Contestants will be called up on stage at 1:30 p.m. to display their feline-persuasion skills. Time will be limited to about 15 seconds apiece. Audience applause decides the winner and the prize is dinner for two at Cafe Primavera.

In the Art Cat Project, 50 fiberglass cats have been decorated by local artists and are on display at stores and restaurants through Sept. 5. Artists include Bruni, Rick Tharp, John Pugh, Doug Wright, Carol Huboi-Werry, Gordon Smedt, Jolene Anderson and Amy Konsterlie.

Elke Groves, president of the Los Gatos Art Association, was in charge of the artists. Bid sheets next to each cat enable shoppers to put a dollar amount down for possible purchase of a cat. Paw prints outside each business alert passers-by that an Art Cat lurks inside.

There's a map of cat locations in the Weekly. The artists donated their talents and materials. The cats will be on display at Saturday in the Park Sept. 6. The final two hours of bidding will be from 11:30-1:30 p.m. that day. Fishbowls are placed next to each cat so customers can drop in a business card.

That makes the customers eligible for a $1,000 cash drawing immediately after the cat-calling. The winning business card will be drawn at 2 p.m. from 50 possibilities. Earlier, one card will be drawn from each site. Winner has to be present to claim.

Then there's Kinko's Kinky Kitty Kiosk photo contest. Some 160 photos of cats will be placed on a kiosk set up beside the display of Art Cats at Oak Meadow on the day of the big doings. The kiosk was erected by the cat committee especially for the occasion.

Sometime earlier, cat lovers will take their favorite photo to Kinko's on Los Gatos Boulevard and for $1 have their photo blown up to 8 x 11 inches for the display. Prizewinners get a bag of goods courtesy of Whole Foods. And that's not just cat food, presumably.

Valerie Hopkins is heading the Art Cat Project and adjacent contests. She says the cat at Desire Home Furnishings titled "Streetcat Named Desire," decked out in fishnet stockings, is already attracting considerable attention. Artist is Lorraine Lawson.

HOLE-IN-ONE: Tom Seefurth has been playing golf for 45 years with nary a hole-in-one. But that's no longer true. Seefurth sailed 180 yards with a 5 iron at the No. 8 hole at Whistler Golf Club—right into the cup. The Canadians were just as jubilant about it as he, reports Judi Gingerich, who witnessed the hoopla.

Whistler is about two hours' drive from Vancouver. So efficient was the Whistler club staff that a golf cap, detailing all his statistics, was awaiting Tom when he finished. Back at the clubhouse he bought spirits for all his newfound friends. Witnessing the feat were John Gingerich, John Taughinbaugh and Skip Shaw.

Following close behind were the foursome of wives—Betty Seefurth, Judi Gingerich, Anne Taughinbaugh and Linda Shaw. The couples had teamed up for a golf outing in Canada. "I've never been to such a wonderfully scenic place," enthused the well-traveled Judi.

The Gingeriches, now retired, juggle their time between Los Gatos, Indian Wells and Tahoe. The Taughinbaughs live in Monte Sereno; the Shaws, Saratoga. The men, who play several times a week, are much more avid golfers than the women. The wives hedge on their ability level, describing it as "in transition."

STEAMERS STEAMIN' SIBLINGS: Greg Bardakos and his sister Nancy Bardakos, both of whom work at Steamer's, have won distinction in separate competitions this summer. Greg won an Award of Excellence in the Wine Spectator's August edition.

To receive this award, a restaurant must offer a wine list appropriate to its cuisine and one that appeals to a wide range of palates. Greg is manager/wine purveyor of the Old Town eatery. Nancy, pastry chef at Steamer's, won third place in Quady's Starboard and Dessert Competition.

She devised a fig brioche strata with cherry sauce and candied walnuts for her first foray into a dessert competition. Her fig creation, which should be on the menu this week, won recognition against 20 noted Northern California restaurants. Lisa and Mark Matulich are Steamer's owners.

GET PUBLISHED: A workshop on how to get published will be given Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble Almaden. Presenters include Los Gatan Betty Auchard, contributor to the Chocolate for a Woman's Soul series; and Aaron Wehner, editor of Ten Speed Press.

Others are Kymberli Brady, self-published author of The Sleepy Little Star; and Chiori Santiago, who wrote Home to Medicine Mountain. Contact: Mike Koller at 408.979.0613.

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