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Ansonia High School students to participate in Cinco de Mayo fest

ANSONIA - Crave, a Latin-fusion restaurant on Main Street, presents its third Annual Cinco de Mayo celebration this Saturday from noon until 11 p.m. in a parking lot adjacent to the restaurant. 

The event will showcase members of the Ansonia High School Spanish Honor Society in support of the City’s 125^th Anniversary celebration.

In conjunction with the Ansonia 125 yearlong celebration, Crave presents the Ansonia High School Spanish Club and Honor Society as part of the event.

“It is important to join forces throughout Ansonia; we need to come together as a community and Crave’s Cinco de Mayo celebration provided a great opportunity to include Paula Erardi’s Spanish students,” Ansonia 125 Chief Coordinator Melissa Torres said.  

Erardi has been a Spanish teacher at Ansonia High School since 2006. She is a 2003 graduate of the University of Connecticut, and has Masters’ degrees in Spanish and Education. 

Erardi, a Meriden resident, has traveled to many countries and loves sharing her love of travel with her students.

A group of her students will be at the celebration from 1:30-4:30 p.m. They include: Kimberly Robayo, Kaitlyn Aguilar, Pablo Suarez, Sanjida Shamim, Ryan Cafaro, Jennifer Godfrey, and Jesse Guevara. 

This is a press release from Ansonia 125 chief coordinator Melissa Torres.

Ansonia restaurant to help mark city's 125th anniversary

Cinco de Mayo event planned downtown

ANSONIA - It’s time to spice up downtown as Crave restaurant announces its annual Crave Presents Cinco de Mayo Saturday. 
The free outdoor celebration will begin at noon and continue through 11 p.m. in the 5,000-square foot parking lot adjacent to the downtown Latin-fusion restaurant.

Table seating and tents will be set up throughout. Food and beverage tickets can be purchased on-site at the event.     

Three bands will perform throughout the afternoon and evening hours including Juke Box PD Bauer, Bobs Fault Band, and salsa band Orquesta Son 7.

The menu offered by chef Fabian Delgado will be prepared at on-premise grills, and include carne asada, tacos, burritos, tostadas, and more. Beverages will include margaritas, beer, and wine. 

In support of the city’s 125^th anniversary celebration, members of the Ansonia High School Spanish Honor Society will showcase Spanish artworks, perform readings, and offer live singing performances.          

“As this annual event continues to evolve and grow in popularity, it offers to become an anticipated entertainment anchor to the city’s downtown renaissance,” said Crave owner Libby Meissner.

Parking is free throughout downtown.

For information, contact Meissner, owner of Crave, 203-735-3300 or e-mail crave102@yahoo.com.


This post is taken from a press release from the restaurant.

Cinco de Mayo celebration to add to festivities Sunday in Ansonia

  ANSONIA - Sunday promises to be a festive day downtown.
    Not only will the day commemorate the inventor of the bicycle, Ansonia resident Pierre Lallement, with a bicycle festival but it also will feature a Cinco de Mayo celebration.
  
     The second annual fiesta starts at noon. It will be hosted by Libby Meissner, owner of Crave, a Caribbean fusion restaurant at 102 Main St.
     The event will be held in the Doyle Senior Center parking lot adjacent to the restaurant. 
     Crave is located inside the historic Ansonia Opera House.
    “We’ll have live music from The Ascensions and another band to be announced,” Meissner said.
    Illusionist Chris Lengyul will perform from noon to 1:30 p.m. and again from 8 to 10 p.m., she said.
    The menu will feature Mexican fare, including chicken and beef fajitas and tacos, carne asada, chiles rellenos, as well as margaritas and Model Especial on draft.
    “We’ll have giveaways, T-shirts, gift cards (to Crave and Only for Her boutique) and more,” Meissner said.
    The party ends at 10 p.m.                                             

Ansonia's ethnic mix, history make life interesting

With the warm weather approaching, life seems to be getting busier, with lots of outdoor events planned in the Valley.

Two “firsts” planned for downtown Ansonia have sparked my interest.

On Saturday, Libby Meissner, owner of Crave, a popular Caribbean fusion restaurant situated in the historic Ansonia Opera House, is hosting a Cinco de Mayo celebration.

The event will run from “noon to 11:59 p.m.,” Meissner said this week. It will be held in the Doyle Senior Center parking lot adjacent to the restaurant at 102 Main St.

Meissner said Latin food (burritos, fajitas, refried beans), live music featuring three bands, and a festive atmosphere will be the order of the day.

For those who prefer a quieter meal, the restaurant will be open for dining.

I’m looking forward to it! I must admit I’ve never been to a Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Do I need a sombrero?

And four weeks from now, on June 3, a street festival honoring Pierre Lallement, inventor of the bicycle, is scheduled to start at about 11 a.m.

Lallement lived in Ansonia in 1865 when he pedaled his invention from Ansonia to New Haven.

Bicyclists will be making the approximately 11-mile trek from the New Haven Green (where there is a plaque in honor of Lallement) through Woodbridge and Seymour to downtown Ansonia. 

There will be a brief speaking program about Lallement, followed by a festival featuring everything from a tricycle race to bike safety information and free bike helmets for kids to food offered outside at downtown restaurants.  

I won’t be biking, but I’ll be there. Will you?