Oct. 16, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
A Japanese themed pop-up market will be held Sunday at Bliss Plaza kicking off this year’s Sunnyside Restaurant Week.
Sunnyside Shines will host the pop-up from noon to 6 p.m. at Bliss Plaza–located at 46th Street and Queens Boulevard–and residents will get a chance to savor food and culture from the Land of the Rising Sun.
The event, which marks the beginning of Sunnyside Restaurant Week, will feature Japanese cuisine, craft vendors and live entertainment headed up by COBU – a colorful all-female troupe that mixes traditional Japanese Taiko drumming with rhythmic tap dancing.
A number of vendors will sell clothes, accessories and other merchandise.
There will be free children’s activities including hand-painting, airbrush tattoos, a variety show and shoppers will be able to enter special competitions at the Sunnyside Shines table.
Vendors will display menus from local eateries that are taking part in Sunnyside Restaurant Week, according to Jaime-Faye Bean, Executive Director of Sunnyside Shines. Restaurant Week goes from Oct. 21 to Oct. 28 and consumers can get deals such as a three-course meal for $25.
Bean said that the autumn pop-up market–which has a special focus on Japanese culture this year–has a history of promoting neighborhood talent and is an important event on the Sunnyside calendar.
“This program has been a valuable platform for creative, entrepreneurial makers and artisans to expand their visibility and scale-up,” Bean said.
Additionally, Bean said the market will help spur local economic activity by increasing foot traffic into small businesses.
“This year the market will also be a celebration of resilience and community spirit and a strong show of support for the neighborhood’s small business character,” Bean said.
Bean said that volunteers will enforce COVID-19 safety guidelines like social distancing rules in order to protect attendees. Face masks and hand sanitizer will also be handed out throughout the day.
Nearly 50 restaurants/eateries are taking part in restaurant week this year. Many restaurants are offering the deals both at their venue–and for takeout and delivery.
A full list of all the participating restaurants taking part in Sunnyside Restaurant Week can be viewed on the Sunnyside Shines website here.
COBU (Image provided by Sunnyside Shines)
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