Election Section

Not long ago, a very wealthy American couple visited a beautiful little village in the south of France while on vacation. They loved what they saw—everything. So captivated were they with the little town that they extended their vacation seven days, giving them time to get to know the locals, until they were all on a first-name basis. During their stay one thought kept racing through their minds: “There must be a way that more people could come here and enjoy such a place!”  

While in the village, they dined on marvelous food freshly prepared at dozens of restaurants, each one wholly different from the next. The couple marveled at the sense of community and how much they felt at home there, though they lived thousands of miles away. And they saw dollar signs. 

Eventually the big corporation the couple headed bought the whole town, lock, stock and barrel. After a series of protests, their company bulldozed the entire village and built a theme park in its place, the main attraction a faux small town that very much resembled, on the surface, at least, the French village they decimated.  

Years later, the few remaining authentic downtowns in the East Bay also face the prospect of being replaced by facades that are actually big-box malls, all designed to give visitors the sense they are strolling around a real downtown—except, of course, for the parking lots with their acres of cars. 

However, in the East Bay there remains one authentic small town. It was not designed by developers from a thousand miles away, and instead of chain stores has mom and pop shops, modern boutiques, and some of the finest restaurants in the Bay Area. That little town is called Albany. 

Folks from around the Bay Area will have a chance to experience what it feels like to be a part of a real community again Sunday, June 5, during the fourth annual spring festival called “A Taste of Albany—A Small-Town Walkabout.” 

This culinary tour features tastes from 18 of the best restaurants in Albany, including: Fonda, Albany Bistro, Ruen Pair Thai Cuisine, Kathmandu Restaurant, Eunice Gourmet, Celadon/Teance Fine Teas, Walker’s Restaurant and Pie Shop, Cugini Pasta & Wood Fired Pizza, The Sophia Cafe, Jodie’s Restaurant and Barbecue, Thep Naaree Thai Cuisine, Zaytoon Steaks & Kabob House, The Sunny Side Cafe, Mother Nature’s Vegetarian Restaurant, Claypot Seafood Restaurant, Renee’s Place, Royal Ground Coffee Cafe, and the Solano Grill and Bar.  

Local independently-owned-and-operated businesses—such as Five Little Monkeys, Sweet Potatoes, Albany Bowl, Mary and Joe’s Sporting Goods, Matsu, Club Mallard, Casa Oaxaca—will be offering special promotions, freebees, or discounts for folks who have tickets. Artists will show their wares at an enchanting arts and crafts show dotting Solano Avenue... Ah but here’s another surprise. There will be no streets closed for this festival. Why? Because it is designed to help promote our local small businesses rather than feature professional vendors hawking hot dogs or deep fried tofu. 

Twelve bands will be performing everything from R&B to Dixieland, Reggae to Folk, Fusion, Funk and Jazz. Certain to rock a younger crowd’s world is Orixa, with their unique mix of Latin and funk-flavored rock. Performing on the same stage is Otis Goodnight, with jazz/funk/fusion, while in another spot in town, people can dance to salsa by the Martin Franco Band and Mucho Axé, or dig jazz/pop by the Mark Kay, or be moved by the soulful Quadraphonics, and many other terrific bands and performers. 

Jugglers and magicians will delight you as you enjoy tastes from 18 restaurants at two outdoor cafes, spots where you can actually sit down at a table and relax. Cold microbrews and fine wine will be available at both outdoor cafes, located on Solano and San Pablo Avenues. And there’s a Kid’s Town for the little ones. 

Two San Francisco-style cable cars will shuttle folks up and down Solano and San Pablo all afternoon—for free. And all the utensils, plates, cups, and napkins used at the Taste of Albany are completely compostable, made from corn and the stalks of sugar cane, meaning “A Taste of Albany” is a GREEN festival. 

Twenty percent of any profits will be donated by the Albany Chamber of Commerce to the Oakland Center for the Blind, and Victims of the South Asian Tsunami.  

Tickets are $20 in advance, and, if any are available, $25 June 5. You can purchase tickets from most participating restaurants, or on line at www.albanychamber.org. For more information call 525-1771. 

James Carter is the executive director of the Albany Chamber of Commerce. 

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