More weather by AccuWeather®

BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ ANNOUNCES “BROOKLYNBEST 2004 - CONEY ISLAND”

Photographed by Kathryn Kirk

Borough President Marty Markowitz and invited guests announce the start of Brooklyn’s best summer yet at his BrooklynBest press conference. Pictured from left to right: NYC & Company’s President and CEO Cristyne L. Nicholas; KeySpan Vice President for Public Affairs Pam Adamo; Borough President Markowitz; and Coney Island USA Sideshow Performers.

June 5 & 6 festival marks Brooklyn Tourism & Visitors Center’s first annual Summer Launch.

On Monday, May 24, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz announced the first annual “BrooklynBest” festival, to be held June 5 & 6 in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The two-day festival of music, movies, magic marks the first “Destination Brooklyn” event presented by the new Brooklyn Tourism & Visitors Center, and officially launches summer in Brooklyn.

“BrooklynBest” is an annual event to attract both Brooklynites and local, national and international tourists to Brooklyn for special events and to enjoy the everyday fun and wonders the borough has to offer. The festival will be held on the first weekend of June every year. This year’s “hub” will be Coney Island, and the “hub” will move to a new Brooklyn location each year.

“There is no better way to start summer than by sharing the best of Brooklyn’s culture with all of Brooklyn and with the world,” said Borough President Markowitz. “Brooklynites and tourists, young and old, beach bums and Dem Bums will all have a chance to see the Coney Island of my childhood and the Coney Island of the future - all at the same time.”

“NYC & Company is thrilled to help kick-off the first annual BrooklynBest festival,” said Cristyne L. Nicholas, President and CEO of NYC & Company. “This event will not only highlight the borough’s many wonderful attractions, but also drive more of New York City’s $21 billion tourism business to Brooklyn.”

In addition to the classic attractions at Coney Island, the world’s most famous urban beach and amusement parks, “BrooklynBest” will include a fashion show of Brooklyn designers, a sandcastle-building demonstration and contest, the “Respect: It’s A Brooklyn Attitude” cheerleading competition, the return of the Coney Island Baby Parade — the first one since 1954 — and movies and fireworks on the beach! Other highlights include the first annual CMJ 5 Borough Battle of the Indie Bands, and a twilight concert with doo-wop and a capella groups, as well as the Coney Island Symphony. Events will take place on the Coney Island boardwalk and beach and at Asser Levy Park Stage

KeySpan is the presenting sponsor of “BrooklynBest” for the Tourism & Visitors Center, and Senior Vice President Pam Adamo spoke at the press conference. KeySpan will present a laser show at the festival that will illuminate the world-famous Parachute Jump and the Magical Memories Tent, where visitors will be able to see their images virtually in scenes at Luna Park, Steeplechase Park and the Parachute Jump.

"KeySpan is proud to be a lead sponsor of Brooklyn Best," said Pam Adamo, Keyspan Vice President for Public Affairs. "We encourage all New Yorkers to come out and enjoy all that Coney Island has to offer."

Borough President Markowitz will also announced on Monday that the Brooklyn Tourism & Visitors Center will be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

In addition to all the festivities, the Brooklyn Cyclones will host a celebrity baseball game at KeySpan Park on Sunday, June 6, to benefit Camp Brooklyn, Borough President Markowitz’s program to send underprivileged kids to summer camp. Celebrity players include film director Spike Lee, NBA great Bernard King, NFL stars OJ Anderson and Kenyon Rasheed, One Life to Live’s Timothy D. Stickney, ABC radio’s Curtis Silwa, and numerous other celebrities from television, radio and professional sports.

"The Brooklyn Cyclones are thrilled to be part of the Brooklyn Best celebration,” said Steve Cohen General Manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones. “The whole weekend should be a tremendous amount of fun, including the celebrity game at KeySpan Park, and a great way to kick off another great summer in Coney Island".

Other announcements made included CMJ’s selection of the 10 bands that will compete in the 5 Borough Battle of the Indie Bands.

“I’m so thrilled that this year’s BrooklynBest festival will be held in Coney Island,” said New York City Councilmember Domenic M. Recchia Jr. “I invite the whole world to come and see the amazing attractions Coney has to offer.”

“We are all looking forward to this magical weekend in Coney Island,” said Chuck Reichenthal, District Manager of Community Board 13. “It will bring still more fun and excitement to one of the greatest entertainment areas in the world. We will all join the Borough President in this joyful welcome to our warm weather season.”

Gray Line New York will be providing free bus services for the Borough History tour and providing free bus service between Coney Island and the Brooklyn Working Arts Coalition celebration in Red Hook. BrooklynBest 2004 Sponsors include: Presenting Partner KeySpan Energy and supporting partners Astoria Federal Savings, Boar's Head, CitiBank, J.P.Morgan Chase, Disney Hands, and NYC Council Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. Brooklyn Tourism & Visitors Center is funded in part by: Assembly Member Joseph R. Lentol and the Brooklyn Delegation and the NYC & Co Foundation. A schedule of events can be found at www.brooklyn-usa.org