Festival season kicks off in Mountain View Festival season kicks off in Mountain View (May 07, 2004)

It's almost here. The weekend you've been waiting for. The weekend worth rescheduling getaways and previous commitments.

Festival season in the Bay Area officially kicks-off on May 15-16 when downtown Mountain View will be transformed into a moveable feast of strolling people and colorful tents for the eighth annual A La Carte & Art. More than 75,000 people are expected to pour onto Castro Street for a vibrant street scene with two days of great music, unique arts and crafts, gourmet food and wine, and the best family entertainment value around.

Presented by Synopsys, the open-air festival will feature two full days of attractions including a juried art show, non-stop music, ethnic and American food booths, premium wines and microbrews, a farmers' market, cooking demonstrations, and a variety of activities for kids.

How it all began

A La Carte & Art was launched in 1997 to raise funds for the Central Business Association (CBA), the organization in charge of promoting Mountain View's downtown business district.

"With attractions sure to capture the imagination of everyone, we hope that A La Carte & Art and the unique charm of downtown Mountain View will bring visitors back again and again," said Karen Cabello, executive director of the Central Business Association.

Arts and crafts

A juried show, the festival will feature the original work of 200 artists and craftsmakers who set up colorful booths to exhibit their innovative wares. California Artists' stable of exhibitors will be showing original work in photography, painting, sculpture, jewelry, dried flowers, clothing, toys, leather, glass, textiles, metal, wood, paper and ceramics.

"Everything you see is handcrafted," said Nancie Allie of California Artists. "It's a juried show to ensure that the quality of product remains high."

Shimmering vases, flatware, clocks, dishes, wall and table decorations, paperweights, stained and beveled glass, etchings, sculptures, photography, oil and watercolor paintings, beadwork, gold and silver jewelry, vests, handbags, hats, wallets, footwear, wind chimes and waterfalls will be among the offerings.

Music

The music stage at California and Castro, plus several street locations, will provide the venues for an diverse lineup of ten bands including acoustic folk/rock duo Blue House, jammin' rock and roll band The Chubby All-Stars, Beatles cover band The Sun Kings, classic rock group The Gents, high-energy Motown dance band Live Action Heroes, and multi-talented oldies/disco/pop group The Garage Band. Performing on the street will be Celtic folk artists Gypsy Soul, flute/keyboard duo Dreamroad, percussion ensemble Groove Camp, and woodwind quartet Ancient Winds.

Food and drink

Festival eateries will be dishing up a flavorful foods like marinated and steamed artichoke hearts, barbecue chicken, lamb and pork-on-a-stick, grilled flank steak sandwiches, spicy gourmet sausages, Philly cheesesteaks, jumbo hot dogs, veggie wraps, chicken and pork kabobs, crispy fish and chips, roasted corn-on-the-cob, baked potatoes, crepes, smoothies, a variety of fresh salads, strawberry shortcake, fresh-baked donuts, kettle corn and lots more, complemented by a selection of premium wines and microbrews.

Farmer's market and cooking demos

Growers from the Mountain View Certified Farmers' Market will be on hand with fresh strawberries, apricots, cherries, organic produce and roasted almonds. Throughout the weekend, cooking demonstrations will be conducted, with tips on ways to prepare and enjoy the fresh produce.

Kids' Tons of Fun Zone

The Tons of Fun Zone, located at Mercy and Castro, will captivate kids with an assortment of merriment including thrilling virtual reality motion theater, Boomer's Magic Circus, face painting, make-and-take sand sculptures, a giant bounce, inflatable slide, train rides, kid's safety identification, and police and fire department displays.

Street closures and public transportation

Castro Street will be closed to traffic from Church Street to Evelyn Avenue for the two-day festival. Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) will be running its normal weekend schedule with bus and light rail service to Mountain View. The festival is served by VTA light rail and bus lines 22, 34, 35 and 51. For VTA schedule information, call (800) 894-9908 or check out www.vta.org. The Mountain View Transit Center is one short block from the festival.

Dates, hours and location

The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 15-16. It is held on Castro Street from Church Street to Evelyn Avenue. Admission is free. There is ample free parking available on streets and in lots surrounding the downtown area.

No pets, please

Pets are not allowed at the festival. For the safety, comfort, and courtesy of your pets and festivalgoers, please leave your pets at home. Large crowds make it a very stressful and dangerous environment for pets.

Information

For festival information, call 964-3395 or visit www.miramarevents.com.

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