2016 Holiday Lights by Sunnyside Shines (Photo via Sunnyside Shines on Facebook)
Nov. 1, 2017 by Nathaly Pesantez
SUNNYSIDE — A retro trolley is set to go through the the streets of Sunnyside in the coming weeks, in time for the holiday season.
The vintage red and green trolley will pass through Greenpoint Avenue and Queens Boulevard on two dates, one in November and another in December, where anyone can get aboard and ride for free.
The trolley tour, organized after months of planning by Sunnyside Shines, the local Business Improvement District organization, was primarily put forth as a way to encourage residents to do their holiday shopping locally.
The trolley can seat 34 people at a time, and will be making multiple stops along Queens Boulevard and Greenpoint Avenue on two Saturdays, Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, where it will operate from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., according to Jaime-Faye Bean, executive director of the BID.
The stops and route for the trolley are still being finalized, but the areas covered include a stretch on Queens Boulevard from 50th Street down to 39th Street, and all of Greenpoint Avenue from 41st Street to 46th Street. A portion of 43rd Avenue will also be covered by the trolley, near The Lowery Bar & Kitchen between 43rd Street and 44th Street, Bean said.
The trolley, which is handicapped accessible, is anticipated to come every 20 minutes for a given stop.
The route is designed so that the trolley can pass through a variety of shops and businesses in the neighborhood, including over 40 businesses ranging from restaurants to clothing stores that have placed discounts in the “Shop Local Holiday Passport” booklet, which will be available onboard the trolley.
Bean said the trolleys are also meant to showcase Sunnyside as a special, close-knit neighborhood. “Shopping is fun and great, but we are also doing things to inject a celebratory and community mood into the program,” Bean said.
The two days will also include free gift wrapping, arts & crafts for kids, and face painting at participating businesses. Performances are also planned for the plazas under 40th and 46th Streets, with a short performance of “The Nutcracker” by Sunnyside Ballet set to take place at the 46th St. plaza under the train on Dec. 2.
Sunnyside Shines is also taking requests for music to be played aboard the trolley in a “Sunnyside Playlist”, Bean said. Requests can be made by emailing Sunnyside Shines or by commenting under the Facebook event page prior to Nov. 25.
The trolleys, all compliant with Department of Transportation standards, are provided by the Brooklyn-based New York Trolley Company.
