Events
Battle of The Bartenders
The Battle of the Bartenders Has a New Date — and a New Twist!
The 3rd Annual Battle of the Bartenders is moving from Monday, June 22nd at OLA to Saturday, June 20th at 12 PM — and we’re taking the fun onto 3rd Avenue!
Just like Pizza Wars and Wing Wars, this will now be a walking tour-style event where guests will visit participating stops along 3rd Avenue. But this time, we’re adding a game too — a Walking Bingo Scavenger Tour!
This year, participating bartenders will each create their own version of the signature cocktail:🥒 The Fort Hamilton Distillery Cucumber Vodka Merchant
Guests will sip their way through 11 participating stops, taste each bartender’s version of the cocktail, and vote for their favorite. The bartender with the winning cocktail will be crowned this year’s Battle of the Bartenders Champion.
🏆Along the way, guests will play our Walking Bingo Scavenger Tour, collecting numbers and visiting participating stops throughout 3rd Avenue. The final bingo number will be called when we crown the Battle of the Bartenders winner.
Details
📅 New Date: Saturday, June 20th
🕛 Starts at 12 PM📍 Walking Tour along 3rd Avenue
🚩 Starts at Kitty Kiernans
🏁 Ends at Three Jolly Pigeons
🥒 Featuring Fort Hamilton Distillery Cucumber Vodka
🍹 Vote for the best Fort Hamilton Distillery Cucumber Vodka Merchant
🎲 Walking Bingo Scavenger Tour
🎟️ Tickets: $40 https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/the-2026-battle-of-the-bartenders
Come sip, stroll, vote, play bingo, and support local as we bring the Battle of the Bartenders to 3rd Avenue — walking tour style.
More details, including check-in information, bingo instructions, and event updates, will be sent by email leading up to the event.
You will get to try a small sample of The Fort Hamilton Distillery Vodka Merchant from each bartender that is participating. Each bartender will be making a large batch of "The Merchant" prior to arriving that will be shared with you all.
Confirmed so far are your favorite bartenders from:
(Bars are subject to change)
Chip Cafiero Retirement Party
We’re having a party !
Join the Merchants of Third Avenue Civic Improvement Association, Inc. as we celebrate and thank one of our longest-serving and most dedicated members,
Chip Cafiero, on his retirement after nearly 50 years of organizing the Third Avenue Festival.
📅 Date: Friday, May 15
⏰ Time: 6:30 PM
📍 Location: Greenhouse Cafe
📌 Address: 7717 3rd Avenue
We invite you to pay tribute in person by purchasing your ticket through the link below. Share your appreciation in writing by purchasing an ad in our commemorative journal, which will be distributed that evening!
📝 Journal Ad Info & Inquiries:
📧 MOTAChipJournal@gmail.com
📞 347-236-5988
If you know Bay Ridge, you know how much Chip has meant to Third Avenue! Let’s come together to show him how much he is appreciated and how much he will be missed!
Pizza Wars- Save The Date
Get ready for Bay Ridge’s most delicious showdown. Join the Merchants of Third Avenue Civic Improvement Assoc. Inc. for our annual Pizza Wars — reimagined for 2026 as a full-on square slice battle.
Eat and vote for your favorite square in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn — all while walking and touring our beautiful neighborhood dressed in your Saturday Night Fever best — and supporting merchants from within the Merchants of Third Avenue Civic Improvement Association, the Bay Ridge 5th Avenue BID, and the Bay Ridge 86th Street
Taste of Third
Eat your way through Bay Ridge! One $55 ticket gets you tastings from 20+ Third Avenue restaurants. March 28, 2–5 PM at St. Patrick's Auditorium. No choosing—just taste it all at this beloved annual food celebration.
Merchants Of Third Avenue- Membership Meeting
The Merchants of Third Avenue (MOTA) General Membership Meeting takes place Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 6:30PM. Join fellow Bay Ridge business owners and community members at Pipin's Pub, 8814 3rd Avenue. All members welcome. Visit merchantsofthirdave.com for details.
Social Media Basics for Local Businesses
We’re excited to invite you to a FREE training class exclusively for our paid Merchant Members!
Social Media Basics for Local Businesses
📅 March 16
⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 Curated Momentum, 8514 3rd Avenue
Join the Merchants of Third Avenue Social Media Team and our social media expert, Julianna Degidio from Dex Marketing, for an easy-to-follow session covering:
• Posts, Stories & Collaborations on Instagram and Facebook
• Creating reels from scratch
• Tagging and collaborating with other businesses (including MOTA accounts!)
• Best practices to grow your visibility
Light bites and refreshments will be provided by ALC Italian Grocery.
This class is free, but RSVP is highly recommended, and attendance is limited to paid Merchant Members only.
Please reserve your spot here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/mota-social-media-seminar
We hope you’ll join us for an informative and engaging evening!
I am Mighty - Stroll into Wellness
Stroll Into Wellness 2026
Join us for a FREE community wellness event in Bay Ridge! Start your morning at Mighty Functional Fitness Studio, then stroll through the Green Spa district on 3rd Avenue.
Saturday, January 31, 2026 | 10:00am
8804 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Enjoy light refreshments, wellness tips, and activities while you pick up your special Wellness Passport. Visit participating merchants along 3rd Avenue for shopping incentives and get your passport stamped at each stop. Return to Mighty Functional Fitness Studio for a raffle with exciting prizes!
This neighborhood event brings together local businesses and the Bay Ridge community to celebrate health, wellness, and shopping local. Don't miss this chance to explore what makes our 3rd Avenue corridor special.
Runway of Hope Breast Cancer Fashion Show Fundraiser
Join us for a special fashion show fundraiser in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!!! Want to attend? Scan the QR code on the promotional material posted on Facebook by the Merchants of Third Avenue to get your tickets! @ThirdAvenueBayRidge
Let’s come together to support an amazing cause, celebrate local talent, and uplift our community.
Mammogram Bus
We’re proud to host a Mammogram Bus courtesy of Councilman Brannan. Call 718-921-1055 to make your appointment.
Mammograms are FREE!
General MOTA Meeting
Grab a coffee and join us as we discuss plans for our fall and winter events to close out the year. As we head into the final stretch of 2025, we’re calling on all merchants to come together so we can continue to grow and strengthen Third Avenue!
Location: Curated Momentum, 8514 3rd Avenue