Ooooooooooooklahoma! in Hollister

Show of hands. How many of you thought of Oklahoma!,  the musical, right away?

Good for you.  But, did you know there is a Hollister, Oklahoma? I didn't know it existed until I did a google search for Oklahoma + Hollister. Hollister, OK is located in the southeast part of the state. But, that's something to talk about another day.

Remember the film version of Oklahoma! with Gordon MacRae as Curly, Rod Steiger as Jud, and Shirley Jones as the girl those two guys wanted. Originally, it was a Rodgers and Hammerstein's production, which played on Broadway. This coming weekend, you can see that play in Hollister!

For the past two weekends, the San Benito Stage Company has been presenting Oklahoma! at the Granada Theater. This weekend will be the company's last performances.

Oklahoma! will be presented at 7 p.m. on  Friday (July 23) and Saturday (July 24). On Sunday (July 25), you can see a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The Granada Theater is located on Fifth Street across from the City Hall.  A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the San Benito County Historical Society Garcia House Visitors Center.

For more details, check out the San Benito Stage Company Web site.  And, to read about the production, check out "'Oklahoma' comes sweeping into Granada" by Melissa Flores at Weekend Pinnacle Online.

The cast of Oklahoma! at the
2010 San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo Parade.

Hollister Street Festival's Schedule of Bands

Among the ads in Tuesday's Hollister Freelance was an insert about the 24th Annual Street Festival this Saturday, July 17. Yes, I know I wrote about it yesterday. Just thought you'd like a few more details.

San Benito Street will be closed between South and Fourth Streets.  Classic cars will be on display up and down the street. According to the map, food vendors are by the Veterans Building and Vendor Row is on Fifth Street.

Three stages have been set up for various types of performances. Too much to list here. Just show up, eh! But, I will tell you the schedule of bands on the Main Stage at San Benito and Sixth streets:

10 to 10:45 am: Sound On
11 to 11:30 am: Donald Elvis and the Hound Dogs
11:30 am to 12 pm: Sound On
12:30 pm to 1:30 pm: Fender Benderz
2 to 3 .m.: Bornia Boys
3:30 to 4:30 pm: Red House

For more details, check out these links:

Street Festival and Car Show, Hollister Downtown Association
Hollister Street Festival 2009 

Be sure to get your free slice of watermelon when you're there!

Downtown Hollister Street Festival

I like it when San Benito Street closes through downtown Hollister. For one, that means something fun is going on. For another, that means I can stroll down the street. After a parade, it's right down the middle. Same thing with the Farmers Market, even though it's only one block and it's a side street.  Yes, cheap thrills, indeed.

This Saturday, July 17, you can stroll  San Benito Street, from South to possibly Fourth, at the annual Downtown Hollister Street Festival. Number 24!

You can ogle at snazzy vintage automobiles and the latest new ones, listen to live bands, watch live performances, take part in a raffle, eat, buy stuff, and so on.  The event starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. For more details, check out this page at the Hollister Downtown Association Web site. 


P.S. Saturday is a very busy day and night around the area. Several events and activities are going on. If you're into it, you can combine a silent auction, an evening concert, a play, or other activities with the street fair. For a list of events, please click over to Goings On in July.

Dolce Baby and Mommy Too

One of the fun things about the Hollister Downtown Association Scavenger Hunt was learning about new businesses in town. Well, they were new to the husband and me.

Dolce Baby and Mommy Too is one such store.  That store is just cute, cute, cute!

Cute is what that store is all about. Have I said that already? All those cute kiddie clothes in bright happy colors. I just smile thinking about the joy bounding through that store.

Aren't those tutus sooo cute?
Veronica makes them special for customers.

Our scavenger hunt card was checked by the lovely owner Veronica Fontanez, who is a Baler graduate. Go Balers!

Veronica and her husband opened the shop in May. They were inspired by the birth of their own child. The Pinnacle News wrote a story about the opening. Click here ("New Store Dresses Young Kids in Style") to read it.

The next time your downtown, check out Dolce Baby and Mommy Too. It's on 748 San Benito Street, near the corner of South Street. The place was formerly the Thyme Deli and if I'm recalling rightly, way before that—during days gone by, it was a travel agency.

Goings On in July

Hope you all had a wonderful July Fourth weekend.  Here are some doings for the month in and around San Benito County.  You're welcome to add other events in the comments section.

WEEKLY EVENTS

Wednesday afternoons: Farmers Market, Hollister. From 3 to 7 p.m., on 5th Street, between San Benito and Monterey Streets.

Thursday evenings: Movies Under the Stars, Hollister.  Around dusk at the corner of San Benito and Fourth Streets. 

Friday evenings: Bingo, Sacred Heart Church, Hollister. It starts 6:30 p.m. at the O'Reilly Hall (670 College Street).  You must be 18 years old to play.

Saturday mornings:  

Bike Ride with Off the Chain Bikes, from 8 to 11 a.m.

Book Sale, Friends of the Library, Hollister. From  9 a.m. to 12 p.m., behind the San Benito County Free Library, 5th and West Streets. $2 per bag.

ONGOING EVENTS
July 2 to July 30: New York Duet Art Exhibit, Blak Sage Gallery, Hollister. Artists reception on July 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. Gallery hours, Tuesday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m.

July 8 to August 1: Corridos!,  El Teatro Campesino, San Juan Bautista.

July 9 to 11, 16 to 18, 23 to 25: Oklahoma!, San Benito Stage Company, The Granada Theater, Hollister.

July 10, 17, and 31: Fremont Peak Observatory Evening Public Program, Fremont Peak State Park.

ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENTS
July 9

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Open Mic Night, San Benito County Free Library, Hollister. Poetry, music, and songs of all styles and languages. All ages welcome to participate. For more details, e-mail Joe Navarro at poetajoe (at) yahoo (dot) com.

6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Pedro Card Party, San Juan Bautista. Sponsored by the Native Daughters of the Golden West, it will be held at 203 Fourth Street. Beginners are welcome.

July 10

7 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Flea Market, Immaculate Conception Church parking lot, Tres Pinos.

1 to 7 p.m.: San Juan Bautista Gallery Walk, San Juan Bautista.

6 to 9 p.m.: Jazz with Luis Lenzi, Knife and Fork Café, Hollister.

9 to 11 p.m.: Pinnacles Star Party, Pinnacles National Monument.

July 17

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Monthly Antique and Collectibles Fair, San Juan Bautista.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: 24th Annual Street Festival and Car Show, Hollister.

12 noon to 3 p.m.: Fremont Peak Observatory Solar Program, Fremont Peak State Park.

1 to 5 p.m.: Class of 1971 Scholarship BBQ/Silent Auction Fundraiser, Veterans Park, Hollister.

6 to 10 p.m.: Dave Mason Concert, Guerra Cellars Summer Concerts, Hollister.

6:30 to 9:30 p.m.: Jazz Under the Stars, a benefit for the San Benito County Homeless Coalition, Hollister. Performance by the Magnolia Jazz Band.

July 24: Jazz with Luis Lenzi, Knife and Fork Café, Hollister. 6 to 9 p.m.
 

July 25-31: State Championship Show, California Gymkhana Association, San Benito County Fairgrounds (Bolado Park)

July 30: "The Big Country," Movies in the Park series, San Juan Bautista. Sponsored by the Plaza History Association, the movie will be shown on the San Juan Bautista State Historical Park Plaza Lawn at sunset. Refreshments will be available for sale.

July 31: Show ~n~ Shine and Swap Meet, Betabel Station Outdoor Market, San Juan Bautista. 7:30 a.m to 4 p.m.

July 31 to August 1: Relay for Life, American Cancer Society, San Benito High School, Hollister.