Last year Mountain View tried closing Castro St. to cars on the first Thursday evening of the month during the summer. At first the businesses kind of grit their teeth and said "let's try it." Now it's a hit. The restaurants love it. The clothing, book, and nick nack shops all do much better than usual. The event has a really nice feel I wanted to share with you.



One thing I like about it is the quite that no cars driving brings to the street. It's not that quiet, there are lots of people talking, all of the restaurants have silver and china clanging, and ever block or so there another music act filling the air with rhythmic sounds.

  

Fontaine was playing in the little park at the corner of Evelyn & Castro. Her music went well with the middle eastern quality of Neto, the place that is now in the spot the Double Rainbow inhabited for a long time.

  

The classic car club took over the street, parking their cars across the double yellow line for the first couple of blocks of Castro.  People would come out of the side streets on way to someplace and slow down to browse.

  

  

It was difficult to take pictures without capturing other people, many of whom were also taking pictures.

  

   

  

  

  

  







For a block after the cars there was more or less empty street. There was a clown entertaining little kids for tips. Every restaurant with sidewalk seating was packed to the gills with eaters. Another restaurant with no sidewalk seating was selling reasonably priced to go food. A couple of cops on horseback got their share of  looks and horse stroking. Around it all Mountain View's population was just wandering around enjoying the weather. The whole feel of the place was friendly.

  

Half a block further down, the Scientology guys had set up a tent and were being more visible than usual.

  

Most, if not all, of the City Council was there. Laura Macias let me take her picture. I also saw Matt Pear, Ronit Bryant, and Mayor Tom Means. I think they were careful to stay far enough away from each other to prevent Brown Act violations.

  

Then a small subset of the farmers who sell at the Sunday morning Farmers Market were selling for half a block or so. I think these were the most local vendors. I know the corn was grown in Livermore. I got four ears of the stuff, and it was delicious.

  



There was a band at the corner of California & Castro. The music was cool club jazz, great background for talking to friends old and new. Many people were also listening avidly.

  

The woman at the Code Enforcement table said her department is 100% complaint driven. She said they respond to complaints by first investigating, and then asking for voluntary compliance. If they don't get it they have the ability to write tickets and escalate from there. Most of Mountain View is good neighbors, so they don't have that much trouble. Most of that is cleaned up after simple requests from City Staff.