Out of this world stunt spotlights bacon festival
Ryan Sebastian and his team at Moveable Feast came up with a really high-flying stunt to promote next month’s Bacon Festival of America in San Jose: They launched a balloon attached to a box of bacon into the skies above the South Bay.
The box, which lifted off from Monta Vista Park in Cupertino was recovered — bacon intact — a few hours later on a hillside in rural Morgan Hill. The short flight, dubbed #BaconInSpace, got a bit of attention on social media, which was the idea. And it was all to remind people that the third annual Bacon Festival is coming up Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5 and 6, at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Food trucks will be gathered, serving up dishes featuring bacon on both days.
Advance tickets are $10 each day and kids 11 and younger are free. You can get more information at www.sjtaco.com/bacon, and I didn’t even have to use a balloon for that.
PASSING GO: San Jose’s Monopoly in the Park
board — still the world’s biggest unless someone’s gotten industrious — saw some game play last weekend as the first Northern California “Winner Take All” youth tournament was held there Sunday.
Eight competitors from around the western United States, and all younger than 14, played early elimination rounds until only two players remained for the championship: Anik
Singh, of Los Altos Hills, the current California under-14 champion, and
Katelynn Selby of Utah. The championship game was played in Sunday’s swelter, prompting two breaks. In the end, Anik’s
hometown advantage didn’t give him an edge; Katelynn won, taking home a diamond-shaped trophy and a $500 prize check.
Jose Posadas of Friends of San Jose, the nonprofit that manages the board, says the event was such a success that plans are in the works for a citywide tournament next year that pits residents from each of San Jose’s 10 council districts against each other.
THE AROMA OF VICTORY: Polo players from around the region will be in Gilroy this weekend for the Garlic Cup tournament, hosted annually by South Bay
Polo. And yes, the trophy is filled with garlic bulbs, so the winner better appreciate the smell.
“This is a great opportunity to see some high speed, high action polo so close to home,” said
Terry Reilly, a resident of San Jose’s Rose Garden neighborhood who took up the sport four years ago and will be playing in the tournament.
Matches will be played Saturday and Sunday, starting at 10 a.m., at 1290 Masten Ave., and admission is $5 for a carload. Get more details at www. SouthBayPolo.com.
OVER THE GRILL: Brian
Chiala from Los Gatos Meats & Smokehouse will be holding court Saturday at the Inn of Los Gatos, divulging barbecue secrets including the best way to smoke meats, which cuts are the best value and a few recipes. Seating for the demonstration, which is being recorded, starts at 11:30 a.m. and the program runs until 1 p.m.
The event is free but seating is limited. Given the traffic backups in Los Gatos on weekends lately, give yourself plenty of time to get there.