News

June 2, 2016

Upper Union Street to Hold Schenectady’s 11th Annual Strawberry Fest & Art Show

The Upper Union Street Business District invites the public to its 11th Annual Strawberry Fest & Art Show on Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Music, children’s activities and food, including strawberries fresh from the fields at the Gourmet Market Place and Farmer’s Market. Strawberries will be the main ingredients of a wide variety of menu items from shortcake to salsa to pastries, jams, ice cream, McDonald shakes, smoothies and more at close to a score of Upper Union Street eateries! There will even be strawberry themed dog treats. “This is a way for us to thank our clients and customers for their loyalty and support throughout the years,”   Marie DeBrocky, Upper Union BID Board Chair. “It’s also a great way to introduce our wonderful business district to visitors from near and far.”

Upper Union Street is virtually a Global Food Court with a multitude of food and beverage spots including Gershon’s Deli, Scotti’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, Union Tandori Grill, Mr. Wasabi, Golden House Chinese, Hunan Wok, Home Style Pizza, Hot Harry’s Fresh Burritos, Union Café, Tesoros Café, Divenitea, Jimmy John’s, Subway, Stewarts, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Bruggers Bagels, Cuff’s Cakes, I Love NY Pizza, Pizza Hut, Wing Street, Union Beverage and Pizza Buono & Fresh Juice & Smoothie Bar. Even non-foodies are getting into the act with free strawberry ice cream sundae cups to the first 100 people who stop by at Empress Travel & Cruises at 1711 Union Street.

The Gourmet Food Market Place situated at the Dean Street corner and other strategic locations on Upper Union Street will feature tastings from Thousand Island Winery, fresh baked cookies from the Electric Cookie Jar, Gusto Della Vita with flavored vinegars and oils, Nini’s Sicilian Sauces, Buhrmaster Farm, Electric City Roasters and a variety of locally produced food items including samplings from Flavor of Schenectady, a consortium of local food producers including Casa Visco, Garofalo & Co., Gatherer’s Gourmet Granola, Mastroianni Brothers Bakery, Pede Bros. Inc, and Villa Italia. The Farmers’ Market in the public parking lot behind Trustco will feature produce from local farms. Fresh strawberries will be available at both the Gourmet and Farmers’ markets.

Entertainment during Strawberry Fest includes a jazz fusion group headed by keyboardist Lecco Morris with Jeff Nania on saxophone and Rob Morrison on drums/Tabla at Phillips Hardware from 10 am – 1pm. Additional live music includes Guitars on the Patio at Tesoros Café from 1- 2:30 pm, Long Bow Trio in front of Hot Harry’s from 10am – 12noon, McIntosh from 11:30 – 1:30 at Gershon’s Deli, Dixie Land and Jazz on the keyboard from 10am – noon at Visible Expression by Amae, performances by the Dance Me Studio competition team, live music on Home Style Pizza’s patio and the ever popular Voice of the Grove Drum Circle which invites visitor participation.

Other attractions include a Fashion Show at Ferri Formals at 2 PM, a popular Flea Market by Home Furnishings, Tae Kwon Do demonstrations up and down the street and readings by psychic Inca at Head to Tail Pet Wellness Center.

Retail promotions will celebrate with goodies and give-aways celebrating the first anniversary of Flowers by Jo-Ann. Other celebrations include the first anniversary of Dance Me Studio, the opening of Domini Beauty Biz with its nail care line by Cuccio, a pink watch event at Sondra’s Fine Jewelry, and porch and sidewalk sales throughout the district including Sow’s Ear Studio with locally created art items and Musler’s where visitors can shop an indoor / outdoor sidewalk sale and can browse for accessories at a trunk show on the porch by Marigolds Boutique. Phillips Hardware will be setting up chairs for the audience who gathers to hear the Lecco Morris trio. Also on tap at Phillips: Morris the Moose, free popcorn and balloons and drawings for retail merchandise and a free drawing for a gift bag for all who sign up at Empress Travel.

Children will enjoy a petting zoo of baby farm animals, pony rides to benefit the Upper Union Street Scholarship fund at SophiaSabella, a free bounce house at Home Style Pizza, break a board and spontaneous traveling Tae Kwon Do demonstrations sponsored by Pai’s Tae Kwon Do, balloon animals, posing with the Smile Monster and spray on tattoos at I & I Tattoo Studio.

Stockade Station and P & M Studio, two Schenectady based art consortiums will have a presence, Stockade Station with its popular “Designer Tee Shirts” and Art Stars hands on activities and P & M exhibiting member drawings and studio work. Sow’s Ear Studio will feature up to 50% off select locally created art while a variety of jewelry, fabric, photographic, greeting card and glass artists will show and sell original work including faux painted art frames at Tesoros Café and Robin Rosenthal with a portfolio of canine art at Head to Tail Pet Wellness Center.

Upper Union Street welcomes local not for profits to round out Strawberry Fest activities. The Environmental Clearinghouse, Soda Pop Quiz, Living Hope, St. Kateri Tekawitha, Central Park Greenhouse, Joan Nicole Prince Home, Animal Protective Foundation, Eastern Parkway Methodist Church, Home Furnishings and Electric City Food Co-op will all staff information tables.

Funding for the Strawberry Fest is made possible in part by a grant from the Schenectady County Legislature through its County Initiative Program. Additional sponsors include Trustco, First Niagara,  Head to Tail Pet Wellness Center, Northeastern Fine Jewelry, Gershon’s and the Daily Gazette. For additional information contact Madelyn Thorne through www.upperunionstreet.com.