The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Brandon Garcia

A member of the audience adds extra rhythm during the Joe Sharino Band's set.

Shall We Dance?

Kids of all ages find something to do at Dancing on the Avenue

By Deborah Taylor-Hollis

With cool weather and carefree crowds, Willow Glen's annual street dance offered distractions for kids of all ages.

Hundreds of valley residents, as well as most Willow Glen locals, jammed Lincoln Avenue for the dance party, sampling everything from Aqui's "Saddle Bar" margaritas to psychic readings under a street tent.

Bayshore Ambulance thrilled car and movie buffs alike with a vintage 1976 red-and-white Cadillac ambulance (a la Ghostbusters) that became an instant jungle gym for kids. Youngsters also were thrilled with climbing behind the wheel of the firetrucks being used as roadblocks. Michael Holback, 5, liked "pizza, firetrucks and the stickers" being handed out by the firemen. Brother Zachary, 3, announced "I like the pizza!" while baby sister JJ, 2, swayed with the jazz wafting over the crowd.

Jenny Kelsey and Jenny Johnson, each sporting blue-sugar smiles, raved about "the cotton candy and the music" as they danced hand in hand on the grass at Washington Mutual Bank to the band Sound Barrier early in the evening. "Yeah, cool, man," added Michael DeBolt, 7, waiting in line for dinner nearby with his friends, twins Patrick and Katie Kirk, 6.

Over at Buffington House, Sara Curry, 14, took photos with Gina Trovato, 14, and Tina Rubio, 15, in front of the historic home. "We love to go dance, meet our friends here, eat and just socialize," the young photographer said.

Over at the Garden Theater lobby, Joe LaBarbera, the "Swing King," entertained for his third year in a row, playing such nostalgic tunes as "The Old Piano Roll Blues" on his electric accordion.

One attendee, Manu, a blue and gold macaw, apparently enjoyed the swing sounds. "I've never been more excited in my life," his owner translated. "People are more colorful than I am. I'm very happy to be out here--there are no cats."

As twilight deepened, the multigenerational crowd gathered in the Jamba Juice parking lot to hear the Joe Sharino Band's last set. Doug and Doris Anderson said they loved the street fair because "it's dancing, being outside--it's wonderful to see teenagers singing '60s and '70s songs!"

Close by, another couple swaying to the music had more to celebrate than just the event. "We just got married three weeks ago," the man said as he hugged his new bride. "This is wonderful--we were born and raised here, and I've followed Sharino for 24 years."

Even as the band started its last set, latecomers were still filtering in from Willow Street, with a steady stream of customers heading for Willow Glen Liquors to get one last bottle of water or ice-cold soda. By that time, the band had drawn an overflow crowd that filled the street all the way back to May's Beauty Salon. Even Capitol Toyota manager Ron Zaplawa, overseeing new-car shoppers near the bandstand that Capitol sponsored, was helping out by bringing in extra garbage cans set out for the event to make more room for the crush of dancers.

Kelly Brown, 17, and Eric Villarreal, 18, spent several enchanting moments dancing to "Unchained Melody." "I love being out here with my girl, the one I love," Eric said as the ballad ended and they embraced in the twilight.

From then on, it was rock & roll time as "Dancin' in the Streets" and "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch" began pouring over the crowd. Everyone warmed up from the chill night air with hits like "Heatwave," and the crowd was loud and clear singing along with "867-5309 (Jenny)."

Destiny Vanegas, 6, and mom Vicky twisted to "Still the One" in the only open dance space close to the band: the driveway at Blaine's Lighting. "I'm having real fun--I'm getting crazy and wild!" Destiny shouted over the deep backbeat.

"Well, here we are, back where we've been, rockin' out in Willow Glen," Sharino sang during his solo ballad "American Pie," bringing the crowd together just before the band launched into three numbers--"Twist and Shout," "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Footloose"--that kept crowds gyrating until confetti bursts ended the concert promptly at 10pm. Another Dancing on the Avenue ended as folks melted into the cooling night.

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