Published in the March 4 – 17, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Cheri Devlin
Cheri Devlin
The Morgan Hill Downtown Association is certainly keeping busy with the recent launch of the Monterey Road traffic calming pilot, which I’m guessing many in town may have mixed feelings about. Keep in mind, the traffic calming pilot is only for six months, so before you post a complaint about the extra minute or two it took you to drive through downtown — enjoy lunch at Ladera or another location with outdoor seating — and experience the significant reduction in traffic noise. Perhaps this lane reduction test isn’t so bad.
The Downtown Association has also been hard at work developing a calendar of 2015 programs that cater to the entire family. The first event on this year’s roster is set for April 1. Off the Menu is an exclusive foodie affair that will replace prior years’ Bites of Morgan Hill event.
Off the Menu is the result of feedback from past Bites of Morgan Hill participants, combined with a committee of volunteers, including Dustin Evanger (The Hill), Rosy Bergin (Rosy’s at the Beach) and Debra Creighton (Huntington Station), among others, who had a vision of creating an all-inclusive progressive six-course dinner designed to take you on a culinary trip through downtown. The evening will start at Bubbles Wine Bar followed by a guided trip to Huntington Station, The Hill, Rosy’s at the Beach, Betto’s Bistro, and end at Noah’s Bar and Grill.
“Each participating location will feature creative offerings not usually found on the downtown menus — hence the name Off the Menu,” said MDHA board member and restaurant owner, Rosy Bergin. “While focusing on the season’s best, the six restaurants are putting on an intimate dinner party for 16.”
The groups of diners will progress through the downtown during three different seating times, 5:30, 6 and 6:30 p.m. It’s the perfect evening to spend with your closest friends — and a real bargain at $60.
At this point in my story I’m usually giving details about where to buy your tickets, but this first-time event sold out in record time — in less than one week. With only 48 tickets available it’s no surprise they flew off the shelves. But if this exciting inaugural event for the MHDA goes well, it may be offered quarterly, so make sure to subscribe to the MHDA newsletter to keep it on your radar. Visit, www.morganhilldowntown.org.
April is also brings the MHDA’s 3rd Annual Wine Week that precedes our highly anticipated Wine Stroll scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Wine Week activities planned every night include winemaker dinners, wine education, pairing events and more. Like in years past, Wine Stroll will have a limited number of tickets sold to ensure participants have plenty of time to enjoy each taste of regional wine the MHDA is proud to showcase.
The summer will play host to another inaugural event designed with the family in mind. The Family Staycation will also take you on a journey around downtown. More details to come on that — but the date has been set for July 19.
The MHDA continues to challenge itself by improving events, making downtown Morgan Hill a destination. With all the changes occurring downtown, the MHDA is doing its best to remain an active voice and partner to the city.
Cheri Devlin is a Morgan Hill resident and president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association Board of Directors.
