By Susan Motander
Last Friday evening, Raw Inspiration, the new management company, took over the Monrovia Friday Night Street Fair. It was a “soft opening,” with not all the improvements and enhancements yet in place. However, from the comments overheard on the street, it was a great success.
There were more farmers than there have been in years and there were other fresh food vendors as well. It was possible to buy all the ingredients for a wonderful meal, not just the vegetable or salad course. There were fresh fish merchants, bakeries, and lots more – honey, cheeses, etc.
Despite an increase in the number of prepared food vendors, the restaurants in downtown all seems to be filled to capacity. An informal check with several of the established restaurants on Myrtle Avenue indicated that they had not seen any diminution in their business.
The fair had something for everyone – from the sound of children’s giggles in the play zone, you could tell the littlest customers were having a great time on the bouncers. While there were some complaints about the lack of a “petting zoo,” there was a pony to ride, and better yet, there was also a camel. A camel … now that is cool.
Everyone had a favorite spot. For Chris Shevlin, husband of City Council Member Becky Shevlin, it was the fresh fish vendor. Council Member Shevlin had been on the evaluation committee that selected the new management team. Both Shevlins were busy shopping the street after reporting that they had dined in a Myrtle Avenue restaurant.
For my husband, the cheese merchant, Achadinha Cheese Company, was the standout location (I admit, as I write this I am nibbling on a bit of their Parmesan-style cheese). He also found a great three-layer dip with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese at another booth.
My personal favorite was the fresh chicharrónes. I have not had such a tasty bit of pork since I was a kid, snacking on them while watching pork rinds being turned into this delightful treat in Grand Central Market downtown. Memories.
According to City Manager Oliver Chi, who’s young son seemed to be enjoying the street fair as much as anyone, the new managers have promised more. Among some of the planned improvements will be an enhanced program for the first Friday of every month. According to Chi, on Sept. 2, “a children’s stage area with special performances for kids, the introduction of a child changing booth, and establishing a special Passport Program to encourage interface with the storefront merchants” will be added to the festivities.
Since animals are not allowed in a farmers’ market by state law, Raw Inspirations plans to add a special area just for pets. The area will be run in conjunction with The Dog Zone, a grooming parlor in Monrovia. This “pet café” is meant to serve as an area where families hang out with their pets or where they could drop off their pets while visiting the portions of the fair where pets are not allowed.
This Friday, Aug. 26, will give Raw Inspirations another “shake down” fair to continue to work out the small electrical problem, as well as make other minor adjustments before the full roll out of the new and improved Street Fair the following weekend.
