7 chances to dine under the stars

Anthony Oreilly

The Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District and the Village of Great Neck Plaza announced Wednesday that diners will get three more chances this year to dine outside at Great Neck Plaza restaurants than in the past. 

“The outdoor events hosted by the BID generate a lot of excitement throughout our community,” Great Neck Plaza BID Executive Director Ron Edelson said in a statement. “This will be the first year we are hosting seven nights, rather than four, due to popular demand from restaurants and residents.”

The promenade series will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on June 25 on Middle Neck Road between Grace Avenue and Maple Drive with dining continuing until 10:30 p.m. 

The series will continue on Bond Street, at the same schedule, on July 10, 17, 24, 31 and Aug. 7.

The series will conclude on Aug. 13 on Middle Neck Road between Grace Avenue and Cuttermill Road.

Live entertainment will be offered at each event, according to Maria Coscia, promotions manager of the BID.

On June 25 and Aug. 7, the entertainment will feature the third annual Great Neck Plaza Idol Karaoke Contest. 

Six winners will be selected out of 25 participants on both nights.

The 12 winners will then compete for the championship at the 30th annual Autofest & Street Festival on Sept. 21. 

Singers Jenna and Annie Pasqua will perform on July 10 and 31 and three-piece band Gathering Time, featuring Great Neck resident Nina Gordon, will perform on July 17 and 24.  

The Aug. 13 night will be accompanied by a live fashion show.

Coscia said the BID usually hosts three or four promenades throughout the summer, but decided on seven for this year at the request of the community and restaurant owners.

“We had residents, and even the merchants, asking us when we were going to do this again so we just kept bringing it back,” Coscia said.

Coscia said the BID came up with the idea for the promenade series after seeing the success of its annual restaurant week and street fairs in the village.

“We decided, why not be able to close down the streets and make it really nice for people to eat outside,” she said. “Make it a big outdoor block party.”

The series is also sponsored by the Village of Great Neck Plaza. 

Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender said she was excited by the record number of opportunities being offered to people to eat outdoors and take in the sights and sounds of Great Neck Plaza. 

“Promenade nights allows the Great Neck community to have a night out with friends and families and enjoy the best of what our village has to offer,” Celender said. “Having the street closed off and allowing parents and their children to roam the street uninhibited from each restaurant or entertainment station really enhances the festival atmosphere.”

The first promenade series, which took place in 2009, started on Bond Street, a village road.

“It’s a lot easier to close down a village road than Middle Neck Road, which is a county road,” Coscia said.

After seeing the success of the event, the BID decided to extend the option of outdoor dining to restaurants on Middle Neck Road, Coscia said.

“This allowed us to have more dates during the summer time,” she said.

Coscia said that a list of participating restaurants is not yet available and that she recommends diners call up eateries to see if they are participating.

One restaurant already signed up to participate in the event is Era, an Asian restaurant located at 6 Bond Street.

“We really look forward to having the whole community come out and dine with us every summer,” Era’s owner Adrian Chau said in a statement. “It’s always a great time to meet the people of the Plaza, see old friends, and meet some new ones.”

Coscia said she also recommends seeing if restaurants will take a reservation.

“We start setting up tables at 5 p.m. and at about 6:30 they’re already packed,” she said.

For more information, visit shopgreatneck.com or call 516-829-1301.

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