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Two years ago, Palo Alto’s 3rdThursday series was founded with the goal of bringing joy to California Avenue through live music. It’s faithfully livened up the car-free area of the neighborhood each month ever since (without inclement weather yet putting a damper on things).
“I have connections with the rain gods,” producer Carol Garsten joked. “We haven’t gotten rained out in two years.”
On May 15, 3rdThursday celebrates its second anniversary with the theme of “We’re Two-gether,” which Garsten said emphasizes the mission of connecting the community.
There will be a cake, remarks by Palo Alto Vice Mayor Vicki Veenker, a photo booth, a craft table, “community inspiration tables” for folks to share their thoughts, and, of course, music.
Americana-rock artist Anthony Arya, who appeared on NBC’s “The Voice” singing competition show and is an alumnus of Stanford University, will be performing at California Avenue and El Camino. Also performing are The Wildcats – a longtime “dad band” that’s raised funds for Palo Alto Partners in Education Foundation for years – and guitarist and vocalist Claudio Melega, who plays in a range of styles and can sing in five different languages.
Kicking off the event will be a 5 p.m. pop-up at 414 California Ave., featuring youth ages 12-19 giving short talks and performing music and spoken-word pieces, co-sponsored by Palo Alto City Council Member Julie Lythcott-Haims and Palo Alto Youth Council, according to a recent press release.
The youth perspective will be an increasing priority for 3rdThursday, thanks to the efforts of Gunn High School freshman Ananya Iyer, who’s joined the team with the goal of getting students more engaged with the series and sharing their voices.
Iyer has been a musician for years, starting on piano and moving to violin, and plays with an orchestra. Her experiences have led her to appreciate how music builds bonds.
“There’s so many things it intersects with, specifically community,” she said. “I just think music is such a great way to bring people together.” She contacted Garsten to share her desire to help facilitate “sustainable youth outreach,” and Garsten was thrilled.
“I was blown away,” Garsten said of the teen’s initiative. “When that starts to happen with an event, when people reach out to me to get involved, I feel like that’s like a huge success.”
“Moving forward,” the press release states, “3rdThursday will feature a youth area to shine the light on the creative and brilliant Gunn, Paly and Stanford students.”
Iyer said she hopes to see some of the many high school clubs take part in future events, and that 3rdThursday can help amplify more youth voices, as well as introduce more young people to local artists and organizations.
“I want to make sure my classmates and my cohort, they’re also exposed to community music. It’s really underrepresented in youth circles,” she said.
Each month’s 3rdThursday event has a certain theme, and Garsten said those themes will repeat on a yearly basis. March, for example, had the theme of “Youth Views,” with an exhibition of youth art centered around the question “What does community mean to you?” displayed in shop windows. April had an Earth Day theme. June will mark the second annual “LoCal Libations” wine walk, while July celebrates fun and games, partnered with the city’s community services department, the library and other organizations. August is a foodie walk, with sample bites from local restaurants, and is a fundraiser for the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. September highlights local dance companies and clubs. October is devoted to showing ways of making sustainability fun. November is “ThanksCaring,” showcasing local nonprofits, and December is a nondenominational celebration of winter lights and the holiday season.
“The first year was a ton of experimenting,” Garsten said of the series. With the second year, she and the 3rdThursday team got things “dialed in.”
While 3rdThurdsays have typically run from 6-9 p.m., the team hopes to continue offering some performances starting at 5 p.m.
“We’re looking to expand that first hour,” Garsten said. “We’re looking for more people to join our team; we’re looking to grow.”
As years go by, “We need our community now more than ever,” she said. “This event is just more valuable than ever for people. We need each other.”
May 15, 6-9 p.m. (pop-up youth performances starting at 5 p.m.), California Avenue, Palo Alto; free; 3rdthursday.fun.
