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Be Our Guest | Voena Live!
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M-F 10 to 5; Sat. 10 to 3 or by appointment 84 Solano Square in Safeway Shopping Center, Benicia
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Treat yourself with some
Holiday Specials Lula’s Chocolates
From his grandma Lula’s recipes, local Chocolatier Scott Lund hand crafts exquisite confections, from luscious chocolate-covered Toffees and Pecan Turtles to mouthwatering Sea Salt Caramels. For the holidays, we feature Lula’s gift boxes including Buttercreams, Nuts
Wind River Chimes
Inspired by nature and designed to be inspiring, Wind River Chimes are influenced by the shores and mountains of home state Virginia. Each are hand crafted with wood accents, complimenting the surroundings while providing outstanding tonal quality. Every breeze brings a renewed beauty, mystery, and wonder!
to us fresh weekly from Lula’s kitchen in Monterey, CA. Lula’s Chocolates… a luscious and rewarding chocolate experience.
Puzzles
This holiday season we bring you more of the nation’s best jigsaw puzzles… Springbok and Cobble Hill. Featuring topical and nostalgic images and stunning landscapes, our selection is one of the largest in the area!
UGears
UGears are unique model kits that assemble into self-propelled mechanical works of art! Made of high grade sustainably-harvested wood, we stock dozens of models which suit all skill and age levels!
Pedrotti Ace Hardware 830 Southampton Road Benicia, CA 94510 707-745-NUTS (6887) acebenicia.com
BeniciaMagazine.com • 3
Benicia Benicia
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years company, 14 ating/cooling he st be d te 4 • Vo ars, Kron TV e Bay for 5 ye th of st be d • Vote stallation /Residential In s • Commercial Award, 3 year Super Service st Li ’s ie ng or A ct • ing contra rade participat • Energy Upg & techs ned installers • Factory-trai & maintained ent enforced nm ro vi en e • Drug-fre l, 21 years ess Honor Rol in us B r te et B • ertified • Diamond C llence certified chnician Exce Te an ic er m A • North siness rtified green bu • Bay Area ce ound checked s fully backgr ee oy pl em ll A •
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Benicia Magazine is published monthly by Benicia Publishing, LLC. Copyright © 2021, all rights reserved. Contents of Benicia Magazine cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in Benicia Magazine editorial or advertisements are those of the authors and advertisers, and may not reflect the opinion of Benicia Magazine’s management or publisher. Benicia Magazine, Downtown Benicia, CA 94510. 707.980.1563, Beniciamagazine.com.
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Downtown for the
Perfect for holiday giving, Downtown Dollars are gift certificates available in $5 and $20 increments, accepted at over 70 merchants in Downtown Benicia.
Holiday Open House Friday, December 3rd, 6-9pm
First Street merchants along with Benicia Main Street host this ever-popular open house at the beginning of the Christmas Season. Merchants offer beverages and treats and show off their holiday goods while costumed carolers sing traditional Christmas tunes. Live entertainment, Christmas Tree lighting, and wine by the glass add a festive atmosphere to this family event.
Benicia Main Street
90 First Street, Benicia • 707.745.9791 www.BeniciaMainStreet.org
For the holidays, shop Benicia Main Street's fundraising store for a variety of Benicia merchandise, See's Candies, and Downtown Dollars.
Christmas Parade & Holiday Market Saturday, December 11th, 10am-3pm The parade starts at 10am at First and D Street and ends at H Street. The parade features local marching bands, dancers, and the much-anticipated Santa Claus. The Holiday market features handcrafted arts & crafts, gourmet items, and delicious foods.
For the entire month of December, with a purchase of $50 or more, get a free "I Love Benicia" reusable bag. While supplies last
BeniciaMagazine.com • 5
December 2021
Contents Features 16
V OENA! Live performances for the holidays
18
B e our Guest The Inn at Benicia Bay
16
18
14
6 • Benicia Magazine
22
Departments Columns 8 From the editor 28 Dinner and a Movie Tastes of 1st Street
and Jingle Jangle — A Christmas Journey
30 BookTails — Once There Were Wolves
Around Town ART SCENE
MITCHELL LAW GROUP
10 B enicia's art galleries capture the holiday spirit
1001 Madison Street, 2nd Floor Benicia, California 94510 SolanoLawGroup.com info@SolanoLawGroup.com 707-748-0900
11 B enicia Public Library Gallery reopens 12
Remembering Manuel Neri
20 Benicia Business
Made in Benica — 4D Legacy Studios
FOOD AND DRINK 22
Amore Bistrot — 5,190 Lasagne
COMMUNITY 14 Shop Benicia Gift Guide 23 T he Gift of Gratitude – small steps to get you started
24 Hidden Benicia Street Art in Benicia
Wills • Trusts • Estate Planning & Administration • Family Law Real Estate • Probate • DUI • Consumer Law • Business Law
Jose’s Junk Removal Highly recommended by over 50 Benicia customers Licensed and insured License: 03111662
Providing high quality & reliable full service junk removal for Benicia and beyond. See what others are saying on Benicia Junk Removal-Jose Rios
Call or text 707.712.1073 • Junkremoval707@yahoo.com
26 Nuts and Bolts
Perspectives on 100 years
December's playlist and Picket Fences can be found online at beniciamagazine.com Correction: Passalacqua Funeral Chapel is the oldest business that was founded in Benicia and is still run by the same family. Cover illustration by Jerry Bowles
Full-line pet store Professional dog & cat grooming Do it yourself pet wash 1202 East 5th Street, Benicia 707.745.5016 • www.FeathererPet.com
10 BeniciaMagazine.com • 7
Column Editor's letter
When the magic of the holidays fills the air, we hope you find it everywhere! To prep for writing my December letter, I put on Christmas music, spray Frasier Fir room scent in my office and seriously consider having some eggnog. I enjoy the holidays, the magic of the season, inclusive of all the elements, going to small parties (yes there are a few this year!), shopping on First Street and going to live performances once again. The Holiday Open House is back, along with the tree lighting, the Christmas Parade and Holiday Market, all hosted by Benicia Main Street and the City. The Open House will include beverages and entertainment, treats from the stores and great opportunity to shop while costumed carolers sing traditional Christmas tunes. We can’t wait to enjoy all the wonder of the holidays. This was a stumbling year. A pandemic of confusion and an emotional roller coaster for all. The City worked very hard to help businesses survive. There were many milestones, a rush of positive thinking and positive and decisive actions. There was the first vaccination clinic in February at the senior center, orchestrated by the City, that vaccinated 1,400 people in 4 hours. Benicia Main Street was lifeblood to many First Street stores with their wine walks, Farmers Market, and other events. Philanthropy was rampant. Soroptimist, Lions Club, St. Paul’s, Community Action Council, and many other organizations stepped up to sew masks and provide food and other necessary items to our less privileged citizens. We did lose some wonderful people and places, and we will surely miss them. Benicia will meet the changing times resulting from the pandemic. It will change as needed while preserving its historic past. One bright spot in the preservation of our history is the new executive director of the Benicia Historical Museum, Jen Roger. I bring Jen up for two reasons. First, because in our November issue, we missed an important element in Jen’s work history; she was the Volunteer Coordinator, Exhibits and Collections Manager of the well known Hiller Aviation Museum, located in San Carlos prior to her position with the Benicia Historical Museum. And second, she will be instituting First Fridays at the Museum in early 2022 which will include live music, food trucks and cocktails and an opportunity to see what’s new at the museum. We look forward to touring the museum and seeing Jen Roger’s wonderful plans unfold. As we end this truly exceptional year, we are ready to toast the season in kind.
@beniciamagazine
Cheers! Mary
Facebook.com/beniciamagazine
“The world is encouraged to come away from rancor.
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8 • Benicia Magazine
Come the way of friendship.” — Maya Angelou, Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem
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BeniciaMagazine.com • 9
Around Town Art Scene
Benicia’s Art Galleries
Capture the Holiday Spirit n Jean Purnell Benicia’s art galleries are in the holiday spirit and inviting you to visit this month. Benicia Plein Air Gallery, located at 307 1st Street, will have its traditional holiday tree full of ornament-sized paintings. Many customers visit the gallery every year to select new ornaments as presents for holiday giving. The Gallery’s December exhibition will be a group show featuring paintings with the theme of winter light. The gallery’s twelve artists create paintings of Bay Area scenes centering on Benicia and the Carquinez Strait, as well as other regional areas. 1 beniciapleinair.com A short walk up the street at 333 D 1st Street, the HQ Gallery will feature a group exhibition titled Reflections. The approximately twenty HQ artists are celebrating the holiday season by serving cider and cookies during the Benicia Holiday Tree Lighting on Friday, December 3, from 6 to 9 pm, with musician Marcy Orendorff providing vocal entertainment. On Saturday, December 11, the gallery will welcome shoppers after the Holiday parade to its Holiday Booth where small artworks and artist-made cards and gift items are ready for gift-giving. Mini-painting ornaments will also be on sale at HQ Gallery, and the featured artist for the month is Ebba Navas, whose impressionist landscapes capture northern California scenes in bright jewel tone colors. 2 hqgallery.net
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Around Town Art Scene Across and farther up the street is Happy Life Pottery, at 632 1st Street, where families with children home from school are invited to participate in their most popular pottery project classes – making ceramic dogs, cats, flowers, pots, and the like! These are fun, creative, and affordable activities for families to do together during the holidays. In addition, on the second & third Saturdays in December, Happy Life will be expanding the store into the studio and having a special, limited-time pottery show featuring work by local ceramic artists, including their own David and Amy Stellato, specifically geared for the gift-giving season and those who are looking for unique, hand-made gifts. Collage and mixed media artworks by Novato artist Janet Glore Davis are also featured. 3 happylifepottery.com A few blocks up the street is Gallery 621, a contemporary art gallery now open in its new location on the second floor above Olson Realty, at 920 1st Street, Suite 203. After you pick up your coffee and pastry at the nearby One House Bakery, take a tour up the stairs to see the new spacious gallery, with three gallery rooms featuring an exhibition of works by the sixteen member artists, a holiday show with 8” by 8” paintings priced for gift giving, and a small works gallery including artisanmade jewelry and fine art. Artistic mediums represented include painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The new location has doubled the gallery’s available space and made it possible to welcome several new regional artists. 4 gallery621.com In the Benicia Arsenal, Arts Benicia is featuring an exhibition titled Pure Paint, a juried show with ninety works selected by Nicolas Wilton, an internationally known Sausalito artist and teacher. The gallery is located at 991 Tyler Street, Suite 114. Arts Benicia is also offering an online Holiday Art Market designed for gift shopping, with artwork by regional artists, at 5 artsbenicia.org/art-market You can learn more about each gallery through their website, including open hours during the holiday season. Each of the galleries observes appropriate safety protocols for visitors. Fill your holidays with art!
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Benicia Public Library
Art Gallery Reopens n Patty Gavin
The Marilyn Citron O'Rourke Art Gallery, at the Benicia Public Library, is open. In the midst of so many pandemicimposed closures, it is a welcome relief to hear about and see re-openings, wherever they occur...especially when it's something that can inspire and soothe the soul, and share the commonalities of our humanity. The Art Gallery Advisory Committee at the Library, a sub-committee of the Library Board of Trustees, is pleased to announce the opening exhibit, East meets West. A mixed media show by artists Diane Williams, Merry Greg, and Stephanie Gray, the exhibit will be on display through the end of the year. a year the Art Gallery Committee welcomes proposals for exhibitions of original artwork by local and regional artists. A call for artists is issued in June, the exhibits are chosen by November, with the first show of the year in January. Subject to available space and schedule, eight to ten exhibits are presented each year, highlighting a wide variety of art. Committee members are assigned to the artists to serve as liaisons. In 2019, the Art Gallery Committee changed things up a bit by choosing to feature an invited artist to exhibit in the gallery in 2020. Michael S. Moore, a highly acclaimed and esteemed artist, was invited. The first two shows of the year, Benicia High School, and Lee Wilder Snider, were highly successful, with Moore's show, "Further Afield" scheduled to open next, on March 17th, 2020. The extraordinary exhibit was in place, ready for viewing. On the eve of the show's opening, shelter in place orders, due to COVID, were disseminated...Bay Area Public
Libraries closed. Little did we know at the time, it would be a long 19 months before the Art Gallery would open back up. But with foresight and resolve, Kathryn Weller Renfrow, a longtime member of the Art Gallery Committee, the liaison for Moore's show, and the curator, was determined to have this exhibit chronicled. Kathryn acquired the services of well known videographer John Beck to produce a video of Moore's show. Narrated by the artist, it was posted on the Library's website until recently, and can now be viewed on Benicia Library’s YouTube channel, @ benicialibrary, "Further Afield"--Michael S. Moore Exhibit at the Benicia Public Library 2020. The artwork is stunning, and the filming of it is splendid! To the delight of the Art Gallery Committee, the remaining artists whose shows were scheduled for 2020, and had to be cancelled, have all agreed to reschedule, beginning with the current show now on display. The exhibits are scheduled through the end of 2022. On the Library's website, show dates for each artist will be posted. Exhibits will include works from Linda Wong and Melissa DiSessa, Donna Fenstermaker and Susan Ashley, Joanne Tauffer and the Bay Area Studio Artists, Nikki Basch-Davis, Mark Eanes, Connie Millholland and Cynde Kaye, and Michael Moore. It promises to be a compelling year of exhibits, especially given the circumstances of the last 19 months. The current show, East meets West, is just right for the re-opening of the gallery. Grabbing your attention the moment you enter, this engaging show invites you in and opens your eyes. Don't miss it! Library Gallery Hours: MondayThursday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm Friday-Sunday: 12:00 - 6:00 pm BeniciaMagazine.com • 11
Around Town Art Scene
“... we also witnessed the work ethic, conceptual explorations, vision, and passion for art that was at the heart of it all.”
Remembering Manuel Neri, 1930-2021 Manuel Neri, 2006, Tyler Studio Benicia Photo by M. Lee Fatherree
n Jean Purnell The Benicia artist community lost one of its most brilliant stars in November when Manuel Neri, internationally acclaimed sculptor and painter, passed away at the age of 91. Until recent years when his health declined, Neri lived and worked in a former Congregational, then Unitarian Church on West J Street in Benicia, which he acquired in the 1960s after joining the art faculty at UC Davis in 1965. Neri’s development of innovative techniques as a sculptor of the human form in plaster coincided with the rise of the Bay Area Figurative Art movement, a reaction of regional artists to the abstract expressionist style of art that was dominant in the 1950s. He principally sculpted the female form in plaster; his figures expressed emotional body language. He became known for adding paint to his sculptures, treating the figure as a three-dimensional canvas. His work complemented the unique talents of the “dream team” of other members of the young emerging Davis faculty, which included Wayne Thibaud, Robert Arneson, William Wiley and Roy De Forest. The Davis artists were associated with the start of the Funk Art movement, which shunned abstract art in favor of figurative and tangible subjects, incorporated humor, autobiographical subjects, and everyday objects, and elevated ceramics to a new level of importance in art. Neri and other Davis faculty became ambassadors of the school, traveling widely and attracting students who became notable artists, including Richard Shaw, Lisa Reinertson, and Arthur Gonzalez. Several of the Davis artists brought the vibrancy of their art to Benicia, where 12 • Benicia Magazine
Robert Arneson had grown up and encouraged other artists to establish their studios. Benicia had become increasingly inviting to artists for the availability of affordable studio space after the Army base there closed in the mid 1960s. De Forest and artist Clayton Bailey, who also taught at Davis, both established studios in nearby Port Costa. Arneson and Neri brought hundreds of artists, students, and art patrons through Benicia to visit their studios. With dozens of other artists, they created an art center with numerous exhibitions and art events at the Clocktower and other Arsenal buildings, as well as on First Street. They had energy, ideas and vision. The son of immigrants from Mexico, Neri grew up in the farming community of Sanger, California. His family relocated to Oakland when he was a teen, and he studied engineering at City College of San Francisco and UC Berkeley before discovering an interest in ceramics through a class with Peter Voulkos. His subsequent art education at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland and California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco was interrupted by military service. The GI Bill provided the resources for him to complete his education. Neri’s artistic accomplishments gained him an international reputation and many awards, with his figurative sculptures in plaster, marble, and bronze in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., all major Bay Area galleries, and many other institutions. He maintained a low-key personality, comfortable with
anyone, from patrons who came to his converted church-studio to see his art, to students valuing the opportunity to watch and learn. He balanced a busy social life enjoying the company of family and friends, and attending events, exhibitions, and movies, with dedication to his studio, where he displayed a workaholic type of enthusiasm and intensity. He easily worked through the occasional chaos of the studio, full of people, music, dogs, and kids. Gracious with visitors, he was a mentor to his students and to younger artists in the Benicia community. “I studied with Manuel in the early 1980s when I was both an undergraduate and graduate student at UC Davis,” recalled Benicia sculptor Lisa Reinertson. “Manuel was a teacher of little words, but he worked alongside us, as we made several quick sketches of the figure, added, subtracted, carved and modeled the clay, and learned to see. Manuel was soft spoken, kind, and generous as a teacher. He was at a height of professional success as an artist. Witnessing that up close and personal was definitely inspirational for us students. But we also witnessed the work ethic, conceptual explorations, vision, and passion for art that was at the heart of it all.” The City of Benicia gave both Neri and Arneson Lifetime Achievements in the Arts Awards in 2014 for their contributions to the Benicia art community. “He appreciated the Benicia community and their appreciation of him and his art,” said long-time friend Pam Dixon. “It’s what Manuel Neri and the others in his era did that made this town what it is for art today. They created what has become a legacy of art in this community.”
Benicia Refinery
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT Quarterly Review August–October 2021
UNITED WAY Valero Benicia Refinery employees raise over $1,000,000 for the United Way! We are proud of the high employee participation, including great contributions across all departments, and over 1,000 volunteer hours during the United Way Time of Caring events.
BENICIA COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL (CAC) Valero Benicia Refinery presented the Benicia Community Action Council with a check in the amount of $135,000 representing the proceeds from our annual fundraiser. The funds will support the many vital programs offering assistance and relief to the community.
REBUILDING TOGETHER SOLANO COUNTY (RTSC) RTSC and the Valero team delivered Food Boxes to Vallejo Broadway Mobile Home Park: 6,450 pounds of food were distributed including meat, dairy (milk/cheese/yogurt), produce and non-perishable food to 210 low-income mobile home park households.
Valero sets the standard for corporate citizenship and promotes prosperity in our communities. For more information about the above events please go to www.beniciarefinery.com BeniciaMagazine.com • 13
REIMAGINED BY CHRISTINA S
SWEETNESS AND LIGHT FLORAL DESIGN 309 1st St Benicia, CA 94510 | 707.652.5599 We take our passion for sourcing local seasonal blooms and fill our vases with the bay area’s bounty. We create bespoke works of art for all your floral needs. We have expanded! We are now featuring home décor and gift items. We are sure you will find the perfect gift! sweetnessandlightflowers.com
370 First Street Benicia, CA 94510 707.745.5125 The store offers an interesting mix of clothing and accessories that are often seen internationally and sold exclusively to boutiques. Christina travels to Europe and brings back special items for her clients. Selections are inspired by a window display, museum exhibit, or observing women in cafés or on the boulevards. christinasbenicia.com
SPARKLY RAGZ FEMMAGE 946 Tyler St. Suite D Benicia, CA 94510 707.207.1967 We are ready for the holidays! Great gifts and clothing and so much more. We are Benicia’s only fabric and arts/crafts supply store. We carry great women’s clothing, sizes small to 3XL.
14 • Benicia Magazine
560 First Street, Benicia, CA 94510 707.426.4303 An eclectic boutique featuring new, like new, artisan and luxury goods. We offer an assortment of women's clothing, jewelry, accessories and handbags; hand created gift items, candles & bath products. We partner with over 65 artists who create our curated and sometimes exclusively created selection. sparklyragz.com
BOOKSHOP BENICIA
636 First Street, Benicia, CA 94510 | 707.747.5155 We are a small, independently owned bookstore. We carry new and used books for children & adults, plus toys, stationary, and other fun things. Many new and special items are arriving for the holidays, including Starling, by Benicia native Isabel Strychacz. bookshopbenicia.indielite.org
ANTIQUES ON FIRST
919 1st St, Benicia, CA 94510 | 707.751.3727 Curated, welcoming, lovely. Visit, browse, buy. Vast array of antique and vintage clocks, militaria, jewelry, railroad, art, bottles, sculpture, pottery, oddities, select furniture, decor, props, and more in our cozy shop. Consignments considered. Clock repair. Established 2017, celebrating four years this winter. Thankful every day for community and customer support! instagram.com/antiquesonfirst/
ANGEL HEART 4 YOU
501 1st Street, Benicia, CA 94510 707.745.2024 Nestled in the heart of beautiful downtown Benicia, embrace the aroma of scented candles, essential oils, incense and aromatherapy products as you wander the aisles of our inspirational/ metaphysical book and gift shop. angelheart4you.net
ROBERTO'S FINE JEWELRY
519 1st St, Benicia, CA 94510 | 707.747.5262 Thinking of a special gift this season? Imagine giving your loved one this stunning aquamarine necklace (14.71k, 14k white gold chain), or the blue and white pearl set (44mm white and dyed blue pearls). Roberto’s features fine gold, diamond, and color gemstone jewelry. Jewelry design and repair is also available.
HAPPY LIFE POTTERY
632 First Street, Benicia, CA 94510 707.742.3411 Handmade, reversible aprons – huge selection of fun & funky prints! Three pockets, adjustable strap, available in 2 lengths. Beautiful hand-made pottery by David Stellato, made in Benicia! Variety of mugs, bowls, and other gift items. Hand-carved wooden serving spoon by Swahili Imports – Fair Trade Company supporting artisans in Africa. happylifepottery.com
BeniciaMagazine.com • 15
Feature
Live performances are back!
16 • Benicia Magazine
n Jeannine Mendoza, Ed.D Since 1994, Annabelle Marie has directed the internationally recognized Benicia’s VOENA Children’s Choir. This acapella children’s vocal group has performed here in Benicia and neighboring municipalities, as well as places further afield, like the White House in Washington D.C., the 2012 Olympics, Japan and China. In 2018 the group even traveled to Abu Dhabi to sing
Official slogan of VOENA “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” — Aesop for the Interfaith Alliance to combat Online Child Abuse. Their unique music perspective and talents have been recognized for years now, and even though in-person concerts were cancelled due to the pandemic, their performances were, and continue to be, available virtually. The pandemic was particularly devastating to the performing arts which don’t translate well to the small screen and mediocre sound systems. Annabelle persevered by teaching voice online and arranging classes via Zoom; not an easy adjustment for teacher or students. In spite of the difficulty of the pandemic and the loss of over half of her students, Annabelle is determined to rebuild the choir bigger and better than ever. She now has a new place to rehearse, the historic former Congregational Church on West J Street, where in-person tutelage has resumed. She is working with a generous volunteer to make specially designed singing masks for her students so that they may practice and perform safely. With new space and a growing student base, Annabelle is ready to perform for this holiday season. VOENA will be performing LIVE in several nearby locations. These events are exactly what many of us need to shift from our pandemic doldrums to this holiday season. Below is the schedule of upcoming performances. For further information please visit voena.org or call 707.751.1515.
VOENA 2021 Holiday Concerts
This Holiday Season go for the
GOLD with Jeans by Joseph Ribkoff
Expanded Holiday Hours until 5 PM on Saturdays and Sundays through December.
Sunday, December 5 – Voices of the New Season (with Victorian Costumes) VENUE – First Presbyterian 1874 Victorian Church, 1333 3rd St., Napa, CA 94559, 5pm concert Thursday, December 16 – Voices of the New Season (with Victorian Costumes) VENUE – The Green Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave Rohnert Park, CA 94928 7:30pm performance (With Windham Hill artist, Barbara Higbie and her band) Friday, December 17 – Voices of the New Season (with Victorian Costumes) VENUE – Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison St, Berkeley, CA 94704 8:00pm performance (With Windham Hill artist, Barbara Higbie and her band)
370 First Street, Downtown Benicia • 707.745.5125 ChristinaSBenicia.com • Facebook.com Open everyday 11-4
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BeniciaMagazine.com • 17
Feature
Let us be your
Guest Room! –Tracee Varni
The Inn and Spa at Benicia Bay n Jeannine Mendoza, Ed.D The venerable and historic B&B, the Inn at Benicia Bay, has persevered as a mainstay lodging and venue for gatherings and events since the 1850s. The residence was owned by the same family from 1859 until 1981. Originally, it served as a first home for a young sea captain and his wife, then a rooming house, and then a private home again until the last owner died in 1981. Intermediary owners built additions to the original structure, and opened it as an Inn in 1984, and later as an extension to the Union Hotel on First Street. The most recent owners, local Benicians, Tracee and Dennis Varni, purchased the Inn in 2019 and built upon the solid workmanship done since 1984. During the pandemic, they have created peaceful areas on the grounds where flowering shrubs, trees and formal gardens are conducive to relaxing and interacting with others. They have concentrated on creating a venue where customers can stay overnight, dine, have meetings, weddings, and receptions. The Varnis have planned future events such as wine tastings, small concerts, and other gatherings. The Inn at Benicia Bay is mere steps from annual Benicia festivities like the Holiday Tree Lighting, the Torchlight Parade in July, the Halloween parade and other civic events. During the pandemic, the Varnis had the opportunity to fine tune improvements to the six guestrooms as well as the grounds. Important details were added, like ample outlets for phones and laptops. Extra blankets and fluffy towels also enhance each room. Service and comfort is of utmost importance to the innkeepers, and is evidenced by the repeat customers that frequent the Inn. 18 • Benicia Magazine
Tracee and Dennis Varni originally purchased the Inn to provide a location for their Italian friends, Chef Massimo Biatta and Sonia Giovanazzi to open their dream restaurant, Amore Bistrot. Intending to introduce the Italian concept of Aperitivo (Italian Happy Hour) to Benicia, Massimo and Sonia’s offerings of specialty Italian wines or soda with delicious cheeses, salamis, Italian breads, crackers and other finger foods would be pleasing to the public and available to the Inn’s patrons. Unfortunately, COVID ended gatherings of any kind, so the bistrot pivoted, working with the Varnis to offer pick-up meals and a shop to purchase authentic Italian groceries and wines. All in all, the Inn at Benicia Bay and Amore Bistrot have enhanced the experience the would-be lodger will enjoy when they check in for a weekend or more. The Varnis are waiting to pamper you and your guests on your next visit. Come visit them soon! BeniciaMagazine.com • 19
Around Town Benicia Business
Made in
BENICIA
Pride Jewel a feature movie
filmed in Benicia by Benicia writer/producer n Cooper Mickelson It’s no secret that we are continually impressed by the residents of our small town. The beauty of Benicia seems to attract and inspire the most brilliant of minds. This is undoubtedly true for Armen Dilanchian, writer and producer of 4D Legacy Studios’ feature film, Pride Jewel. Dilanchian was born into an Armenian family, immigrating to the U.S. when he was 12 years old. Now a Benicia resident, Armen has an MFA in theater and an extensive background writing and producing plays in and around San Francisco, CA. Although he has written and produced several short films, Pride Jewel is his first feature, and it was filmed entirely in Benicia during the coronavirus pandemic. This spectacular action thriller follows a father and son who arrive in the Bay Area after an earthquake levels their small town in Armenia. Angry and bitter over his father’s infidelity, Andre gets involved with a group of violent jewel thieves led by his father’s boyhood rival. Hoping they can pull it off, the group plans to rob an unlikely target. Unfortunately, “Revenge is the only way out, and redemption is nowhere to be found.”
20 • Benicia Magazine
Pride Jewel, set for release in 2022, has won 4 “Best Screenplay” awards and was an “Official Selection” in more than 15 screenplay competitions across the globe. Luckily, we don’t have to wait until 2022 to watch this impressive film. 4D Legacy Studios is gifting us early access! Visit www.pride-jewel.com to stream it now. Our interview with Dilanchian gave us more insight about his film and himself. For the full interview and further information on 4D Legacy Studios, go to BeniciaMagazine.com.
“Making a movie is a dream and this city made my dream come to fruition”
Around Town Benicia Business BM: What inspired you to pursue a career in film? AD: As a kid I always loved movies. One of the best memories
I had of my mother was when she used to take me to the movies every Friday afternoon. One afternoon I saw Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon” and I was hooked. That day I told myself “This is what I want to do. Make movies.”...I think cinema is a very powerful medium and in my small way, I always wanted to contribute to it. I can’t think of any other business that can bring you the thrill of seeing your script come to life on that big screen. It’s a great feeling.
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AD: I think there were definitely elements of my own personal
experience that made it into the movie. One example is how my father joined us in the United States and how he had to start his whole life again in a new environment. That wasn’t easy and he also had the pressure of providing for his entire family. That took a lot of courage, determination, and perseverance. That made a profound effect on me when I was growing up and the way I tell stories. My father and my mother were the greatest people I’ve known. The sacrifices they made for their children were incredible.
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BM: How and why did you decide to
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allow early access to your film for Benicia residents?
AD: I’m a Benicia resident myself and this beautiful city gave me the opportunity of a lifetime. Making a movie is a dream and this city made my dream come to fruition. But most importantly it was the people in the city that made it possible for us to accomplish this monumental goal during the worst pandemic...I was truly humbled that they would believe in our project and wanted to make it happen for us...So, before the film gets released in North America and Canada, I wanted to make sure Benicia residents get the opportunity to watch the movie first...I hope in a small way we are able to show the world what a great town we are living in. BM: Are there any fun stories from the set that you’d like to share?
AD: My son Carlo was in this film. At that time, he was only
12 years old. It was funny when the time came for his scene, Carlo had so many directions to give to our director and cinematographer. I actually had to step in as producer to let him know to take it down a notch. I thought it was very endearing to see how enthusiastic he was to do his best job.
BM: Are there any future projects you’re working on that you could tell us a bit about?
AD: Sure, I’m working on a project titled “Gabriel,” which is a feature action thriller film about cryptocurrency. Right now, I’m in the process of raising capital, which is always the hardest part of movie-making. Should investors in Benicia be interested in what we are working on, they may contact me directly at 4D Legacy Studios at adilanchian@4Dlagacymedia.com. We, as a company, would love to get to know the community better.
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Around Town Food and Drink
Update, Amore Bistrot
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” –Socrates
22 • Benicia Magazine
n Jeannine Mendoza, Ed.D Chef Massimo of Amore Bistrot has prepared and sold this amazing quantity of Italian cuisine in the span of one year! Incredible!! Twelve months ago, we wrote about the Italian family that uprooted themselves from their native city of Milano, Italy, right at the start of the pandemic, and moved to Benicia. From their location at the Inn at Benicia Bay, 2020 saw them through the challenges of construction, delays, permits, and finally their Amore Bistrot opened on December 17, 2020. Massimo Biatta, his wife Sonia Giovanazzi, and their two teenage sons, Lorenzo and Giacomo, moved to Benicia with the intention of realizing a long-held dream of opening a genuine Italian bistrot, where people could have an authentic experience of an Italian market and bistrot. Amore Bistrot features beautiful gift baskets each named for an Italian city, (like Florence, Venice and Naples), and each basket is filled with food specific to that city. Each product offered at the market and bistrot is produced by Italian companies and chosen with meticulous attention to quality. Since being featured on a list of Yelp’s “top 50 places to eat in the North Bay,” it seems all their hard work is paying off. Amore Bistrot introduced the Italian aperitivo on Thursday and Saturday afternoons in April of 2020. Aperitivo (Italian wine or aperol spritz, and Italian finger food) is a very popular tradition of the Italian culture and has since been welcomed and enjoyed by many Amore Bistrot patrons. For almost a year, Benicia and the surrounding bay area have enjoyed Amore Bistrot’s authentic Italian cuisine through their popular breakfast items, including bombeletti, cornetti and cornetti sandwiches with prosciutto and asiago cheese, their different kinds of polenta, their tiramisu, gnocchi (with a different sauce each day), and many other dishes. All pair well with their authentic Italian coffee, a unique blend crafted by chef Massimo. Their lasagne bolognese and lasagne pesto have become signature dishes; chef Massimo expects to prepare 5,190 lasagne dishes by the end of the year. Sonia and Massimo express their gratitude for the continued support of their Benicia patrons, without whom their success could not have been possible. While they continue to look for staff to help them grow, they are grateful to their sons, partners, and staff who have supported and worked with them through the trials of 2020. Bravo Chef Massimo and his family! Grazie!
Around Town Community
The Gift of Gratitude CHALLENGE n Dr. Gethsemane Moss, Ed.D. The holiday season can be a time for family gatherings, partaking in unique food dishes, or giving presents dreamed about all year. It may be a time for self-reflection and losing count of all of the money spent during the season, whether you have it or not. On the other side of this may be the stress and pressure of wanting to make the holiday season memorable for loved ones, the desire to do more than what appears possible, personal loss, missing loved ones, or having no ideal space to decorate and gather. Holiday traditions and family pastimes are shared during the holiday season, which varies from household to household. Some are mindful of those who don't experience family gatherings and face food scarcity or houselessness during the holiday season. Either way, the holiday season can be a joyous occasion, depending on perspective and circumstances, and does not have to be only appreciated with monetary exchange. Understand that this is not to say that gifts aren't wanted nor appreciated; this is to understand that everyone's experience is unique to their circumstances. However, there is one thing that everyone can enjoy. The gift of gratitude is magic at one's fingertips and can reside in the spaces of one's mind. You may be thinking, how can this be? Gratitude has nothing to do with wanting gifts. You may still desire a new PlayStation, Tiffany's bracelet, or Porsche Taycan. You don't need to convince yourself not to like items you may want; however, gratitude is a practice one can embrace all year round. It’s one of the gifts that all can give, and you can give it to yourself every day of the year. Being grateful for what you already have is one way to appreciate who and where you are in your life's journey. The ability to look within and enjoy and the process will assist you in being at peace and bring about enjoyment. Research on gratitude has revealed the power to boost your immune system, improve mental health, improve relationships, and overall move you into elevated levels of happiness. Neuroscientist Dr. Joe Dispenza is one of the experts helping people understand the power of one's thinking. Dr. Joe Dispenza has a plethora of work that aids in understanding molecular and biochemical research.
Here are three small steps to get you started on the gift of gratitude: 1. Begin your day writing ten things you are grateful for and do this for at least 30 days. 2. Each evening, reflect on what was great about your day. 3. A s you are writing and reflecting, be sure you are in a quiet space without distractions. You will be amazed at what you discover. Once you are ready to go to the next level, many resources will assist you in making gratitude a gift to yourself and others all year round.
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Around Town Community
S n Kevin Nelson Yo u n g artists are at work in Benicia, but they don’t have studios in the Arsenal and their creative expressions are not on display in the library gallery or on traffic signal boxes around town. Their art is in an old concrete ditch—specifically, the Lake Herman spillway. The spillway is both their canvas and the gallery in which people can view their work. When big storms dump heavy rains, occasionally the lake overflows and the excess water is sent down the concrete spillway to a natural creek in a ravine. Eight months out of the year the ditch is dry, and this is when the Keith Harings and Jean-Michel Basquiats of Solano County bring out their spray paint cans. The forms and figures they have created are colorful, fun, funny, amateurish, messy, cartoonish, slapdash and thoughtfully conceived. One blue and white heart pays tribute to a lost friend or sweetheart:
24 • Benicia Magazine
r A rt eet
e h t n o t
“RIP Tony.” A black and white face with four eyes and three noses on both sides of its head caused one female observer to remark, “It looks almost like a Picasso.” In the unlikely event that the city’s art aficionados ever organize a tour of this outdoor Louvre of Benicia street art, they would park the bus at the Lake Herman Recreation Area on Lake Herman Road. People would pile out and marvel at the splendid views of the lake and the hills while passing by local fishermen at water’s edge who would probably be wondering, “What the heck is going on here?” After a short walk of a few hundred yards the crowd would spill into the spillway with its walls and floor marked by such creations as a boy who looks like he belongs in an old-time Archie and Jughead comic. One clever rendering is of a smiley face on top of a yellow and green arrow and the effect it produces is that of a grinning stick-figure child. Other renderings are more abstract.
y a w l l i p S
The artists—whose work is, of course, unsigned—tend to fancy block-style letters and curving free-form patterns that are infused with vivid whites, powder blues and lime greens outlined in the midnight black of a semi-gloss protective enamel Rust-oleum can. Gratefully there are few obscenities visible and little overt political messaging. It’s spillway art, for spillway art’s sake. In the wine world capital of Bordeaux, France, they have flipped the script on the plague of graffiti defacing public and private property by setting aside certain areas of the city to street art. Mature artists as well as perky young up-andcomers whip up their creations on the walls of buildings in broad daylight with the grinning approval of passers-by. Its street art has even become a tourist draw. Benicia’s spillway art scene will never attract tour buses or critical attention. But it hurts no one, provides a creative outlet for young people, and makes a playful little contribution to the city’s reputation as a home for artists and art.
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Around Town Nuts & Bolts
BENICIA NEWS AND VIEWS
Perspectives on 100 years n Gene Pedrotti
Well into the holiday season and with a New Year approaching, we take joy in surrounding our family with holiday traditions. This is especially true for my family as 2021 comes to a close and we enter into our business’ Centennial year! Crossing the calendar we revel in long standing traditions which I am happy to report, continue to this day. One holiday tradition began in the early 1900s on the Sonoma coast where my grandfather Ralph Pedrotti, after being raised on a dairy farm, partnered with a member of the Casini family to operate a general store. Called Casini & Pedrotti, the shop was located in Bodega, Ca. He was 22 years old. Following a common mercantile holiday practice of the time, they gave a small gift to the customers, a custom-fired ceramic plate. However, the tradition was short-lived as the store lasted only two years. Young men were being called to duty during World War I. The shop closed and my grandfather joined the Navy. The plate is the only evidence left of that era.
26 • Benicia Magazine
Following the war, Ralph returned to California to the small town of Crockett where he again took a partner, this time prominent and wealthy merchant, Jim Firpo. They worked together for almost fifteen years and continued the tradition of giving out ceramic plates during the holidays. How do we know this? Well, shortly after moving our store to Southampton Center on Valentine’s Day, 1992, I received a call from a Benicia resident asking to meet; the caller was deliberately cryptic, only saying that it was important. Stopping by his house and after introductory pleasantries, he handed me a small ceramic plate. The object was cold and I got chills, but not from the temperature. The name burned into the clay was Firpo & Pedrotti, a 1930's relic distributed to patrons during Christmastime. The resident offered the plate for a hundred bucks and while it was ironic to pay for a gift my grandfather gave away freely, it was a fair price and I was delighted. A few months later on Father’s Day, I presented it to my father, Larry, who was stunned. He passed away in 2003 and this has since been one of our family’s prized possessions.
Around Town Nuts & Bolts Traditions bond us and can serve to bring families together, sometimes in unrelated ways. Here I must point out one about merchant Jim Firpo, my grandfather’s partner. It turns out that Firpo was a great uncle to the Bottini family in Benicia. The Bottinis currently operate two businesses on First Street: Wayne Bottini runs Benicia Floor Company and his daughter, Tara Allen, opened the acclaimed Fox & Fawn Bakehouse. The Bottinis are great examples showing that small business is the backbone in America. Oh, and Tara…. At 16, landed her first job at… you guessed it! Ace! Sometime in the ‘40s the tradition of passing out ceramic plates evolved to that of calendars, and Pedrotti Hardware offered two kinds: a large nature calendar featuring lithographs commissioned by Remington Arms, and for the kitchen, a small wall calendar. As one of five Pedrotti boys, I can share the joy we had growing up when handing these out each year. This takes us back to the Bottini family and a recent discovery! A few months ago, longtime Crockett resident Diane Bottini Thomas, Wayne’s sister, came across a big envelope while decluttering her grandmother’s dresser. The drawers were loaded with artifacts, mementoes, and other items that were untouched for decades. And here, Diane discovered a hardware treasure… 1946 Pedrotti & Sons calendar. But for a slightly torn corner, this seventyfive-year-old relic was in mint condition. She generously presented it to my brother, Bruce, who forwarded to me for framing and safekeeping. This holiday season, I am proud to share that we continue the calendar tradition and I would like to invite you to visit Ace and pick up the Pedrotti Hardware 2022 calendar. It’s a special edition, our 100th Anniversary, a collector’s item for sure. We’ve doubled the print run but quantities are limited. Get yours now. And make sure to note the upcoming Pedrotti Centennial Celebration! Held on July 3rd, 2022, it Immediately follows the Torchlight parade on the Benicia Green. It will knock your socks off!!!
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BeniciaMagazine.com • 27
Column Dinner and a Movie Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey
The seventeenth in a series of at home food and movie pairings.
JINGLE JANGLE A Christmas Journey
and the Flavors of
First Street
This 2020 American Christmas musical fantasy film is written and directed by David E. Talbert and co-produced by John Legend. Satisfying and heartwarming, you’ll be delighted for 122 minutes. It’s a musical, a dance party, a fairy tale, an inspirational journey and more. The story follows the success, heartbreak and redemption of Jeronicus Jangle—an inventor, toy maker and master of magic. An imaginary world comes to life in this riveting tale of an eccentric toy maker, his adventurous granddaughter and a magical invention that will ultimately change their lives forever. Critics are saying this movie might just be a brand new Christmas classic. So fun, with phenomenal acting and spectacular voices and oh, so original it will make your heart sing—vibrant and imaginative. Rated PG for some cinematic themes but great for young and old. A truly family movie. The cast is unbeatable— academy-award winner Forest Whitaker; clever and hilarious Keegan-Michael Key; stunningly talented Anika Noni and the legendary Phylicia Rashad with special voices by Ricky Martin and others too numerous to name. Available on Netflix. Cinema Cat gives it 9 out of 10 whiskers!!
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Cinema Cat & Gourmet Gracie
For your holiday get together or just for family game night, here is a scrumptious selection of small plates, tapas and appetizers for you to choose from. Pick up these baby bites to enjoy with cocktails and conversation or just to nosh your way through your favorite home entertainment. Perfect while decking the halls and decorating the tree—making celebrations easy. Below is a sampling of the many choices available in beautiful downtown Benicia this holiday season. Does it surprise you that Gracie has sampled 100% of these delicious items? They all pass the picky palate test, travel relatively well and if appropriate, can be heated up for a quick few minutes in a 350 degree oven. Check out the individual restaurant menus to find what else tickles your fancy.
28 • Benicia Magazine
One House Bakery Charcuterie, Cheese, Veggie Crudités,
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BeniciaMagazine.com • 29
Column Book—Tails
Once There Were Wolves By Charlotte McConaghy
Book and Cocktail Club
“This is the thing, isn’t it? This is the fear they live with now. The children in us long for monsters to take forms we understand. They want to fear the wolves because they don’t want to fear each other.”
30 • Benicia Magazine
n
Cooper Mickelson
Let me start by saying that Once There Were Wolves is at the top of my list for favorite reads of 2021, but this novel might not be for everyone. Charlotte McConaghy makes a sincere and earnest attempt at delivering important environmental messages through characters burdened with intense trauma and passion. This is not your average who-done-it thriller; Once There Were Wolves is an eco-thriller about rewilding the Highlands, and the environmentalist side of the plot takes up a lot of space in the story. If that sounds like something that would bore or annoy you, this might not be the book for you. Now, back to why I loved this novel. Inti Flynn is an Australian biologist leading a team of professionals tasked
with reintroducing fourteen gray wolves into the remote Scottish Highlands. Inti hopes that through this rewilding attempt, she will heal not only the dying landscape but also her twin sister, Aggie. Once wild and spirited, Aggie is now mute and scarcely present in reality. Recent horrifying events involving Aggie’s violent husband have unmade her, reducing her to Inti’s “shadow sister.” Inti hasn’t escaped these events unchanged. Born with a neurological condition called mirror-touch synesthesia, her brain recreates the sensory experiences of any living creature. If she sees it, she feels it. This makes her extremely sensitive and empathetic. Transformed by the harm she’s witnessed to both her sister and the wild, Inti has become untrusting, closed off, and cold.
The Scottish Highlands are mostly occupied by sheep farmers; so as you can imagine, the locals are not entirely supportive of the reintroduction of wolves onto their land. One of the most vocal critics of Inti’s wolf project is Stuart Burns, a sheep farmer widely known to be beating his wife. When Inti discovers Stuart’s body with his throat ripped out, she knows her wolves will be wrongly blamed for his death. In order to protect them, she hastily buries the corpse and begins to investigate possible human suspects. At the top of this list is her hunky neighbor, and police chief, Duncan MacTavish. While the mystery of Stuart’s disappearance unfolds, characters’ pasts are hinted at and slowly revealed. We begin to see possible motivations in every player and the true murderer is only exposed once we’ve had a chance to consider all possibilities. Once There Were Wolves invites us to reevaluate the role that trust plays in our lives. Survival in a dangerous world depends on our ability to accept help from unlikely places and people. This thoughtful and enjoyable novel succeeds at creating a world where one must balance humanity and nature. Charlotte McConaghy is a spectacular writer and I can’t wait to read more from her. Grab a warm blanket, make yourself a hot drink, and enjoy reading while curled up on the couch. Or, if you’d prefer something a bit more social, Cullen’s Pub makes a killer hot buttered rum during the cold season! Can’t make it to Cullen’s? Try this Hot Buttered Rum recipe.
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Benicia's KI TC H E N A N D B ATH EX PE RTS
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