One block of Driggs Avenue beside McCarren Park becomes a single long communal table on Saturday, Oct. 24, when Pastry Runners NYC hosts the Longest Pastry Table, a free potluck for runners and run clubs from all five boroughs. It runs from noon to 2 p.m. on Driggs Avenue between North 12th Street and Lorimer Street, at the park's edge near 776 Lorimer Street in Greenpoint.

The timing is deliberate. The organizers set the table on the weekend before the New York City Marathon, to mark the start of taper week, the stretch when marathoners ease off their training before race day.

Who is behind it

Pastry Runners NYC is hosting with two neighborhood partners: the North Brooklyn Parks Alliance and the North Brooklyn Open Streets Community Coalition. Local bakeries are contributing pastries alongside what guests bring.

The event borrows the format of the Longest Table, a model that began in 2022 and has since been picked up by other communities.

How it works

  • Cost: Free.
  • RSVP: Required, because street space is limited. Sign up through the event's RSVP page on Luma, linked from the Pastry Runners site.
  • Bring: A carb to share. Pastries are the theme. Label anything containing common allergens.
  • Seating: First come, first served. Greeters point arrivals to open seats, and run clubs can sit together.
  • Weather: Planned as rain or shine, with the organizers making the call on the day.

Volunteering

The organizers are recruiting volunteers for check-in, greeting, setup, cleanup and photo and video. They are also looking for table captains, who bring a group, set up a stretch of table and tidy it afterward. Bakeries and businesses interested in partnering can write to hello@pastryrunners.com.

Getting there

The table sits on the McCarren Park side of Driggs Avenue. The nearest subway stops are Nassau Avenue on the G and Bedford Avenue on the L.

The details

Saturday, Oct. 24, noon to 2 p.m., Driggs Avenue between North 12th Street and Lorimer Street, Greenpoint. Free with RSVP.

Sources