It was the Summer Stroll’s swan song for the season.
Ridgites rambled up a car-free section of Third Avenue on Aug. 10 during the fourth and final Summer Stroll of the year. One local said her family would miss the Friday night neighborhood walks in the warm weather — and the sense of community they felt seeing their neighbors and dining outdoors on the Avenue.
“We like the chance to see neighbors and friends, just having the street closed off to car traffic and being able to wander around all afternoon and all evening, sitting outside at the restaurants that don’t necessarily have sidewalk tables normally,” said Leah Lundrigan, who attended with her husband, Joe, and her 7-year-old son Michael.
The Merchants of Third Avenue — an organization of businesses along the thoroughfare — sponsor the annual Strolls, which feature live music, al fresco dining, and games and activities for kids.
Lundrigan said her son will miss his favorite part of the stroll: the fire safety booth run by New York’s Bravest, who hand out mini fire helmets to kids.
“That’s my sons favorite booth to go to — he goes during every Summer Stroll,” she said. “He talks a lot about fire safety, and he likes talking to the firemen — he’s always a big fan of the fire hat.”
One former Ridgite trekked all the way back to the neighborhood where she was born and raised from her new home in bucolic Staten Island to attend the final Stroll of the summer because she wanted to enjoy one of her favorite local traditions, she said.
“It was a lot of fun because there was a lot of different music playing, a lot of different food on offer,” said Kathleen Danis. “I saw some people that I hadn’t seen in a while.”
