Heat Wave Puts Damper On Bensonhurst’s First Weekend Walks

The streets were desolate at this weekend’s 18th Avenue Weekend Walks — in no small part due to New York City’s Great Heatwave of 2015.

Though there was much excitement on Bensonhurst Bean’s social media platforms leading up to the big event — organized by the Federation of Italian American Organizations [FIAO] with some help from the Department of Transportation [DOT] — only a handful of 18th Avenue businesses participated, and most neighbors stayed indoors due to the oppressive weather.

Residents who did come out to the commercial strip, which was closed to traffic from 62nd Street to 75th Street, noted that fewer than half of the businesses had decided to utilize the space in front of their stores for entertainment or to showcase their merchandise.

“What a disappointment,” said long-time neighbor Rocco Deserto. “I would love to hear the reason none of the businesses did anything. Da Vinci’s, Tenzan, Cafe Italia, all had nothing outside for it. Pretty embarrassing for the neighborhood.”

Sara Steinweiss, Director of Operations and Special Events at FIAO, said that they had expected a small turnout for the first event and still considered it a success.

“It small committee that was putting it together and we were all new at this. It takes a while to get the word out to the merchants,” said Steinweiss. “And it didn’t help that it was literally the hottest day of the summer.”

Steinweiss noted that Sheepshead Bay’s Summer Stroll had a similarly slow inaugural event last year, and said that she expected more merchants to participate as the word continued to spread.

“Now I’m getting phone calls from businesses wanting to get involved, but [this weekend], it’s happening on a different part of 18th Avenue,” she said.

This Saturday’s Weekend Walks, which will take place between 75th Street and 85th Street, 1pm to 6pm, will be centered around New Utrecht Reformed Church and will have additional programing, like rides and snacks for children.

“I tend to look past the negative,” said Steinweiss. “It’s the first go-round and what we need from everyone is support and positivity.”

Bensonhurst street fairs, from the 18th Avenue Feast to the Bensonhurst Festival on 86th Street, have historically been enormously successful. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for beautiful, breezy temperatures this weekend so that we can again take to the streets and celebrate our neighborhood’s vibrant business district.