Critics Still Want San Gennaro Feast Cut Short

February 18, 2011 9:49 AM

San Gennaro Feast (Credit: CBS 2)

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NEW YORK (CBS 2) – Could the “Feast of all Feasts” be toned down this fall? There were calls Thursday to shorten the San Gennaro Feast, held every September in Little Italy.

The tradition that started more than 85 years ago has drawn so much negative attention that members of the Community Board 2 were trying to cut down the festival. Instead of running seven blocks along Mulberry Street to Houston, it would stop three blocks short at Kenmare.

The festival runs from Sept. 15 through Sept. 25.

Some local shops and boutiques claim the 11-day event dramatically lowers their profits because the festival runs from 11 a.m. until 12:30 at night.

SEE: Photo Gallery – San Gennaro Festival 2010

“It killed our business pretty much for two weeks out of the summer, which should be our busiest time,” Emily Snell, of the Paul Frank Store, said. “It’s unfortunate for business owners around this area.”

Should the San Gennaro festival be shortened? Sound off in our comments section.

“Trash, noise, breaking the rules. So many people. Just complete chaos. I don’t even want to be here,” resident Courtney Hewitt said.

The San Gennaro faithful want the tradition to stay. “For shop owners in what they call NoLita to say they can’t make money with a million people walking the streets, either their business concept is totally off or something’s wrong with what they’re selling,” said John Fratta, Figli Di San Gennaro Board Member.

“This is a neighborhood and a city event that must continue,” said resident Bob Marshall. “If they cut it three blocks this year, what are they going to want next year? It’s sort of a ‘starve the beast’ if they can get it out and what they’re trying to do is to change the culture of the neighborhood.”

“It’s an 85-year-old tradition. When these people rented their stores, rented their apartments, it was here. It wasn’t a secret come September the streets were going to turn into a carnival,” Figli Di San Gennaro board member Ernest Magliato said.

The mayor’s office has the final decision on whether the Feast runs its usual seven blocks.

“If they cut it three blocks this year, what are they going to want next year? It’s sort of a ‘starve the beast’ if they can get it out and what they’re trying to do is to change the culture of the neighborhood,” Marshall said.

Critics Still Want San Gennaro Feast Cut Short

BigEZ

Sad that you can call me a name first and because I defend myself I get reported!! Dispicible!!!

San Gennaro

Check the blog pathetic, you called names first!!!

Anna

This feast has been going on for 85yrs! Why stop it now, all of a sudden its a nuisance?
Ahmed

Ignore this schmuck bigez
He’s not worth it
What he doesn’t realise is he was the first to call you a name!
Idiot!

San Gennaro

thank you Ahmed

Sal Manella

This festival is like dental work without novocaine. Or, imagine if you would, listening to “Hey Mambo, Mambo Italiano” on infinite repeat. I am from Italy, but when this festival is going I get in my Zeppole and fly away.
Miker

Hey Liberal Marshmellows why don’t you just shut it down and throw a bike lane through it along with a sit down island. Instead of complaining about a tradition that has been going on longer than you have been alive, move back to Ohio or whatever no life and values of tradition you came from. This is New York, deal with it or SHUT UP.
nyc

Bring back the gambling ? The feast used to be better in the old days. My opinion.
San Gennaro

Cardboard gangster…you pathetic slob, I was not the one to say that anyone needed to be kicked, it was you!!!! All I did was answer you ignorant rant!!!! I think it’s you trying to be a gangster!!!

BigEZ

Yet another personal attack By the cardboard gangster!
God damn grease ball!
San Gennaro

Name calling will get you no where, a pathetic slob like you has no other way of fighting back except calling names, I pitty people like you!!!! Cowards like you will never accomplish anything in life. YOU POOR SOUL.
San Gennaro

There you go calling names again, I must have hit a soft spot. I repeat no life, pathetic person that is a big coward. No man or woman would use name calling as a defence.. JUST A POOR SOUL!!!!!

Scmellma Calzones

Cut the damn thing short. After all, how the hell much sausage and peppers can you eat?! Lousy gavoons don’t respect nothin’.

San Gennaro

We can eat enough Sausage and peppers to allow this great feast last 10 whole long days and run from Canal Street to Houston Street, you gavoon!!!!

jONHHY

CLEARLY TONY SOPRANO NEEDS TO VISIT THESE YUPPIES WITH THE BOYS..
San Gennaro

Pathetic you are!!

BigEZ

What’s a matter you hey!!
Gotta no respect !!
Why you look so sad!!
It’s a nice a place !!
Shut up a ya face!!
San Gennaro

I told you, you are pathetic!!!
BigEZ

You need a good kick in the cannoli’s
San Gennaro

Bring it you pathetic slob!!!
BigEZ

Listen to the cardboard gangster getting aggressive, you couldn’t fight your way out of a bowl of sloppy pasta and meatballs!
jant

I have reported this ahole bigez.to AOL. Don’t anyone bother to address this moron.

jant

I mean cbs
San Gennaro

Thank you so much!!!

Mr. Armenia

Thia ias ethic discrimination towards the Italian people.
Ugh

I lived down there–thank god on Mott and not Mulberry. Contrary to popular belief, people just don’t “know” about this festival. You think real estate agents disclose that there will be a 10 day nightmare outside your home? Haha–they don’t! My heart goes out to anyone who has to put up with that festival.

What “ethnic” (or otherwise) festival runs for 10 days and creates such havoc?

SanGennaro

Ugh, the bars and the noise on the streets the rest of the year dosen’t bother you? The consistent breaking into cars dosen’t bother you? It’s only the Feast of San Gennaro that bothers you? There is a solution to everything!!!! MOVE!!!
Wasilla Gorila

I totally agree with you. It’s selfish act when you don’t care about the effects on other people’s lives businesses
JR

Why would the real estate agent have to disclose anything? Oh yeah, god forbid the hoemowner take any kind of responsibility to find out all they can about the place they are about to dump a ton of money into to buy or rent!
Mary

Thank God that it does run 10 days, it keeps the people having fun and something to do. If you don’t like this stay home and watch TV. worry about yourself, and know one else. Ugh to you

C.J.

Maybe the feast should be held at Seaside Heights
JMP

For as long as I can remember (and that is a long time), the feast went from Canal to Kenmare. One year they tried to extend it south of Canal a block or two, but that was a disaster. Then about 10 years ago, it was extended to Spring St. It has only been going all the way to Houston for the last three or four years. Many of the people complaining are the ones who live between Spring and Houston, which was NEVER traditional feast area. The organizers of the feast just want to make more and more money, rent space to more and more carts, and don’t care how many streets they take. Soon it will be in the East Villiage.

JMP

I forgot to add, before all you people comment, YOU should do some research.
San Gennaro

JMP you obviously didn’t grow up in LIttle Italy, because your statistics are all wrong. You must be one of those people who live here 10-15 years and think you know everything. Well I am a 52 yr. resident and the feast originally went from what used to be Park Street, now known as Mosco St. to Houston St. because the Church…St Patrics was always involved. Now whom ever you are. please get your facts straight.

Mr. Armenia

Thia ia racial discrimination towards the Italian people.

Vinnie Bragadoccio

Italian isn’t a race, it’s an ethnicity.

Mr. Armenia

I mean ethnic sorry

MARIA

DEAL WITH IT PEOPLE!!!! THIS FEAST HAS BEEN A NEW YORK TRADITION FOR YEARS. WHY IS IT THAT WHEN PEOPLE FROM OTHER STATES SETTLE HERE THEY TRY TO CHANGE WHAT WAS AND IF YOU A NATURAL BORN NEW YORKER WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? WE HAD A FEAST EVERY YEAR WHERE I LIVED IN BENSONHURST AND YES IT WAS A PAIN. THE PARKING WAS HORRENDOUS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT HELL IT WAS ONLY FOR A WEEK OR TWO AND YOU JUST DEALT WITH IT. IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT MOVE OUT PEOPLE , GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM.
San Gennaro

Joy, go back to Wisconsin where you came from, we don’t need you!!!!
Lovebringer Ortiz

Obviously they moved into those stores without doing any research. Otherwise, you would have known what you were getting yourself into. If you don’t care for the festival, or seem to be losing your profits, then there is always the option to move out and/or move on.

Also, the Puerto Rican parade ” riots” were not actually done by Puerto Ricans. moral of the story? A little research goes a long way. You don’t like? The you don’t attend. Thanks.
Joy

Street after street its the same vendors selling the same type of food. Shorten the blocks AND shorten the time span. There is absolutely no reason for a 10 day festival!
Micha

Um, the Festival has been going on FOREVER! Were these people not aware of this when they moved into the neighborhood? Also, do these people complaining not realize that even if they cut the area, the same amount of people will come and the streets will be even more cluttered. I am tired of hearing some people in NYC complain about things like this, if you want to live a suburban life- move to the burbs!! As for the store oweners, they knew what it was when the moved there.. the feast doesn’t last forever- just DEAL WITH IT!
Mrs. Manicotti

Dear me! Where will I be able to get authentic eye-talian food?
Really, it’s an 85 year old “tradition” of sh1t.

Ignorance Beater

Nice racist comment. What lousy food do “your” people have? There are few cultures that date as far back and have had such a significant impact on government, architecture, music, technology, and yes…amazing food that many people love. It helps to be informed before you attempt to bash an entire culture.

Mrs. Manicotti

I am Italian. My point is that the swill that is served at this festival is about as Italian as a bagel.

Mike

I agree with Mr. Miglito, This shouldn’t have been a suprise to the new renters or storekeepers, They didn’t sneak the festival in last week ! If you hate it so much, there is a solution, MOVE!!!!
Ann

If the feast is to remain the same time and length more should be done to keeping the area clean. I work in this area and if you saw what it looked like early morning you might consider not returning in the evening.
Biill B

At least there are no riots like the Puerto Rican day parade!

Dan Te

Don’t forget the gun shootings at the Jamaican/Haitian day parades….

ProFromDover

If this was a minority ethnic festival, no one would dare to derail it.

Paesano

You think we Italians are a “majority” somehow??
Devenio

ProFromDover: Please reserve your comments for the ignorant of you town.

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Critics Still Want San Gennaro Feast Cut Short

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