ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR
                        Cambria, CA 

June 13-14, 2009



After dropping off our mail at the San Lorenzo post office, we hit the highway at 10:15AM and headed south to Cambria.   Our first stop was to check in at our Motel in Atascadero around 1:10....a very quick trip. 

GIOVANNI'S FISH AND CHIPS.  We then drove over to Highway 41 and stopped by Giovanni's in Morro Bay where I had some halibut and chips and my wife, the combo with chips.  I have been going there for many years and their fish and chips has to be the best that I have ever had.  I like mine with tarter sauce and vinegar.  The line there was only a few people long, but I have been there at times when there are anywhere from 15 to 30 people waiting in line.   After I picked up our order, we drove over to where the ocean is, adjacent to Morro Rock, where we parked and ate our food.

We took our time driving over to Cambria.  There was a Farmer's Market over at the American Legion Parking Lot on Main Street, where our Craft Fair was located.  I guess they had around 20 booths there and they closed at 5:30.  We had to wait until everybody cleared out before we could setup, just before 7:00.  I parked the van next to our space and we unloaded, set up our canopy, grids and put up our cover and left some of our things inside before leaving.  It was quite foggy on the way back on Highway 46, which we took to 101 and then south to our motel.

SATURDAY:  It was a 35-mile drive from the motel to Cambria.  I would have rather spent the night in Morro Bay, SLO or even San Simeon, but this was graduation weekend for Cal Poly and either all the rooms were taken or the ones that were left were priced around $100 a night and that is not good for a Starving Vendor, ya know? 

SETTING UP.  We parked near our space and rolled back the covers and took out the remaining things in our van and got to work.  The show started 'officially' at 9:00, even though few people were completely set up.  Around 10:00, it began to drizzle and it was extremely cloudy there.  A number of us had to cover up.  I had a couple tables outside with merchandise and I had to put a cover over it.  It stopped about 10 minutes late and we uncovered and hoped for the best.  A very slight mist for awhile, but then it cleared up and by 11:00 it was sunny and warming up.  It turned out to be a nice day weatherwise.  Sales were slow for us until 1:30PM and I really began wondering if we would meet our expenses.  The crowds were light until early afternoon and we would have mini-crowds of people happening by.  Most were tourists and they were found distributed throughout the event.  We ended up doing okay and I would think that it was slow for a number of vendors.

THE FOOD.  In past years, we have had a couple food vendors each time we were there, but not this time.  We had a trailer selling crepes.  My friends on Yellow Kettle Korn booth were not there this time, as their sales were probably low last time.  Sorry to say, but I think that the crepes left a lot to be desired.  In no way can these compare to one's that I had at an event in Monterey, which were pricey, $8, but absoutely delicious.  Whenever I go the buffet at Paris in Vegas I always get some crepes...strawberry, blueberry, etc., and they are totally delicious.  Excellente!!!  However, the crepes at this event were priced at 2 for $6 on Saturday and I had some.  Sloppily made, small and I think they need to do a better job making them.  That could be a fantastic business.  I'd love to have their trailer and start a Filipino Food business with my wife, but it's too late for that stuff.

MAIN STREET GRILL.  Stopped by there on the way out and picked up some BBQ ribs and chicken along with a salad and took it back to the motel for dinner.  Been going there for years too.  Had thoughts about stopping over at a Rib place in Atascadero, but decided just to pick up our dinner there.  We were lucky because we drove by there around 6:30 on Friday evening and they had a line of about 20 people waiting.  The food was okay. 

SUNDAY.  Another great day weatherwise and I think that this was one of the best weekends I have seen there.  Sunny all day and the winds were minimal.  We are set up in the front row and when it's cloudy and windy, we freeze our butts off.  But not this time.  The sun felt so good.  Sales were okay on Sunday for us and the day was enjoyable.  I counted 25 booths there with about 20 different vendors.  I saw a lot of new vendors and many of the people I have seen previously did not do this show.  We did have a good number of tourists and they attributed much to our sales.    There are time when temps are in the 100's out in the valley and people drive over to the Central Coast to cool off.  However, it was only around 80 degrees in Paso Robles and along Highway 101.

I have been in Paso Robles when temps have been 105 degrees and then have driven over to Morro Bay and the temperatures were in the mid 50's AND colder when that wind blows.  You'd be in your shorts out on Highway 101 but when you get to Morro Bay, you would need to put on your winter coats.