Restaurant promotions continue: Central Avenue Dining Guide hits the streets

Volunteers distribute Central Avenue Dining Guides at Taste of Albany 2013, a fundraiser hosted by the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless at the New York State Museum. The volunteers also sold raffle tickets as part of the CBID sponsored raffle; the winner took home $700 worth of donated gift certificates for district restaurants and businesses. 

The Central Avenue Business Improvement District continues to tout its restaurants and dining options. This spring, the organization distributed the recently printed Central Avenue Dining Guide at locations throughout the district,  including physicians’ offices, garages, and supermarkets. The guide is also being distributed at 27 tourist destinations and hotels throughout the region, including the Albany Heritage Visitors Center, Albany International Airport, the Washington Avenue Armory, The Linda, the Spectrum 8, and City Hall.

The business improvement district also participated in two dining events this spring, “Dining Out for Life,” April 25 and “Taste of Albany 2013,” May 2.

During “Dining Out for Life,” customers can eat at participating restaurants and have a portion of their bills donated to AIDS research and prevention.  In exchange, the organization promotes the event and participating restaurants in the media, and produces and distributes promotional materials at restaurants. This year, LaZeez Restaurant, Bob & Ron’s Fish Fry, Waterworks Pub, and Salsa Latina participated in the event, opening their doors to customers from across the region, and helping raise $118,000 so far, more than any dining previous event

“The event went great. We actually hit an all-time agency milestone,” says Kat Brown, Project Coordinator for the AIDS Council.

“Taste of Albany” is the culinary showcase at the New York State Museum, where restaurants bring samples of their cuisine and in an effort to introduce their restaurant to new customers. The event is one of the Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless’s largest annual fundraisers. This year, five district restaurants, Grappa ‘72, Pie in the Sky Bakery and Catering, Honest Weight Food Co-op, and Corner Kitchen, participated, exhibiting together and providing a taste of the Avenue to Albany professionals. “It was a great event. I had two customers come in the next day, who I met at Taste of Albany,” says Nevillene Gaston-White, owner of the Corner Kitchen.

Events like this and the distribution of the dining guide help promote Central Avenue’s restaurants and build the street’s identity as a destination for diners.

For more information about the Central Avenue Dining Guide or how your business can benefit, please contact the Central Avenue Business Improvement District at (518) 462-4300.