It may have been snowy and cold outside, but it was hot, with a sizzling capital “H,” at Ray’s Candy Store on Tuesday night as friends gathered to celebrate Avenue A hot dog slinger Ray Alvarez’s 82nd birthday.
Now in its ninth year, the birthday extravaganza this year featured no less than six burlesque dancers, Hayden Riots, Gal Friday, Ginger Twist, Pearls Daily, Lickitty Split and Pinkie Special.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” was all that an overwhelmed Ray — real name Asghar Ghahraman — could utter after the show.
In honor of his birthday and his 40 years in business, Ray was presented with a scrapbook filled with photos and clippings from his four decades on Avenue A. Inside were nearly 200 photos of the hole-in-the-wall storefront, Ray’s famous foodstuffs, friends and the man himself.
Ray was truly touched.
“When I die, I want to be buried with this book, some peanut butter and my iPhone, so I’ll have something to do,” he said.
If Ray sticks it out one more year for the 10th annual birthday extravaganza, the party’s organizers promised him they’ll get 10 dancers for it.
Props go to the event’s organizers: Ilya S. for recruiting the talent, getting the delicious cheesecake from Veniero’s, and rigging up the colored lights; an under-the-weather DJ Shawn C. for providing the tunes once again; Francisco V. for providing his living room as a dressing space for the dancers; and emcee Matt R. for introducing the acts and putting together the scrapbook.
