A look around Lockport’s downtown area on Monday revealed a stage being set up at Lockview Plaza. Franklin Rezarch, owner of B&D Bagels, was getting his string band ready as tents unfolded and kid-friendly crafting activities were unpacked.
Later Rezarch said that he felt good about the event and was looking for more excuses to bring music and fun outside his restaurant.
“It was a fun time,” he said, pointing to a few clay figures the children had made while he had jammed to the banjo, upright bass and violin on his guitar.
A crowd of people centered around Lockview Plaza for the event with more coming from the bridges over the canal. Many just walked through, though some stayed a few minutes to check out the music. Even Mayor John Lombardi III, who said he was visiting several events in the city, was found on the sidewalk by the building looking for the eclipse.
Other businesses were also celebrating even as it looked like the moon covering the sun would be blotted out by clouds.
At the rear of the plaza, Sterling Carroll of Spill Your Creativity said he was excited to see the response to the T-shirts he’d designed.
“I’ve made over a hundred and half of them have sold,” he said. He said he planned to use the revenue for more events.
In Molinaros, the entire family was getting together for a pizza party. Over at Lock 34, a cotton candy machine was outside for the kids and the inside was packed.
“Five dollars off any pizza, all day, only today,” Mike Molinaro said at his restaurant on Walnut and Pine streets.
Over at Steamworks Coffee on Canal Street, owner Jon Brose said the weekend has been busy, much like summertime, though he noted it died off Monday.
“Many of them might have chased the sun south for clearer weather,” he said. “But we’ve been pretty busy.”
Back at Lockview Plaza, the sun was eclipsed by the moon, but the meeting of the two space bodies wasn’t visible. The entire city did grow dark and Todd Chenez of Chenez’s Popcorn walked out of his shop where he was preparing several flavors of popcorn and said it was exactly like it was at 2 a.m.
“It’s weird because for a minute it was as quiet and dark as the middle of the night,” he said. “It’s fantastic to see a sunrise and sunset in just four minutes.”