DANCING IN THE STREET or on the avenue as was the case in downtown Visitacion Valley on Sunday, September 19th. The art was proudly displayed, the food was delicious and the music was every bit as good as advertised. Simply put, it was the best Leland Avenue Street Fair yet.
Anytime you can get a legendary musician like Pete Escovedo to headline your entertainment stage, it’s going to be a special event. The Latin jazz percussionist and his 6-piece orchestra had the Alpha Street intersection transformed into a dance party that wasn’t deterred by a little midday precipitation. The crowd had been adequately warmed up since 10am, when Polynesian dance troupe Siva Polynesia gave a stirring performance onstage that was followed by local blue-grass favorites the Back Porch Band. They set the stage for San Francisco feel-good reggae favorites Native Elements and Atiim Chenzira who took a break from emceeing the festivities to rock the crowd with his band-mates. By the time Pete Escovedo had finished captivating the audience, the 2010 Leland Avenue Street Fair had transcended all street fairs before it. Fog City Review made sure to keep the momentum going, covering classic R&B, soul and rock hits while Soul Society used a blend of originals and crowd favorites to close out an outstanding live music set.
But it wasn’t only the entertainment that was better this year; the dedicated children’s area was vastly improved too. This was due in large part to collaborations with great community partners – Jumpstart and San Francisco Urban Riders, who transformed the Bank of America parking lot into an inspiring, fun-filled Kids-Zone. Jumpstart kept young ones engaged with enriching arts and crafts projects, culminating in the collaborative creation of a gigantic dragon art piece. Meanwhile, the SF Urban Riders provided bicycles and gear to youth riders who navigated various obstacles in a massive bike course that ran circles inside the bank parking lot. Partnering with these two organizations provided kids truly enriching and engaging activities; even more evidence of the street fair’s growth.
The focus on home grown artists and vendors gave this year’s street fair a distinctly genuine flavor. By showcasing local artists, crafters, caterers, and service providers, street fair attendees were able to browse quality products and services from familiar faces which came together to foster a dynamic social element. Did I mention the food? Aside from Leland Avenue favorites El Buen Sabor, Happy Family Fast Food and Casa Lopez, outside food vendors were invited to help convert Alpha Street into a dedicated ‘Eat Street’ by offering delicious eats and a great view of the entertainment stage. Calamari, lumpia and hamburgers were available courtesy of our friends down at the 7-Mile House, while Tante’s had potato and spinach knish, falafel and garlic fries on the menu. Our community partners at Our Lady of the Visitatcion School had tasty treats for sale including snow cones and popcorn all to raise money for the upcoming school year.
When it was all said and done, nearly 3,000 people had come to downtown Visitacion Valley and left with a smile on their face. With an overarching goal of showing off a brand new streetscape on the commercial corridor and rejuvenating neighborhood businesses, the Leland Avenue Street Fair was an exciting, fun-filled event like none other that brought neighbors together on a Sunday in September. That’s what it’s all about.
