Menlo Park Celebrates 24th Annual
Connoisseurs’ Marketplace
An Authentic Feast for the Senses and Great Entertainment Value
 It’s summertime which means the Bay Area’s popular outdoor festival season is in full swing. With people staying closer to home and looking for more affordable leisure options, the festival circuit is more appealing than ever. For a sun-splashed weekend featuring world-class art by 250 of America’s top artists, two days of great music, fabulous food and drink, tons of fun for kids, artisan specialty food, 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. 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.
Chaired by longtime Menlo Park resident and businessman Rick Ciardella, the 2009 festival will feature the return of artisan-produced specialty food in Connoisseurs’ Corner (an updated version of “Gourmet Alley”), an Organic, Healthy & Green products showcase, and an infusion of new artists with fresh work and a variety of price points. The festival also plans to continue its comprehensive greening efforts. “We’re focused on making the festival as green and sustainable as possible — it’s a priority for us and something we diligently plan for every year,” said Fran Dehn, President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. “It’s our goal to make sure we’re doing everything possible to maximize recycling and minimize trash,” said Dehn. Festival organizers also encourage the use of public transit and bicycles to minimize carbon emissions and reduce vehicular traffic.
Fine Art, One-Of-A-Kind Crafts
Pacific Fine Arts brings its highly-respected stable of exceptional artists and craftmakers to the festival. "We have many new artists this year joining longtime event favorites," said Dana Hale-Mounier, Director of Pacific Fine Arts. "Festivalgoers will find unique, original art and fine crafts with a variety of price points for personal purchases, gifts or additions to private collections. It’s a great opportunity to meet the artists behind their work." Chat with and buy from 250 artists on hand with thousands of handcrafted items 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 comes to Menlo Park with nine dynamite bands playing an eclectic, fun-filled mix of Latin rock, soulful Motown classics, indie folk, sultry blues, Celtic harp, classic rock ‘n roll, R&B groove, swing, even romantic Italian mandolin ballads on stage and street. The free “Saturday Evening Headliner Concert” will feature Livewire, one of the Bay Area's top dance cover bands known for their high-energy mix of the best songs from the 70's and 80's through current rock and dance hits, from 5-7 p.m. in Fremont Park. Also performing are The Cool Jerks, Chubby's All-Stars, D Fuze, Alien Cowboys, Blue House, HeartStrings Music, Aryeh Frankfurter, and Dreamroad.
Festive Food and Drink
Festival eateries will be serving up a world of flavorful fare, ideal for strolling — fresh roasted corn-on-the-cob, Philly cheese steaks, falafel sandwiches, spit-roasted gyros, spanakopita, chicken and sausage jambalaya, seafood gumbo, spicy crawfish étoufée, blackened shrimp, crispy 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, teriyaki beef and chicken over rice, smoked bratwurst and Polish dogs, tamales, tacos, garlic chicken and pork kebobs, Salvadoran pupusas, fish tacos, fish and chips, Caesar salad, baked potatoes, kettle corn, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and fresh-squeezed lemonade. Complementing the fabulous food will be a selection of exceptional wines, refreshing margaritas, and microbrewed beers.
Artisan Specialty Food in Connoisseurs' Corner
Returning by popular demand, festivalgoers can sample and purchase artisan-produced edibles in Connoisseurs’ Corner, located on Santa Cruz Avenue next to Fremont Park — spices, herbs, beef jerky, olive oil, dessert sauces, spices, dips, salad dressings, balsamic vinegars, flavored almonds, tea, scone mixes, fruit butter, chutney, fudge sauces, fruit jams, honey, flavored mustard, salsas, marinades, and barbecue sauce will be among the mouth-watering offerings.
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, clowns, inflatible bounces, and choo-choo train rides are among the exciting attractions.
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 Capay Organics Farm Fresh To You, Larabar, Cascadian Farm, K.C Custom Green Homes, American Laser Centers, Menlo Medical Clinic, Cobalt Power Systems, University Chiropractic, San Mateo County’s H2Ice Hydrogen-Powered Bus, and Icelandic Glacial Natural Spring Water.
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 Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Wells Fargo, Provident Credit Union, Laser Eye Center, Maita Distributing — Sam Adams Summer Ale, Boston Lager, Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, Coors Light, California State Automobile Association, El Dorado Ranch, AT&T Yellow Pages, The Margarita King, 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 104.9 FM, The Almanac, Palo Alto Weekly, Wave Magazine, Allied Waste Services, The City of Menlo Park, Tyco Electronics, Friends of the Chamber.
Police And Fire Department Exhibits
The Menlo Park Police and Fire Departments will be setting up Community Safety exhibits at the festival. The Police Department tent will offer computer fingerprinting for kids. Parents will be able to take home computerized photographs and fingerprints of their children. The Menlo Park Fire Department will set up its Emergency Preparedness Trailer to educate the public about many types of emergencies. The history of earthquakes will be shown on a large video monitor and the trailer will shake just like the real thing. Participants will learn why earthquakes occur and what to do if the ground is quaking. Fire Department personnel will also demonstrate fire and injury-related safety tips. Topics will range from cooking safety and microwave dangers to fire extinguisher use and teaching children how to call 911. Both exhibits will be on Chestnut Street.
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
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. |
