New Yorkers and Tourists! You can now add Vendy Plaza to your Sunday brunch plans as the famed food fair is once again delivering a delicious lineup of 17 local street food back to East Harlem’s historic open-air market place, La Marqueta, for summer 2016. Created by the Vendy Awards, New York City’s premier street food competition from the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center, in partnership with City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the NYC Economic Development Corporation, the weekly event began with a grand opening last month and will run each Sunday from 12-6pm through October.
La Marqueta Retoña is an initiative to revive the social and cultural elements of this historical site through the arts, music and community activities. A series of events are scheduled to take place at the outdoor space known as “La Placita” as well as in the main indoor space of La Marqueta both located underneath the Park Avenue elevated train station between 115th and 116th Streets in El Barrio with aim to celebrate Latin culture, educate and instill a scense of pride in the next generation of residence living in El Barrio.
“We are pleased to bring Vendy Plaza once again to East Harlem’s La Marqueta this season to showcase some of the city’s greatest and innovative vendors and to contribute to this local landmark’s long history of bringing in local emerging entrepreneurs. We would like to thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito for the opportunity to have Vendy Plaza showcase upcoming and past Vendy Awards finalists, as well as local East Harlem talent to recreate a truly engaging and enjoyable outdoor public market experience,” said Sean Basinski, Director of the Street Vendor Project at the Urban Justice Center.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Vendy Plaza back to La Marqueta for a third season of food, festivities and fun,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “Visitors will be able to savor the best Latin food along with other diverse culinary eats vendors will be offering. El Barrio will be on everyone’s Sunday’s must visit list this year. I want to thank EDC and the Urban Justice Center for their partnership with La Marqueta’s revitalization.
“Vendy Plaza is an incredibly fun and delicious way to provide the people of East Harlem with even greater access to the history and culture of their community,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President Maria Torres-Springer. “By building upon the success of La Marqueta and enhancing this neighborhood cornerstone, Vendy Plaza will once again showcase the uniqueness and diversity that makes Harlem great.”
La Marqueta, located underneath the elevated tracks of the Metro North railroad at 1590 Park Avenue, has been a cultural and commercial center for the residents of East Harlem for nearly 100 years. For decades, it served as a location for residents across the city in search of foods they couldn’t find anywhere else.
“Vendy Plaza is the embodiment of the growing and flourishing street food movement in New York City and across the country. This season we are showcasing some of the best local talent and emerging culinary innovations at East Harlem’s iconic La Marqueta, which has long been a community and cultural landmark. I look forward to continuing the legacy and the revitalization of this storied market, as well as providing a platform for the public to appreciate the best New York City vendors have to offer” saidCasandra Rosario, Vendy Plaza Marketing Manager.
