Los Altos First Fridays

Live music. Refreshments. Evening shopping.

Playing for music rather than money, bands flock to downtown First Friday events

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 Published on Wednesday, 01 April 2015 01:09  Written by Los Altos Town Crier Staff – Town Crier Report

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Courtesy of losaltosfirstfriday.org
Members of Sunday Seven perform at Main and Second streets in downtown Los Altos.

Los Altos Forward’s April First Friday event is scheduled 6-8 p.m. Friday in downtown Los Altos.

The monthly events feature extended store hours, complimentary refreshments, live entertainment and in-store activities.

Scheduled musical groups for Friday’s event include Mars, Sunday Seven, 37th Parallel, Influx, and Mollie and Scott.

Perhaps the most visual and audible elements at First Friday events are the performing artists along Main and State streets. According to First Fridays organizer Carol Garsten, the bands simply show up to perform.

“We do not pay these people – they are just community members who love music and Los Altos,” she said.

The Sunday Seven accordion band makes regular appearances at Los Altos First Fridays.

Band members hail from all over the South Bay, including Los Altos and Mountain View.

“It’s fun,” said band leader Bob Stanfield. “We enjoy sharing our music with others, and we like to engage the listeners to sing or dance while we play. We enjoy playing as a group. We especially like to see the kids dancing or singing. They don’t often get to see accordions, so they seem fascinated with the instrument.”

Most of the bands’ members have day jobs. In the case of classic-rock cover band Fully Funded, all members are high-tech executives from Los Altos. Woody Arnold and Don Jaworski are CEOs of startups, Kevin Thompson is also a CEO and James Althoff is a retired chief technology officer.

The group, playing nostalgic tunes from the likes of The Beatles, Steve Miller and the Eagles, is in it for the joy of playing music.

“It’s fun to entertain the families and friends that come by on First Friday,” Arnold said. “We like to help Los Altos and the shops downtown. It’s nice to help make downtown a more vibrant place for people to enjoy.”

Watch for more band profiles in upcoming previews of First Friday events.

For more information, visit losaltosfirstfriday.org.

 

Celebrate Love at First Friday

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Published on Wednesday, 04 February 2015 00:08
Written by Los Altos Town Crier Staff – Town Crier Report

Courtesy of Dr. Jamie Lucia
Ellen Biolsi, owner of Cranberry Scoop at 295 State St., holds a poster promoting this month’s First Friday event. More than 60 stores and galleries are scheduled to participate in Friday’s Valentine-themed event.

Los Altos Forward has scheduled a Valentine-themed First Friday event – “Celebrating Love” – 6-8 p.m. Friday in downtown Los Altos.

“‘Celebrating Love’ is about celebrating the love of community, love of teachers, moms and dads, sweethearts, kids, grandmas and grandpas and even a special aunt or uncle,” said First Friday co-chairwoman Jamie Lucia, a chiropractor with Los Altos Community Chiropractic.

The evening will feature activities for all ages. Visitors are invited to browse and shop at more than 60 stores and galleries, many of which offer First Friday discounts as well as complimentary refreshments. Participating stores will have red and white balloons out front. Many restaurants will serve a “First Friday Special.”

Live entertainment will include performances by six local bands: Sunday Seven at Le Boulanger, 37th Parallel at Chase Bank, Fully Funded at the Costume Bank, Mollie & Scott at BK Collections, Influx at Linden Tree Books and Mars at On Your Mark.

Programs will be available at the First Friday Headquarters outside Village Stationers at 222 Main St.

First Friday is a rain-or-shine event.

“Even if it’s raining outside, it won’t be raining inside the stores,” said Carol Garsten, First Friday co-chairwoman and owner of Nature Gallery.

Marking three years of First Fridays

Los Altos Forward, a program of the Los Community Foundation, marks its third anniversary organizing First Friday events this month.

“We’re thrilled to see more and more business participating with great merchant giveaways and promotions leading up to Valentine’s Day,” Garsten said.

Los Altos Forward invites local volunteers to join the First Friday Committee, which meets 5:45-7:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Nature Gallery, 296 State St.

For a list of participating businesses and more information, email Lucia at dr.jamie@sbcglobal.net or Garsten at carol.naturegallery@gmail.com or visit losaltosfirstfriday.org or facebook.com/losaltosfirstfriday.

Tree Lighting Ceremony, Train Ride

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Published on Wednesday, 03 December 2014 00:11
Written by Los Altos Town Crier Staff – Town Crier Report

Town Crier File Photo
Last year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony drew a crowd of revelers who took photos in the glow of the illuminated tree.

The final First Friday of the year, with the theme “All Aboard for the Holidays,” is slated 6-8 p.m. Friday in downtown Los Altos.

The event includes free train rides courtesy of the local American Legion; browsing and shopping at retail shops and galleries, many of which offer discounts and free refreshments; and a host of restaurants serving a variety of cuisines.

Santa will arrive at Community Plaza on the American Legion Train at 6:30 p.m., in time for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. The plaza is located at Main and States streets.

Children will have an opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap. First Fridays organizers and the Los Altos Village Association, sponsors of the Tree Lighting Ceremony, request that families who visit with Santa bring an unwrapped toy donation for the Community Services Agency, which serves residents in need in Los Altos, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View.

Whole Foods Market will provide refreshments, and the Bullis Charter School Choral Group, the group Fully Funded and the Mountain View High School Madrigals will perform seasonal music.

Participants in the “Santa’s Elves Scavenger Hunt” who find at least 10 secret gifts will win a prize. The clues will be located around downtown – look for the balloons.

Those who shop on First Friday are eligible to win a $500 shopping spree.

“Put some bells on your toes and join the festive First Friday in delightful downtown Los Altos,” said Carol Garsten, owner of Nature Gallery and co-chairwoman of First Friday.

Jamie Lucia of Los Altos Community Chiropractic, co-chairwoman of First Friday, encouraged local residents to “come out with family and friends and shop local on this joyous ‘All Aboard for the Holidays’ First Friday.”

First Friday programs will be available around downtown and at First Friday headquarters at Adventure Toys & Teachers’ Supplies, 173 Main St.

For more information, visit losaltosfirstfriday.org.