100 Things I Like: The Knife & Fork Cafe

A bit of  greenery and the mural reflects in a glass of wine.

The Knife & Fork Cafe on San Benito Street is a great place to meet up with friends, new and old, to eat some fine food and drink a glass (or two) of wine.  Sitting either indoors or outside in the alleyway is both enjoyable.

Two words: lemon cake!  Droooooool.

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100 Things I Like: Penny Wise Drug Store

My five top reasons for shopping at Penny Wise Drug in downtown Hollister (east side of San Benito Street, between 5th and 6th Streets):

5. Every time I enter Penny Wise, I remember the aroma of the hot popcorn that was available for sale when the store used to be Roscoe,  one of the five & dime stores in Hollister when I was a kid hundreds of years ago. The other one was Cornet, which is now Muenzer's on Fifth Street. I used to go out the back door of one shop, cross Wentz Alley, and enter the back door of the other shop.

4. I can usually find fun, creative, and unique gift items at the drug store, from scarves to jewelry to singing bears to jigsaw puzzles to glass giftware to baby clothes.

3. Penny Wise Drug is a local business run by the Rosati family since 1948. It's the only independent pharmacy in San Benito County. I like to shop locally as much as possible.

2. Customer service! One Wednesday, I went in to buy over-the-counter iron pills, but the kind I wanted had run out. Joan told her brother, Stephen, the pharmacist, to order them. I came back the following Monday to buy the pills. As I was walking towards the counter, Joan asked, "Did you remember to get the iron pills?" I went in for something else on Tuesday, and just before I walked out,  pharmacist sister Jeanne called out, "Did you get your iron pills?"

1. Joan, Jeanne, Stephen, and Marie Rosati!!!!

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Note to FCC: I wasn't paid or given anything to write what I just wrote. So, move along.

100 Things I Like: Proximity to Monterey Bay

The Pacific Ocean is about 40 minutes away. Maybe less, depending on the traffic and who's driving.

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100 Things I Like: The Lights On Celebration Parade

2010 Lights On Celebration Parade

The 21st annual Lights On Celebration Parade will be next Saturday, November 26, 2011, in downtown Hollister. Sparkle, sparkle. Dear readers, take note, this year, the Lights On Celebration is a whole day and evening event, culminating with the parade.

10:30 AM to 8:30 PM: Holiday Boutique, Veterans Memorial Building
During the day: Holiday Car Show
4:30 PM:  Pre-parade Entertainment
5:30 PM: The Parade
Post-parade Time: Photos with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus

Thank you, Hollister Downtown Association, for putting this all together for our town!

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100 Things I Like: The Swaying Garlands Up High

The Christmas garlands were strung up above San Benito Street yesterday. Early, no doubt. But, so what? We all need some cheer these days.

The Hollister Downtown Association (HDA) is preparing for the Lights On Celebration on Saturday, November 26. This year's going to be an all day affair. There will be a car show during the day, the parade in the evening, and a holiday boutique happening throughout. Click here, for more details at the HDA's Web site.

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