2007 Old Town Art Festival in San Diego

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A weekend media extravaganza drew crowds to the Old Town Art Festival, a celebration of art, music, food and wine. The event, presented by the Old Town San Diego Chamber of Commerce, took place in Old Town on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23 from 10-6 pm.

This neighborhood event featured over 150 artists and artisans. White tent artist booths lined San Diego Avenue from Conde to Twiggs and extended into the Old Town State Historic Park. Well-placed signs directed cars to free parking lots and rerouted traffic to Congress Street. For visitors and locals alike, it was the perfect opportunity to sightsee Old Town while seriously shopping wares ranging from glassblown sculptures to textile books.

In this age of Wal-Mart and manufactured, mass-produced plastics from China, a handcrafted, one-of-a-kind object isn't just special -- it's rare. This, in part, explains the Old Town Art Festival's draw for people of all ages.

"This festival brought me down from Escondido," said Dorothy Walker, 83, as she admired an intricately hand-beaded handbag by Lillian Todaro, who specializes in creations of beaded and jeweled wearable sculpture. "I came last year too. It will well worth the drive. I bought my Christmas presents here. All very unique."

Brian and Greg DiSilva from Chula Vista, two brothers age 7 and 9, played with wooden airplanes at The Woodsman, the stand of California artisans Doug and Bobbie Gold.

Said Gold, "We make educational, high-quality wooden toys. From start to finish, we pick the wood, cut the pieces, and stain the colors. It's an individual process."

At David Levy's Hardwood Creations, Bill Dunn, a 43 year-old businessman from Point Loma purchased a round cheese board made of contrasting Peruvian Walnut and rich red African Padauk, handpicked and hand-sanded.

California's premier and emerging artists showed alongside national and international artists. Arizona based jewelry designer Stephanie Tantillo of Satori Fire Glass said, "I'm delighted to here. So many people have stopped by."

On display: luminous red hearts on sterling silver chains and other handcrafted fused dichroic glass and silver jewelry.

Autumn leaves, seashells and birds featured in Hudson River Inlay, Ed Coffman's stand of inlaid mirrors and panels. Hailing from New Windsor, New York, he said, "This is my first time showing in San Diego and I'm enjoying it. The people are great. The weather is fine."

Old Town Art Festival participants were initially worried about the weather. Heavy storm clouds dumped rain on Old Town just before the start of the festival, turning dirt to mud and threatening to ruin the outdoor event.

Jay Bird, an artist from El Cajon who specializes in impressionistic oil paintings said, "We were all delayed in setting up. It poured heavily, but someone up there was shining down on us."

Miraculously, the storm passed just before opening hour allowing everyone to enjoy fine weather.

Artists may have been worried about the weather, but visitors had other concerns. "Parking was free, but the lots got full. We had to circle for a long time before getting a space." said Imperial Beach resident, Lynne Bradley.

She was listening to The Jazz Pigs jamming from a bandstand in the Old Town State Park green with her husband and two children. The exuberant jazz fusion group was part of an all-day line-up that included the Flamenco and Latin-inspired bands Latin a Go Go, Olivares Latin Spice, Emma's Band, and Javid.

Music floated across the green to the Kid's Area, where University Heights resident Cindy Martinez helped her son J.D. to make a white paper bag hat decorated with purple and blue feathers. Nearby, the Chu family, from Clairemont, took a snack break with fruit cups bought from a food booth on Twigg Street.

For those hungry for more substantial fare, restaurants like Café Coyote offered other culinary arts specials. For anybody lost in the colorful mayhem, helpful volunteers at two information booths were on staff to help. Lastly, since fine art and fine wine go hand in hand, The Historic Cosmopolitan Hotel offered four tastings, two appetizers and a free etched collectors glass for $15.