Business Improvement District, told us yesterday he was thrilled with the turnout, in spite of an afternoon downpour. Tonight, he’ll offer a preliminary report to Community Board 3’s economic development committee. Also this week, the BID’s board of directors will discuss a plan for the fall months. The city signed off on the street festival and has been open to approving more of them if justified by the crowds and if the event didn’t devolve into a typical street fair. One hurdle, Zuckerman said, will be figuring out how to staff and pay for a regularly scheduled festival. The long-term goal is to re-activate street life (and commerce) in a legendary shopping district that was once a huge Sunday destination.
On a lighter note. everyone is talking about eight-year old sensation DJ Kai Song. He had the crowd in front of the Tammany rockin’!
More photos from Sunday’s festivities: