Photos: Sixth Annual Summer in the City

as always we had a good time at the summer in the city...just a couple of complaints though.. not enough port-a-johns and we hope the stage goes back to main and bank st next year.. we bring our classic car every year and this year you had to walk the whole main st to get food or here the live bands... I understand Bank st is a mess right now but there's always next year... great turn out for the car show...alot of beauties...

The next to last last picture is either a reflection in a window or the ghosts of pre Urban Renewal destruction, come back to haunt Batavia. I want one othe Batavian T-shirts, I'll give twenty bucks.

George, I don't know how long it's been since those lovely, historic buildings were razed, but it was a sad day for Genesee County.

I thought this was a big waste and was very dissapointed. First off, from The east end by Main Street Pizza to Main Street Fitness were all the classic cars, but so many bare spots. Center Street and Jackson Street always had crafts and booths - this year - NOTHING. Last year (maybe 2 years ago I forget) Center Street was jammed with food and craft booths. This year - motorcycles and a few cars. Same with Jackson Street from Main to basically Valle's - this year..1 tent and I think it was a station for City workers possibly.

Then from the fitness center to the bank on the south side of Main was bare. In front of the little park was where a few stands started setting up..like The Batavian. The north side had basically just food stands, thats it. Kids could get their face painted or win a prize at just a few booths by Wendy's.

Some local businesses were there, but basically maybe 3-4 none and no vendor booths really. I remember you couldn't walk up and down Main without stopping at every booth to "window shop" or buy something.

The stage was in a nice spot, but I was there from 4pm until 6:15 and never heard a note.

People were smoking right by food stands- I saw one guy dropping his ashes right next to a grill and the lady cooking said nothing. ANd he didn't care. ALl kinds of kids skateboarding and running into people with no or little supervision.

It basically was so stripped down from years past. Did the city charge too much for vendors? Also, with no airshow anymore it doesn't have the feel it used to.

Time for the City to scrap this, save the money, and fix our side streets - like River Street which is a autobosy shop favorite because of all the potholes and cracks. Put the money to good use, not paying Nik and the Nice Guys all that money so 10 people can dance in the street after hitting 10 food booths.

We were also disappointed when we brought our show car down, seemed very disconnected from the actual event. The other bigger disappointment was the lack of "vendors". Lots of great food and what we could hear of the music as we walked but where were the arts and crafts. If we hadn't planned meeting up with friends we hadn't seen in forever we would not have stayed as long as we did.

I noticed a big lack of vendors as well. Did the threatening weather keep the vendors away?

Chris,
The City of Batavia does not run this event. It is sponsored by the Business Improvement District (BID).

John I thought you did a great job pretending to be a fake Elvis..........to bad nobody else was there to see your show.

I agree with Chris Chilano with one exception. I agree with Laura's comment that the stage should should have been at Main and Bank. This year's event was poorly attended. I was very disappointed in the early leaving of cars. Many people I talked with had the same comment. I think this event has seen its day. Same as Batavia.

Richard,
Hey cowboy, so that was you standing there.

If you want Arts & Crafts at an event that is multi-faceted, then the work for next year's event should be about 75% complete by now.
Putting an Arts & Crafts show takes advanced planning and legwork. I've had the opportunity to do this several times.
It means talking to A & C vendors at countless festivals and shows.
Leave info about your upcoming event at every booth.
Make good notes about vendors and their wares. Note those that offer something different than the rest.
Follow through with a letter to those who have an exceptional booth or unusual craft item.
Extend invitations and explain why YOU want them at your show. Mention their unique product that caught your eye.
Information is the key to a successful show.
Draw attendance from past events and give them an idea of the number of possible customers who will walk by their venue.
Let them know what kind of security you have in place.
A detailed map of the area highlighting restaurants and hotels is always appreciated.
Have a team of runners (at least two) who tour the A&C area a few times a hour. These "runners" can make a food run for those who can't leave their booths. Provide free water to vendors, especially if it is a hot day.

I agree with you Howard. The only suggestion is to maybe add a cooking competition, like a BBQ cook off, between local restaurants/social clubs/ etc.

Laura,
Great idea!

Bea,
Maybe they could talk with GO ART and get their list of vendors from the Picnic in the Park?

How about a Beef on Weck competition?

Maybe the best corn or dairy dish?

Howard the longer you live here the more nerdy you get.

Beef + Weck Roll = Beef on Weck.

corn or dairy dish like what? Corn and Cottage Cheese.

or maybe Corn-a-Roni and fn cheese.

I got it how about a fried cheese corn dog

Can someone please tell Howard he's a LAME O.

Bea McGinnis: "Hey Howard your a LAME O."

Richard,
Hey cowboy, your trying to hard to be funny. Is that why you had to leave Texas?

How about you just copy The Taste of Buffalo annual event LOL.

John,
Getting a list from another organization is an idea. They can also go to one of the numerous newsletters for A&C vendors and just place an ad.
It isn't the same as taking the effort to talk to each vendor and discussing your own event.
I found that making that effort brings results.

Richard needs a full time job, and then another part time job. But he's at least as funny as I think I am, and that's pretty bad. How about a contest to see who can cook the best "Batavia Wings" maybe the Red Wings will reconsider for another year instead of selling Batavia down the river, those sorry batterds.

There are some really good suggestions here, we will have to put them into effect during Batavia's annual "Autumn in the city". Instead of watching leaves change we can walk up and down the street watching traffic lights change :)

Tim, paid bands are great but what about two or three competing stages for a "Battle of the Batavia Bands?". No waiting and only one band gets paid, or top three. Man it worked fantastic in the 60's.
Twenty or thirty bands get to play three songs and Batavia gets the benefit of all their friends, relatives and groupie fans coming out to support them and spend money. Or a pickled onion contest.

You are not going to believe this, but I was sweating in my backyard in Austin, Texas when a deflating helium balloon that said "The Batavian" dropped out of the sky. Quit messing with me.
I told you you wouldn't believe it, so please don't. Sometimes I lie.

Considering that Batavia apparently does not HAVE an official food dish (as Buffalo has wings, Rochester has white hots or garbage plates, Wyoming- Apple-umpkin, Chili seems to have co-opted chili) why not a contest to determine Batavia's spécialité locale? Poll residents for local favorites, get eateries to enter their specialties; local media can monitor the results and at next year's Summer in the City vendors can dispense their renditions of Batavia's claim to fame dish?

Richard can even lobby for Corn-a-roni!

Batavia seems to have a pizza shop on every street corner. Knowing that I would give the nod to the sweet pizza from Main Street Pizza. I might not have been looking in other places but, I don't ever remember seeing that anywhere but, Batavia.

John you try harder to be intelliegent than I try to be funny, and Howard your of the hook, George just pegged the Lame O Meter.

Richard,
Such sharp Texas wit!

Sorry John, don't have time to argue gotta go out to dinner with a fine yankee lady. Let me know how you and Bea make out with that awesome list of new vendors for next years wild n crazy street party.

So Richard, how was the 2 for 1 all you can eat buffet at the "Stuff and Purge?"

Personally what I would enjoy is ethnic bands, dancers, food, and handmade crafts similar to Rochester's Clothesline festival. Would tribal dancers be a possibility? As much as I love Jackson Street's house seasoned burgers I would gladly pony up for a authentic Polish lunch plate. Or some good hardy German fare. Italian pastries. Artisan cheese. Wandering actors in costumes representing some of Batavia's founding fathers & mothers. Demostrations of early life in Batavia.
How about a 1k Clog race and by clog I mean Dutch wooden shoes. Start at Summit first gekkemaker to reach the top of the courthouse steps wins.
Beste man winnen.