A La Carte & Art

festival of live music, indie arts and crafts show, fabulous food and drink, chef demo tent, premium wines, microbrews and margaritas, fresh seasonal produce, kids amusements

12th Annual A La Carte & Art. The Bay Area’s bustling festival season officially kicks-off in Mountain View at this vibrant springtime celebration featuring live rhythm and blues, jazz, Motown, and rock ‘n roll music, an “indie” arts and crafts show with 250 exhibitors showing their latest handcrafted wares, savory stroll-around foods, premium wines, microbrews and margaritas, a farmers’ market with fresh seasonal produce, chef demonstrations, street performers, and amusements for kids. Admission is free.

•Live Music … 11 great bands play an eclectic mix of rhythm and blues, jazz, Motown, and classic rock ‘n roll music on stage and street. The early lineup includes Kaweh, Dreamroad, Ancient Winds, Emerson & The Growiser Band, and HeartStrings Music.

•”Indie” Fine Art, Cool Crafts … 250 independent artists and craftspeople showing their latest handcrafted work in ceramics, fiber, glass, fine art, jewelry, leather, metal, paper, sculpture, and wood. 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 will be among the fine wares.

•Savory Food & Drink … zesty garlic fries, Asian chicken, spinach and classic Caesar salads, turkey-cheddar and hummus-vegetable wraps, fried calamari, zucchini and artichokes, grilled rib-eye steak sandwiches, prawns, crispy fish and chips, super teriyaki chicken and pork kabobs, Philly cheesesteaks, jumbo hot dogs, smoked bratwurst and sausages, barbecue Thai chick and pork on-a-stick, crepes, roasted corn-on-the-cob, kettle corn, and fresh fruit smoothies.

•Chefs’ Demonstration Tent … top chefs from local restaurants preparing favorite dishes, passing out recipes and samples, and sharing the secrets and shortcuts behind kitchen success under a giant tent with plenty of seating.

•Mountain View Certified Farmers’ Market … growers with farm-fresh strawberries, apricots, cherries, organic produce, honey, almonds, pistachios and walnuts.

•Kids’ Tons Of Fun Zone … the stomach-tickling Froghopper ride, a 120’ Super Slide, thrilling virtual reality motion theater, Boomer’s Magic Circus, face painting, temporary tattoos, inflatible slide, train rides, hands-on art, police and fire department displays.