ESCONDIDO: Fashion, food to take center stage next week

Downtown events hope to attract hundreds of visitors

By SHAYNA CHABNER - Staff Writer | Friday, May 2, 2008 7:06 PM PDT ∞

From left to right, Sarah Attwood, Sofia Leggett, Penelope Leggett, Tania Diaz and Jacquelyn Lee model recycled outfits that will be showcased in a runway show on May 9 as part of the Downtown Business Association of Escondido's first-ever Fashion Week. The fashion week starts Monday. (WALDO NILO/Staff Photographer)

ESCONDIDO ---- Visitors to Escondido's downtown will have a feast of fashion and food next week in two separate events aimed at putting the city and local merchants in the spotlight.

The city's first Fashion Week, complete with local designer runway shows, spa tours and home design ideas, will run Monday through Saturday. The weeklong event, organized by the Downtown Business Association, will also run in conjunction with the city's annual Restaurant Week, which actually runs for two weeks ---- beginning Sunday and continuing through May 16.

Local merchants said the two events are designed to draw a new group of people into the city and to rejuvenate business and interest in the downtown area during tough economic times.

"One of the responsibilities of the (business association) is to bring people downtown, and from what I am finding out that is exactly what Fashion Week is doing," said Mike Peters, the association's incoming board president and president of the Bank of Escondido.

"I am overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the community over this. It's just the talk of the town."

Organizers said they're expecting hundreds of people to attend each event, some from as far away as Los Angeles.

Fashion Week will include clothing and home decor runway shows, a free evening of pampering at local spas and salons, and several other receptions and events inside the empty H. Johnston Furniture building that has been renovated for the event.

Some local designers will also be hosting special boutique runway shows throughout the week. They include lingerie designer Ricky Lizalde, a former "Project Runway" contender, as well as bridal and evening wear designer Susanti and women's sportswear designer Miriam Splane.

Lizalde is a former Escondido resident who now lives in New York. Susanti runs an Escondido bridal store in downtown, and Splane, who recently started the Miriam J women's line, is from Valley Center.

"It's nice for people to know that they have venue in Escondido to be creative and show their work," said Wendy Wilson, the executive director of the city's nonprofit arts association, Escondido's Arts Partnership. "There is a lot of talent here."

Wilson has been in charge of coordinating Friday's runway fashion show, which features outfits made from recycled material. Among the more than two dozen pieces to be shown, are a wedding dress made from plastic bags and outfits constructed out of old window screens, plastic vinyl beach balls and recycled paintings.

"It's been a fun challenge for the artists to come up with these designs," Wilson said, noting that the designers range in age from middle school students to adult professionals.

At the same time that people are getting their fill of fashion, they will have the opportunity to quench their appetites at the 14 local restaurants participating in Restaurant Week.

For 13 nights, the restaurants will have three-course meals at a set price of either $20 or $30. The participating restaurants range in food and flavors from Italian, French and Irish, to Mexican.

For more information about Fashion Week or Restaurant Week visit the association's Web site, www.downtownescondido.com. Reservations and advanced ticket purchases are recommended for both.

Contact staff writer Shayna Chabner at (760) 740-5416 or schabner@nctimes.com.

Fashion Week Events

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