It's a date that coincides with the 50th anniversary of one of the club's sponsors--the Los Gatos-Saratoga Community Education and Recreation Department. Its co-sponsor, A Place for Teens, is the nonprofit organization started by parents in 1992 for the purpose of providing the teen facility.

Billed as the Great Los Gatos Food Fest, the event will feature more than 20 Los Gatos restaurants that are contributing distinctive fare to be sold in tasting portions. Food may be purchased with tickets sold at the event. The number of tickets required at $1 each will vary with the kinds of food available. Lunch starts at 11:30 a.m. with dinner at 2:30 until 7:30 p.m. Ten restaurants will cover each shift.

Teen bands are scheduled to play throughout the day while youth activities, artist demonstrations and skateboarding events take place. But the main focus is food served from booths, in portions appropriate for celebrants wanting to try it all.

"We're hoping to raise $25,000," Loya says. He points out that the newly refurbished club was previously known as the Outhouse. Problems associated with the club then have been wiped out. He says there are volunteers who assure that the club remains strictly for local teens and the free concerts feature local groups. "It's just a safe place for kids--no smoking and no alcohol," Loya says.

Located on the grounds of Los Gatos High School in a facility built with funds raised by parents, the Venue serves lunch during school days and stays open Monday through Thursday, 1-6:30 p.m., and Friday until midnight.

The Food Fest will begin the lunch shift with Aldo's Ristorante serving rollini di menanzane--rolled eggplant with mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce and basil. Whole Foods Deli is contributing Sonoma chicken salad with spinach crispy shitake; Le Boulanger will offer mini sandwiches; and Pizza My Heart will serve slices of its favorites. Customer pleasers from C.B. Hannegan's, California Café, Viva, Café Marcella, 180 and Willow Street will round out the lunch menu.

For the dinner shift, Campo de Bocce is serving pasta and ciabatta bread. Add to that Tapestry's shaved fennel and arugula salad; Kuleto's Troquato Farms heirloom tomato bruschetta; Valeriano's panzanella--an Italian bread salad tossed with tomatoes, red onion, pine nuts, feta cheese and tomato vinaigrette; Crimson's slow-braised pork sandwiches on soft Dutch crunch bread with roasted garlic aioli; Round Table's special pizzas; and Los Gatos Meats and Smokehouse's hot dogs, hamburgers, sausages, soft drinks and bottled water. The Wine Cellar will top it all off with its chocolate fondue and Dolce Spazio will scoop a variety of creamy gelatos all day. Additional delectable morsels will come from Three Degrees, Shish Kabob and La Pastaria. The Toll House Hotel will be covering both shifts with chocolate chip cookies.

Proceeds from ticket sales are used for equipment, movies, concerts and upkeep at the Venue. In addition, a variety of teen services are provided, such as financial planning for college-bound students and classes in CPR. "It's basically to keep our doors open. It costs $80,000 a year to run this place," Loya says.

For further information, call Mike Loya at 408.395.5553, or Michelle Varno at LGS Recreation at 408.354.8700, ext. 226.