Love The Ave Sidewalk Sale Returns August 1
There’s no better way to spend a summer afternoon on The Ave than shopping local, enjoying family-friendly activities, and celebrating the vibrant community that makes Acushnet Avenue one of New Bedford’s most unique destinations.
Join us on Saturday, August 1, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the Love The Ave Sidewalk Sale, when businesses along Acushnet Avenue bring their products, specials, and promotions outdoors for an afternoon of shopping, dining, and discovery.
The festivities will also extend to Nye Street Pocket Park, home of artist Keith Francis’ iconic Love Locks sculpture, where visitors can enjoy a variety of free activities throughout the day. Families can take advantage of free kids’ activities, face painting, music and entertainment, and exciting giveaways.
Whether you’re looking for great deals, authentic international cuisine, or simply a fun way to spend the day with friends and family, the Love The Ave Sidewalk Sale is the perfect opportunity to experience the energy and diversity of New Bedford’s North End while supporting local businesses.
Come shop, explore, and show some love for The Ave!
Patio de Comida Finds a New Home in the North End
Patio de Comida returned to New Bedford’s North End this summer in a new location that celebrates both the neighborhood’s rich history and its vibrant future.
Now held directly across from the Community Economic Development Center (CEDC) at 235 N. Front Street, the popular outdoor food patio has already welcomed visitors for two successful Saturdays featuring authentic cuisine from local food entrepreneurs. One final Patio de Comida is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. giving residents and visitors one more opportunity this summer to enjoy delicious food, live entertainment, and a lively community gathering.
The final Patio de Comida on Saturday, August 29 will feature the traditional Guatemalan convite dancers – and you won’t want to miss the amazing costumes and performances by this group! Activities for the kids will include a barriletes kite-making workshop, painting with Fidel, and balloon sculptures. The Fishing Heritage Center, which has installed the “Catching A Wider Net” exhibit in the CEDC basement hall, will also be offering free family portrait photography.
The CEDC will also be giving away backpacks for children getting ready to go back to school, donated by Sen. Mark Montigny’s Children’s Fund.
The site across the street from the CEDC has provided an added benefit for participating vendors. This space allows them to utilize the CEDC’s fully equipped commercial kitchen, located in the building’s basement, for food preparation. The kitchen is also available to other food entrepreneurs looking to launch or grow their businesses, making it an important resource for New Bedford’s culinary community. (Email the CEDC’s Executive Director Corinn Williams at corinn@cedcnewbedford.org for further info.)
The location itself is steeped in local history. Before the closure of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, the property was home to the beloved annual Polish Festival, where generations gathered to celebrate Polish heritage through food, music, and fellowship. Patio de Comida continues that tradition of bringing people together, reflecting the diverse cultures and flavors that define New Bedford’s North End today.
As Patio de Comida enters its final event of the season on Saturday, August 29, 1-6:00 p.m., it continues to demonstrate how food can connect communities, support local entrepreneurs, and breathe new life into spaces with deep neighborhood roots.
Patio de Comida is sponsored by several area banks, including Baycoast, Bristol County Savings Bank, First Federal Credit Union, South Coast Federal Credit Union, and Bank Five.
49 Years of Cafe Mimo on Acushnet Avenue
By Steven Froias | Special to Love The Ave
It’s fashionable these days on social media to refer to unique local eateries as “beloved.” Cafe Mimo at 1528 Acushnet Avenue, North End New Bedford is celebrating 49 years of business on July 29, 2026. It’s certainly beloved, and here’s one reason why.
This writer discovered Cafe Mimo on a visit to New Bedford in the early aughts. Not yet living full-time in the city, during a weekend here Uncle Leo, a treasured member of our family, exclaimed, “We’ll have to go to Mimo’s for dinner tonight!”
I was unaware of this Mimo’s – even though I learned it had been around when I actually lived in the city as a kid and teen. But teenagers rarely find time for dining out, instead devoting time and energy to other pursuits, mostly hijinks which should remain safely in the past.
So, Mimo’s it was – and what a discovery it was! The food was delicious! It gave me a newfound appreciation for Portuguese food. The Flamed Chourico! Ameijoas a Bulhao Pato! Steak Micaelence! Carne De Porco Alentejana! Salmao Grelhado! Bacalhau a Braz (a favorite)! On subsequent visits, Mimo’s was always on the menu. Which soon presented a dilemma. Since every dish at Mimo’s was superb, it was difficult to choose one each time!
There developed, as often does with family, a routine. Almost a ritual. When the check would arrive, the old man would inevitably insist on paying, while the young guy would always seek to prove his worth to the previous generation by picking up the tab. It probably ended up 50/50 after several years of dining at Mimo’s with Uncle Leo. But it all added up to meaningful times and fond memories.
By that time, Love The Ave formed and this writer was living full-time in New Bedford once again. Luckily, working with Love The Ave meant many lunches, dinners and special meetings at Cafe Mimo, a few of them taking advantage of the restaurant’s free special function room which was the perfect place to plot community affairs.
So, Cafe Mimo has been part of many facets of my life.
Uncle Leo passed away in 2019. A visit to Mimo’s today means more than just the promise of a great meal.
It reminds me of the incredible blessings and warm embrace of family. A visit now isn’t discovering an amazing new restaurant and special place. It’s rediscovering a piece of my heart.
And that’s what makes a restaurant beloved.
Congratulations to 49 years on The Ave, Cafe Mimo. It means as much to us as it does to you.
Meeting at MexiFruit
Love The Ave’s Edsangela Pereira is now facilitating monthly meetings with businesses on Acushnet Avenue and in North End New Bedford. On Wednesday, July 22 the group met at MexiFruit, 1128 Acushnet Avenue (pictured at right), to discuss plans, events and initiatives that will positively impact the district. Contact Edsangela – a.k.a. Angela or simply Angie – at e1pereira@outlook.com for information about upcoming business meetings!
Celebrate Tradition at the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament
For more than a century, the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament has brought together generations of families, friends, and visitors to celebrate Portuguese culture, faith, food, and community. The beloved annual event returns to Madeira Field in New Bedford’s North End, transforming the neighborhood into a vibrant gathering place filled with music, entertainment, and tradition from Thursday, July 30 through Sunday, August 2, 2026
Known as the largest Portuguese feast in the world, the Feast attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for four days of festivities featuring authentic Portuguese cuisine, live musical performances, cultural exhibits, family activities, and a lively midway. From traditional favorites like cacoila, bifanas, and malasadas to world-class entertainment on multiple stages, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
The Feast also serves as an important cultural touchstone, honoring the rich Portuguese heritage that has helped shape New Bedford and the South Coast for generations. Whether you’re attending for the food, music, traditions, or community spirit, the Feast offers a uniquely New Bedford experience that draws visitors from across the region and beyond.
As thousands gather at Madeira Field to celebrate one of the city’s most cherished traditions, the Feast remains a powerful reminder of the culture, pride, and sense of community that define New Bedford’s North End.
For schedules, entertainment lineups, and additional information, visit the Feast’s official website here: feastoftheblessedsacrament.com. Please note, that this year the Feast is 21+ after 8:00 p.m.
Artists wanted for Brooklawn Park project
Vestibules, an eco-art project that consists of an environmentally resilient, flowering rain garden in New Bedford’s Brooklawn Park off Acushnet Avenue, is seeking artists or artist teams to submit a proposal for either one large installation ($18,000 budget) OR one of two interactive art installations ($4,000 budget for each), which will be installed on one of three raised mounds on the garden’s perimeter.
Artists are welcome to submit separate, distinct proposals for both tiers if they wish to be considered for multiple opportunities (but no artist or artist team will be awarded more than one artwork).
Supported by a University of Massachusetts blue economy grant, this remediating rain garden will materialize the deep connection between the human community and the natural world.
For the past 10 months, the Vestibules’ team has collected local stories, artwork, and oral histories rooted in community memories of Brooklawn Park.
These pieces’ general themes, which include the human-nature sensory connection and water as a metaphor for home or freedom, should contribute to the design of the Vestibules’ installations. Together, the rain garden and the artworks forge a sensory community space, bridging the gap between individuals and nature.
- Theme: A celebration of the sensory and aesthetic interconnections between Brooklawn Park’s human and natural worlds, with a focus on the local communities’ connections to the park’s green spaces, specifically with their memories of visiting, playing, and simply enjoying Brooklawn Park.
- Disciplines: Artists with a variety of practices are welcome to submit their proposals for this outdoor eco-art project. Artists will work with the Vestibules project team during the development, curation, and installation periods.
- Specific spatial requirements: Artwork will be at the perimeter of an 800 square foot rain garden (see below for site specificity). Each work should reflect sustainable practices and also be able to withstand two New England winters.
- Eligibility: Open to artists from New Bedford and nearby communities. Some experience in outdoor public art installation required. We especially encourage all creative individuals from the New Bedford community to apply.
- Submission Timeline:
- Proposal Launch Date: July 10, 2026 by 9:00 PM EST
- Submission Deadline: August 7, 2026 by 9:00 PM EST
- Selection Announcement: August 15, 2026 by 9:00 PM EST
- Installation/Delivery of Final Artwork to Brooklawn Park: November 15, 2026
Submission Portal: https://nbedc.submittable.com/submit
SAVE THE DATES:
Saturday, August 29: Music in Island Park takes place at Island Park adjacent to the Cape Verdean Cultural Center at 1157 Acushnet Avenue.
Saturday, September 19: Full details in our next newsletter, but get ready for another BLOCK PARTY!
