Saturday, October 21, 2017

30 Days of B&W Photos

Swanson's Ridge, behind the San Benito County Historical Park and Bolado Park in Tres Pinos

 Hey 'ya! Hi 'ya! How 'ya?

Just wanted to let you know that I've given myself a 30-day challenge of posting new black and white photos of San Benito County, in general, and of Hollister, in particular. Not here on the blog though, but at the Take 25 to Hollister Facebook page, which you'll find here.

I invite you to come check out the photos.  Today is Day 2.

See 'ya!

Update: Here's the Facebook link to the 30 Days of B & W Photos. Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

A Lovely Day for the San Benito Olive Festival


The San Benito Olive Festival was this past Saturday. It was a gorgeous day, and the setting—the San Benito County Historical Park—was a perfect fit for the celebration of agricultural harvest and culinary delights. So much fun!!!  Here's what I ended up doing on my checklist!
  • Check!  Make an olive wreath.
  • Try a fresh fruit juice concoction by Gaspachos.
  • Check!    Paint rocks with ARTI-culture.
  • Check!   Take the walk and geology talk with Jim Ostdick, who walked across the United States earlier this year to raise funds and awareness for the R.E.A.C.H. Foundation(I'm darn tootin' proud of myself for climbing up and down the slope with the help of my cane and the Husband.)
 

 

The Husband, our Friends, and I criss-crossed the park several times and still didn't experience all of the festival, particularly the cooking demonstrations, the merchants' booths, the nonprofit groups' displays, and all of the historical village's buildings and exhibits. Did you know there's an indoor model train display at the village? The Husband and I will visit the park throughout the year to see what we missed during the festival. For everything else, we shall wait patiently for next year!

I don't think it's well known that the San Benito Olive Festival is a non-profit organization. The organization, and festival, exists on the generosity of many, many volunteers and donors. All of the net proceeds the San Benito Olive Festival earns go back into the community. Thus far, it has donated to more than 20 local nonprofit organizations.

For more photos of the festival, check out the album at Take 25's Facebook page.


Wednesday, October 4, 2017

A Fun-Filled San Benito Olive Festival Ahead!


This is what I imagine I'll be doing that day, some activities by myself and others with the Husband or our friends:
  • Make an olive wreath.
  • Try a fresh fruit juice concoction by Gaspachos.
  • Paint rocks with ARTI-culture.
  • Take the walk and geology talk with Jim Ostdick, who walked across the United States earlier this year to raise funds and awareness for the R.E.A.C.H. Foundation.
  • Sample wine from Bonny Doon Vineyard, DeRose Winery, Morgan Winery, or  other wineries.
  • Build a scarecrow that I can take home!
  • Taste olive oil produced by such award-winning producers as Oils of Paicines and MoonShadow Grove
  • Paint and Plant with The Garden Mart. 
  • Watch Chef Carlos Pineda, the 2017 Gilroy Garlic Festival Showdown champion on the Cooking Demo Stage.
  • Learn how to create a Fall flower bouquet. 
  • Tap my feet to the sound of the Mariachi Juvenil Alma de Mexico.
  • Sip a microbrew from Grillin & Chillin Alehouse.
  • Check out the Venetian masks at the Gioia Italian Art & Products booth.
  • Dance with the Husband to Absurdum
  • Eat some tapas made by Farmhouse Cafe.
  • And more! If this old body with no cartilage in the knees can handle it. 
Definitely lots to do at this year's San Benito Olive Festival. And, I haven't even mentioned that the location of this year's event is the San Benito County Historical Park in Tres Pinos. A perfect setting!

For more details about the event, check out this article at BenitoLink.com.  Also, visit the San Benito Olive Festival website or Facebook page

Confession Time: I'm an Olive Fest volunteer, helping out with publicity. But, even if I weren't I'd still write about it. Look, I'm finally writing after how many months of silence. :-)

Here are some photos from the 2015 event.

There'll be two olive paint party sessions at the 2017 San Benito Olive Festival.
  
The VIP Tasting Grove
Cooking Demonstration Stage
Olive tasting at Papa Joe's Spicy Products
Mr. O's Jazz Band -- They'll be there this year, too!

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