Saturday, May 31, 2014

A Night of Drumming and Dance

The San Jose Taiko, from San Jose, celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.

Last night, the Husband and I had the pleasure to watch the stage come alive at the San Benito High School Auditorium with joyful precision Japanese Taiko drumming by the San Jose Taiko and African, jazz, modern, and hip-hop inspired-dancing performed by the Dimensions Dance Theater. The duo bill was presented by the San Benito County Arts Council, as part of its fundraising efforts for the Artists in the Schools Program.

Here are some links to learn more about last night's performers and the San Benito County Arts Council:

The Dimensions Dance Theater, based in Oakland, is one of
the oldest African-American dance troupes in the United States.



Friday, May 30, 2014

Main Street Reflection


I like taking photos of window displays, partly to see what reflections may show in the photos. It's always a surprise for me. And, I usually find something I've never noticed about familiar scenes. For instance,  the red awnings on the second floor of the buildings across the street from the Blak Sage Gallery on San Benito Street.


Thursday, May 29, 2014

Happy Hollister


How about a game of finding not-hidden things in a photo? Can you see: 
  • 2 lamp posts with hanging baskets of flowers
  • a very cool vintage truck
  • a driver getting in (or out) of her car, possibly going to (or coming from) Country Rose Cafe
  • 2 benches
  • South Street sign

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

New Business in Town: Swanky Finds


Have you noticed the new women's clothing thrift and consignment shop near Country Rose Cafe on San Benito Street?

Swanky Finds, at 748 San Benito Street, is open from Tuesday to Saturday. To learn more about the store, check out its Facebook page.


Tuesday, May 27, 2014

2014 Memorial Day Ceremony


Yesterday, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9242 hosted the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Building. Speakers, including representatives of the VFW, Ladies Auxiliary VFW, and American Legion, reminded us of the courageous service of our military men and women.

To view more photos of the ceremony, click the link below.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Walking on Main Street


Until this year, we could walk down the middle of San Benito Street after a parade or during the Hollister Rally or the Hollister Street Festival and Car Show. Since the start of the Hollister Farmers' Market, we have been able to stroll between Fourth and Seventh Streets every Wednesday afternoon.

I like it.

It can only be the beginning of something kind of wonderful for our sweet town. 



Sunday, May 25, 2014

A Peep of Beauty


The other afternoon I was walking by the Hollister United Methodist Church on Fifth Street and noticed that the stained glass windows were slightly visible. Normally, you can't see them from the outside. The windows are stunning. Click here to get an idea of how they look from the inside.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

The Anza House in San Juan Bautista


The Anza House, or the Casa Juan de Anza, is one of the oldest buildings in the Third Street Historic District of San Juan Bautista. It was designated a Registered National Historical Landmark in 1970. The sign says it was built in 1799, but, according to this National Park Service article, the building was constructed in 1834.  Jose Tiburcio Castro, a Mexican official, built it for his residence.

Still, there could be truth in the sign. I've got it on my list to find out the story. I'm also curious as to how the building became known as the Anza House. Anyone know?

5/28 update: According to the research done by the current owner of the Anza House, the original construction date is 1799. Read the owner's comment below for more details. Thank you!

Friday, May 23, 2014

A Glimpse


Stroll along San Benito Street.
Glance up at the Veterans' Memorial Building,
A sighting of the moon.
~ Su-sieee! Mac

 

Thursday, May 22, 2014

A Gnarly Octopussy Tree


The trees in front of the old courthouse are definitely spindly and gnarly. I think it gives them character. This one makes me think of an octopus. What about you?



Wednesday, May 21, 2014

If It's Wednesday . . .

 
. . . then it must be Farmers' Market Day!

The Farmers' Market opens at 3 PM and closes at 7:30 PM. That's plenty of time to purchase some fresh produce, baked goods, sausages, olive oils, honey, and other goodies. You can also pick up dinner at any one of the food booths, if you don't feel like cooking tonight.

Another cooking demonstration will take place at 5:30 and 6:45 PM near the Veterans' Memorial Building. Artichokes will be the star this week, prepared by Pat Hopper of the California Artichoke Advisory Board.

Remember: Free parking is available at the Briggs Building, which you enter by going through the small parking lot next to the Granada Theater on Fifth Street. Also, no pets are allowed at the Farmers' Market.



Tuesday, May 20, 2014

A Fleeting Moment


Do you recognize this section of Highway 156, between Hollister and San Juan Bautista? It's on the south side of the highway, near the turn off to Mission Vineyard Road.

Whenever I see this clump of trees, I think I'm somewhere like Lake Tahoe. Of course, the moment passes when the vegetable fields come into view. How about you: Are you momentarily transported to another place when you see a certain view in San Benito County?


Monday, May 19, 2014

Grazing Cows and Horses


Cows graze towards the west. Horses graze towards the east. Does that happen all the time all over the world when you have cows and horses in the same pasture? Or, was this just an odd instance at this particular moment when I took this shot?

Again, the things you might think about and see as you're moseying along Airline Highway between Hollister and Tres Pinos while pushing a bike with a flat tire. This is my last photo from my slow trek down Highway 25 the other day. Maybe. If you'd like to see my other photos, here you go: grass, palm trees, and yellow barn.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Stop and Smell the Roses


It took a flat tire to get me to "stop and smell the roses" last week. Here's more of the scenery along Airline Highway, aka Highway 25, that I saw as I was walking my bicycle home. What other things have I missed on that stretch of highway between Enterprise Road and Tres Pinos School? How about palm trees? And, a yellow barn?



Saturday, May 17, 2014

Aloha!


Did I take this photo in Hawaii or Hollister?

Pushing a bike with a flat tire along Highway 25 the other day allowed me to notice things I might not while whizzing by in a car or on a bicycle. There was that yellow barn, for example, and these palm trees one top of a hillside in Ridgemark. 

Friday, May 16, 2014

Park Hill

View of Park Hill from Highway 25

What caused Park Hill to stick up above Hollister's valley floor? Have you ever wondered about that?

The Calaveras Fault skirts along the western base of the hill, so maybe it was pushed up by tectonic activity over millions of year. That's one theory of geologists.

Another theory is that Vista Hill somehow escaped being eroded away by whatever it was that wore down the terrain into a valley.

What do you think?

If you're interested in reading more the Calaveras Fault in Hollister, check out this page at Geology Cafe.com: Calaveras Fault in Hollister, CA.


Thursday, May 15, 2014

Xylophones in the Making?


Don't these look like xylophones?

Could this be an upcoming xylophone store?

Ah, if only.

The produce market that has been slowly going up next to Speedee Oil in the shopping plaza on Sunnyslope  Road and Airline Highway is showing signs that it may be opening soon. I wonder what fruits and veggies will be covering the xylophone-looking counters.




Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Yellow Barn


I saw what looks to be a yellow barn today. A lot of the paint has peeled. But, then, it's also possible that the old barn was wearing yellow lichen. Either way, I thought this yellow barn below the Sunnyslope County Water District office on Airline Highway (aka Highway 25) is rather cool looking.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

If Injured Plants Had a Say


I don't get why people have to carve out messages on trees, cactuses, and other plants. Do you? Plants are living creatures, too, just like us, humans. After all, they perform an essential role in our ability to live everyday.

This particular tree is on Fourth Street in San Juan Bautista. It actually looks like its hurt, sad, and a bit angry. If it had a say in the matter, would it agree to have been carved? Would it retaliate by sending word to all the trees and plants to stop making oxygen for those persons who maimed it?

Monday, May 12, 2014

The Rock Faces of the Pinnacles


According to Cambridge Dictionaries online, the definition of rock face is "an area of vertical surface on a large rock or mountain."

To me, a rock face is a face—eyes, nose, mouth, and so on—that I see outlined in a rock. And, I see many rock faces in the Pinnacles National Park. How about you?


Sunday, May 11, 2014

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Mr. O's Academy of the Arts 2014 Spring Concert


Next Sunday, May 18, 2014, Mr. O's Academy of the Arts will hold its Annual Spring Concert from 12 noon to 5 PM at the school on 360 Sixth Street in downtown Hollister. The free event will feature local musicians Kaleb Askew, dogHouse, Tim Duffy, Jeff Hardy, David Huboi and the Architecturals, Mariachi Alma de Mexico, Bob Reid, and Mr. O's Jazz Band.

For more details, call Mr. O's Academy of the Arts at 831-636-3813.

Mr. O's Jazz Band played at the
2013 Downtown Wine & Beer Stroll


Friday, May 9, 2014

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

 
There's something kind of beautifully poignant about back alleys. This is Wentz Alley, looking from East Street.



Thursday, May 8, 2014

Coming Up: Flower Tours in San Benito County


April showers bring May flowers. Okay, we didn't get many April showers this year, but there are still many May flowers to behold. And, over the next two weekends, a couple of flower rambles are available for your pleasure.

May 12 in Aromas

Featuring Artists in the Gardens is the theme of the Aromas Country Garden Tour this Saturday, May 10, in Aromas, about 17 miles west of Hollister.  Sponsored by the Aromas Hills Artisans and the Arts Council for Monterey Council, this annual event will run from 10 AM to 4 PM. Participants will be able to take a self-guided tour through ten gardens, including cottage gardens. Master gardeners will be available to answer questions. In addition, artists will be showing and selling their paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry, and other art works along the garden paths.

Tickets are $15 each or $25 for 2 persons.  Tickets are $10 for seniors, who are 65 years or older, and members of  the Aromas Hills Artisans. Both tickets and tour maps will be available on May 12 at the Aromas Community Grange on the corner of Rose and Bardue.  

For for information, visit the Aromas Hill Artisans web site or read Aromas Country Garden Tour 2014 at the Times Publishing Group web site.

May 17 in San Juan Bautista

Did you know that San Juan Bautista has many heritage roses, some of which were planted in the mid-19th century?

The opportunity to learn about the heritage roses at the San Juan Bautista District Cemetery will be available on Saturday, May 17 when the San Juan Bautista Heritage Rose Group offers a free Heritage Rose Tour and Propagation Workshop.  Leading the walking tour will be Jill Perry, the Curator of the Collection at the Heritage Rose Garden in San Jose. Also on hand to assist her will be Jeri Jennings, the National Convener for the Heritage Roses Group.

The tour will include collecting rose cuttings for a propagation workshop to be held at the historic Marentis House on 45 Monterey Street.

The tour will start at noon at the bottom of the cemetery at 70 Monterey Street. The propagation workshop at the Marentis House will be from 1:30 to 3 PM.

Participants are requested to bring a hat, water, pencil, and paper. If interested, participants can also bring clippers and gloves. For more information or to sign up for the tour, email Wanda at wguibert (at) gmail (dot) com or call her at 831-623-1672. Preregistration for the tour is not required. 




Wednesday, May 7, 2014

2014 Hollister Farmers' Market


Whooo-hooo! Today is the first day of the 2014 Farmers' Market in downtown Hollister. Fresh vegetables and fruit. Fresh eggs, chicken, and meat. Artisan breads and sausages. Local honey and olive oils. Flowers, crafts, and local goods. BBQ and other restaurant fare. And more!

What more? You'll just have to go down and see for yourself.

Where: San Benito Street, between 4th and 7th streets
When: Every Wednesday, 3 to 7:30 pm, from May 7 to September 24

For more details, check out these sites:
Downtown Certified Farmers' Market, Hollister Downtown Association
Hollister Farmers Market at Facebook
Downtown Hollister Farmers Market, Yelp reviews

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

JJ's Burgers


Hands up. Who else likes to eat a hamburger and garlic fries from JJ's Burgers in San Juan Bautista?  Droooool.

If they gave me an hour, I think I could complete JJ's Burger Challenge: A burger consisting of four patties, grilled onions, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, and special sauce, along with a milk shake and fries. But, you must consume it all in 20 minutes. The prize: A free meal and your photo on the Wall of Fame.

Adam Richman of Man vs. Food ought to try the challenge. Don't you think?


Monday, May 5, 2014

Dry!


This field borders the west side of Highway 25, before Santa Ana Road. I've never seen the soil look so dry around here.

The other day I noticed that the soil of the outdoor potted plants were ridiculously dry, and I had watered them a few days earlier. "Is it because of the heat?" I asked the Husband. "Yeah," he replied. "And the low humidity."

Sunday, May 4, 2014

The "Welcome to Hollister" Sign


Ever since the Welcome to Hollister sign went up a few years ago, I've been taking photos of it. But, it wasn't until the other day that I finally was in the right spot at the right time to get a decent shot of it. Well, about as decent as one can get when it's behind a chain-link fence and on the corner of Highway 25 and San Felipe Road.

It's a handsome sign. Anyone else  think the long building behind the Veterans' Memorial Building is the main building of the San Benito High School?

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Field of Kale, at Near Dusk


The Husband and I ventured over to the First Friday Art Walk in San Juan Bautista yesterday afternoon. At the Mission Gallery, we listened to artist Micah Schwaberow describe the traditional Japanese moku-hanga woodblock technique that he used for his woodblock prints. He showed us the various woodblocks he carved for China Cove, Morning Light and the stages on paper of getting the colors, lighting, depth, and all that he wants to have in his print. The work is precise, complicated, and, I thought, very exciting.

Listening to the artist and viewing at his work and those of other artists were quite overwhelming to our senses. The idea to visit all of the galleries went out the window. We could always come back on the next art walk or just another day. After all, San Juan is only several miles away.

Well, okay, we did go into one more gallery, the Rare Light Gallery. Wow! Wow! Wow! said the Husband and me as we walked over the threshold and were struck with awe at the extra-large prints of amazing photos by owner Larry Gerbrandt. I love how he captured the wonder of light in his photos. Check out, for example,  his online gallery featuring San Juan Bautista.

Mr. Gerbrandt told me that the best time to take photos is at dawn and dusk. He said that he doesn't shoot between 10 and 4. Silly me. I told him how photos I took on a slightly overcast day looked great. He shook his head. By the time we left the gallery, I had a new mantra, not between 10 and 4.

So, of course, on the way home on Highway 156, I leaned out the window and took photos. And, yes, the Husband drove.

Friday, May 2, 2014

2014 Hollister Wine and Beer Stroll

It's not too late to purchase advance tickets for the 2014 Hollister Wine & Beer Stroll in downtown Hollister tomorrow, Saturday, May 3, 2014, from 1 to 5 pm. If you buy them today (Friday), that is, at the Hollister Downtown Association office, San Benito Bene, Postal Graphics, or Edward Jones Investments.

Tickets may also be available tomorrow at the check-in table on the corner of Seventh Street & San Benito Street.



Finding Fortune in San Juan Bautista


This sign welcomes folks to Bella Dona, A Visionary Vintage Shop, on Polk Street in San Juan Bautista. Cool message, huh? I look forward to checking out the shop the next time I'm in San Juan. According to its Facebook page, Bella Dona is a retail co-operative, and this Sunday (5/4) it's holding a Vintage Market.

By the way, here are a few other events happening in San Juan Bautista today and this weekend. Lots of joy to be found at each one.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

This Way to the Library


The San Benito County Free Library, under the fantastic direction of Nora Conte, County Librarian, has many physical and online resources to offer our community. Here's the website link for you to find out what's available.

The website may not mention that a magazine swap rack is located in the lobby. You can leave your old magazines there as well as pick up ones that may interest you. Just this week, the Husband and I brought a box full of The New Yorker magazines to the rack. A win-win.

By the way, who else remembers that phrase from their high school Spanish book: ¿Donde esta la biblioteca?

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