The Village of Great Neck Plaza’s first promenade night of the season went off without a hitch.
With Middle Neck Road closed from Great Neck Road to Cedar Drive, children played the streets while parents caught up with friends. The crowd was casually elegant, with most dressed up for a night on the town. Entertainment included two live bands and DJ music.
Timed to coincide with the Gold Coast Film Festival and Restaurant Week, which offered a pre fixe menu at select Plaza restaurants, attendance was up from last year, said Jay Corn, vice president of the Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District.
“The weather was perfect, and every restaurant participated, was out on the street with tables and chairs,” he said. People stayed a little longer. It was probably 11:00 p.m., 11:30 p.m. before they started winding it up.”
At 9:30 p.m. Promenade Night was still busy, with a line at Haagen-Daz out the door.
“It was beautiful,” said Village of Great Neck Plaza Deputy Mayor Ted Rosen. “My wife and I were there. We walked around. It was a beautiful night.”
That sentiment was echoed by Plaza Mayor Jean Celender.
“It’s a very relaxing kind of atmosphere,” said Celender, who thinks the event is growing in popularity. “It’s the most prevalent thing I hear, ‘can we do this every week.'”
The next promenade night will be on Bond Street on June 23.
