June 5, 2014 By Christian Murray
The weather may have put a damper on the Taste of LIC Tuesday night but it didn’t stop residents from turning out in big numbers or the corporate sponsors from opening up their checkbooks.
The Chocolate Factory, which puts on the event each year as a fundraiser, grossed $115,000 on the night, equaling last year’s record. While the 50-plus restaurants donated their food and time, the theater still has to cover the hefty costs of renting the giant tent and getting the waterfront space.
The Chocolate Factory sold 1,200 tickets—although it was difficult to tell whether all the ticket holders attended. Unlike the 2013 event, when there were blue skies and it was 73 degrees, this year it was wet and humid.
“The event is as great as always,” said Doris Nowillo Suda, a long time resident who used to work at Riverview. “I think there aren’t as many people here as last year. It’s tough with this weather.”
Nevertheless, the event continued to showcase Long Island City as a booming neighborhood filled with youth, vibrance and growth.
Many residents were impressed by the quality and diversity of the food this year—from scotch eggs at Woodbines to oysters at M.Wells.
Sheila Lewandowski, the executive director of the Chocolate Factory, was dressed as Wonder Woman, and was the subject of plenty of praise by elected officials.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, one of a slew of elected officials who spoke at the event, said “Long Island City is one of the greatest places in all the world partly due to the great work of Sheila Lewandowski, Brian Rogers [Lewandowski’s husband] and the Chocolate Factory.”
The proceeds from the event will go toward The Chocolate Factory’s 2014-15 season.
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I went to one of their events last year. Good stuff happening in LIC