CHELSEA — New Yorkers love their summer festivals, but with ongoing temperatures of 90 degrees or more, it might me nice to browse for those artisanal wares in the comfort of an air-conditioned building.
Chelsea residents will soon get their chance, with the first-ever Chelsea Bazaar, an indoor summer fair showcasing the neighborhood's stores and shops on Saturday at the Altman Building, 135 W. 18th St.
"We want to show off local businesses and give opportunities who don't have individual storefronts — or aren't there yet — a place to build their brands," said Tom Gray, Executive Director at the Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, which is organizing the event.
"This is the first one — we don't want it to be 100 degrees or rainy."
From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., dozens of Chelsea and New York businesses of all types will sell their wares and services at the event, including H.S. Chocolate Co., PORTS Coffee & Tea, From The Source furnishings, and sweets maker La Newyorkina.
"It's like a small business co-op," said Gray. "We can split the cost between all of our folks and do an event like this."
Over 2,000 people have already pre-registered for the event, Gray said, and expected more to come throughout the weekend.
The two-story festival is free to the public, and the Chamber has arranged a deal with CitySights NY that will allow their ticketholders front-of-the-line entrance access.
The bottom floor space — what organizers are calling the "Bazament" — will feature beer and wine tastings, including home brew tastings and lessons from the beer gurus at Bitters & Esters, along with live music by the New School's jazz band.
Though it's the first time the Chamber has organized such an event, Gray hopes to repeat — and even grow — the bazaar.
"If it goes well and people want it to come back, we'll do it more — more than annually," he said.
Editor's Note: DNAinfo.com New York will have a booth at this event.
