Near perfect weekend weather was a boon to Mushroom Mardi Gras
organizers, vendors, and especially, visitors, all getting used to
a new location.
Near perfect weekend weather was a boon to Mushroom Mardi Gras organizers, vendors, and especially, visitors, all getting used to a new location. Mild temperatures in the low 80’s plus a light breeze kept an unusually crowded downtown pleasant.
In fact, crowding was almost the only criticism heard from anyone, especially those used to the wider expanse of Community Park.
Jonathan Burnham, 13, said he thought the festival was “crowded; you have to walk single file to get anywhere.”
“I just don’t understand it,” said Saundra Turner, 52, of San Jose, who said she looks forward to attending the Mardi Gras every year. “Why did they have to change what was such a good thing? Did the merchants want everyone downtown or something?”
The 26th annual festival was moved to Monterey Road between Main and Dunne avenues because construction has begun on the city’s new Indoor recreation center next to the park. The Mardi Gras used the previously vacant lot for parking, and the city no longer allows vehicle access into the park, according to Sunday Minnich, marking her first year organizing the festival.
“We far over-exceeded our expectations,” Minnich said of the turnout. “Our count showed about 40,000 people during the two days.”
Past festivals have drawn between 30,000 and 40,000.
Mardi Gras Board President Dan Sullivan, too, was happy with the results.
“It went extremely well and we have very positive feedback from craft and food vendors – even the downtown merchants,” Sullivan said.
Restaurant owners had been worried that their patrons would be chased away since the streets were closed to traffic at 7pm Friday night and stayed closed through the weekend. Rosy Bergin, owner of the popular Rosy’s at the Beach, said business inside was slow Sunday until about 1pm.
“Then the crowds arrived and didn’t let up until 9pm,” Bergin said. She is also a member of the Downtown Association.
“We appreciate that they didn’t close Monterey until later in the day, allowing people to reach us,” she said. “Saturday night was dead (highly unusual) but there was enough business during the day to make up for it.”
She and fellow DTA member, Lesley Miles, both noted the apparent enthusiasm for outside dining.
Rosy had lined her sidewalk with tables, picket fences and a palm draped bar; empty seats were few.
Other merchants got into the spirit of Mardi Gras by decorating their windows with “Big Easy” (the name fond New Orleans fans call their city) masks and beads. The Trail Dust Barbecue set out tables with brightly colored cloths as did the new sports bar, Glory Days; the Flying Dragon Chinese restaurant (under new ownership) moved a table in a doorway to take orders.
Mostly, Bergin said, they were all grateful for the organizers’ thoughtfulness, not placing booths right outside restaurant doors, allowing the sidewalk dining.
Shirley Todd, who had just moved her Continental Stitch shop from Monterey and East First to Monterey and West Third, said sales had been good.
“It’s a nice crowd too,” she said.
Business was also brisk at South Valley Bikes and Thinker Toys but Cinda Meister of BookSmart said the day was just “so-so,” possibly because of the nice weather.
“When it’s hot everybody comes inside for ice cream and air conditioning,” Meister said. Still, she was happy to see the festival downtown.
Sullivan did not know how much the festival earned yet but, between the generous sponsors, including The Ford Store and Kitchen Works, donations from community members and selling out vendor spaces, he expects to earn what the organization needs for next year’s college scholarships, the point of the festival.
Vendors as well were pleased.
George Cheng, selling his delicate landscape watercolors, said he preferred downtown to the park.
“There are more people and it’s such a beautiful day,” Cheng said. “I’ll be back next year.”
That, Minnich said, is what most vendors told her.
“One man sold out on Saturday and several others on Sunday,” she said. “Almost everybody I talked to wants to be asked back next year.”
Brett Welch, who happens to be organizer Minnich’s cousin, was working his first Mardi Gras and thought the place couldn’t have been better.
“I’ve been talking to visitors as they stop by, and it seems people like the location,” he said.
Welch, who was working one of the beer tents on Saturday, said the flow of visitors had been steady and that he hadn’t heard many complaints about the close quarters.
Lines at the food court were long, as they are every year.
A dining area was set up on East Third Street under a large tent. Tables and chairs were filled both days. A few tables and chairs were scattered around the food court area; many diners sat on the curbs or in the driveways or sidewalks of nearby businesses.
Sig Nin, who lives in Woodland Acres, said, while downtown was nice, he preferred the park.
“I liked Community Park better,” Nin said. “It is such a beautiful setting.” He did not mind that, because this year’s Mardi Gras was free, there was no headliner band. There was plenty of music with attentive, avid audiences.
Minnich said if the Mardi Gras is held downtown again in 2006 organizers will try to expand out to ease the crowding.
“You always learn a lot the first time you try anything,” she said.
While Minnich takes credit for the organizing the event, she heaped praise on her volunteers and the MMG board.
“I can’t believe the volunteerism the Mushroom Mardi Gras brings out,” she said. “And this is the best board I’ve ever worked with.”
Most visitors and vendors agreed that whatever the problems or pleasures with the new location, the food lived up to its usual standards.
“Mushroom Mardi Gras is delicious,” said 15-year-old Eric Medina-Verbeek of Morgan Hill, munching on fried calamari.
Carol Holzgrafe covers City Hall for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at ch********@mo*************.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 201.
Downtown is the Mardi Gras’ fourth location in its 26 years. The former Hill Country golf course and toursit complex on Foothill Road (now The Math Institute’s golf course) was its first home. Outgrowing Hill Country, the festival moved to a vacant lot at Cochrane Road and Monterey Road that proved to windy and dusty.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@mo*************.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 ext. 202
