It was a walk to remember!
Slopers descended on Fifth Avenue in droves on Aug. 19, where they traversed a street full of games, music, and other treats in the first of two block parties to take over the thoroughfare.
“I would rate it five out of five,” said Lilly Cielo, who brought her son Austin Tenezaca, 8, and his friend Adrian Flores, 5. “They did a good job.”
The first North Summer Strolls event, which occupied a six-block stretch from Dean to Sterling streets, featured attractions that included the New York Islanders hockey team, classic cars, a three-story climbing wall, and, of course, the obligatory bouncy house.
Fitness fanatics were treated to free outdoor exercise classes, including Zumba and barre, which took place on a turf lawn that was set up on the street for the occasion.
And one Park Slope pop better known by his alter ego, Bubble Dad, blew a bunch of giant bubbles for attending tykes — who promptly popped them, he said.
“I call it event bubbling,” said Chris Catanese. “I do a lot of bubbles for kids to pop.”
The main event, however, was an eating contest sponsored by Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, where winner Wayne Algerio scarfed down 13 slices of margherita pizza — more than a pie-and-a-half — in 10 minutes, besting the previous champ’s score by four pieces.
His unstoppable appetite aside, Algerio employed advanced eating techniques that included dipping his crusts in water to out-consume his competition, according to Artichoke co-owner Peter Leonforte, who said the big mouth took home a decorative pizza paddle for his victory and earned one free slice per day for the coming year.
The second North Summer Strolls party hits Fifth Avenue on Aug. 26.
It will run along the same blocks and feature festivities that include salsa dancing outside Latin restaurant Yayo’s, between Dean and Bergen streets.
