With 600 vendors and nine live performance stages spanning 10 blocks from Hicks Street to 4th Avenue, it wouldn’t take a whole lot to make your experience at the Atlantic Antic Festival more frantic than Antic. To ensure your excursion to Brooklyn is both fun and filling, we caught up with long-time Antic producer Karen Auster to get some expert tips on all the must see, must do, must eat spots to know about before the festival starts this Sunday at 10 a.m. 1.This is one festival where the first and best advice is not necessarily to get there early. Prime time for the Antic is between noon and 5. Most of the music doesn’t start until noon, so this way you’re sure not to miss out on anything.
2. Start at the beginning. The Antic covers approximately a mile of Atlantic Avenue. By entering at either end—4th Avenue or Hicks Street—you won’t get caught up having to back track or worry about anything you might have missed. Extra tip: If you start at 4th Avenue, you can check out all artisan vendors located between there and Nevins Street before you’re too drunk or full to appreciate them.
3. Come hungry. Food is something the Antic is famous for, and this year they’re even adding a Festival Favorite Award honoring the most popular edible treat. Antic food highlights include: Blue Marble Ice Cream, Building on Bond’s pulled pork sandwich and La Mancha’s grilled sardines.
4. The Antic features culture and artists from around the world, and something particularly unique to the festival is the Middle Eastern entertainment and food. Make sure to stop by Sahadi’s at Clinton & Court Sts. for a bite and then check out the Amer-Aba belly dancing stage.
5. If music is your main interest on Sunday, head to Henry & Clinton Sts. The amount of live stages showcases the festivals extensive music offerings- blues, rock, R&B, country, jazz makes it a great place to grab friends and a beer and drink away the afternoon.
