The “Dog Days of Summer” aren’t just going to be hot and long — they’re going to be tubular.
Aggieville’s annual distraction from Manhattan’s summer heat will offer the usual sidewalk sales and community activities, but a 1980s costume contest promises to reward the three best-dressed attendees with gift baskets from Aggieville vendors. The Dog Days event, which begins Thursday and ends Saturday, will feature Friday night activities like free barbecue from Coco Bolos at 6 p.m. in Triangle Park followed by a costume contest at 7 at Zotcis Attire.
Sisters of Sound and the Manhattan Music Coalition will provide popular ‘80s music for a dance Friday evening.
Zotcis owner Sara Meyer said she and other Aggieville merchants will judge the costume contest.
“There are some really great prizes,” Meyer said. “[Winners] will receive baskets with things like gift certificates and merchandise from Aggieville stores.”
She also said Zotcis will have sales on shoes, sunglasses, jeans and other merchandise during all three days of the event.
Sisters of Sound will also be having event sales, owner Sarah Cunnick said. S.O.S. is having a “10-20-30 sale,” which takes 10 percent off the price of new CDs and LPs, 20 percent off used CDs and 30 percent off used LPs.
“We have smash-and-grabs for people just starting to collect vinyl,” she said. “They’re boxes of 15 themed LPs selling for $5.”
There will also be a haggler’s bin where customers can name their price for certain items, as well as poster and shirt sales.
Cunnick said some smash-and-grab themes are “soundtrack for your life,” “lounge music” and “foreign affair.”
Most stores in Aggieville will be having sales, but merchants said shoppers should not expect everything to be displayed on sidewalks.
Cunnick said she encourages Aggieville customers hoping to find a good buy to take a look inside every store they are interested in, not just at what is displayed on the sidewalks.
“Some things are heat-sensitive, like vinyl and art supplies,” she said. “And some owners just don’t want to put their stuff outside, so it’s always good to look inside, too.”