Little Italy Festa Draws Over a Hundred Thousand Visitors

The Italians have a saying, “A chi vuole, non mancano mod” that translates as “there is a will there is a way”.  This year the Little Italy Festa drew around 120,000 people and acted as a homecoming for many Italian Americans who wanted to get in touch with their culture. They found a way to successfully match culture and commerce together into an activity that enhances their neighborhood. 

Hosted on October 11^th, 2014 in the Little Italy District of San Diego small business vendors, artists, and authentic Italian food filled the streets.  They did a great job ensuring people had a safe and enjoyable experience. Plenty of trash receptacles to keep the area clean while displays were organized well both vertically and horizontally among the streets to allow for maximum foot traffic. 

Those who are not skilled in cooking Italian Food watched one of the different food demonstrations, try a few samples, and buy one of the products on display. Artistic types were drawn to the 3D and chalk art that lined the streets in a judged competition.  Skill ranged from master artist down to novice but each offered their own perspective on Italian culture. 

A few were absolute masterpieces while others did not get finished. Businesses sponsored the artists who then went to work on completing their art pieces. The name of the business was included on the side of the masterpiece making it a captive audience of approximately 120,000 visitors. It is hard to get better advertising than matching art, foot traffic, and proximal location. 

The Gondola Company put together an excellent display and caught my interest. They offer Milan style gondola boating for couples and groups. I have never been on a Gondola or to Italy so I might try it someday and wanted to get more information. The activity would be great for a small party or a romantic getaway.  Http://www.gondolacompany.com

 The event was fun and after walking you began to better understand the ancient Italian culture that was established during the Renaissance Period. People like Julias Ceasar, Lorenzo de Medici and Columbus helped shape a cultural perspective. Likewise, people with robust romantic lives such as Leonardo di Vinci and Micheangelo provided a historical foundation for artistic endeavors. From red wine to tortellini you will taste some of the best offerings of Italy in this little San Diego neighborhood.

http://www.littleitalysd.com/events/little-italy-festa/

Adams Avenue Street Fair-Craft and Music Combo

Street fairs are an excellent opportunity to socialize and experience the artistic talent of the area as they display everything from food to hand-crafted home decorations. Last weekend I attended the Annual Adams Avenue Street Fair with over 300 vendors and 100 live musical acts. The event lined Adams Street for the distance of approximately eight city blocks. 

This particular street fair is one of the largest in the area and occurs annually drawing thousands of visitors to the bohemian Adams Avenue Business District. This year the event was held on September 27^th and 28^th and was situated in a cordoned street right between the stores, bars, restaurants, and apartments. 

Handcrafts:

Some of the items are hand crafted such as the bottled glasswork. Not sure how the artist makes his items but it appears he melts the bottles down in some way to manipulate them into wind chimes, wall pictures, or table trays. Other handcrafted goods included jewelry, clothing, pens, and wall signs. 

Art:

Items such as paintings, pottery, and cartoons were just some of the artistic endeavors on display. A few 3D drawings caught my attention.  As you look at drawings from different angles they change shape.  

Food:

It doesn’t take long to smell the aromas from food vendors representing just about every culture imaginable.  For the first time in my life I ordered a rice milk and cinnamon drink from a Mexican food stand; pretty good stuff. A half block further I was tempted by stuffed grape leaves due to a recent cooking failure I had a week ago. 

Bands and more bands:

If you were in the mood to listen to bands they were blaring on just about every block which converted the art fair into mixed music and art affair. Rock, country, Indie and vocalists got a place on the stage. The beer garden seemed attractive to the concert goers.

http://www.adamsaveonline.com/StreetFair/

San Diego Science Festival Draws Interested Crowds

Hosted at Petco Park from March 15^th to the 22^nd science lovers of all ages made their way down to the park to learn about science and learning. The event was free and drew thousands of adults and children who learned about the world through organizations such as NASA. A variety of themes were offered that included life sciences, astronomy, aquatic, biology, technology, and more. 

The reptile exhibit seemed to draw some of the largest crowds. People rallied around the stage to hear about the various reptiles, their features, and how they lived in their environments. The presenter provided a live reptile for the audience to ponder. 

The nation suffers from a lack of scientists and jobs that employ those scientists. Many jobs require analytical and research capabilities even when they are not specifically hired as such. Introducing young people to STEM allows for a greater social awareness and expectation that such learning is a necessary part of being an adult. Making learning fun helps children attach their identity to these concepts. 

The event was busy and it appears that a large percentage of society is accepting of science knowledge in their lives. Enhancing such festivals and events in the lives of people is an important function of responsible living. The organizations who supported the event believe in their social responsibilities and encourage volunteerism. 

Total participants for 2014 was over 30,000

http://www.sdsciencefestival.com/