(Left) One of Santa Paula’s most popular events, the 7th Annual Hot Summer Jazz & Art this year featured The Barrelhouse Wailers whose 1920s-1930s centric tunes delighted the audience and brought dancers to their feet. (Right) East Main Street was closed between Mill and Davis streets where clothed tables held menus from participating restaurants; for the first time ever there were centerpiece topped Reserved and VIP tables, the latter even holding goodie bags.

Supermoon shines on tides of fun at
Saturday’s Hot Summer Jazz & Art

July 16, 2014
Santa Paula News

The Supermoon shined down tides of fun at Saturdays’ Hot Summer Jazz & Art that filled historic Main Street with a record crowd celebrating music, art, food and fun!

One of Santa Paula’s most popular events, the 7th Annual Hot Summer Jazz & Art this year featured The Barrelhouse Wailers whose 1920s-1930s centric tunes delighted the audience and brought dancers to their feet.

There were even some breaks for demonstrations of Salsa dancing provided by Lovie’s Latin Studio.

The Santa Paula Downtown Merchants Association, City of Santa Paula and Southern California Edison sponsors the event each year.

East Main Street was closed between Mill and Davis streets where clothed tables held menus from participating restaurants; for the first time ever there were centerpiece topped Reserved and VIP tables, the latter even holding goodie bags.

There was also ample open seating but many people came early to secure seats. 

Others, like City Councilman Martin Hernandez, came a little later and “Now we’re going to have to look around fast for seats... it’s such a great event!”

Bill Linder had arrived early to meet his wife Marikay and friends, who had come even earlier to secure a table.

“We’ve been to this in years’ past but we go out of town weekends... but we didn’t this weekend just for this,” he noted.

What Linder said he was looking forward to most was “The music, and I heard this band is really great! Overall, it’s a nice evening, a really fun event.”

Janet Grant has never missed it: “It’s a classy event,” she noted, set against the backdrop of historical East Main Street with the al fresco dining with some participating restaurants offering table service. 

“I’m having the turkey sandwich special from Fria,” said Bill Grant. 

“I’ve come to every one and I still enjoy them,” said Anitra Sommer. 

Louisa Martina of Somis said it was her first Hot Summer Jazz & Art and, “I don’t know how I’ve missed them... this is so much fun. I’ve been visiting the vendor booths, such beautiful arts and crafts! And I love downtown Santa Paula!”

Devone Design Jewelry was doing a brisk business and owner/designer Talia Wunder had also organized the arts and crafts exhibitors.

“We have about 30 booths and even more artists this year,” sharing space and Wunder said a new event was being introduced.

“We have a raffle, lovely items, and people will get one ticket for every $10 they spend,” at the booths devoted solely to original art, arts and crafts, and other merchandise.

“We have some awesome prizes,” for the raffle where tickets could only be acquired through purchases, a way said Wunder, “To encourage people to look at what we have, all the wonderful arts, crafts and other items... and once they see it they’ll buy!” 

They did: “We had over $4,000 in sales, it was the busiest we’ve ever been,” said Maria Bombara who with SPDTMA President Debbie Johnson was acting as a cashier at pay central where all purchases were processed.

“Everyone had a great time and it was fun talking to people, especially those from out of town,” a good-sized crowd of visitors that Bombara said were, “Super enthusiastic about their visit to Downtown Santa Paula and Hot Summer Jazz & Art!”

Jennifer Lara of Fria was waiting tables offering the eatery’s event special and Victor Espinosa was wearing a cool fedora to match the cool night air and music.

“We come every single year,” said Espinosa. “We love the al fresco dining, the people and the music... The Barrelhouse Wailers are really hot!”

Bee Loved Florist and gifts shared a booth: “I love this event,” said Debbie Eastman, who noted it was the first event  the then new business had participated in last year.

Socializing was also on Nancy and Gary Nasalroad’s plate.

“It’s great just to socialize in the downtown and everybody you know and like shows up... and with the weather we have, well, it just complements the whole evening,” said Gary.

“I’m just looking for my friends,” not easy in the big crowd, said musician Chuck Mullett, and “I’m loving the band!”

Those craving food as well as jazz were able to get table service or place a to “go man go!” order for menu specials from The Mupu Grill, Garman’s Pub, Fria, Rabalais, Amigas Taqueria, Tuscany Pizzeria & Deli, Betel Frozen Yogurt and more. 

Those hungry for the arts milled around the booths to view and purchase fine art, including paintings (among the art was a huge display of Santa Paula Society of the Arts artists), jewelry, photography, sculpture, woodwork and sculpture, wearable art, folk art and stained glass, among other fine items that were offered by the dozens of craftsman and artists who took part in the event.

“The Barrelhouse Wailers were hopping, the crowd was hopping, we were hopping in the cashier’s booth, the weather was perfect and we had a wonderful Supermoon overhead... it was just a great night,” said Debbie Johnson. “Everyone said they had a wonderful time, loved the setting in our historic Downtown, our perfect weather, the restaurants and art...  we’ll be back next year and so will they!” 





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