Events and Business Promotions

White Plains Restaurant Month

Downtown White Plains is a dining hotspot for the city… and the county! With nearly one hundred eateries ranging from quick serve to fine dining in our BID boundaries alone, the menu of options are unlimited. Things become even more appetizing in January when we roll out Restaurant Month, nearly 30 days of special deals designed to bring foot traffic into our eateries during the slower time of the year. In 2022, the White Plains BID held its Second Annual Restaurant Month from January 3rd to the 31st. Each eatery was given creative license in determining their lunch and dinner menus within the given price points of $20.95 for lunch, $30.95 for dinner, or $40.95 for a second-tiered dinner. (With Covid-19 still a concern, take-out options were also available.) To spread the word, the BID ran a television commercial sponsored by Westchester Magazine, Heineken USA, and Continuum 57, and released various print ads. Social media giveaways and an Instagram takeover kept the buzz going. As a result, many of the participating restaurants reported January as their highest month of sales.

Fitness February

Those who resolved to get fit at the start of the New Year had extra motivation to continue their healthy habits in February when the BID launched Fitness February (1st through the 28th). An effort to bring attention to the wide variety of gyms and fitness boutiques in downtown White Plains, Fitness February highlighted fifteen businesses (including the Complete Golfer, Evolve Athletic Club, Hourglass Women’s Wellness, Orangetheory Fitness, Phatburn, Pure Barre, and StretchLab, to name but a few!) with an assortment of promotions, including free trials, new member deals, workout bundles and contests with prizes.

To ensure the greatest reach, our BID produced a television commercial, ran targeted ads with Westchester Magazine, and sent direct marketing materials to area residents and concierges. Social media marketing and giveaways rounded out the campaign.

March Into Self-Care

The BID completed its winter series of local business promotions with MARCH into Self-Care, a mélange of hair, skin, and massage treatments cultivated to fight the winter blues! From March 1 to March 31, salons, barber shops and spas offered 25% discounts on select services, ranging from keratin treatments, to massage, to acupuncture, and of course–the classic cut and color. March into Self-Care was advertised via News12, The Examiner, The Journal News, Westchester Magazine (media sponsor) and digital ads throughout the downtown. Westchester family blogs and influencers also highlighted the month. Businesses reported gaining new clients, deepening relationships with existing clientele, and securing appointments well beyond March by extending their special offer. We are grateful to Continuum 57 for signing on as a leading sponsor and providing travel hand sanitizers to all businesses to distribute to customers.

Downtown White Plains Wing Walk

Our savory event, Wing Walk (sponsored by Heineken), brought people back together again on April 23, with the tempting opportunity to try two different wing flavors at each of the 15 participating restaurants within a two-hour window. Over 800 people attended, consuming more than 16,000 wings, with $25 collected per ticket and all earnings divided equally. Following the event, 75% of participants voted on the best wings in downtown White Plains, eventually crowning Delicias del Jireh’s “Wings a La Limena” the winner of 2022.

Music In Motion

Thanks to grant funding from Arts Westchester via the New York State Arts Alive regrant program, we livened up downtown with roving musicians every Thursday evening (5:30 - 7:30) during the month of May. Alfresco diners at our many sidewalk cafes (and lucky passersby!) were treated to a variety of tunes by Mariachi Sol Mixteco, Shag Horns, and the Brass Queens. Especially notable: the celebration of the Harriet Tubman sculpture on Renaissance Plaza with a brass arrangement of the beloved anthem, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’.

Rock White Plains

Over 2000 revelers filled Mamaroneck Avenue at Main Street on July 26th, when American rock band Spin Doctors, best known for their early 1990’s hits, Two Princes and Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong!, provided a rousing performance. Accompanied by a fun opening act by Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds and outdoor dining at picnic tables, concert-goers were able to dance, reminisce and introduce younger attendees to a few beloved songs from their youth. According to News 12, this “incredible” concert “touched multiple generations” and “left a smile on their face”.

Tunes in June

In partnership with Argent Ventures and Cushman and Wakefield, the BID collaborated with concert producer Doug Panero Presents to curate the Tunes in June musical series, every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. Carsie Blanton, Jonah Smith, Couch and Danny Jonokuchi & the Revisionists made the sounds of summer all the sweeter for approximately 800 show-attendees. At the final performance, the audience was treated to a special bonus: a fashion show by local business Loola Doola Boutique with refreshments by Via Garibaldi.

Tunes at Noon

Between September 22 - October 27th, the BID, again with assistance from Argent Ventures and Cushman and Wakefield, proudly presented Tunes at Noon, an offshoot of the acclaimed Tunes in June series. Hosted at the White Plains Plaza every Thursday between 12-1 pm, this six-week lunchtime concert series provided a captivating escape from the ordinary lunch hour. Officegoers and passers-by alike had the pleasure of enjoying delicious takeout from nearby restaurants while listening to live music performances by pop/jazz vocalist Mariah Elizabeth, electric cellist Eyeglasses, guitar duo Frank Vignola and pop/funk singer-songwriter Becky Crosby.

White Plains Jazz Fest

A partnership between ArtsWestchester, the City of White Plains, and the White Plains BID, JazzFest (now in its eleventh year) has become a signature White Plains event presenting free and affordable jazz experiences to enthusiasts from Westchester and beyond. The 2022 festival took place September 1418, offering a variety of musical opportunities for everyone to enjoy, starting with an opening show by Grace Kelly, a multiple award-winning singer, saxophonist and songwriter who has released 13 highly acclaimed albums. Numerous additional performances were sprinkled across diverse venues (both indoors and outdoors), including Grace Church, the White Plains Library plaza, and on Court Street, many of them FREE or affordably-priced. The event culminated with the Jazz and Food Fest on Mamaroneck Avenue on the 18th which delighted an audience of 4,000 with five performances of captivating music, dancing, and delicious dishes from various BID restaurant vendors from 12:306:45 p.m.

OktoberFest

Prost! (That’s “Cheers!” in German to you.) On Sunday, October 9th, over 6500 local residents and tourists (some sporting lederhosen and dirndls, though not required) convened in the heart of Westchester County to mark the return of White Plains OktoberFest. People took delight in the German beers offered by Sam Adams, Heineken, Captain Lawrence, Angry Orchard, and Paulaner, sold by 12 of our participating restaurants–Archie Grand, Brazen Fox, Cantina Taco and Tequila Bar , Freebird, Hudson Grille, Lazy Boy Saloon, Lilly’s, Ron Blacks, Sundance Kitchen, Walter’s Hot Dogs, Whisky Lounge, and Wolf and Warrior. Walter’s Hot Dogs supplied seasonal food while Melina & the Oompahs played authentic German classics. There were a plethora of competitions, games, and family-friendly activities (including a hot dog toss!) sponsored by Zeiss. Everyone united in singing “Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit!”

Zombie Walk

The BID’s annual Zombie Walk was held on October 22 from 10 am – 2 pm in partnership with the Galleria White Plains and the Haunt of Rocky Ledge. Participants dressed up as the undead and traipsed around downtown. For the first two hours, makeup artists were available at the Galleria to help with completing participants’ spooky transformations. Wandering zombies were then invited to take advantage of exclusive deals offered at more than fourteen businesses. While some of the costumes were certainly scary, Zombie Walk remained at its core a family-friendly and welcoming day for all, with activities including a scavenger hunt and spooky contests to round out the experience.

White Plains Holiday Market

This year’s Holiday Market appeared on the bricklined Court Street with 46 charming glass-enclosed booths and a brand new addition: a large heated tent carrying a selection of ready-to-heat and gourmet food provisions. Local crafters, artisans, designers, home goods purveyors and more sold holiday gift seekers a variety of unique gifts ranging from fresh-made sangria, handmade bath salts, warm sweaters and hats, bespoke socks, to winter table arrangements and pine-wood ornaments. Eight heated igloos available for private reservations served as unique experiential dining pods for attendees to enjoy local takeout or bites from the tent. The BID partnered with the City of White Plains and 914 PopUps to host the annual event from 12pm – 7pm. Other attractions: regular visits from Santa Claus, the annual Christmas tree lighting to kick off the festivities, seasonal professional photo sessions, and cheery music playing along the street, along with hot cocoa and the traditional mulled wine of European holiday markets (Glühwein) available for sale at the BID wooden chalet. Special thanks to our Platinum sponsor, The Galleria, for providing power to this festive event.

Harriet Tubman: Journey to Freedom

Harriet Tubman was an escaped enslaved woman who became a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, leading enslaved people to freedom before the Civil War, all while carrying a bounty on her head. But she was also a nurse, a Union spy and a women’s suffrage supporter. Tubman is one of the most recognized icons in American history and her legacy has inspired countless people from every race and background.

Ms. Tubman’s legacy and bravery were honored in White Plains during the months of April through June when the nine-foot 2,400 lb. bronze sculpture entitled Harriet Tubman: the Journey to Freedom by Wesley Wofford was placed at Renaissance Plaza as part of a larger traveling exhibition throughout the eastern United States. The BID and the City of White Plains partnered with 25 additional local community and faith organizations to highlight the statue’s presence in our city. A series of walks, talks, and events –most of them free–taught the public about Harriet’s extraordinary life, bravery, and heroism. Highlights of this special public art initiative included a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 2 at Renaissance Plaza to welcome the sculpture upon arrival (attended by Tubman descendant Ernestine Martin Wyatt), Pre-K “Grab and Go” lantern activity kits from the local library, and a “Strawberry Trail”--a selection of menu items with strawberries (a favorite treat of Ms. Tubman’s) curated by the BID and its many restaurants. The White Plains Youth Bureau and the White Plains BID also partnered to organize a story walk. Through the month of May, families were invited to read portions of the children’s book “Before She Was Harriet” written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransom via placements inthe storefronts of multiple downtown venues, a wonderful way to promote physical activity, literacy and family fun.