Taco Day on Traffic Way

Have you been downtown lately? If not, you are missing a very exciting time in our community. Many new businesses have opened in the past year and there are more places to eat and drink and shop than ever before! When we started four years ago as an informal group of downtown business owners and managers, we planned our very first event, Taco Day on Traffic Way. We are now coming up on our fourth annual “Taco Day” and it’s going to be bigger and better than ever!
Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. to join your neighbors for amazing tacos, music, art, activities, and exploring new
businesses downtown!
Last year’s taco participants included: Shave ‘n Flav, Micro BBQ, Taqueria Don Jose, Dark Nectar, Socrates and Byblos Mediterranean Grill. Participation is free for non-profit organizations and low cost for other non-food vendors as well. This year will have a panel of taco judges as well as people’s choice voting. For information, email deana@the-carlton.com.
Our downtown organization also put together the annual Trick or Treat on Entrada free event which takes place every Halloween, with trick-or-treating, a hay maze and costume contests for children and even pets! Remember to bring your family next year!
We also recently participated in two other local events, the 3rd Annual Cornhole Showdown, which benefited the high school international champions robotics team The GreyBots,and the Colony Days Parade to raise awareness of our downtown efforts.
Next year, we’ll be challenging other downtown businesses to participate in the Cornhole Showdown and we proved that lack of cornholing experience is no barrier to having fun and making new friends while supporting a great cause. Congratulations and recognition go to Mike LoPicolo and his team that puts together
this great event.
Atascadero is very fortunate to have an active arts community here, with galleries — ärt/, and Heartwork City Studios — both of which offer classes; a great art supply store, framers and gallery space in The ARTery; a terrific new record store at Traffic Records; and businesses that display art as well.
One of my favorite shows is The ARTery’s annual Under $200 Art Show, which opens Friday, November 16. Artists of all skill levels are welcome to submit up to two pieces of art by Saturday, November 10. Visit the1artery.com for more information, and come to the opening!
As the mornings get cooler and the days get shorter, our town sees less tourist traffic and it can be a trying time for small businesses. We are cheered by our loyal customers, and hope that more Atascadero residents will try to keep their shopping dollars local. There are some wonderful new stores here, perfect for unique holiday gifts.
All you have to do is take a walk through downtown to check out what’s happening and you’ll see, we really are undergoing an Atascadero Renaissance. See
you downtown!