Richard Geist, owner of Uncle’s Sam’s Army and Navy on W. Eighth St., enjoying guacamole, right, was among the many food lovers who savored the offerings from 21 local restaurants at the Village Alliance’s A Taste of the Village/Benefit for Washington Square Park on Wed., Sept. 10. Celebrity superchef Mario Batali, a big booster of the Washington Square Park renovation project, spoke about the importance of having a renovated park, and also signed autographs. Honi Klein, executive director of the Village Alliance business improvement district, declared the $40-a-head event a success. “This was our sixth Benefit, and by all accounts everyone thought it was the best ever,” she said. “Some said it was ‘spectacular,’ others described it as ‘amazing’ and still others said it was ‘a huge success.’ ” Klein said she was still tallying the funds raised, but noted that without this contribution, to date the alliance has raised $250,000 for the park’s renovation.
