Take 25 to Hollister

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

A Tough Landing

Was it the pretty lady that got Santa confused in San Juan Bautista? Or, the fact that today is 12/12/12?

This Saturday (December 15) is Visions of San Juan—A Holiday Stroll Through Time. It will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

A Hodgepodge of Announcements

Benito Link

Check out a new free source for local news. It's called Benito Link, an on-line web portal created by Vision San Benito. Already, I've learned that the new Hollister Mayor was sworn in on Monday; Immaculate Conception, the Catholic Church in Tres Pinos, celebrated 120 years; and the San Benito Homeless Shelter has been open since November 1. The site just recently went up, so give it time to develop and grow. It's nice to have another source of news and coming events and such for our community. Buena fortuna, Benito Link.

Click here to go directly to Benito Link.
Click here to go to Benito Link's Facebook page.

Holiday Events

December 11: Oriana Chorale Carols and Lullabies. 7:30 p.m. at San Juan Bautista Mission.
December 15: Visions of San Juan—A Holiday Stroll Through Time. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., San Juan Bautista.
December 15: Annual Filipino American Christmas Ball, 6 to 11 p.m, Veterans Memorial Building, Hollister.
December 21: Winter Solstice at the Mission. About 6 a.m. at the San Juan Bautista Mission
December 21: Annual Holiday Bonfire/Hayden Christmas Celebration 6 p.m., Community Hall, San Juan Bautista

Support Local Businesses

The Holiday Arts and Crafts Boutique is going on at Blak Sage Gallery until December 15, 2012. It features arts, crafts, cards, and gifts made by local artists and craftspeople, including Shannon Grissom, Jane Rekedal, Carole Belliveau, Kent Child, and Kathleen Sheridan, among others.

Wednesday Night Lights
Several shops on the 600 block in downtown Hollister are doing a "Wednesday Night Lights". Tomorrow, December 12, and next Wednesday, December 19, the following shops will be open until 7:30 p.m.

Holiday Shopping Hours
Many local shops and businesses have holiday hours for our convenience. They're keeping their doors open later one or more days during the week. For example, Holliwood, a new shop in downtown Hollister (748 San Benito Street), has late hours. Some Hollister shops and most, if not all, San Juan Bautista shops are open on Sundays. So, if you haven't had a chance to check out local shops, here's your chance this year.

Don't know what shops, restaurants, businesses, and such are in our county? Check out these links:

You can also find a listing of some shops and restaurants at this Take 25 to Hollister post.

A note to FCC: Just so you know, no one has paid me to mention any of the above businesses. Just call me alturistic, I suppose.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Meandering on Comstock Road

On Saturday, the Husband and I did the Shop Hop. How about you? Which shops did you check out?

We only visited a few participating businesses, two of which were first times for us. On our way to M&M Garden Mart, we missed the Spring Grove Road turn so ended at the next road which was Comstock Road. Instead of turning around immediately, we decided to meander its full length. That is, to drive until we hit a dead end. It was probably only a few miles more after the houses, but it surely seemed like forever. A nice forever of wandering.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

150 Years of Celebration

The Hollister United Methodist Church is the familiar red brick edifice on the corner of Fifth and Monterey Streets. This weekend (December 1 and 2), it is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Wowza!

The husband and I visited its open house yesterday afternoon to see what the stained glass windows looked like. They are just as beautiful as we imagined they would be, just from looking at them from the outside. Reverend Ardyss Golden and another member of the church told us some interesting notes of both city and church history.

The church was started in 1862. It held its first services in Colonel Hollister's home, which is the site of new San Benito County courthouse. And, for us old timers, where Fremont School once stood.

Col. Hollister constructed a church building for the congregation in the middle of town. Where precisely, the Rev. Golden did not know. Nor did she know why it was moved to its current location.

The original church, built in 1872, was a wooden structure. Today's social hall was the first sanctuary. The brick building was constructed in 1910. If I remember correctly what was said, the parsonage used to stand where the preschool is today. The parsonage was moved to Tres Pinos.

Many of you, dear readers, may remember the ivy that climbed the brick walls. The ivy had to be removed because it was eating into the grout and destroying the building. The ivy, we learned, was a clipping of ivy from the University of Pacific in Stockton, and the college took its clipping from the Westminster Abbey in London.

At one time, there were two Methodist congregations in Hollister. The Methodist Episcopal Church, South was located at the current spot, while the Methodist Episcopal Church was a couple blocks away.

For more about the Hollister United Methodist Church, check out these pages:
• Hollister United Methodist Church Facebook page
• Web page at United Methodists of the California–Nevada Annual Conference

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The 2012 Holiday Cheer Shop Hop

The baskets from the 2011 shop hop.
Photo courtesy of San Benito Bene.

Psssssssst. Have you heard what's happening this Saturday, December 1?

It's the 2012 San Benito County Holiday Cheer Shop Hop. Whooo-hooo. Eighty-eight (88!) shops, restaurants, galleries, artisans, services, salons and spas, agriculturists, and nonprofit groups throughout the county are taking part in this second annual event. We're talking 88 local businesses from Hollister, San Juan Bautista, Tres Pinos, and Aromas.

These 88 local businesses have generously contributed items that shoppers have the opportunity of winning by entering their name at each business they visit on Saturday. The Holiday Cheer Shop Hop organizers are creating 15 (15!) lavish baskets that may include products such as chocolates, wine, olive oil, note cards, and lotions, as well as gift certificates to restaurants, shops, spas, financial services, and so on. Some businesses will also be raffling their own basket of goodies, so you never know what you may find.

By the way, did I say it is all free? Yep, it's free to enter for a chance for one of the 15 awesome baskets. No purchases necessary, but hey! you never know what you may want or need to buy for yourself and others. And, like wise mathematicians out there might say, your chances of winning increase with each additional business you visit. So, here you go. The list of the many local businesses to hop to this Saturday.

The Shops

Historical Downtown Hollister
Going from north to south, these businesses are located between Fourth and South Streets.

Different Treasures Different Days, 443 San Benito Street
Country Groomers, 206 Fifth Street
Irma's Fashion, 230 Fifth Street
Hollister Sign Co., 535 San Benito Street
Penny Wise Drug Store, 549 San Benito Street
Pallacio Day Spa, and San Benito Bene are located at 615 San Benito Street.
Serendipity Gifts, 616 San Benito Street
She's Women's Apparel, 620 San Benito Street
Delux Hair Salon, 625 San Benito Street
McKinnon Lumber, 217 7th Street
Vitality Skin Care & Massage, 339 Seventh Street, Suite A
Shannon Grissom, Artist, 719 San Benito Street, Suite A
San Benito County Arts Council Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito Street
Drapoel, 731 San Benito Street
Bel Amour Pet Spa & Boutique, 730 B San Benito Street
Paradiso Spa Salon, 750 San Benito Street

These businesses are also located in downtown Hollister:

Joshua Inn Bed & Breakfast Boutique, 712 West Street (by 7th Street)
Simply Skin, 581 McCray Street (by the theater)

These businesses are located south of downtown Hollister:

Salon Deja Vu Spa ,341 Tres Pinos Road, Suites 204-205
YMCA of the Central Coast, 351 Tres Pinos Road
The Farm Bertuccio's, 2410 Airline Highway (aka Highway 25, near Union Road)
DeRose Winery, 9970 Cienega Road (The Car Museum should be open that day.)

These businesses are located north of downtown, in the Hollister Business Park across from the Hollister Airport:

Garlic Festival Foods, 1803 Shelton Drive, #104
Marich Premium Chocolates, 2101 Burt Drive

The following businesses are northeast of downtown. Both are near Fallon Road, which runs between Fairview Road and San Felipe Road (by Hollister Business Park).

B&R Farms, 5280 Fairview Road
M&M Garden Mart, 410 Spring Grove Road

San Juan Bautista
Some of the shops in San Juan Bautista share the same building. You might find info about some of the shops listed below at the Shop San Juan! Web site. The shops are listed in order from south to north. In other words, you're entering from Highway 156 at the traffic lights.

The Alameda

Vintage Cottage Home and Garden, 103 The Alameda
Tresor Boutique and The Last Stitch Quilting Design Studio and Gallery are at 107 The Alameda.

Third Street (The Alameda turns into Third Street at Franklin)

Shops on the east side (Think: Hollister is to the east.)
Mission Gallery, 106 Third Street
Rare Light Gallery and Visions of Christmas are at 108 B Third Street.
Casa de Calores, 304 Third Street
These shops are located at 400 Third Street: Sweet Pea Antiques, The Dreaming Tree, and Vintage Corner
San Juan Antiques and Collectibles, 406 Third Street
These shops are located at 410 Third Street: The Glass Connection, Attic Angels, Frills (inside Attic Angels), and Nicola Cruise Fair Trade Gifts & Crafts
3 Angels Antiques, 410 D Third Street

Shops on the west side (Think: Heading to Highway 101)
Paloma Paloma and Season's Handcrafts are located at 203 Third Street.
Bear Flag Gallery Mall, 207 Third Street
Top Rock Shop, 209 Third Street
Mission Clocks and Watches, 217 Third Street
Treasure Chest de San Juan, 303 Third Street
It's Shabby and Chic, 311 Third Street
Bluebird Antiques and Collectibles, 401 Third Street
The Little Red Barn, 405 Third Street

Side streets
Livin' the Green Dream, 33 Washington Street
Aggie's Porch 37, Mariposa Street (corner of 4th Street)
Fool's Gold Antiques, 34A Polk Street

Aromas

Kathryn Aguras Real Estate, 376 Blohm Avenue
Dragonfly Gallery, 380 Blohm Avenue

Gotta Eat and Drink!

These local restaurants are participating in the Holiday Cheer Shop Hop, too. So, be sure to fill in an entry form for a chance at one of the 15 bountiful baskets of local goodies

Hollister

Pendergrass Restaurant, 500 San Benito Street (SW corner of 5th Street)
Heavenly Bakery, 601 San Benito Street (SE corner of 6th Street)
Best of Times Cafe, 615 San Benito Street (a few doors from Heavenly Bakery)
Knife and Fork Cafe, 650 San Benito Street (by Brown Alley)
A.J. Sushi, 737 San Benito Street (near South Street)
Paine's Restaurant, 421 East Street (between 4th and 5th Streets)
Hollister Hills Taproom & Brewery, 401 McCray Street (in the Clocktower Plaza, near the pet store)

Tres Pinos

19th Hole Booze & Food, 7071 Airline Highway (Highway 25—about 5 miles south of Hollister)

San Juan Bautista

Pizza Factory, 301 H The Alameda (in the Windmill Plaza)
Doña Esther Mexican Restaurant, 25 Franklin Street
La Casa Rosa Restaurant, 107 Third Street
Jardines de San Juan, 115 Third Street
Orient Express, 35 Washington Street
Margot's Ice Cream Parlor, 211 Third Street
Mission Cafe, 300 Third Street
The Happy Rooster Restaurant, 313 Third Street
San Juan Bakery, 319 Third Street
Joan and Peter's German Restaurant, 322 Third Street
Basque Matxain Etxea Restaurant, 206 Fourth Street

Other Shop Hop Participants

The following artisans, businesses, and organizations have also contributed products and services to this year's Holiday Cheer Shop Hop:

Autoworks
Beauti Control
Bell Hill Goat Milk Soaps & Lotions (Products can also be found at San Benito Bene)
Calvista Insurance Agency Inc.
California Mutual Insurance Co.
H&R Block
MJM Computers
Oils of Paicines (Products can also be found at San Benito Bene)
San Benito County Cattle Women
San Benito Gold Raw Honey (Products can also be found at San Benito Bene and The Farm Bertuccio's)
Santa Barbara Bank and Trust
Vista Notes (Products can also be found at San Benito Bene, The Farm Bertuccio's, and Serendipity Gifts)

For more information, contact kathina@sanbenitobene.com or call her at 831-638-1188.

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