Coming Up: The San BenitoCounty Fair

Autumn is around the corner. And, that means it'll soon be time to take Highway 25 down to Bolado Park for the county fair. This year, our fair county will be celebrating its 87th county fair. Whoo-hoo!

October 1 to October 3 are the dates. Mark 'em now on your calendar, before you forget.

If you want to enter your baked goods, crafts, photographs, paintings, flowers, or other items in the fair, you still have time. The deadline for entries is September 3, 2010.  You can send your entry form and fees to the fairgrounds office or take them directly there.

For entry forms and details, head over to the San Benito County Fair Web site.

The baker definitely deserved top prize!

Tuesday in Hollister: Whereabouts is This?

This one ought to be an easy one. But then it may not be if the graffiti has been removed. I took the photo back in January. I've driven over the bridge many times since then. Saturday, for instance. But my mind draws a blank on how it looked. Funny, how that goes.

Where is this bridge? Can anyone tell me if the graffiti is still there?

Did you know that plans are in action to start building a new bridge in 2011?  For details, check out the story in the Hollister Free Lance.

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