Menlo Park Gets Festive for 24th Annual
Connoisseurs’ Marketplace
Chefs’ Demos, World-Class Collector Cars, Wine & Microbrew Tasting Added to Popular Summer Festival
 The long, laid-back days of summer are here, bringing with them the very best of the Bay Area’s popular festival season. For a sun-splashed weekend featuring world-class art by 250 of America’s top artists, two days of great music, engaging chefs’ demos, fabulous food and drink, tons of fun for kids, artisan specialty food purveyors, a new collector car show, home and garden exhibits, health and wellness displays and an organic and green products showcase, head to downtown Menlo Park for the 24th Annual Connoisseurs’ Marketplace, July 17-18. Take a nice, easy stroll down charming, tree-lined Santa Cruz Avenue and experience an authentic feast for the senses. Presented by the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce, large crowds are expected to pour onto the downtown streets for this vibrant celebration of visual, performing and culinary arts. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Admission is free.
Fresh, New Attractions in 2010
The festival is re-inventing itself in 2010. Chaired by longtime Menlo Park resident and businessman Rick Ciardella, the 2010 festival will feature an abundance of fresh, new attractions. At the top of the list is the long-awaited return of the once popular Chefs’ Demonstrations after a four year hiatus along with the AutoVino Collector Car Showcase, a Microbrew & Wine Tasting Tent, Kids’ Interactive Art Zone, a fresh infusion of highly-regarded artisan talent, several new food vendors offering a different slant with organic, fresh and exotic festival fare, and an exciting lineup of musical talent.
Fine Art, One-Of-A-Kind Crafts
Pacific Fine Arts brings its highly-acclaimed stable of exceptional artists and craftmakers to the festival. Buyers and browsers will find thousands of beautiful, handcrafted items by 250 of America’s top artists and craftmakers in well-stocked booths covering several city blocks. Featuring original work in sculpture, paintings, photography, glass, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, leather, wood, metal and mixed media, the festival is considered among the top art shows in the Bay Area. 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, windchimes, and waterfalls are among the one-of-a-kind items available.
Live Music
The best of the Bay Area music scene will perform with eight dynamite bands playing an eclectic, fun-filled mix of soulful Motown classics, classic rock ‘n roll, R&B groove, contemporary jazz, Caribbean steel drum and romantic Italian mandolin ballads on stage and street The free “Saturday After-Hours Concert” will feature Pride & Joy, the Bay Area's pre-eminent party band known for their popular Motown hits, trademark great voices, sweet harmonies, matching flashy outfits, and slick dance moves, from 5:30-8 p.m. in Fremont Park. Also performing are Ryze The Band, The Garage Band, Rock Solid, SF Bay Jazz, HeartStrings Music, Bob Culbertson, and Shabang.
RENEWED Chefs’ Demo Tent
After a four year hiatus, the Chefs’ Demo tent is back! For many years a popular festival attraction, talented chefs from top local restaurants — Left Bank, Marche, Carpaccio and British Bankers Club among others — put on a fabulous show, preparing dishes that reflect their imagination and style, while offering festivalgoers creative ideas and tips to try in the kitchen at home.
NEW AutoVino Collector Car Showcase
Brand spanking new this year is the AutoVino Collector Car Showcase, featuring a special display of world-class automobiles. AutoVino, a Menlo Park based “Preserve for Fine Cars and Wine”, will be showing fabulous array of their vehicles including a 1987 Ford Shelby Cobra, a 1951 MG TD Early English Touring Car, a 1942 World War II Army Jeep, and a 1991 Ferrari Mondial T Cabriolet that was driven by Al Pacino in the hit movie “Scent of A Women” in 1991. For a real thrill, try their professional race car simulator. With the full 180 degree immersion screen, it puts you right in the driver’s seat and makes your feel like you’re driving head-to-head in a Formula One or Indy series car race.
Festive Food and Drink
Festival eateries will be serving up a world of flavorful, stroll-around fare — fresh roasted corn-on-the-cob, spit-roasted gyros, spanakopita, veggie and salmon burgers, grilled cheese creations, chicken and sausage jambalaya, seafood gumbo, spicy crawfish étoufée, blackened shrimp, fried calamari with cilantro-lime sauce, barbecued oysters, crab cakes, smoked turkey legs, tri-tip and portobello mushroom sandwiches, garlic fries, stuffed mushrooms, Hawaiian shredded pork sandwiches, smoked bratwurst and Polish dogs, tamales, tacos, garlic chicken and pork kebobs, fish tacos, fish and chips, baked potatoes, kettle corn, sorbet, Italian ice and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Complementing the food will be exceptional wine, microbrews, refreshing margaritas and mojitos.
NEW Microbrew & Wine Tasting Tent
Sample exceptional brews from Anchor Brewing Company, Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Alaskan Brewing Company, Boston Beer Company, Full Sail Brewing Company, Gordon Biersch, Mendocino Brewing Company, Pyramid Brewing Company, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, and Blue Moon Brewing Company. For $10, you get 5 tasting tickets. Taste the world-class varietals from Woodside Vineyards, one of the oldest and smallest California wineries, boasting estate wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains that are carefully nurtured from vineyard to bottle. Enjoy their outstanding 2007 Kings Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 Woodside Chardonnay and 2003 Brut Sparkling Wine. For $10, you get 3 tasting tickets.
Artisan Specialty Food in Connoisseurs' Corner
Festivalgoers can sample and purchase artisan-produced edibles in Connoisseurs’ Corner, located on Santa Cruz Avenue next to Fremont Park — balsamic vinegars and oils, Kona coffee, macadamia nuts, gourmet fudge, chocolate, mustard blends, curds and scone mixes, marinades, jams and jellies, honey, butters and chutneys, vinaigrettes and dressings, flavored almonds, cashews, pistachios and pecans, dessert sauces, and spices among the gourmet specialty foods to sample and buy.
Kids’ Fun Zone
The action-packed Kids’ Fun Zone will fascinate kids with endless amusements. The thrilling Froghopper and Kids’ Copters rides, a 24-foot climbing wall, create-your-own colorful wax hands art, whimsical sand sculptures, exciting virtual reality motion theater, super cool temporary tattoos, face painting, balloon artists, inflatible bounces, and choo-choo train rides are among the exciting attractions.
NEW Kids’ Interactive Art
This year, aspiring artists ages 6-12 will have a chance to roll up their sleeves and participate in hands-on art activities led by local artist Pamela Ritchey, who teaches art at The Philips Brooks School in Menlo Park. Activities will include paper making, paper weaving and paper mosaic art projects. In addition to the exciting art projects, there will be an art scavenger hunt, where children and their parents will search for interesting art items in the arts and crafts booths.
Home & Garden Exhibits
For home improvement ideas, check out product displays and chat with representatives from Heavenly Greens, Bay Home & Window, Armstrong Installation Services, Renewal by Andersen, Clear View Screens, Cutco Cutlery, Danmer Custom Shutters, Gutter Helmet, Kitchen Experts, BathFitter and Craftsmens’ Guild.
Organic, Healthy & Green Products Showcase
This year’s festival will feature the latest and greatest exhibits featuring Organic, Natural, Healthy and Eco-Friendly products. Festivalgoers can enjoy free product samples and demos while experiencing first-hand how these products can help you live a better, healthier and “greener” lifestyle and be a positive catalyst for change. Sponsors include Solar City, Capay Organics Farm Fresh To You, Larabar, Cascadian Farm, Fage Yogurt, KC Custom Green Homes, American Laser Centers, Peak Performance Chiropractic, Menlo Medical Clinic, Cobalt Power Systems and University Chiropractic.
Home & Garden Exhibits
For home improvement ideas, check out product displays and chat with representatives from Heavenly Greens, Armstrong Painting, Clear View Screens, Southwest Greens, Cutco Cutlery, Danmer Custom Shutters, Gutter Helmet, Peninsula Window Fashions Gallery, BathFitter and Craftsmens’ Guild.
Spectacular Sponsors
Additional sponsors include San Mateo Credit Union, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Wells Fargo, Provident Credit Union, Maita Distributing — Sam Adams Summer Ale, Boston Lager, Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, Coors Light, Sauza Premium Margaritas, Cruzan Rum Premium Mojitos, California State Automobile Association, R-Mac Properties, Tutor Doctor, AT&T Yellow Pages, The San Jose Mercury News, CBS 5 TV, The CW — Channel 44, Comcast, Alice 97.3 FM, KBAY 94.5 FM, KEZR 106.5 FM, KFOX 98.5 FM, Channel 92.3 FM, The Almanac, Palo Alto Weekly, Wave Magazine, Allied Waste Services, Recology, The City of Menlo Park, Tyco Electronics and Friends of the Chamber.
“Greening” Efforts
The Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce will once again join forces with Allied Waste Services and Recology to promote and encourage recycling and composting at the festival. Free-standing containers will be positioned throughout the festival for recycling glass, plastic and aluminum. Additionally, there will be large recycling containers for cardboard and mixed paper as well as glass, plastic and aluminum in strategic locations for event staff, vendors and sponsors. Specially marked containers will be placed in the food areas for composting left-over food scraps. “We’re on a mission to make the festival as green and sustainable as possible — it’s a major priority for us and something we diligently plan for and hope to improve upon every year,” said Fran Dehn, President/CEO of the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce. The festival is also encouraging the use of public transportation and bicycles to minimize carbon emissions and reduce vehicular traffic. Downtown Menlo Park has more than 80 bicycle parking racks along Santa Cruz Avenue. The Caltrain/Samtrans station conveniently drops riders off one short block from the festival.
Public Transportation
Caltrain and SamTrans will be running their normal weekend service both days. The Menlo Park Caltrain/SamTrans station drops riders off one block from the festival grounds. For Caltrain and SamTrans schedule information, call 800-660-4287 or visit www.caltrain.com or www.samtrans.com. For VTA information, call 800-894-9908 or visit www.vta.org.
Street Closures/Vehicle Parking/Bicycle Parking
Santa Cruz Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic from El Camino Real to Johnson Street for the two-day festival. Parking will be available in the parking plazas adjacent to Santa Cruz Avenue, on side streets surrounding the festival area, and at the Caltrain station on Merrill Street. Bicycle parking racks are available at several locations on Santa Cruz Avenue.
No Pets, Please
Pets are not allowed at the festival. For the safety, comfort, and courtesy of your pets and festival-goers, please leave your pets at home.
Festival Dates/Hours/Location
The festival runs July 17-18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Santa Cruz Avenue from El Camino Real to Johnson Street in Menlo Park. Admission is free.
Info-Line
For festival information, call the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce at 650-325-2818. |
