On Tuesday and Wednesday, the New York Mets hosted their first ever “A Celebration of Queens Culture” in a joint venture between team owner Steve Cohen and Hard Rock International — the pair attempting to bring the $8 billion Metropolitan Park which features a casino to the land next to Citi Field.
The two-day celebration is a way to honor the diverse community of Queens, whether that be through art, food, or other facets of life. Residents of Queens were generously treated to an exclusive $10 ticket for the Mets games versus the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In a move to honor the delectable food from Queens, select city-based vendors at Citi Field had discounts of up to 15% for the games. Poprice and RyRy’s Kitchen, both past Taste of Queens vendors, each made special pop-up appearances in the Bullpen Plaza on both days.
Cookie Crumz, Pig Beach BBQ, Chiddy’s Cheesesteaks, and Benny’s Cuban Café were just some of the vendors who had discounted price rates over the two days.
What is any borough without its unique music? Both nights featured special musical artists based in the Queens area. Nina Sky, a duo from Astoria whose hit “Move Ya Body” peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2004, performed the national anthem on Tuesday night. Queen’s DJ SONI also performed throughout that night.
Juliet Ivy, a musical artist from Forest Hills, performed the national anthem on Wednesday night.
Tuesday also featured community organizations in the Bullpen Plaza, showcasing local resources for Queen’s residents. There were even Queens artists on-site at Citi Field, creating epic pieces of art that reflect the upbeat Queens culture.
The Mets ultimately lost 9-4 on Tuesday before bouncing back with a strong 9-1 win on Wednesday. Regardless, there is no doubt that the Queen’s cultural celebration was a success at Citi Field. It would not be surprising to see the Mets do more locally-based specials like this over the coming years.
