San Carlos “Hot Harvest Nights” Returns May 6.

May 3, 2010

Farmers Market in San Carlos.

Spring may have officially started on March 21st, but it doesn't truly feel like spring here until the San Carlos Farmer's Market, aka “Hot Harvest Nights“, gets into full swing.   And we can now consider it springtime — we had great weather this past weekend, baseball season is underway, and Hot Harvest Nights starts up again this Thursday, May 6th.   It will run every Thursday night from 4-8 PM until September 6.  Yum…

Every Thursday evening, the 700 block of Laurel Street will be closed to traffic and transformed into a vibrant marketplace featuring fresh produce, flowers,  and some great specialty food and treats.   Mix in a little live music, and it becomes an informal party.      No need to make dinner that night, with a variety of food available for just about any taste.  There's always a line at the rosemary chicken booth, and you can bet Bianchini's will have their barbecue blazing again in the parking lot.   Personally, I have a weakness for the tamale truck that's always in front of Speederia Pizzeria.

Hot Harvest Nights also seems to be a great to way to bump into neighbors and friends that you haven't seen since winter, so be sure to attend a few of them.  Bring your appetite and have some fun on a Thursday evening.  For more information, click the Chamber of Commerce website here.

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5 Comments

  1. Michael on May 3, 2010 at 9:36 pm

    As much as I personally enjoy this nice-to-have downtown feature, isn’t this among the list of “unnecessary” luxuries that we can afford to go without so we can show some fiscal responsibillity and perhaps save some money? I saw the banner downtown announcing Hometown Days last week too. I thought this event was being axed in the name of our emergency situation.

    How are we, as uniformed residents, supposed to understand the alleged financial armaghedon of which we are allegedly suffering when these very events identified as unaffordable costs be are happening again?? Has the city arranged a volunteer force to set up, police and clean up after these events?

    Perhaps it’s possible that the farmers market may bring in more than it costs to run, but after attending hometown days last year, the only downtown business that seemed to benefit were the local Starbucks who’s cups I saw all over the streets and gutters afterward.

    Am I skeptical of the crisis or are my thoughts of mismanagement at city hall once again confirmed…or both.



  2. Chuck Gillooley on May 3, 2010 at 9:42 pm

    Michael,

    My understanding is that both events (Hot Harvest Nights and Hometown Days) are already funded under the 2009-2010 budget for this year only. It’s the new proposed budget for 2010-11 that puts both events at risk going forward. I’m not 100% sure of this, but I have heard that from a few sources.



  3. Michael on May 3, 2010 at 11:58 pm

    I figured it had to have been budgeted, but it still surprises me that dire circumstances do not require whatever funds had been allocated to be redirected to something more worthwhile and necessary…I’ll just show up and enjoy while I still can.



  4. Pat B on May 4, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    Michael,

    I agree. They’ve known this was coming for a long time and could have cut some of this spending last fall, giving the event planners time to make adjustments.

    The one that really irks me is the “Vertical Challenge,” which is an all-day orgy of air pollution. San Carlos did not participate in the County’s “Streets Alive” because we “couldn’t afford it.” That event needn’t have cost the City anything except a little staff time. What did San Carlos do about Earth Day? Still, we will spend thousands to support the Vertical Challenge so that helicopters can spew greenhouse gasses into the air on a nice day in June for the entertainment of hundreds of people who drive their cars to the event..



  5. Pat B on May 5, 2010 at 5:05 am

    I went to one of the County budget forums tonight and found it very interesting. Instead of just putting together a budget proposal, the County is asking for citizen input BEFORE the proposal is presented to the Board.

    There were elected representatives there, County staff, and ordinary citizens, all working together to come up with solutions. Can you imagine that happening in San Carlos? Can you imagine how much more support the City would have if Council and staff included citizens in the decision-making process?



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