100 Things I Like: Looking Up!

Looking up in Wentz Alley!

Being short has its advantage. For instance, as I'm craning my head to look up at someone as he or she speaks, other things come into sight. Things I might not ever notice. I tell you, there are quite a lot of neat things to see when you look up in Hollister.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Vertigo Coffee

Vertigo folks use this contraption to make Kyoto shots,
Japanese style iced coffee brewed over 24 hours.

I like an excellent cup of coffee. Unfortunately, I've had to cut my  intake down to practically zilch, because, well, it seems that too much coffee makes me itch. But, when it comes to Vertigo Coffee, I throw caution to the wind. It's a good thing I don't live in San Juan Bautista.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Flapjack's Country Cafe

Flapjack's Country Cafe is in Tres Pinos, on the north side of Highway 25. You can't miss it. Honestly.  The husband and I like to start an adventure with breakfast at Flapjack's. Or, when I can't stand it anymore and I need to eat me some pancakes.

The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. If your heading to the San Benito County Fair this weekend, and looking for a place to eat beforehand. . . well, need I say more.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: The Burger Factory

The Burger Factory at 125 San Benito Street is almost (if not already) two years old. All I know is that Julie and Jin Hyun, the owners, opened it two autumns ago. Obviously, I like the food. My favorite keeps changing. Right now, it's the teriyaki bowl. Yummm.  What I also like about the Burger Factory is the smiling and friendly manners of Julie and Jin.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: San Benito County Fair

At the 2009 SBC Fair

The livestock, the crafts, the fine arts, the performers, the carnival, the exhibits, the vendors.  .  .  . Yep, it's that time of year again, folks. The San Benito County Fair starts this Friday (September 30) and ends on Sunday (October 2). I'm looking forward to it! Click here for a list of events.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link. 

100 Things I Like: The San Benito River

San Benito River on Southside Road, below Tres Pinos, in February.

The San Benito River starts at San Benito Mountain, the highest peak in the Diablo range in our county. The river runs northwesterly, for about 109 miles, to its end at Chittenden Pass (southeast of San Juan Bautista). It used to be that kids would swim in the river during the hot summer days. Today, no visible water runs through it, except for during the rainy months.

Here are some interesting pages about San Benito River to check out.

The Pajaro River Watershed—San Benito Part I
The Mighty San Benito
Pleistocene Lake San Benito

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link. 

100 Things I Like: Community Bulletin Board

More specifically, I like the community bulletin board at the Tres Pinos post office.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link. 

100 Things I Like: Local Products

Kathina, the owner of San Benito Bene—
the local place to buy local products!

We really have a lot of wonderful goods created and produced by local foodies, artists, craftspeople,  farmers, and others. I'll name a few:
Bell Hill Goat Milk Lotion
San Benito Gold Honey
Sons of Sicily Olive Oil
Pinnacle Apple Juice (Organic)
Vista Notes
Marich Confectionary
Art of Shannon Grissom

And, you know what, you can now go to this one shop in Hollister to buy these products and other local goods, Monday through Friday. San Benito Bene is the place!

Today, Saturday, San Benito Bene continues its grand opening, starting at noon. You'll have a chance to taste some of the local foods that are available in the shop. Check it out, if you can. The shop is located at 615 San Benito Street, the same side of the block as Heavenly Bakery and Best of Times Cafe.

Christmas shopping is going to be so easy for me this year.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link. 

100 Things I Like: Organic Tomatoes

Yesterday, the husband and I picked organic tomatoes at the Mariquita Farm in the northern part of San Benito County. Nearly 30 pounds of red and green bursts of nutrition and flavor. If you're interested in getting in your own supply of tomato goodness, there will be another U-pick day tomorrow, Saturday, September 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. They'll have other vegetables on sale as well. Here's a link for more details.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link. 

100 Things I Like: The Pinnacles National Monument

East side, west side. I like both sides of the Pinnacles National Monument. How can you not? You know it was once part of a volcano located in Southern California. Seriously.

This Saturday, entry into this national monument will be free, because it's National Public Lands Day. As part of the day's activities, the rangers will be releasing two California Condors. For more info, head over to here, the Pinnacles National Monument Web site.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Window Shopping in San Juan Bautista

A couple weeks, the husband and I strolled up and down San Juan Bautista's main street with a couple of friends looking at store windows. We, well okay, the women, even wandered into the stores. I can't recall to which store this window display belongs. But, it's easy to find again.

Check out this link, if you'd like to see a list of shops in San Juan Bautista.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Open Skies

I did not realize how much I missed the open skies of Hollister until the husband and I moved here eight summers ago. I was born and raised in Hollister and moved up to San Francisco for college. I visited my family often in the 30 years I lived up in the Bay Area, but always ready to head back to what was home.  Honestly, I never thought I'd be back in Hollister. Now that I am, well, I'll just say this: I need and want the open skies.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I LIke: The Mustard Fields

I love it when the mustard is in bloom. Don't you?

I took this photo of the husband pedaling through this particular field a couple late winters ago.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Bertuccio's Produce Stand

"We need eggs."

Lately, that means a bicycle ride to Bertuccio's Produce Stand. There, the husband and I can get a dozen of fresh eggs "donated" by local chickens.  We also like to go there for nuts and jams, all locally produced. Sometimes we find great produce bargains; for instance, once time, we got avocados for 50 cents each.  And, every now and then, they have a basket of free produce that are still good, but not good enough to be sold. Totally like that.

Bertuccio's Produce Stand is just before you reach the corner of Highway 25 (Airline Highway) and Union Road, as you're heading south on 25. That cool old truck marks the spot where you'll be turning right onto Bertuccio's driveway.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Victoria's Deli

How much do I like Victoria's Deli?

Well, there are at least six places within a mile where I can get take-out deli stuff. But, when I get a craving for Victoria's basil pesto, I drive all the way across town and almost to the airport to Victoria's Deli. Their sandwiches are yummy-licious, too. The mama, who is a picky eater, does not pick when it comes to eating her favorite ham and turkey sandwich. Yesterday, she discovered the Boston clam chowder and the husband chowed down on a chicken pesto sandwich. We were all three happy campers.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: The Food Gatherers

It's September. It's harvest time. Give thanks! to all the workers who are out there picking and gathering the vegetables and fruits for our bellies. There is nothing easy about their jobs.

To get this photo, I leaned out the car window and snapped away as the husband drove east on Highway 156 through San Juan Valley.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: Toot! Toot!

The Union Pacific freight train rolls into Hollister.

Unless I'm running late, I don't mind getting stuck waiting for trains to rumble through. Not like it's a regular thing anyway, or the train is very long.  There's nothing like the "Hey! I'm here!" sound of a train whistle.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: The Farmers Market

Today is Farmers Market Day in Downtown Hollister, from 3 to 7 p.m on Fifth Street.  Only three more market days left until next year.

Yes, I know this isn't the most flattering shot of the market. I just like the way the Granada Theater sign sticks up above the canopies.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: The Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly Pear Cactus at the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park

The prickly pears are in bloom again.

Imagine Katherine Hepburn saying that as she tenderly holds a bouquet of prickly pears instead of calla lilies in the movie Stage Door.

I'm not so keen on eating the fruit or the pads. For me, the appeal of this plant is its look. It makes my imagination run rampant.

By the way, if your curious about the prickly pear plant, check out this page at the UC Small Farm Program Web site.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link.

100 Things I Like: El Teatro Campesiño

Popul Vuh: A Cosmic Pageant

Our small, yet vibrant, rural San Benito County has richness of culture—as in art, music, and theater. The renown El Teatro Campesiño, for example, run by Luis Valdez, makes its home in San Juan Bautista. This past summer, the theater group had been performing its Popul Vuh trilogy, of which the first and second parts were performed free in the Mission City. Thank you El Teatro!

Note: Click here if you'd like to see the other 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister. Uhm, you should know that I just began yesterday.

100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister

Today is day 231 in my quest to post a daily photo for one year. So, I think it's time for me to start my list of 100 things that I like about living in Hollister. They aren't in any particular order and I might not do this feature every day. Just so you know.

But, today: One of the things that I like about living in Hollister are the trees on Monterey Street. 

By the way, we don't ride our bicycles on the sidewalk. The husband is just patiently waiting for me to finish the click-with-the-camera thing.

Rock Faces in Tres Pinos

Double click on the photo for a larger view.

Leaning out the car window, I very quickly clicked a photo of the hillside at the northwest entry (or exit) to Tres Pinos. This outcrop of rocks fascinates me for no good reason. Look closely and you can see a bunch of figures and faces. Remember Medusa?

Go, Balers!

The Bertuccio's Fruit Stand at the corner of Highway 25 (Airline Highway) and Union Road is where I saw this sign. There are probably other places where you can buy the discount card. Contact the San Benito High School Athletic Department to find out where. Go to this link of the Athletics Department for contact info. You'll also find the Baler football schedule, as well as other sports schedules.

By the way: the Balers play against Oak Grove tonight at the Andy Hardin Football Field. The JVs play at 5 p.m, while the Varsity team plays at 7:30 p.m.

Also, by the way: if you shop at Bertuccio's on Sunday, and you say Haybaler Athletics, the store will donate 10% of your purchase to the athletic department.

Taco Truck on the Go

"Stop!"

It was a good thing no one was behind us when I requested the husband to stop suddenly just as he turned onto Prescott Road from whatever road we were on as we wandered through San Juan Valley.

The taco truck was too cute not to take a photo of it.

Onion Leftovers

The other day I posted a photo of an apple orchard in San Juan Valley. Across from it was this onion field, the crop already harvested. For whatever reasons, these onions didn't make the truck.

Agriculture is the number one industry in San Benito County. According to the 2010 Annual Crop Report of San Benito County, 23,793 tons of bulb onions were produced in 2010, which valued nearly $6.7 million.

Coming Events: How to Find Out

Are you like me, and you find out about events after the fact, especially in Hollister and San Benito County? Or, you learned about happenings to be several weeks before the date, only to forget when the day arrives?

Okay, then. Here's an online source for you to bookmark for kid and family friendly events and activities in our community: Hollister Macaroni Kid

This Web site is also a free e-newsletter that suggests activities for families to do together. It is edited and published by local Valerie Silva, who has been at it since May 2010. Being a mom, she says her mission is "for families to engage in quality time together, whether it be outside the home with events listed in the newsletter, or by enjoying crafts, cooking and other projects that might be listed in that week's posting."

Valerie posts every week, usually on Thursday.  She invites both organizations and individuals to post their events and activities on Hollister Macaroni Kid.  Businesses are also welcome to advertise at her site as well. Currently, Hollister Macaroni Kid has over 5200 views per month. It is is also on Facebook and Twitter. You can contact Valerie at valeries at macaronikid dot com.

One again, that's Hollister Macaroni Kid at www.hollister.macaronikid.com.

Disclosure: Valerie asked me if I would post something about Hollister Macaroni Kid. I was very glad to write about her Web site since I've used it as a source for some of of my past posts, which was way before she contacted me. So, to FCC and anyone else who cares, I did not receive any money, gifts, or threats to write this post.

Growing Through the Cracks

These tiny, delicate blue flowers are growing happily out of the sidewalk.  I came across them as I was walking along San Benito Street in downtown Hollister. You know that saying "slipping through the cracks." The flowers are a great example of the desire and persistence to grow throw the cracks.

By the way, today is the 225th day of my posting a daily photo for a year. It's also the third anniversary of Take 25 to Hollister. Here's the link to my first post.

Readying for Harvest

As we were driving to the Pinnacle farm stand in San Juan Valley yesterday, we passed apple orchards bursting of fruit.

A Metal Monster in Repose

This stands attached to a building on Industrial Drive in Hollister. I have no idea what it is or was used for. Do you?

I think if it had its other arm, it could fly, maybe to a metal dream world far, far away.

Which is the Real Thing?

This is the field across from the Catholic church in Tres Pinos, just off Highway 25. It's the field in which skydivers land on the west end and hang gliders take flight on the east end. The landscape looks just as wonderful from the sky as it does from the road.

I took the above photo around 5 p.m. last Friday. This image is untouched. So either I have a dusty lens or it was rather smoggy that day. It could be a combination of both.

Now, see how the image looks when I did some adjusting of brightness, contrast, and color in Photoshop.  My question is this: Which image shows the scene as it really is—the top, middle, or bottom photo? 

After clicking on the auto levels and auto contrast in Photoshop

After clicking on the auto color in Photoshop

Tractor For Sale

Isn't she a beaut?

The orange tractor really is for sale. You can see it at the San Benito County Historical and Recreational Park, a mile or so south of Tres Pinos, on Highway 25. While you're there, take a look at all the other historical buildings and things that were relocated from other parts of the county.

Equestrians

Said the queen, "Ms. Dee Klein, I decline to recline on the equine." Say that five times, if you dare.

And, if you want another "Take 25 to Hollister" tongue twister, try this one.

As for the photo? I spied these equestrians  in a corral just north of Tres Pinos, while the husband was driving back to Hollister. We were on Highway 25, aka Airline Highway, of course.

Horse Hay 4 Sale

Jose and Jorge have horse hay for sale. Say that five times quickly.

The hay for sale was sighted on Airline Highway, aka Highway 25, heading to Tres Pinos. It was near Best Road, across from Ridgemark, in case you're needing some hay. But, don't ask for Jose or Jorge. I have no idea who owns the hay.

Deceptiveness

"Distances are very deceptive."

That is the example given in my thesaurus for the word deceptive. This picture provides proof for that phrase.

I'm standing on the sidewalk on McCray Street by Premiere Cinema, about a mile away from the cannery. See the smoke in the photo? That's coming from the cannery. Doesn't the smoke look like it is much further away than a mile?

That mountain peak at the far right of the photo. That's Fremont Peak, about 19 miles away. Doesn't it look so much nearer?

It Is A . . .

You'll find this object throughout downtown Hollister. What do you think it is?

A sun dial?

A peace symbol?

A no parking sign?

Nope. Nah. Not at all.

Hint: You lock a transportation device to it.  I've noticed a lot more people—young and old—are riding these devices lately, particularly the beach cruisers. So cool!

Yep. You got it.

Bolado Gopher

Earthquake! just now.  It felt like one of those rolling waves. I'd say a 4.8. We shall see.

But, that's not what today's photo is about. Nope. Yesterday, the husband and I drove over to Bolado Park to deliver my entry fee for the upcoming San Benito County Fair. Alas, the office was closed. We wandered the grounds a bit to see if someone was still around. Nope. Just gophers. The one who went into the hole seconds before I took the photo was bigger than this guy.

I wonder how gophers handle earthquakes.

Another Angle of a Beaut of a Building

Even while sitting in my car in the Bank of America parking lot, the Briggs Parking Garage looks impressive against the open sky of blue. Honestly, though, I hope nothing gets built taller than it downtown. Is that what "old" people...uhm...griped when the Odd Fellows or Elks buildings went up?

Ice Cream, Please.

Has summer finally arrived? What better way to cool down than with ice cream, which is what the husband and I did the other evening. Check out the family of bicycles whose owners were already enjoying their treats outside of the Santa Barbara Ice Cream Parlor  on McCray Street.

2/28/12 Update: The Santa Barbara Ice Cream Parlor has gone out of business!

Cannery Season

The San Benito Foods cannery is a hopping. The cannery is part of the Neil Jones Food Company, a food processor based in Vancouver, Washington. It used to be that there were two canneries in town, both owned by local residents.

Another Peak Out the Elevator Window

A while back, I took a photo through the elevator window at the Briggs Garage, while I was at the top floor. Here's what I saw when I got down to the bottom.

Many of you probably recognize the name on the truck: Mansmith's as in yummy-tasting BBQ.

How Old Am I?

I'm so old, I remember when San Benito Street ended at Nash Road. The only time you would turn into the "new" part of San Benito Street was so you could park your car go to go see the football games. You parked your car on the long expanse of grass that is now the paved parking lot and sports fields.

Funny thing is, I don't think of myself as being that "so old". Speaking of which, have you gone to the "You know you grew up in Hollister, if you. . ." page on Facebook. Lot of history being talked about over there. Check it out.

Onion Field

Harvest time is nigh. Some crops are already being harvested. This is the onion field at the north end of the 25 bypass in Hollister.

The Vault that was Once a Bank

When I was a kid, I thought there was only one bank in Hollister, for that matter, the whole world. It was  Bank of America and it existed at the corner of Fifth and San Benito Streets. Yep, the 80-year old building that is now home to The Vault.

Rolling into Hollister

The husband and I happened to be driving on San Benito Street when the Union Pacific freight train came rolling into town. Toot-toot!

By the way, have you tried the food at Burger Factory yet? Yummy. Myself, I like the chicken teriyaki bowl, the jalapeño burger, the mushroom burger, the. . . .

Coming Up: 2011 San Benito County Fair

This year's San Benito County Fair will be September 30 to October 2.  Cock-a-doodle-doo! 

If you're still thinking about entering a photo, cake, quilt, or something else in the fair, you have until September 2 to send your entry form. For all the details of the fair, as well as to download an entry form, head over to this page at the San Benito County Fairgrounds Web site.

Thumbs Up for History

 

I took a photo of this "flyer" at the San Benito County Fair in 2009. Just came across the digital file on my hard drive. I wonder which side of the street this was.

Speaking of history, this Saturday, August 20, the San Benito County Historical Society will be holding a fundraiser at the historical park to raise funds to rebuild the Dunneville Dance Hall. It sounds like it will be a great wingding. Wish I could clone myself so I could go. Click here for more details.

Music and Theater in the Park

2010: Hollister's first Music in the Park. Click on the photo for an enlarged version.

This Saturday, August 20, the San Benito County Arts Council and Hollister Youth Alliance will host the second Music and Theater in the Park at Dunne Park on Seventh Street (between West and Powell Streets). From 1 to 7 p.m., this event will showcase local musicians, performers, and artists. Bring your picnic blankets, chairs, picnic fare, and joy and just hang out. You deserve it.

Watching Night Fall

Last year, I attended the Dave Mason Concert on the Green at the Peppertree Ranch. The concert was awesome as was the unfolding of day into night on the eastern foothills and the Diablo range beyond them.

As the sun began setting behind us. . .

Then later as the sun crept towards the horizon. . .