Monrovia Old Town report: Taste of Old Town…we’re awaiting your return

By Shawn Spencer shawn@girlfridaysolutions.net

Taste of Old Town in 2010.

Under the superb direction of Julie Gentile, the Kiwanis Club organized what would become the event of the year for Old Town.

One of the many things I love about living and working in Monrovia — specifically in Old Town — is the wonderful events that the city and other groups coordinate for our benefit and enjoyment. The Friday Night Street Fair, the summer concerts in the parks, Monrovia Days, the

4th of July fireworks and so many more. As I write this, I can joyfully tie many of these events to happy memories with family and friends. We have so much more than a great city. We have a community. We have great leaders, wonderful residents and a rich, diverse and growing business district with a beautiful backdrop to house it all.

I’m not sure I can pinpoint my favorite city event. However, I will say that the Taste of Old Town has always been near and dear to my heart. Formerly known as the Old Town Monrovia Food, Wine and Jazz Festival, the event was newly dubbed The

For those of you that have not attended this gala, Myrtle is blocked off from Lime Avenue to Colorado. Both sides of the streets are lined with booths housing local and nearby restaurants, breweries, wineries, distilleries and bakeries. With your ticket purchase (the event is for ages 21 and over), you get a bag of goodies and a handy one-handed plate that has a special doo-hicky handle for your wine glass. Now that you are armed for success, you can then go from booth to booth to sample small tastes and sips from every vendor. And you can do it as many times as you want to.

After years of attending, the smart move is to do a quick walk thru, hit the best spots fast before they run out, then go to the remaining booths or repeat as desired. By the time you’re feeling slightly stuffed, you can go dance it off on the dance floor with the amazing live band that has been hired for the night. Don’t forget to go back for a snack or dessert!

The street is lit with beautiful white lights, which make the white canopies glow warmly. The October temps are perfect, once the sun dips down. It’s like a big party with all of your favorite people in town. The event draws crowds from near and far. It is for sure filled with locals, but it’s also a huge draw to other cities which is such a huge boost for our local businesses. It is a spectacular event and has been highly revered by everyone I’ve ever discussed it with.

Sadly, like so many other things we held dear, the pandemic was the end of the Taste of Old Town. I, like many others, thought the event would return, post-COVID (if that’s even a thing). But, due to more stringent guidelines from the health department added to the amount of work it takes to pull off an event of this magnitude, it has been decided that the event will be permanently retired. Not only was this event so much fun to attend, but it was also Kiwanis’ largest fundraising event of the year and helped them raise funds for their many programs including their scholarship disbursements.

It is my hope that somehow, some way, the powers that be in our city find a way to come together with Kiwanis to make this event happen in October. It might not be as grand as it has been, but I’m ok with baby steps toward a bigger and better event to come! So, throw out some good energy, make a wish, click your heels, say a prayer, or cross your fingers so that we can find a way to save this amazing event. I believe…

Although this year’s celebration of George Washington’s birthday has passed, I’d like to honor him for a deed that became the first in world history for a head of state:

Unlike throughout Europe where they were persecuted and tormented, Washington offered political and civic emancipation to Jews in the USA, and assured them that America would always be open to them:

“May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land…enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants, while every one shall sit in safety under his own… fig tree. And there shall be none to make him afraid.”

Sadly, as evidenced by the vicious anti-Semitic crimes we are witnessing today, far too many Americans have chosen to forget those words of that great man.

David Quintero Monrovia