By Bill Parry
The first Paws & Pints event at Hunters Point South Park in Long Island City was so successful the organizers have decided to make it a monthly event.
More than 100 people took to the newly opened event space at LIC Landing by Coffeed, to enjoy some adult beverages and the sunset at the waterfront space while their four-legged friends enjoyed an obstacle course and a swimming pool.
While the event was free and open to the public, it served as a fund-raiser for the Texas-based Patriot Paws, an organization that provides service dogs to disabled veterans at no charge. A portion of the proceeds from the food and drink sold by LIC Landing by Coffeed went to the charity.
“I am very happy with the turnout. Everyone had fun and we raised over $500 on our first try,” organizer Rick Hall said. “It’s so cool that we’re staying open an extra hour and we’ve decided to do this once a month, too.”
Hall, a U.S. Army veteran who works at the Beer Closet in Astoria, added that he is meeting later in the week with members of the Hunters Point Conservancy to arrange the next date.
“I wish we could do this every week the reactions have been so wonderful,” Conservancy Vice President Mark Christie said.
It was one of the first public events held at the spot since LIC Landing by Coffeed opened last month.
Owner Frank Raffaele said. “The response was great, it had a very cool vibe, we have this event space and the idea is to use it as often as possible.”
The 2,000-square-foot concrete space is built right on the waterfront with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. It is administered by Raffaele and his Coffeed partners as part of their vending deal with the city.
LIC Landing by Coffeed will strike a balance between renting out the space for private functions like weddings and parties and community-centric uses like concerts and other social events like Paws and Pints.
“I’m looking at the Bryant Park model, get them into the park for a cool reason like movie nights and they’ll come back for other events,” Raffaele said. “This park is such a gem and it’s just a year old. You’d be surprised how many people outside of Center Boulevard even know of it. Anytime people come into the park it’s a financial benefit for us.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
