Call it a paw-fect day!
Dolled-up doggies came out to partake in the Narrows Botanical Garden’s annual Fall Harvest Festival in Bay Ridge on Oct. 16. Primped pooches packed the green space dressed in tutus and hand-knitted dragon suits to compete for bragging rights and prizes in the fest’s canine costume contest. It was a great excuse to dress up the pups and, in the process, tap into your inner child, said one dog owner.
“You get to be a kid again doing this. When you see a dog with a costume you can’t help but smile,” said Bay Ridgite Patrick Corcoran who came out with his mini-dachshund Zoe dressed as a tiger. “I don’t have kids right now, so this is my kid. And she’s a real head-turner — everybody in the place was going crazy for her. I actually got embarrassed, but I kind of liked it.”
Dogs and their owners competed in four categories: best in show, best homemade costume, best coordinated costume, and best traditional costume. Winners won gift certificates from a handful of local stores, including Hom, the Art Room, Salty Dog, and Casa Calamari.
Corcoran enjoyed watching the fur balls frolic in the park and is already thinking about Zoe’s look for next year — he’s considering a seal or otter suit — but emphasized the importance of events such as the harvest fest in bringing the community closer.
“It’s great for the neighborhood. Everyone gets to come out and be a kid again and bond,” said Corcoran. “It doesn’t get any better than being in Brooklyn with other Brooklynites.”
Bay Ridgite Michael Strandberg and his wife Susan Bishop brought their 19-month-old son Sydney out with the hope of passing on the fall harvest tradition.
“I grew up in Bay Ridge, and I think it’s really good to contribute to the neighborhood — even in small things like this,” said Strandberg. “It’s nice to do that with my own family after growing up here as a kid. Now it’s my turn to create memories with my own son and wife.”
Strandberg and his wife went a step further than most of the costumes — they dressed Sydney as a “doggy baker” in a handmade costume with an apron, chef’s hat, and a whisk and dressed family chihuahua Buttercup as a chocolate chip cookie.
The pair won best coordinated costume.
