100 Things I Like: Hollister!

Today's post is my last of the 100 things that I like about living in Hollister. There are more than 100 things, of course. Much more.

I was born in Hollister at the old Hazel Hawkins Hospital on Monterey Street. I went to the local schools and after several decades continue to be friends with many of the kids I grew up with. In fact, the 1971 Balers offer a scholarship to graduating seniors. At 19, I moved to San Francisco to attend college and, except for a couple short moves back to Hollister, I lived in SF and the East Bay for about 30 years. I've visited my family regularly through the years, but I honestly never thought I'd move back.

When the husband and I moved to Hollister  8 or 9 years ago, I did not realize how much I missed the area—the open spaces, the expansive sky, the surrounding mountains, the farm lands, the back roads, and the cute downtown. As a kid, other than school stuff, I took part in few of the local activities, including the San Benito County Fair. That has changed. For instance, one of my goals has been to win a ribbon in something at the fair. Checked!

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100 Things I Like: Veterans Memorial Auditorium

The Veterans Memorial Building on San Benito Street and Seventh Street was built in 1927 in honor of the Veterans of World War I. For more details about the history, click here.  Today, the building is rented for both public and private events.

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100 Things I Like: Walking the St. Francis Retreat Grounds

The St. Francis Retreat was part of San Justo Rancho, the Mexican land grant that eventually was divided and became San Juan Bautista and Hollister. The retreat is up in the hills above San Juan Bautista. Originally the grounds was home to the Flint and Bixby families who bought the land grant with Colonel Hollister. There is a lot of history about the place. Click here to read about it.

Happy Christmas, dear readers!

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100 Things I Like: Christmas Lights

Of all the houses decorated with Christmas lights, Santa Clauses, and nativity signs, this one was my favorite.

My wish to each and every one of you is Peace, Joy, Love, and Happiness.  Merry Christmas!

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100 Things I Like: Snow on the Range

This was taken two years ago. Click here for the original post.

If it was raining right now, I'm sure it would be snowing in the Diablo Range.

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100 Things I Like: Seeing What's at the Back

Have you ever wondered what was in the back of the buildings in downtown Hollister? This photo, for instance, shows the back of  part of this, the east side of San Benito Street, near Fourth Street.

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100 Things I Like: The Main Street

Heading north on San Benito Street

Until I moved back to Hollister several years ago, I rarely, if ever, referred to the main drag through town by its actual name. Now, I'm in the habit of saying San Benito Street, and it's weird whenever I say Main Street or even hear it as such.

A few interesting things about the main street of ours:
• San Benito Street (north end) turns into San Felipe Road at Santa Ana Road.
• Until the 1980s, the south end of San Benito Street stopped at Nash Road, by the high school. Today, it runs south for a mile or so more to Union Road
• San Benito Street is originally part of highway 25. Technically, it may still be highway 25. The city of Hollister built the 25 bypass a few years ago so that it can claim the main street as its own. The move is part of the plan to revitalize downtown. So far as I know, Caltrans hasn't completed the transfer.

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P.S. Thank you, Mr. Arrmac for pointing out my grammatical errors, which dear readers, who're reading this P.S. will never know.

100 Things I Like: The Library

I shall always think of the San  Benito County Free Library as The Library. It is, after all, the first library from which I ever borrowed books and was introduced to so many exciting worlds and possibilities.  

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100 Things I Like: Sunsets

 I caught this one as the husband and I were driving home on Bolsa Road, aka Highway 25. Of course, I was in the passenger seat.

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100 Things I Like: The Filipino American Community Christmas Ball

The Buffet Line

Last night was the annual Christmas Ball of the Filipino American Community of San Benito County. The social club has been around since 1976.

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100 Things I Like: Southside Road

Southside Road is one of the back roads that run from Hollister to Tres Pinos. It kinda runs parallel, albeit meanderingly, to Highway 25. It's a more pleasant car or bicycle ride than the highway, that's for sure.

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100 Things I Like: When Leaves Change Color

This was taken from Vineyard Estates above Southside Road. What a view, don'cha think?

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100 Things I Like: Lone Tree Road

Lone Tree Road in the spring.

Pedaling my bicycle up and down the whole length of Lone Tree Road is definitely on my bucket list. What a satisfying ride that will be.  Until I get myself in shape, I shall happily take the jaunt by car.

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100 Things I Like: Ella's Italian Restaurant

Ella, the lovely owner of Ella's Italian Restaurant, taught me the best way to drink espresso—with a sliver of lemon peel. It's details like that which bring the husband and me back to dine time and again.

And, of course, there are the yummy factor, the creative menu, and the use of local ingredients. The other night, for example, we ended our meal with Candy Cap mushroom ice cream.  Yep, that's a photo of it. The mushroom grows exclusively in Northern California. The first bite reminded me of black walnut ice cream. I could be satisfied just having a dish of the ice cream for dinner. Yes, I would. Yummm.

Ella's Italian Restaurant is located at 1709 Airline Highway (Highway 25), in the Heritage Plaza Shopping Center on the southeast corner of Airline and Sunnyslope Road.

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Note to FCC: I wasn't paid or given anything to write what I just wrote. Unless it counts that my dish of Candy Cap mushroom ice cream and a cup of espresso on the house the other night because it was my birthday. Still, I've been to Ella's countless of times before then. So, there. 

100 Things I Like: The South View from Quien Sabe Road

Misty. A bit of rain. That's how it was yesterday afternoon when I took this photo from that almost last bend before the straightaway down to Highway 25 and Tres Pinos. I like this view anytime of the year. But, on a clear day when the hillsides and mountains are green—wow!

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100 Things I Like: The Sacred Heart Church Spire

In the early 1970s, downtown Hollister was still surrounded by orchards, orchards, and more orchards. During the spring, I liked to go up to Park Hill and see the forest of green, which included the trees lining the residential streets. Peeking over the trees was the white spire of Sacred Heart Church.

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100 Things I Like: The Post Office Mural

The wooden mural, created during the 1930s Depression, is a beautiful piece of work. But, I also like that mural because every time I see it, I'm reminded of when the mural was hanging in the post office on Fifth Street. I always felt transported to another place when I entered those doors. It always seemed so dark in there. A sense of reverence, too.

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100 Things I Like: Heavenly Bakery

Lemon cake, lemon cupcake, and ciabatta bread. Heavenly.  The bakery's cinnamon roll, yum.

Heavenly Bakery is open 7 days a week.  Yaay!

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100 Things I Like: The View from the Garage

December 2009

I admit it. I have yet to park in the Briggs Building parking garage on Fourth Street, which you access via Briggs Alley. That you get to via the small parking lot between the Granada Theater and the Vault on Fifth Street.

Hmmm, I wonder how many people don't park in the garage because they can't find the way in. You can't  turn onto Briggs Alley from Monterey Street, because the alley is one way, heading west. And, there's no entrance from Fourth Street. That's too bad. The garage really would be an idea place to park when it's the Farmers Market Day.

But, I digressed. The husband and I like to climb up the four or five flights to the top for the exercise and the view. Also, the art. 

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100 Things I Like: The Street Festival & Car Show

It's chilly. That's a good enough reason to mention a Hollister event that takes place in the summer. Memories of heat to warm things up, you know.

The Annual Street Festival and Car Show is sponsored by the Hollister Downtown Association. Click here to check out its photos of this past summer's event.

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