The 2011 San Benito County Fair

It's always fun wandering the county fair.  As you know, it's one of the 100 things I like about living in Hollister. Tomorrow is the final day of the fair. Click here for more details.

The Two Horsemen

Fair Fare

The Hypnotist

What did one chicken say to the other?

Food Art

The Best of Show Cake

Bustle included!

Local Bounty

It was a great day for the fair!

100 Things I Like: Looking Up!

Looking up in Wentz Alley!

Being short has its advantage. For instance, as I'm craning my head to look up at someone as he or she speaks, other things come into sight. Things I might not ever notice. I tell you, there are quite a lot of neat things to see when you look up in Hollister.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Vertigo Coffee

Vertigo folks use this contraption to make Kyoto shots,
Japanese style iced coffee brewed over 24 hours.

I like an excellent cup of coffee. Unfortunately, I've had to cut my  intake down to practically zilch, because, well, it seems that too much coffee makes me itch. But, when it comes to Vertigo Coffee, I throw caution to the wind. It's a good thing I don't live in San Juan Bautista.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Flapjack's Country Cafe

Flapjack's Country Cafe is in Tres Pinos, on the north side of Highway 25. You can't miss it. Honestly.  The husband and I like to start an adventure with breakfast at Flapjack's. Or, when I can't stand it anymore and I need to eat me some pancakes.

The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. If your heading to the San Benito County Fair this weekend, and looking for a place to eat beforehand. . . well, need I say more.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: The Burger Factory

The Burger Factory at 125 San Benito Street is almost (if not already) two years old. All I know is that Julie and Jin Hyun, the owners, opened it two autumns ago. Obviously, I like the food. My favorite keeps changing. Right now, it's the teriyaki bowl. Yummm.  What I also like about the Burger Factory is the smiling and friendly manners of Julie and Jin.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: San Benito County Fair

At the 2009 SBC Fair

The livestock, the crafts, the fine arts, the performers, the carnival, the exhibits, the vendors.  .  .  . Yep, it's that time of year again, folks. The San Benito County Fair starts this Friday (September 30) and ends on Sunday (October 2). I'm looking forward to it! Click here for a list of events.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link. 

100 Things I Like: The San Benito River

San Benito River on Southside Road, below Tres Pinos, in February.

The San Benito River starts at San Benito Mountain, the highest peak in the Diablo range in our county. The river runs northwesterly, for about 109 miles, to its end at Chittenden Pass (southeast of San Juan Bautista). It used to be that kids would swim in the river during the hot summer days. Today, no visible water runs through it, except for during the rainy months.

Here are some interesting pages about San Benito River to check out.

The Pajaro River Watershed—San Benito Part I
The Mighty San Benito
Pleistocene Lake San Benito

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link. 

100 Things I Like: Community Bulletin Board

More specifically, I like the community bulletin board at the Tres Pinos post office.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link. 

100 Things I Like: Local Products

Kathina, the owner of San Benito Bene—
the local place to buy local products!

We really have a lot of wonderful goods created and produced by local foodies, artists, craftspeople,  farmers, and others. I'll name a few:
Bell Hill Goat Milk Lotion
San Benito Gold Honey
Sons of Sicily Olive Oil
Pinnacle Apple Juice (Organic)
Vista Notes
Marich Confectionary
Art of Shannon Grissom

And, you know what, you can now go to this one shop in Hollister to buy these products and other local goods, Monday through Friday. San Benito Bene is the place!

Today, Saturday, San Benito Bene continues its grand opening, starting at noon. You'll have a chance to taste some of the local foods that are available in the shop. Check it out, if you can. The shop is located at 615 San Benito Street, the same side of the block as Heavenly Bakery and Best of Times Cafe.

Christmas shopping is going to be so easy for me this year.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link. 

100 Things I Like: Organic Tomatoes

Yesterday, the husband and I picked organic tomatoes at the Mariquita Farm in the northern part of San Benito County. Nearly 30 pounds of red and green bursts of nutrition and flavor. If you're interested in getting in your own supply of tomato goodness, there will be another U-pick day tomorrow, Saturday, September 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. They'll have other vegetables on sale as well. Here's a link for more details.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link. 

100 Things I Like: The Pinnacles National Monument

East side, west side. I like both sides of the Pinnacles National Monument. How can you not? You know it was once part of a volcano located in Southern California. Seriously.

This Saturday, entry into this national monument will be free, because it's National Public Lands Day. As part of the day's activities, the rangers will be releasing two California Condors. For more info, head over to here, the Pinnacles National Monument Web site.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Window Shopping in San Juan Bautista

A couple weeks, the husband and I strolled up and down San Juan Bautista's main street with a couple of friends looking at store windows. We, well okay, the women, even wandered into the stores. I can't recall to which store this window display belongs. But, it's easy to find again.

Check out this link, if you'd like to see a list of shops in San Juan Bautista.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Open Skies

I did not realize how much I missed the open skies of Hollister until the husband and I moved here eight summers ago. I was born and raised in Hollister and moved up to San Francisco for college. I visited my family often in the 30 years I lived up in the Bay Area, but always ready to head back to what was home.  Honestly, I never thought I'd be back in Hollister. Now that I am, well, I'll just say this: I need and want the open skies.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I LIke: The Mustard Fields

I love it when the mustard is in bloom. Don't you?

I took this photo of the husband pedaling through this particular field a couple late winters ago.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Bertuccio's Produce Stand

"We need eggs."

Lately, that means a bicycle ride to Bertuccio's Produce Stand. There, the husband and I can get a dozen of fresh eggs "donated" by local chickens.  We also like to go there for nuts and jams, all locally produced. Sometimes we find great produce bargains; for instance, once time, we got avocados for 50 cents each.  And, every now and then, they have a basket of free produce that are still good, but not good enough to be sold. Totally like that.

Bertuccio's Produce Stand is just before you reach the corner of Highway 25 (Airline Highway) and Union Road, as you're heading south on 25. That cool old truck marks the spot where you'll be turning right onto Bertuccio's driveway.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Victoria's Deli

How much do I like Victoria's Deli?

Well, there are at least six places within a mile where I can get take-out deli stuff. But, when I get a craving for Victoria's basil pesto, I drive all the way across town and almost to the airport to Victoria's Deli. Their sandwiches are yummy-licious, too. The mama, who is a picky eater, does not pick when it comes to eating her favorite ham and turkey sandwich. Yesterday, she discovered the Boston clam chowder and the husband chowed down on a chicken pesto sandwich. We were all three happy campers.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: The Food Gatherers

It's September. It's harvest time. Give thanks! to all the workers who are out there picking and gathering the vegetables and fruits for our bellies. There is nothing easy about their jobs.

To get this photo, I leaned out the car window and snapped away as the husband drove east on Highway 156 through San Juan Valley.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Toot! Toot!

The Union Pacific freight train rolls into Hollister.

Unless I'm running late, I don't mind getting stuck waiting for trains to rumble through. Not like it's a regular thing anyway, or the train is very long.  There's nothing like the "Hey! I'm here!" sound of a train whistle.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: The Farmers Market

Today is Farmers Market Day in Downtown Hollister, from 3 to 7 p.m on Fifth Street.  Only three more market days left until next year.

Yes, I know this isn't the most flattering shot of the market. I just like the way the Granada Theater sign sticks up above the canopies.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: The Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly Pear Cactus at the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park

The prickly pears are in bloom again.

Imagine Katherine Hepburn saying that as she tenderly holds a bouquet of prickly pears instead of calla lilies in the movie Stage Door.

I'm not so keen on eating the fruit or the pads. For me, the appeal of this plant is its look. It makes my imagination run rampant.

By the way, if your curious about the prickly pear plant, check out this page at the UC Small Farm Program Web site.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.