San Fernando Boulevard

Ryan Carter Burbank Village attracts a lot of shoppers, diners and ... car thieves. From last year to this year, the shopping district has seen a 50% increase in car thefts, according to a recent Burbank Police Department analysis. From January through September, 61 cars were stolen in the Village, compared to 41 during the same period last year. Police are considering beefing up bike and foot patrols in the area to reduce the problem.

Laura Sturza BURBANK -- Concerns that a city and Caltrans plan would divert traffic to residential streets surfaced at a public meeting about the proposed traffic-relief project. The city will be ready to curb runoff traffic with measures including installing speed humps to discourage diverting drivers, officials said. The Jan. 23 meeting addressed proposals to extend Empire Avenue beneath the railroad tracks to connect with San Fernando Boulevard and to relocate the southbound Golden State (5)

Student artists will stake their claims on San Fernando Boulevard at this year’s Downtown Burbank Arts Festival today and Sunday. Patrons of the two-day festival, which includes works from more than 100 artists, will have a chance to purchase sculptures, photographs, paintings and other art done by students in the Burbank Unified School District. The event, featuring students’ work for the first time, will take place on San Fernando Boulevard between Magnolia Boulevard and Angeleno Avenue.

Santa Claus could not have been more brave Monday night. He soared over hundreds of people watching the mayor’s tree lighting in front of City Hall at the annual Burbank Holiday Parade. But he didn’t do it with his trusty reindeer. Santa circled the crowd in a helicopter. Below, chants for Santa Claus penetrated the air. The event and subsequent parade down San Fernando Boulevard kicked off downtown Burbank’s 12 Days of Holiday Cheer, which is usually in the first 12 days of December.

Breakfast with Santa will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Burbank Town Center food court. There will be music, games and fun. Tickets are required and cost $7. For ticket locations and details, call (818) 238.5300. ? The Assistance League of Glendale will present its 33rd annual Festival of Trees beginning at 10 a.m. in the ballroom of the Burbank Airport Marriott Convention Center, 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank. The day begins with a silent auction. Guests can purchase tickets for a chance to win one of the Christmas Trees or other holiday decorated items.

Jackson Bell After more than 18 months of construction, AMC Entertainment Village is set to open next week with a red-carpet event featuring actor Kevin Bacon and a host of other celebrities. But city redevelopment officials see the grand opening of the 16-screen theater and retail complex as the start of something new in Burbank Village, and are relying on the AMC project to provide the impetus for transforming the ailing retail area. "When the already established AMC 14 Theatres opened, it was a catalyst that attracted new restaurants to town," said Burbank Redevelopment Projects Manager Jennifer Mack.

Jacqui Brown Ed Torosyan, manager of Cold Stone Creamery, is looking forward to helping out the YMCA this Thursday evening at the "Taste Of Downtown Burbank." "We're about helping out our community," Torosyan said. "Whatever our business can do to help the city we will because Burbank has been so good to us." Cold Stone Creamery will have samplings of some of their well-known favorites like Chocolate Devotion, compiled of you guessed it -- everything chocolate; their Founder's Favorite, a blend of sweet cream ice cream, brownies, fudge and pecans; and for fruit lovers, Strawberry Passion.

Send DATEBOOK items to Burbank Leader, 221 N. Brand Blvd., 2nd Floor, Glendale, CA 91203 or fax to (818) 241-1975. Submissions must be received two weeks before publication. TODAY Downtown Burbank Arts Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday along San Fernando Boulevard from Magnolia Boulevard to Angeleno Avenue. There will be more than 100 professional artists plus a full city block of student art and interactive activities. For more information, visit www.downtownburbank.