MAN AND BEST friend enjoy walk of Grill Cheese Challenge route. Photos by Tom Godfrey.
Lakeshore Village came alive for the first time in two years as residents greeted each other with smiles, cheers, high-fives and to the sound of music.
Thousands of residents, described by some as a record crowd, walked, cycled or roller boarded to Lakeshore Village on June 11 as the community celebrated its annual and popular grill cheese challenge.
A PET LOVER donated a $100 bill to this volunteer raising funds to help dogs.
Many families and area residents packed the Village, which includes Lake Shore Blvd., from Second Street to Islington Ave., which was shut to traffic as vendors, cooks, pets, bands and others took over the street.
The Challenge was organized by the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area (BIA), whose members did a great job in organizing the massive street event, which was sponsored by Furlani, in support of Women’s Habitat.
Organizers said the challenge was a success and helped many small area businesses which have been suffering.
THESE VOLUNTEERS get ready to feed the masses at the festival.
“This is great for the community after two years of stuck indoors,” says Patricia Delfin of The Clock Factory. “It is fantastic to catch up with people who we haven’t seen for a long time.”
A table outside her store was busy with onlookers as some supporters headed for deals inside the long-time family-owned store.
Merchants were all smiles, mostly from bustling sales at the many booths in front of their stores. The folks from Delicia Bakery were busy inside an elaborate tent as they sold their cakes and other products.
Aside from the lengthy lineups waiting for grilled cheese sandwiches, there was a shortcoming of foods available to those of diverse cultures, of which grill cheese is not their first selection of food.
THE MASCOT of the festival was everywhere there was food to be found.
Keith Pope, of Vinyl Music Emporium and Cafe, like most others, enjoyed the seven bands who performed on a massive stage in the Lake Shore and Islington Ave. intersection. The sound was clean and clear.
“People liked the music and they had a great time,” Pope says. “There were a number of bands from the area that performed to an appreciative crowd.”
He said residents welcomed the chance to sit in the sunshine and listen to tunes after two years of being at home due to the virus.
AREA VOLUNTEER Julie chatting with staff of Delicia Bakery and having fun.
The bands included: George Westerholm and the Wild Wildcats, The James Clark Institute, The Stephen Stanley Band, The Sandra Bouza Band, Reggadiction, Luke and the Apostles and Jersey Nights.
I liked the island beats of Reggadiction, which had the crowd thrilled.
Ray, of Kebab House, said it was nice to have more people in the area to help support the small businesses.
“Many people seemed like they were having a great time,” he says. “It was nice to see so many people in the area.”
A BOOTH sponsored by LAMP CHC which serves our community well.