ArtZfest on Howard Ave.

Dedicated to Empowering and Informing the Burlingame Community

August 11, 2013

I made it over to the new ArtZfest on Howard Avenue just as the weather cleared yesterday. I like the new location a lot. It felt like there was more room to navigate on the street and on the sidewalks. UMC used its adjacent parking lot for its Backpackpalooza event. The bandstand was in a very convenient location with a shaded entry way nearby at Bank of the West. My sources tell me that this will be the location for the future as well. That should play better with the Avenew merchants since they will be impacted less. Howard Ave. has fewer retail establishments and some of those just closed up shop for the day. I spotted three of the City Council candidates in the crowd but only one was actively campaigning.

The Burlingame idol singers were great and the Kevin Russell Band played a great set of blues rock. Kudos to the Chamber for adapting and improving!

ArtZfest band

Posted in Burlingame’s Best, Community Events

7 responses to “ArtZfest on Howard Ave.”

Linda Lees Dwyer

August 11, 2013

I agree that the new location is great. I thought the the music was the highlight. I do not know anything about the vendor that runs the ArtZfest, but I would love to see the vendor who runs the Menlo Park street fair run ours. It exceptionally good.
Joe

August 11, 2013

I went back for a second helping today and the Latin band (Fito Renosa) was excellent as was the local kids down at the end of Howard. I think they were calling themselves Exit 11. Great stuff for a nice Sunday in B’game.
fred

August 12, 2013

The fact that businesses closed is not a good thing. They close because there is not enough business to stay open. Burlingame Avenue was very quiet this weekend. The parking in the area was taken up for this event. The idea that downtown Burlingame is an ideal playground (not my words, someone else) is really detrimental to businesses in the area.
I was in Palo Alto on Sunday, both University Ave and the Stanford mall were extremely crowded with people patronzing the businesses, not for a festival.
Anne

August 12, 2013

That’s true for the day or days of the festival but the question is does it introduce more people to the town. Do the come back again. Do they stay for dinner in a restaurant instead eating standing up. I don’t know the answers but they are all possiblities.
Burlingame Betty

August 12, 2013

We happened upon the festival by chance and had a great time – loved the mix of booths and entertainment was great. I liked the location – Howard is so sleepy it was great to have some action and I was able to run my errands on the avenue with out getting caught out in the middle of a festival. I love these small town gatherings – it’s what makes Burlingame the best place to live on the peninsula!
Old Guy

August 12, 2013

If just one or two couples from San Mateo or Belmont drove past our Auto Row and it reminded them to shop here it would be worth it. I remember when the city used to do more to promote Auto Row but maybe this is the new way of doing things
Holyroller

August 12, 2013

How many people do you know that spent money on anything that was presented?
Not Food.
Scarves, windmills, ceramics, rubber stamps too.
I think The Howard Ave Street Fair should be the “Go To” district for this type of event.
Thereby, allowing the “Real Money Makers” Burlingame Ave not to lose business to the Arts and Crafts people.
Maybe that was the plan all along.

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