Larchmont Blvd. was packed with neighbors of all ages for the Larchmont Family Fair held on Sunday. This was the first year the Fair was back after a two-year hiatus forced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were delighted to be back serving the community,” said John Winther, president of the Larchmont Boulevard Association, the organization of business owners and shopkeepers on Larchmont who have voluntarily organized the Fair for decades. “We are the local community businesses and shops on Larchmont Blvd. who really appreciate your support of our wonderful community. It was delightful to see so many young children with their families at this year’s Family Fair.”
“We made some changes to the Fair this year and tried some new ideas,” said Betsy Malloy, longtime fair planner who again served as Chair of the Larchmont Family Fair this year. “We weren’t really sure how many people would come and if our new format would work, so we were delighted to see so many people on Sunday afternoon.”
Before the Fair, Malloy told the Buzz, “the pandemic has changed so much of our daily life, it seemed liked like a good opportunity to change up this local tradition and bring everyone together to celebrate our neighborhood. In addition to all the usual fun activities for kids, we are adding some fun for adults.”
Highlights of this year’s event includede the performances on the Children’s Stage, organized by Cheri Moon, Larchmont’s own Grammy-nominated children’s musician and creator of the former Snooknuk play space, which operated on north Larchmont for many years. Little ones and their families were dancing and singing along to the music. The new beer garden was also packed with adults who gathered to sample fine artisanal beer from M Special Brew Co., which made the garden possible and also brought the wine. Closing out the day, composer Steven Endelman led what shall forever now be known as the Larchmont Village Orchestra in a delightful concert of cinematic classics including “Over the Rainbow,” “Young at Heart,” “Laura,” “De-lovely,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” “Live and Let Die,” “These are a Few of My Favorite Things,” and “As Time Goes By.” The concert ended with everyone, including the amazing four vocalists Francesca Vannucci, Garrison Zoutendyk, Emile Welman and Leslie Page, joining Colonel Rosendo Castillo, a retired Vietnam veteran, in a most patriotic rendition of “God Bless America.” The Larchmont Village Orchestra members included Stephen Edelman, Music Director and Producer of the Vocalists; Chris Tedesco, Music Contractor and Trumpet; Gary Nestenruk, Key Board; Adrian Rosen, Bass; Joe Cataldo, Drums; Geoff Nudell Sax and Clarinet; Jim Mc Millen, Trombone, with a special thanks to Jim Bloomfield for sound. The concert was a fitting way to close a lovely day on the boulevard with families, friends and neighbors celebrating being a community on Larchmont Blvd. again.
Of course, the day couldn’t have been carried off without the support of everyone who bought tickets, donated their time and services, including the shops on Larchmont, like Flannel, which pitched in with electricity or allowed patrons to use restrooms. (Restrooms have always been provided in the past, but usually go unused, so this year organizers opted to cut the cost as they were unsure of attendance.) And thanks to the food vendors who stepped in to help with food: Jay Fagnano of Thrive Kitchen for the Rack’n Roll Ribs and Chicken, Esteban Gutierrez of Esco’s Pizza, and Sergio Boccato of the Larchmont Village Wine and Cheese Shop for the cheese boxes.
Thanks, too, to everyone who volunteered to sell tickets, take tickets, make signs, and post signs…and to all the local organizations that sponsored booths. The street was packed with visitors checking out all the booths.
And finally, a special shoutout to those listed below who helped underwrite the cost of the Fair as a sponsor. If you’re not listed here, you’re invited to join the list next year!
This year’s sponsors: Ritz Dry Cleaning, The Larchmont Chronicle, Larchmont Pediatrics, Loveland Carr Group, Dr. Luis Martines at Larchmont Village Orthodontics, TailWaggers, Larchmont Animal Clinic, Rhodes School of Music, State Farm – Leisha Willis, Wilshire Country Club, Coldwell Banker, Hollywoodland Realty – Patricia Carroll, Keller Williams Realty Larchmont, Wilshire Escrow, Hancock Homes Realty, Larchmont Buzz, Dr. Randall Niederkorh, D.D.S. Pediatric Dentistry, Chevalier’s Books, Karen and Albert Chou, James R. Gibbons, D.D. S. Pediatric Dentistry, Healing Hands, Landis Gift and Stationery on North Larchmont Blvd., Mel Miyamoto, CPA Larchmont Village, Massucco Warner Interior Design, Pacific Trust Group, and Ridwell.
