Help Turn the Granada into an Arts Center

Dear Take 25 readers, how many of you would love to have an arts center in town? Can you visualize the Granada Theater on Fifth Street as the arts center?

The Hollister Downtown Association and the San Benito County Arts Council have a vision to one day own the historic Berberich Building, which houses the Granada, and turn the whole building into a multiple-purpose arts center. For many decades, the Granada showed movies—first-run, classics, and international. Today, it is used for live performances, including plays by the San Benito Stage Company.

Now, dear readers, this is where you come in. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is holding a nationwide This Place Matters Challenge that will award $25,000 to the community that receives the most votes for its registered historic landmark.

The Hollister Downtown Association registered the Granada Theater in the challenge and now needs our support. Head over to the Save the Granada Theatre page and vote. You will need to register for the site first, but that will take only a few minutes.


As of today, only 38 people have voted for the Granada. Please pass the word around to your friends and family, whether they live in Hollister or not.  You can easily do that by forwarding the link to this post. Thank you!

Would you like to know more about the Granada, the community challenge, and the organizations I've mentioned? Check out these links:

• Granada Theater at Cinema Treasures
• National Trust for Historic Preservation 
• Hollister Downtown Association 
• San Benito County Arts Council 
• San Benito Stage Company

Tuesday in Hollister #2: Where is this?

You can find several spectacular murals in downtown Hollister. Probably the most well-known mural is on the side of Johnny's Bar and Grill in Wentz Alley.

How about this inspiring mural? What building does it grace?

Click on the photo for a larger version.

Don't know where it is, yet? Here's a hint: Across the street is a Mexican bakery.

If you still don't know, scramble the letters: rteslohli puers

Any "oldtimers" out there? I've got some questions for you: What business first used that building? What took over after that business moved to the south side of town? I don't know the answers, but I really would like to know.

Does anyone know when this mural was painted, and who painted it? 

Coming Soon: Music! Music! Music!

Hollister will be rocking big time this coming weekend! Not one. Not two. But, three music events will be happening with a mix of new and well-known groups. Some of the performers will be local artists. It's musical heaven, I tell you. Rock and roll. Salsa. Funk. Jazz.  Blues. Soul. Reggae. Folk. Tejano. Country. Alternative. Mariachi. And more!  If you can't find music to please your body and soul, well, that'll just down right sad. 

Paine's Concert Series

On Friday, August 20, three legends will be performing at Paine's Restaurant on East Street (between 4th and 5th).  Pete Escovedo! Uh-huh. In his 70s, the man is still smoking hot!  Juan Escovedo! The eldest child of Pete, he has toured with Prince, En Vogue, Barry White, and Freddie Hubbard, to name a few. And, Suavé! The popular long-time band performs Latin Rock, classic rock, blues, and just about everything.  The concert starts at 9:30 p.m. Advanced tickets are $20. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

For more about the performers, check out their Web sites:

• Pete Escovedo
• Juan Escovedo
• Suavé

Dunne Park: Where the Action Shall Be!

Music in the Park
On Saturday, August 21, bring your lawn chairs, and a picnic, to Dunne Park on Seventh Street (between West and Powell)  for a free concert.  Sponsored by the San Benito County Arts Council, the Community Foundation of San Benito County, the California Arts Council, and Centro Ollin (Center for the Working Artist), the concert will run from 4 to 8 p.m. Several musicians will be performing, including local bands. Some of the featured artists will be:

• Daniel Valdez 
• Michael Annotti  
• Somos
• Sake Bombs
• Mariachi Alma de Mexico
• Tim and Frances Tompkins

Hollister Concerts

The Guerra Cellars' Hollister Concerts will also be taking place on Saturday, August 21at the Peppertree Ranch on John Smith Road. Time: 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Shane Dwight and Extra Large will be sharing the bill. Music reviewers describe Dwight as a killer blues artist whose style draws from R&B, alternative country, jazz, and rock and roll. Extra Large is a soulful funk rock band based in Santa Cruz. It's motto is "We dare you not to dance."  

For more about the artists, check out their Web sites:

• Shane Dwight
• Extra Large

Shop Locally: Vertigo Coffee

Vertigo: A feeling of out-of-whackness while looking down from high above.

Vertigo: The name of the movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock, parts of which were filmed in San Juan Bautista

Vertigo: Vertigo Coffee Roasting Company; a specialty
micro roastery in San Juan Bautista. A drink of Vertigo
may keep the vertigo away while watching Vertigo.

Vertigo: Vertigo Cafe; the coffeehouse, owned by the
Vertigo Coffee Roasting Company, that serves freshly
brewed Vertigo and yummy pastries seven days a week.
Need I say more.

Vertigo Cafe has been open for a few weeks now, but this weekend (August 14 and 15) is its grand opening. The Vertigo crew will be serving free coffee from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days.

The cafe is located at 81 Fourth Street in San Juan Bautista. It's the first left turn, if you're turning right from Highway 156 (from Hollister). If you're already in the mission city, then either walk or drive south on the main street and turn right just before the Windmill Shopping Plaza.

For more info about the roastery, the cafe, and the coffee, check out these links:

• Vertigo Coffee Web site
• Vertigo Coffee Facebook Page

Just so you know, several events are happening in San Juan Bautista and other parts of San Benito County. Check it out here.

Disclaimer: I purchase Vertigo coffee beans now and then and, obviously, have gone over to sip fresh brew at the cafe. I like the stuff, especially the organic beans. But, I have not been paid nor given free coffee for writing about Vertigo today. So there. 

P.S. I will gladly accept money or freebies for my writing. That is, depending on what it is.

Tuesday in Hollister: What Was There?

Dear Friendly Readers,

It's time to try something new here at Take 25 to Hollister. Yep, indeed. Every Tuesday, I'll post a photo of a place in Hollister. Try to guess what it is and/or where it is before I give you the answer. If you have sweet memories of the place, I welcome you to share it with us, either in the comments section or at the Facebook page.

So, here we go. . .

What business used to stand in this empty lot?

This is all that remains of that happy and fun place.

The building stood at the corner of San Benito and Seventh. It was damaged by the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989, but it was an arson fire that brought it down a few years later.  Do you know what business it was?

If you didn't guess it by now, this clue should do it: The building held 1,194 seats, according to the Cinema Treasures Web site.

Yep, you got it. Click here to see the State Theater in its full splendor.

What happy memories do you have about going to the movies there?