Street Fairs, Events, Festivals

Hi People. How about letting me know how you did at your events (vendors). I'd really like to hear from you and you can email me at starvingvendors@aol.com. My website is http://www.starvingvendors.com/ and I have many reviews of events to read.

There are many shows each weekend and I'd like you to share that information with me on how you did, problems, the good things, the nightmares, etc.

I just heard from a lady that did the Central Valley Pizza Festival (Lemoore) and she hit the hammer right on the nail. Some of her comments were: we did it for the first and last time!!! There was only four to six "crafter's" there...... the rest was resale and food. Weather was HOT and as another vendor said people were walking around like they were in a daze...... I will give the award for the rudest kids to this street fair...... As a matter of fact, rude is too nice of a word to use. This is the first place I have ever had to ask anyone to leave my space...... There was a guy walking around with the huge snake wrapped around his neck. I saw one girl who was trying to get away fall over a bike..... also saw a vendor fall and they had no way to get an emergency vehicle in there.... but they did walk in to help him.... Also, porta potties were about half way back in the parking lot... and by noon they were filthy.... two porta potties at the end of the street I was on (the carnival end)... Was told they were too expensive to have any more than the two. BTW, I look at your site daily and love it!!

You know what? I believe her because we were vendors last year at this event and I had many of the similar occurences. Click here to read my review of the Pizza Festival Seems like they have to get a whole new bunch of vendors every year.

I would love to hear from other people. Let's hear about the Chandler Ostrich Festival in Arizona. Anybody else do Manteca? Clovis?

Starving Vendors website

Hi. I have a website called Starving Vendors and it contains a lot of information for vendors who sell at shows and festivals in California, Arizona and Oregon. However, one of the best features of this website is Your Daily Dose, which contains various tidbits of interesting information along with links to more information.

Some of this week's recent stories and newsclips, etc.

BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT producer Simon Cowell is trying to bring together the winner of their 2007 contest.

ASTRONAUT EDGAR MITCHELL: UFOs ARE REAL

PEREZ HILTON. He proceeded to inquire about her views on same-sex marriage. He blasted runner-up MISS USA contestant (Carrie Prejean) for her answer.

RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. Oh gosh. SF mayor Gavin Newsome

BRIDGE PRICES GOING UP. Prices to cross our Bay Area

MELISSA HUCKABY. CBS News reported Wednesday that Huckaby had been hospitalized

ASTEROID HEADING OUR WAY AGAIN.

Head on over to Starving Vendors 'Your Daily Dose' to read more on this headliners. Check it out.

Carrie Prejean vs Perez Hilton

Miss USA pageant held this past weekend.

I guess that you now have to support gay marriages in order to win beauty contests. Judge Perez Hilton proceeded to inquire about her views on same-sex marriage. He blasted runner-up MISS USA contestant (Carrie Prejean) for her response. She answered that it was "great" that the option is available in some states, but that "in my country and in my family, I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman -- no offense to anyone out there."

According to Shanna Moakler "she lost the crown because she wasn't able to convey compassion for ALL the people that as MISS USA she would be representing. and if YOU like it or not, gays and lesbians make up this country as well. THIS is why we have judges so they can find the RIGHT woman who obtains these qualities. I think that the judge who posed the question to her wanted to put her on the spot and not have her win.

Miss California answered the question and the way I look at it this it was a 'no win' situation and the question should not have been asked. If she said that she supported gay marriages, then she would have been desecrated by many more for those beliefs. You put her on a spot. And now, Hilton is capitalizing on this by making a big deal over this issue in interviews and on his blog.

I consider my marriage to be sacred. You have to refer to these bonds between gay men or women as something other than 'marriage.' Sorry. I really do not have any hatred or anything toward gays and I think that most of them are quite nice. I don't care what they do, just don't call it marriage, please. Show me that respect. You know, whatever side you take on this issue, it controversial.

Los Banos Street Faire - April 18, 2009

We arrived at our space and set up. It was 7:00 and it was already getting warm. Crowds were late and very light throughout the day, as compared to other year's here. There were way too many booths for the amount of people attending and the people around here do not have much money. Sales were down this year for us, but we didn't do 'terrible' like some of the other vendors.

I can't understand why you have 4 blocks of vendors, etc. and you are only providing 6 porta-potties. Three on a side street in the middle of the show and another 3 at the far end (our end, luckily) at a car show across the street. Still a long walk. To read my review of this event and many others please click here.

BOOTH FEES: $50 for one space; $80 for two. Anything goes. Excellent. When people are buying, the 'value' of the show is $80-$100. Note: This event is held in mid-April, right on the outer fringes of our rainy season and weather could be a problem. Thus, perhaps the reason for low booth fees.

PROMOTERS: They handle the show pretty good and there is a good police presence throughout the event. Very nice. However, they do not send confirmation of acceptance and need to work on the porta-pottie solutionn.

THE GOOD: Cheap. Spaces are 15 feet wide. Great for us and others who need to display ln side of canopy. Parking not a problem, at least on the far end. They had people sit in for vendors leaving for toilet and food breaks.

THE BAD: Porta potties. Car show in separate area across the street. Food booths spaced amongst vendors. Might be better to put them all in a separate area. There were a number of non-profit hot dogs, etc. I don't know if they would do any good if they were together with other food vendors.

Nikki Amber CD

Check out this 14-year old up and coming Filipina solo artist from the Bay Area. Nicole Amber Lansang picked up her first microphone at the age of 3 and sang her very first song; Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Realizing at that tender age that Nikki had an incredible voice, Nikki‘s parents began her vocal training with renowned singer and voice coach Margo Leduc. Now at age 14, Nikki Amber is unstoppable! Since age 10, Nikki Amber has sung at local restaurants and was asked to perform as a special guest at the Margo Leduc Foundation’s annual toy drive. Nikki was showcased at the 2007 and 2008 Adobo Festival, which features the best of the best Filipino singers. click here to read more

Please click here to see and hear her video - 'When I Look in Your Eyes'

Casa de Fruta A&C Show - April 11-12

Casa de Fruta Arts and Crafts Show. Easter Weekend. Hollister, CA

We will be at this show over the weekend. Come on down and check out the vendors and spend part of this lovely weekend with us. Our business is DandL CREATIONS and we sell shell necklaces, lovely shell creations, shoulder bags and a lot more.

San Francisco Arts Commission - Street Artists

About 25 years ago, somebody gave me a cup that said 'The Whole World is Crazy but you and me".

I have a lot of vendor friends and one of them told me that he sells a couple of his products as a Street Artist in San Francisco. To get approved you have to submit your application and you then are put on the list to be reviewed on the 4th Thursday of the month.

Today, we went over to The City, drove around, paid $12.00 for a parking spot and then hauled my wife's shell creations and jewelry across the street, into the building and then downstairs to their room for review. When my wife's name was called, I assisted her in setting up her things. I arranged her shell creations on the table and she did the jewelry. I then walked over to the rest room and came back. The judge, jury and executioners were talking to my wife and she had handed over one of the catalogs to them, showing where we order our shells from. They wanted to know. They start telling us that they will not approve my wife's shell creations (handmade with shells....picture frames, flower pots, etc.) because of the way they suspected that the shells were harvested. They mentioned that these shells are obtained by dynamiting the ocean floor and scraping the bottom of the water collecting the shells. I showed them an email I received from the company where I purchased the shells saying they were obtained safely, etc. Then one of the ladies said 'that will not do...anybody can type this up.' Another lady was looking through the catalog and saw some shell necklaces similar to the one's my wife makes...... 'oh look at this, this looks just like the one over here (pointing to one of my wife's)... look...same type, same clasps. You got this from here. You didn't make these.'

I looked at her. Wow. What a bitch. How could you tell me that my wife did not make that? I was pissed. This lady has no consideration for people's feelings. Judge, jury, executioner. "I'm sorry...my wife made those necklaces. You are so wrong.' What a bitch!!!

I will tell you that the picture that she was referring to was one of a clam shell necklace in the catalog. The actual necklace that she had in her hand was a '70s Style Puka' and was not the same. Same clasps...barrell clasps, which are standardly used in making a huge percentage of necklaces. Wow. How could you make a fool out of yourself like that? My wife and I laughed at her all the way home.

The two ladies then paged through the catalog making one negative comment after another about the shells which were being sold by the company. That really made me feel offended and they made me and my wife (who put in many hours on her creations) feel so small. Do they do this to other people? I am sure that happens. You can tell when a person has had a job or position too long.

I returned to my seat and I heard my wife say something to them. I looked over at my wife and commented..."well...it looks like it's one of those times when you are guilty until proven innocent'' One of the ladies (ladies?) then commented about protecting the environment, etc. That's fine with me. But don't treat us so brutally. We are retired and trying to make a living selling our products and were under the mistaken impression that we would be allowed to sell our products. We didn't realize that these snobs would dump on us like that.

My wife was so disgusted at these people that she felt like just packing up the jewelry and leaving. I had already packed her shell creations. Okay...so we got around to the review of the jewelry. My wife set aside the shell necklaces, etc. and just showed them the semi-precious ones. They held up a turquoise necklace. "Where are your pieces to make this." My wife pulled out a bag that she had her turquoise nuggets. Okay fine. "Where are your receipts?" We didn't have any, but it was obvious that my wife had made these herself. They picked up more necklaces....'where are your receipts for these beads' she was asked again. We explained that we did not have the receipts as we purchased our beads, stones, etc., at different times over a period of years. "Well...that's no good. Need receipts. You have to match up every necklace with the loose beads and a receipt." Talk about frustration. You know, I really don't mind this part about the necklaces. At this point both my wife and I had give up hopes of getting an 'artists permit' and they could take it and stick it, as far as we were concerned. Damage done. It is what it is. You do what you do. My wife made the stuff, period. Come on ladies (ladies?), lighten up.

But I just don't like the way we were treated. These people are so against individuals using any type of shell. But, my wife pointed out after we left that one of these ladies (ladies?) was actually wearing a shell necklace. Hellooooooooo! You are here condemming things made of shell but you are wearing shells?

About 15 minutes prior to my wife's review, there was a guy that was going to demonstrate how he drew his caricatures. He came alone, so he would need somebody. So one of these ladie's (ladie's) looks at me points her finger at me. "How about you....you aren't doing anything?" I guess I volunteered, huh. I had no problem posing for the guy whatsoever, but I do not like the way the lady (lady?) told me to do it.

You say that these ladies are part of the S.F. Arts Commission? I think you are missing an 'f' before arts. I am sorry. These rejects are lucky that they have jobs. Jobs? Well, actually I don't think that's really a job...... that's not a job. Can you prove that's a job?

I feel very sorry for my wife who worked so hard on all this stuff and I am proud of her. She did a fantastic job. I don't want any part of SNOB, USA.

Mar 27. I am most appalled that the City condones their behavior. These ladies (ladies?) were very abusive and an apology would never suffice. They overdid it and I am sure a lot of other individuals who have gone before them have suffered what constitutes verbal abuse. Moreover, I have checked through the ordnance and have seen nothing about shells not being allowed.

Chabot College Flea Market

Come on down to the Chabot College Flea Market on Saturday, March 21. Looks like the rains will hold off until the evening time. We are DandL CREATIONS and are located in spaces B-397-399. We will be selling our shoulder bags, fannypacks, shell creations and a whole lot more. Check out our website www.dandlcreations.com if you wish to order custom-sized, hand-made shell necklaces. Great buys.

Alameda for Lunch - Dimitra's Sandwiches

Took a spin over to Alameda today and picked up some sandwiches at Dimitras on Park Street. Been getting sandwiches from there now for 35 years. Still around. At one time, there were at least 3 Dimitra's around, but they closed two of them. The owners have retired and sold the one on Central Avenue a while back and it's now a pizza place. After getting our sandwiches, we drove through South Shore, which was renamed 'Town Center' a couple years ago. Construction continues there as several new stores have opened up. It's one of your better 'open-air' malls around. Drove over to the old Naval Air Station, where I have loads of memories from my 'squid' days. Parked near the water and looked across the Bay, etc., and had our lunch.

I read a bunch of Yelp reviews on the place and there are mixed feelings about Dimitra's. I think that the sandwiches are pretty decent...Hungarian, Texarkana, California Split, Dimitra's sub, the Grecian, and of course, the O.D......I've had a bunch of them through the years. I think that they were a little tastier back in the 70's, but still okay.

click here to read the remainder

Top 10 European Flea Markets

Came across a listing of the 'Top Ten European Flea Markets'. Thought you might be interested.

1. Waterloo, Belgium
What a great market this is. Held every Sunday morning in the car park of the Carrefour supermarket in Waterloo, there is plenty of parking, and a good fast-food restaurant. The 300 or so stalls are all laid out in an orderly grid so it’s easy to cover the whole market and not get confused about the location of a particular trader.

2. Turin, Italy
Carmagnola market is about a 20-minute drive south of Turin and held every second Sunday of the month (except August). Be prepared for a trek through this one: there are over 250 stalls laid out in the main square and winding pedestrian streets of the pretty town centre

To read more about the Flea Markets, please click here.

Very Funny Price is Right

FUNNY ON PRICE IS RIGHT. I am rolling over laughing at this lady. Just before she placed her bid, her glasses fell apart. She had the best bid and ran up to Drew Carey and her lens fell on the floor. I'll bet she bought them at Lenscrafter's. The same thing happened to my wife and the same thing happened to me. Lenses popped out of both of them. Lenses popping out all over the place. Their quality really sucks.

One time when I went for new glasses there, they gave me a bull shit story that they could not use my old frames AND I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW ONES. However, the next time my wife needed glasses, we went to Kaiser and NOOOO PROBLEM. They used her old frames. Lenscrafter's really is bad. Cheap. Bad Quality. Liars. They try to sell you their most expensive lenses. I have nothing good to say about them. NO...THE PRICE IS NOT RIGHT!!!

Riconada Hills Bazaar

Going to do the Riconada Hills Bazaar in Los Gatos. I guess this is a new location for this promoter's show and is held the last Saturday of the month from 9AM-4PM. Located at 1500 Pollard Road at the shopping center. click here for more info. Alpha Zeta Events.

Evidently, this show was held at a different location previously. Can anybody give me some info about it? Thank you...dave

check out Starving Vendors where you can see reviews from many of the events we have done. Also listings of European, Philippine Festivals and a whole lot more. Great site!! You'll love it.