Photograph by Douglas Rider
In Style: Mike Carr, of San Jose, owner of Cloud 9 Limousine Service, shows off the vehicle's sun roof.
Festival sponsors prepare for some 20,000 shoppers on Lincoln Avenue
More than a dozen merchants will participate offering specials and freebies
By Moryt Milo
Put on those Dancing shoes and head down to Willow Glen's sixth annual Dancing on the Avenue festival on June 16.
Lincoln Avenue will be bursting right out of its intersections with an endless variety of music, food and sidewalk sales.
Karen Naegeli, owner of Able Printing and president of the Willow Glen Business and Professional Association, says she "wouldn't be surprised" if the festival exceeds last year's attendance of 20,000 people. With everything that is being planned, she could be right.
More than a dozen sponsors are participating in the event and Lincoln Avenue merchants will be open late and offering many specials, giving young and old alike plenty of reasons to dance their way down the Avenue.
Swingers Golf shop is teaming up with Cloud 9 limousine service to raffle off a $1,000 gift certificate. It will include a round of golf and round-trip limousine ride for four to one of the Bay Area's exclusive golf courses. Cloud 9 will also offer one-two hour free passes in its limousines for anyone who buys a $10 T-shirt or hat at Swingers.
"It's going to be a fun thing," says Mike Carr, owner of Cloud 9. "We are going to have limousines park at each end of the street, and people will be able to look in the cars."
Owner Laura Augusta at L'Daisy Patch plans to keep her tradition going by offering the now infamous "London, Paris, Rome, Willow Glen" T-shirts and sweatshirts for sale. A few doors away Chris Carris, owner of the Willow Glen Roasting Company, will join forces with Johnson Wellness Day Spa, featuring the band, Fontain's Muse, which Carris describes as an "Indian sound with a jazz blend," 5-7 p.m. During the band's break, Carris plans a magic show that should find special appeal with the younger crowd.
If all that Dancing makes you tired, spend a few relaxing minutes at Johnson Wellness Day Spa's new location, in the former Panache dress shop. The company plans to have a massage chair outside, and offer five- to 10-minute neck and shoulder massages for $1 a minute. Owner Violet Johnson says the company plans to raffle off a facial and massage.
Many of the merchants, including The Eclectic Touch, Dodads and Willow Glen Books plan to have outside sales as crowds walk along the avenue. Owner Tammi Kames of Dodads says she plans to have special gardening items on sale and, of course, "lots of doodads."
Following the green thumb theme, Glenites will discover midway down the avenue that Posey Garden Florist will announce its "new" grand opening, right next door to its current location. Owner Kay Wolf says the company plans to offer free gifts, while supplies last, and display sample theme baskets. Shoppers also can get a first-hand look at some of the store's added inventory, including picture frames, soaps and candles.
If the crowds on the streets have you wanting to duck inside, check out Comforts. Co-owner Becky Bontrager says it will have a special Fourth of July Americana display in the store. She also plans to offer a 10 percent discount on large aluminum clocks.
And, if all that walking and Dancing has your feet crying for rest, consider pit stops along the way, and check out all the cars on hand from such dealers as Bob Lewis Volkswagen, Suzuki, Hyundai and Trend West Resorts Mercedes Jaguar.
Bob Lewis will have eight cars on display and would-be cruisers can sit behind the wheel. Some of the cars include a Volkswagen convertible beetle, a Passat wagon, a Hyundai Santa Fe and a Suzuki XL7, to name a few. On the other hand, if you're a tired of paying for gas check out the e-bike also being displayed through Bob Lewis Volkswagen.
The Willow Glen Resident is also an event sponsor, providing the Dancing on the Avenue special supplement.
Not planning to add any new cars in the near future? You will still want to partake in Trend West's raffle for a luxury automobile. No matter what your preference, there will be lots of free water and balloons at the Bob Lewis Volkswagen booth.
The day promises to offer an endless buffet of food, including Chinese, Greek, Mexican, Italian, Tex-Mex and, of course, pizza and burgers. The Glen will entertain diners with dancing music from an '80s-style cover band called the Gents.
Of course, the festival wouldn't be the same without those printed T-shirts that read "Willow Glen 95125," being sold by People's Pants.
It's a day that promises lots of specials, and another chance for Lincoln Avenue merchants to show off the street's latest happenings and changes. Owner Robyn Levine from Details Clothing Co. sums it up for all the merchants, "We are excited about seeing Willow Glen so happy and look forward to the festivities."
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
