Dec. 21, 2007 — The holiday spirit was just beginning to percolate Friday afternoon at Crown Bay Center, where the Port Authority was luring locals and wooing tourists with its second annual Sea-Side Christmas Fiesta.
"This is fantastic," declared Luceele Smith of Maryland, who was visiting her mother and enjoying the dramatic change that the new retail and business center has made to Crown Bay.
"When I was here last, they didn't have all this," marveled her aunt, Helen Peets Phillip, visiting from Brooklyn. "It's very impressive."
The Port Authority, which owns the property, boasts 80-percent occupancy of its 46 rental units for retailers, offices, kiosk vendors and restaurants. The center, which opened in October 2006, features berthing space for two cruise ships. While tourists were clearly enjoying Friday's festive atmosphere, the Port Authority sponsored the celebration particularly with locals in mind. Stores that typically close in the late afternoon were scheduled to stay open until 9 p.m.
"All Port Authority properties are run in the public interest, and during the holiday season, we believe the Crown Bay Center, given its waterside location, is really going to be one of the nicest venues in the territory," said Marc Stridiron, Port Authority public information officer. "Having this during the holiday season gives our local families an opportunity to relax and enjoy the venue."
That's precisely what former senator and local attorney Arturo Watlington Jr. was doing as he made sure some iguanas enjoyed the holiday spirit by offering them banana peels.
"It's Christmastime, a festive time, so I'm taking it all in, relaxing," Watlington said cheerfully. "And yes — I like to feed the iguanas."
The Fiesta kicked off at 10 a.m. with a Cruzan rum-tasting cart. Soon afterward local food and craft vendors began setting up shop.
"It's early still," said Juliana Osuji, as she tended her jewelry stand mid-afternoon. "I've been here since 8 this morning, but I had a couple sales."
The Fiesta's schedule also included the Bertha C. Boschulte Burning Blazers Steel Band, the Ulla Muller Steel Band, the Gladys Abraham Elementary School Choir, the Rising Stars "Pan Around the Neck" Steel Band, Sweeta Band and, capping off the festivities, a cultural parade scheduled for 8 p.m.
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