It was a night of lively food, fun and drink at Rye Playland and people were up for it.
Hundreds of people came to celebrate the first day of fall and enjoy the festivities.
“We feel comfortable going outside. We haven’t hung out for so long, ”says Alicia Brewster. “It’s something we do every year.”
The event kicked off Westchester Magazine’s Food and Wine Festival. It was canceled last year due to the pandemic.
Organizer Elizabeth Bracken Thompson says this year has more meaning.
“It has been a difficult year for bars and restaurants. We are here to greet them and celebrate the return of restaurants, ”said Thompson.
There were plenty of bars, restaurants and food trucks to feed the crowd.
Peter Kelly, owner of Yonkers X20 restaurant, says it’s nice to get back to business after 18 months of uncertainty thanks to COVID.
“It’s great to be outside and do our thing, to cook for people, to make cocktails and to be in Playland,” says Kelly.
A friendly competition to determine the best bartender in Westchester, Bartender Shake-Off, was the main attraction.
The two-time defending champion Emilio Ugarte of River Market won again with his drink “The Guapo”.
“I feel confident for what I have done and how my cocktail has become. I’m happy with it, I’m happy with it, ”said Ugarte.
It was a fun time for everyone and hopefully a sign of life back to normal.