Community Corner

Art and Wine: More Than Just a Fun Weekend

The Clayton Business Community Association invests the profits from the festival back into the community.

Clayton's Art and Wine Festival will wrap up Sunday night, but its benefits will be felt far longer.

With about 10,000 people expected this weekend, many from out of town, the festival is a chance for the city to showcase its downtown to visitors from around the Bay Area.

There's also a financial benefit. All the profits from the event are invested back into the city by the Clayton Business Community Association, which organizes the festival.

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"Externally, it's a great way to show off of the community and give people a chance to see some of our businesses and maybe give them the idea to move here," city manager Gary Napper said. "Internally, it's for people in the community to come together and strengthen the social bond and just have fun."

Business leaders agree. Ed Moresi, owner of and , and Steve Barton, owner of the , say the event does present its share of challenges, but is well worth it for their restaurants and Clayton.

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"It's nuts," Moresi said about the atmosphere at Ed's Mudville Grill during the festival. "People are excited and they have a good time."

Moresi expects Ed's to be packed over the weekend. His chophouse is inside the festival perimeter, so he won't be serving food this weekend. But Moresi says the small sacrifice is worth it.

"The festival is great exposure for both the restaurant and our little town," Moresi said.

Barton's Clayton Club is also inside the festival's roped off area, which has led issues in the past because drinks from outside the bar aren't allowed in and those from inside are not allowed out — a situation which has sometimes frustrated tipsy patrons.

Barton says he hires extra security to make sure everything stays under control, but, like Moresi, he thinks the festival is great for his business and the community.

"Clayton is better for the event," Barton said. "We love being part of it."

Though the publicity for the city and businesses is significant, the real winner from the festival are Clayton residents.

In the past, money from the CBCA has funded the building of the gazebo at The Grove park and the wooden signs that welcome people to the city. The CBCA also gives money to local groups, like Blue Star Moms, Clayton's CERT program, Meals on Wheels and Clayton Valley High's athletics program, just to name a few.

"We are always looking for ways to improve Clayton and also help out organizations around the Bay Area," CBCA member and Arts and Wine Festival co-chair John Garrett said.


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