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BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARTY MARKOWITZ CELEBRATES
30TH ANNUAL ATLANTIC ANTIC

Photographs by Amelia D’Entrone

In photo from left to right: Pastry Chef Frances Sippel and Chief Chef Frank Daccordo of the Downtown Atlantic Restaurant and Bakery, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, champion cheesecake eater Eric “Badlands” Booker, City Councilmember Letitia James, State Assemblymember Joan Millman (front), and Kurk Sippel (back).

On Sunday, September 26, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined approximately 1 million Brooklynites to celebrate the 30th Annual Atlantic Antic Street Festival.

“I am proud to participate in one of Brooklyn’s most beloved street festivals,” said Borough President Markowitz. “Congratulations to President Candace P. Damon, the Board of Directors, and the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation for your efforts in organizing this festive celebration, which has filled Atlantic Avenue with food, culture and art for the past 30 years.”

Borough President Markowitz also participated in a cake-cutting ceremony featuring a special 30th Anniversary cake created by pastry chef Frances Sippel. Other elected officials present were State Assemblywoman Joan Millman, City Councilwoman Letitia James, City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, City Councilman Bill de Blasio and Senator Velmanette Montgomery.

Markowitz also took the opportunity to criticize the Brooklyn House of Detention. “This festival would be all the more enjoyable if not for this eyesore,” he said. “Not only is the jail wasting funds that could be better used elsewhere, it is blocking access to a site that should be a gateway to downtown Brooklyn.”

Reigning cheesecake champ Eric “Badlands” Booker won the Downtown Atlantic World Cheesecake Eating Championship, consuming 1 4/5 cheesecakes (about seven pounds) in six minutes. Placing second was the mysterious Eater X, Timothy Janus, who consumed 1 1/3 cheesecakes (5.5 pounds) during the contest. In third was Allen Goldstein with 1 1/4 cheesecakes (five pounds).