Arts & Ideas hopes to soak up business

New Haven (WTNH) - Blue skies today seemed like a small miracle to those who have been watching the weather intently to see if their events will actually happen. The good news is folks really responded to today's dry weather at the New Haven Green for the Arts and Ideas Festival.

One slice for one dollar has pizza lovers lining up along the New Haven green, making it a far better turnout than Thursday when pouring rain chased most away.

"Well, you know, yesterday was a wash-out but people just love to come out and eat pizza," Jerry Ross, of ALSO-Cornerstone, said.

That's a good thing for the folks at ALSO-Cornerstore. They help people with disabilities, mental health and substance abuse problems. This event is a big fundraiser for them. Most years, it brings in about $25,000 by bringing out big crowds.

"I'm a huge New Haven pizza fan and so when I heard that they were serving a wide variety of different pizzas, many of which I haven't tried in one place, it seemed like kind of a no-brainer," Ken Cassar, of Guilford, said.

Now they're hoping to make up for lost time next week.

In fact, many who came out for Arts & Ideas said this is the first day they've really been able to get out and enjoy it.

"I work right down here so I probably would've come to other lunchtime things without the rain," Diane Purvin, of New Haven, said.

There were plenty of people enjoying Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem on the Elm Street stage.

But the crowd has not trickled down to local businesses.

MDM Fashion on Chapel Street is just a half-block from The Green. They usually get a big boost from Arts & Ideas, but not this year. They say first they had the recession against them, now the rain.

"Usually business is June and July, August, the festival out there, people are out and they are picking up the business but looks like not this time," Seung Lee, of MDM Fashion, said.

Tomorrow isn't supposed to be much better. And being Saturday, there are a ton of outdoor events planned. There is not just Arts & Ideas in New Haven but Branford has their big festival, there's a duck race in Derby and plenty of other stuff. So far, everyone we've spoken to says they're going ahead as scheduled, rain or shine.