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By Max Jaeger
Brooklyn Daily
Thousands of Brooklynites made the pilgrimage to the Church Avenue Business Improvement District’s street fair on April 27. Now in its fifth year, the neighborhood celebration has grown along with the strip it celebrates, attendees said.
“I was surprised at how many new restaurants were out,” said Liz Graham, who came from Windsor Terrace for the festival. “It seems like there were some really nice little places that have opened up on Church Avenue.”
Festival-goers could even sample the new fare for just $1, she said.
In addition, avenue merchants wore their culture on their sleeve with a Caribbean fashion show whose catwalk ran down the center of the avenue. The area shops banded together to put on the first-ever show, said the business improvement district’s executive director, Lauren Elvers Collins — boutiques supplied the threads, while local salons styled models’ hair and makeup.
The fair highlighted the neighborhood’s Caribbean flavor, but also celebrated all cultures that call the area home.
Festival-goer Rosa Cintron said her favorite moment was a belly dancing demonstration.
“The dancers were in the street dancing with people — it was more interactive,” she said.
The dancers gave out coupons for a free lesson with Midwood-based instructor Diane Hutchinson, Cintron said.
And with rides, games, and snacks, there was plenty for kids to enjoy, said Graham, who brought her 3-year-old son Elliot.
“It was a cute day for everyone,” she said.