Eat Locally: Best of Times Cafe

The Best of Times Cafe is on the east side of San Benito Street, between 6th and 7th Streets. It opened in 1996 as the Hard Times Cafe. The owner changed it in 1999 because a chili restaurant franchise on the east coast has a trademark on the name. Want to know more? Read "It's the Best of Times for the former Hard Times Cafe", by Kollin Kosmicki in The Weekend Pinnacle Online.

The cafe recently received second place in the Best Diner category of The 2010 Pinnacle Awards. For customer reviews, check out Yelp.  I'm not a minestrone fan, but at Best of Times Cafe, I'll order it!.

Vegetable Fields

San Juan Valley, a few miles northeast of the mission city.

My dad was an irrigator for various farmers in San Benito County for almost 30 years. When I was a child, my dad and the fields were my babysitters. I loved going with him every day to the best play grounds around. I still have a thing for fields.  

Shop Locally: Holiday Marketplace

Are you looking for homemade crafts and food products to give as gifts this year? Especially items made by local craftspersons and foodies?

Check out the Holiday Market Place on the corner of San Benito and South Streets. Local artisans will be selling their wares to the public at the site every Friday, until Christmas.

This lovely quilt is by Juli Ann/Snuggly Babies.
Her work is also available at The Market Place
and the Last Stitch in San Juan Bautista.

The joint was open after the Lights On Celebration parade last weekend. It was jumping! Quilts, jams, chocolates, purses, jewelry, and knit scarves were among the various items that were on sale.

What items will be on sale each Friday will depend on the vendors. If their is a positive response to the venue, it may also be open on Saturdays. So, spread the word, folks!

For those of you who can't make it down to the Holiday Market Place, here are a few local businesses to check out for local goods:

• Bertuccio's (food items)
• DeBrito Chocolate Factory
• Marich Confectionery
• The Market Place in San Juan Bautista
• Vista Notes

You might also visit these web sites for more information about local businesses:

• Hollister Downtown Association
• Friends of Vista Notes
• San Benito County Chamber of Commerce 

Signs around Town

Nothing more to add. 

P.S.(several hours later) Uhm, would you say it's ironic that half way down the block on Seventh Street is a mortuary?

December 2010 Events

Two more days until December. Many activities and holiday events for which to look forward. Check out December 4, for instance! Take it slow and easy as you enjoy the holiday season.

WEEKLY EVENTS
Monday mornings: Toddler Story Time for ages 0 to 3, San Benito County Free Library, Fifth and West Streets, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday evenings: Sleepy-Time Story Time for ages 3 to 5, San Benito County Free Library, Fifth and West Streets, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Friday mornings: Newborn Story Time for ages 0 to 3, San Benito County Free Library, Fifth and West Streets, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

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, 8 a.m.
• Book Sale, Friends of the Library, behind the San Benito County Free Library, Fifth and West Streets, from  9 a.m. to 12 p.m. $3 per bag.

Sundays: Flea Market, Betabel Station and Outdoor Market, 9644 Betabel Road, San Juan Bautista, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For details, check the market's Facebook page.

ONGOING EVENTS
December 3: Open Mic Night, Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito Street.

December 10:  Pedro Card Party, San Juan Bautista. Sponsored by the Native Daughters of the Golden West, it will be held at 203 Fourth Street from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Beginners are welcome.

December 11: Gallery Walk, San Juan Bautista, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.


ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENTS
December 1:

• Ceramic Sale, Gavilan College Student Center, Gilroy, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Annual Winter Magic Christmas Bazaar and Luncheon, hosted by the Hazel Hawkins Hospital's Auxiliary, at the Veterans Memorial Building on San Benito and Seventh Streets, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Library Summit, San Benito County Free Library, Fifth and West Streets, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
• Reception for the Sock Monkeys in the Wild Exhibit, by Shannon Grissom, Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito Street, at 5:30 p.m.
• Oriana Chorale Concert, Mission San Juan Bautista, 7:30 p.m.

December 2 to December 19 (Thursdays to Sundays): La Virgen del Tepeyac, El Teatro Campesino, San Juan Bautista. 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.

December 3: Grand Opening, San Benito County Visitor's Bureau, 115 Third Street, San Juan Bautista, from 4 to 6 p.m.  

December 3 to December 5: Holiday Open House, Pietra Santa Winery.

December 4 and 5: Holiday Open Studios, hosted by the Aromas Hills Artisans,  Aromas, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

December 4:

• Breakfast with Santa, Veterans Memorial Building on San Benito and Seventh Streets, from 8 to 11 a.m.  Details available at Hollister: Macaroni Kid.
• Open House, Bertuccio's, 2410 Airline Highway, Hollister, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Living History Days, San Juan Bautista State Historic Park, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
• Winter Expo Fair, Dual Language Academy, 873 Santa Ana Road, Hollister, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Holiday Open Studio, by artist Dale Yarmuth, 501 Chardonnay Way, from 12 to 4 p.m.
• Peter and the Wolf and More Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm, Gavilan College Theater, Gilroy, at 2  p.m. and 7 p.m. 
• A Christmas Musical, Hollister United Methodist Church, 521 Monterey Street, from 4 to 6 p.m.
• Fifth Annual Holiday in Lights Parade, San Juan Bautista, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
• San Benito County Community Christmas Concert, San Benito High School Auditorium, from 7 to 8 p.m. Admission is free.
• Veterans Holiday Dinner, Veterans Memorial Building on San Benito and Seventh Streets, from 7 to 9 p.m. The event is free to all veterans, with proof of status. There is a small charge for guests. Only 200 tickets are available. RSVP to VFW Post 9242.

December 5:

• Oriana Chorale Concert, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Hollister, 3 p.m. 
• A-Caroling We Will Go, South Valley Symphony, Gavilan College, Gilroy, 4 p.m.  

December 7: Oriana Chorale Concert, Mission San Juan Bautista, 7:30 p.m.

December 8: Holiday Concert, Watsonville Community Band, Veterans Memorial Building on San Benito and Seventh Streets, 7:30 p.m.

December 10 to December 12: Mulan, Gavilan College Theater, Gilroy, Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 4 p.m. 

December 11:

• 1st Annual Winter Wonderland, hosted by the Gabilan Hills Parents Club, Gabilan Hills School, 921 Santa Ana Road, Hollister, from 1 to 5 p.m.  
• A Victorian Christmas, hosted by the San Benito Historical Society, at the Wapple House Museum, Fifth and West Streets, from 2 to 5 p.m. Free. An historic walking tour starts at 1 p.m. The tour cost is $5 per person and $8 per family. RSVP for tour by calling 524-2292. The Victorian costume contest is at 3:30 p.m.

December 13: Research Room Open, Wapple House Museum, Fifth and West Streets, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

December 16: Santa Visits the Library, San Benito County Free Library, Fifth and West Streets, from 5 to 7 p.m. 

December 18: Live Benefit Concert featuring Donald Elvis and the Hound Dogs, Granada Theater, Hollister, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

December 21, 22, and 23: A Christmas Carol, Limelight Productions, Gavilan College Theater, Gilroy, at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

December 23: Blood Drive, American Red Cross, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1670 Cienega Road, from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.

December 25: Merry Christmas!!!

December 31: New Year's events at Casa de Fruta,  Johnny's Bar and Grill, and Leal Vineyards. Know about any other events in the area?