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Thank You for
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Gene Pedrotti
Pedrotti Ace Hardware
| 830 Southampton Road | Benicia, CA 94510 | 707.745.NUTS (6887) | www.acebenicia.com
BeniciaMagazine.com • 5
Contents July 2022
Features Fourth of July Festivities Benicia’s celebrations are back in full swing! Summer Camping Make the most of the camping season
16 18
18
12
20 6 • Benicia Magazine
21
Cover: Waiting for the Torchlight Parade, Charlie George and Alina Cunningham enjoy ice cream cones from Double Rainbow. Photo by Luke George
Departments Columns 8 From the editor 28 Booktails
The Perishing by Natashia Deón
30 Dinner and a Movie
Sac's Tasty Hot Dogs and Miracle
28 Picket Fences
can be found online at beniciamagazine.com
Professional mobile pet grooming Professional salon pet grooming Premium Dog & Cat Food
Around Town COMMUNITY 10 Disciplined and Determined
John Lewis III answered the call to serve!
14 K ids Craft Corner
Fourth of July Crafts
15
Events Calendar
22 T he long-time ace up Pedrotti’s
www.FeathererPet.com 1202 East 5th Street, Benicia 707.745.5016
Drs. Carney, Campbell, Vitakes and Lim
sleeve: Margaret Vizuet has been a 40-year hardware fixture
24 D entures to Dollhouses: Creating a mini-Ace
25 H ats off to Pedrotti Ace: Bart Bridge
— a growing Solano County company
26 I n Memoriam – Richard David Boltz ART SCENE 12 Pam Dixon 13
agner at the Empress W The show goes on!
FOOD AND DRINK 20 Bar None – Mix and match camping cocktails
BENICIA BUSINESS 21 Valley Fine Foods, Eco Award winner
As a team, Drs. Carney, Campbell, Vitakes and Lim, have over 125 combined years of experience in all phases of general dentistry and orthodontics.
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column Editor's letter
FROM THE EDITOR
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Growing up in Benicia, I always thought our Independence Day celebrations were the best. From a young age, I remember dancing in the parade every year on the 3rd and in front of the gazebo at Picnic in the Park on the 4th – after which I would get my face painted by one of the artists there. The mood was festive, and it seemed not even a sunburn could ruin the fun. My family would also always host a big 4th of July BBQ party for our family, friends, and neighbors. Shish kebab, burgers, hotdogs, BBQ veggies, fruit salad, corn on the cob and potato salad were almost always on the menu. All followed by pie or ice cream sandwiches. We never went down to the waterfront to watch the fireworks at dusk because we thought our house had the best view. From my parents’ backyard you could see, not only Benicia’s patriotic display, but Martinez’s, Concord’s, Pleasant Hill’s, Crockett’s, Six Flags’, and occasionally, over the hills you could see the faint glow of fireworks from more westward cities. All us kids would spread a big blanket out on the lawn and wait for the show to start. They would go off in a canon – first Pleasant Hill’s would begin, then Crockett would join in, followed by Benicia, Concord… you get the idea. It made for an extra-long firework show that felt like it was just for us. In appreciation, we would utter the customary “ooh… ahhh…” with each shimmering explosion. Benicia’s Independence Day festivities are back in full swing after a pandemic hiatus. I know we’re all looking forward to getting back to celebrating, especially since this year there is even more to celebrate. For the past few months Benicia Magazine has been working with Gene Pedrotti to get the word out about Pedrotti Ace’s Centennial celebration, happening July 3rd after the Torchlight Parade. We can’t wait to see this event, including live music and a stellar drone show, come to fruition. Looking forward to seeing you out there!
July is the month where summer lives. Each July we would pack up the kids, the kids' friends, our friends and relatives and we would go to the old Oakland Ski Lodge located just outside of Sugar Bowl. The lodge was built in the early 1940s and was designed by the same architect who designed Sugar Bowl’s lodge. Over the years the lodge was added onto in ways that didn’t quite fit the original architecture. With additions like the “polar room,” which was also the poker room (no heat except a small wood burning stove), built into the hill under the main part of the lodge (cold!), the rec room, mostly for the kids, with pool tables, paddle tennis, huge old big screen TV with lots of old videos. The living room was large and had a floor-to-ceiling window where you could gaze out at the falling snow or the lovely meadows. Big deck outside, giant kitchen. It was not fancy. We would take all kinds of hikes, find our way to small lakes high in the surrounding Sierras, swim in nearby Lake Mary. In short, we had a blast! One memorable hike was to Long Lake, an isolated lake that took about an hour of hiking over steep terrain. There were about 5 teenage boys, 3 or 4 girls, myself and my husband Jon. One of the boys, Chris Owens, told us that he wasn’t supposed to do anything too active because he was recovering from a dislocated shoulder. But there was a rope swing over the lake, and really, what could he do? He said he would use his good arm but that didn’t quite work out. He landed awkwardly and yes, dislocated his shoulder. There was no one around anywhere and it was at least a mile back to the car. Jon yelled out over the lake “Is there a doctor anywhere?” After a few minutes we heard, very faintly, “I’m a pediatrician.” A tiny woman made her way to us, and she called urgent care and they told her, step by step, what to do. After a short painful moment, Chris was okay and he was quite sure it was a miracle. Have a safe, fun July and enjoy the 3 & 4th festivities as well as Pedrotti’s Ace Hardware Centennial … just wait until you see the drone show!
—Genevieve
—Mary
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July 30 — 31 Benicia celebrates its picturesque waterfront over two days with live music!
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around town Community
n h Jo
II I ! e s v r i e S w ed l to e L er al w eC s An th
DISCIPLINED AND DETERMINED nD r. Gethsemane Moss, Ed.D.
Remember when you first imagined your vision for your life? High school days were clouded with juggling daily assignments and a mountain of neverending tasks. Fast forward to your high school graduation. What was your decision about your life after graduation? Did you follow what you said you wanted to do when you were in elementary, middle, or high school? Or did you completely forget about what you wanted because you felt it was impossible, would take too long, or you simply didn't know what step to take first? Sometimes we dream about what we want to do, and the 10 • Benicia Magazine
reality of what it takes to achieve that goal becomes overwhelming. That is when we need to make a list of what we want and take steps daily towards attaining our goal. Dreams were lost and born during the pandemic shutdown. The workforce took a hit. Education, health care, and policing faced unimaginable challenges, causing many to leave the professions. While many chose retirement or a different career path, some still decided to stick to their career of choice. At the same time, organizational leaders and policymakers sought ways to do things better, such as creating transparency for the public they serve and hiring and maintaining
professionals across various fields. Police departments across the nation began looking at ways to create transparency in policing and to make efforts to connect with citizens. For example, the Berkeley California Police Department has developed the Berkeley Police Transparency Hub, an interactive data tool used to track all interactions that officers have with citizens. In addition, the department has community liaisons to cover their service areas, providing another layer of communication for citizens. Benicia's John Lewis III, hired by the Berkeley Police Department, recalls his desire to become a police officer early in his life.
John Lewis III is a Benicia High School graduate of the class of 2014. He recalls his first interaction with law enforcement while in elementary school, stating, "In 5th grade, I was involved in the DARE (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) program. It was the first interaction I had with a police officer." Lewis stated, " I thought it was a cool job to have people call on you, and you can be there to help them." Lewis graduated from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks in 2018, majoring in Criminal Justice and Criminology. Lewis shared that even though his high school experience wasn't the best, the experience still added to the person he is today. Lewis stated, "As I look back, I didn't have the greatest high school experience socially; however, I don't think I'd change anything because not having the best experience helped humble me and has shaped me into the exact person I've strived to be." Lewis expressed his gratitude to his parents for their constant support, and for offering their different pathways to success by example. His mother holds an MBA and has worked as an executive for over 30 years. e os His father went straight into l o the workforce at the age s t s.” i f l of 18. Lewis stated, r rse othe "They both u yo of instilled a d drive fin rvice i o t in dh se
y an wa the G t a s n tm be elf i a e rs h ah “T you M —
me to succeed in any field of work I chose because they bolstered my confidence when I went through adversity." Lewis spends his free time working out six to seven times per week. He has transformed part of his garage into a gym that he built during the quarantine. Lewis also takes care of his mental and physical health by taking his camping trailer out for an occasional getaway. While Lewis thoroughly enjoys his career in law enforcement, when asked what his second career choice might be, he stated, "My second career choice would have been as a professional athlete, but there were few offers. Perhaps I might have chosen to be a firefighter, so I could still help others." The law enforcement profession has been at the forefront of discussions in terms of policy and change. In addition, there are more conversations to address mental health concerns and the best ways to leverage community resources and include access to mental health professionals. Lewis shared how he manages his success and self-encouragement for his profession, stating, "Law enforcement can be a thankless job. You have to develop a thick skin and understand our purpose of serving is much more important than gratitude. Everyone wants to judge what we do, but very few are willing to put on a bulletproof vest, and put their life on the line for people that may never tell you thank you. I want to do my part and make a difference as an officer did for me at age 11. There is the satisfaction of knowing I'm always making a difference in the community by keeping it safe, even when no one realizes it." B
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BeniciaMagazine.com • 11
around town Art Scene
Pam Dixon A Benicia Original Long-time Benicia resident Pam Dixon will be the featured artist in an exhibition that opens on Saturday, July 23, in the Showcase Gallery at Arts Benicia. The
in the 1980s. Born in San Francisco, she was raised in Carmel. She moved to Benicia in the 1970s, just as the art scene was beginning to flourish here. Having been brought up by parents in showbusiness who traveled constantly
exhibition will include paintings, mixed media, and ceramic works, and run through August 28, concurrent with I Figure: Contemporary Figurative Art, which includes works selected by juror Randall Sexton. An opening reception for both exhibitions will be held on Saturday, July 23, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Dixon began her career in free-lance commercial and industrial art, later becoming a serious exhibiting artist
along a theatre and vaudeville circuit, Benicia appealed to her as a cozy place to raise children. After the passing of her husband, she stayed and became involved in the emerging local art community, eventually founding Gallery 621, a co-op for contemporary artists in Benicia. Dixon describes herself as a Bay Area figurative artist whose art developed during the California funk
n Jean Purnell
12 • Benicia Magazine
movement, which pushed back against the established non-figurative forms of abstract expressionism. “It was a most exciting time in the arts, and for Benicia, with its vacant industrial buildings right on the water, just waiting to be turned into studio live-work space.” Benicia benefited from a close commute to UC Davis, where the Art and Sculpture departments attracted Robert Arneson, Manuel Neri, Wayne Thiebaud, William Wiley and others. She considers her association with Arneson and Neri, who became a long-time partner, to have been major influences. “They were spontaneous, bold, creating outside the box, fun.” Painting and drawing dominated Dixon’s work in earlier years; only during the last decade has she turned to ceramics after it was suggested that her artistic content would translate well into that medium. Her work is edgy, colorful, uninhibited, and unpredictable, even to herself. Looking for a way to place her work in context, Dixon reflects on contemporary artists and the parts of their work that resonate with her own: the movement in Alice Neel’s portraits; the splash and imprecision of Joan Brown’s paintings; Viola Frey’s expressionist narratives; the collage of ideas of Squeak Carnwath. Informed by a worldly sense of other places and people, she freely incorporates objects and fragments, cartoons, words, characters and action into the storyboard of her vibrant and often whimsical artwork. “As a young girl, I created a stage in my closet with my dolls and animals. My art continues to give life, energy, and motion to the characters I create. You can’t really pigeon-hole my work, it’s hard to describe. I never know what I am creating until I am already into it.”
around town Art Scene Dixon currently shows her artwork at Gallery 621 in Benicia. She has been a guest artist/member at numerous studios, most recently at Happy Life Pottery in Benicia, the Sacramento Art Foundry, the Epperson Gallery in Crockett, Tony Natsoulas’ Sacramento studio, and the Berkeley Pot Studio. She developed the bronze foundry at the Benicia Camel Barns with Jerry Goss. She has been represented by the John Natsoulas Gallery in Davis and the Gregory Ghent Gallery in San Francisco. Her many exhibitions throughout California include retrospectives at the Richmond Art Center and San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art. Keeping the legacy of Benicia art alive through the “Museum of Art” project is an idea Dixon has been championing for some time. She was a driving force in bringing an exhibition of outstanding ceramic talent to Gallery 621 in 2014, in Transmigrational: Ceramics from the Corridor. “So many wonderful artists have come of age in Benicia, and we need to make certain this local history is preserved through their art.” She credits mayor Elizabeth Patterson with helping to create City of Benicia Lifetime Achievement awards, presented to Neri and Arneson at a Gallery 621 ceremony in 2014. Other project goals, such as acquiring a property for installing outdoor sculpture, have not yet come to pass. She continues to advocate for artists and for bringing exceptional art to Benicia. “That’s who I am, what I am about.” Dixon found ways to continue her art practice during the past two years without access to a ceramic studio. While
She continues to advocate for artists and for bringing exceptional art to Benicia. “That’s who I am, what I am about.” sheltering in place at home, she used surfaces in her kitchen and dining room to work, using coldprocessing with oils, stains, and dry pigments. “I had to wait on some pieces for an opportunity to use a kiln, but otherwise, I’ve never stopped working,” she notes. Arts Benicia is located at 1 Commandant’s Lane, in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters in the Benicia Arsenal. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 1:00 to 5:00 pm. To learn more about Arts Benicia’s exhibitions and about Pam Dixon, please visit artsbenicia.org and pamdixon.net. B
W A G N E R AT T H E E M P R E S S
The Show Goes On! n Genevieve Hand In January, we ran an article about the Empress Theatre reopening and hosting an evening of music by the composer Richard Wagner. Unfortunately, Covid restrictions prevented that show from taking place. Now, however, it has been rescheduled and the show will go on, Saturday, July 9th. The program features Canadian-American soprano, Othalie Graham, whose star has been quickly rising in the world of opera. Known for her commitment to Wagnerian repertoire, she is consistently recognized not only for her powerful voice, but also her musicality and interpretive imagination. The Vallejo Festival Orchestra will accompany Ms. Graham. The conductor for this program is the Grammy award-winning Thomas Conlin, whose symphonic and operatic leading work has spanned five continents and accumulated much praise. The concert will include excerpts from Tannhaeuser, Tristan und Isolde, Die Walkuere, Lohengrin, The Flying Dutchman and Die Meistersinger von Nuremberg. Further details about the concert, Othalie Graham, and Thomas Conlin can be found in our January 2022 issue, or at empresstheatre.org. B
July 9, 2022 at 7:30pm | Reserved seating only
Empress Theatre, 330 Virginia Street, Vallejo, CA 94590 Tel: 707.552.2400 | Tix: https://www.ticketfairy.com/event/ the-greatest-wagner-concert-ever-15jan2022
BeniciaMagazine.com • 13
Kid Craft Corner Kid Craft Corner around town Community
nB itsy Hall, M.Ed. and owner of Learning Circles
Fourth of July Crafts
Most of us would say that the Fourth of July is a hallmark of summertime. Personally, the Sandlot movie stands as the true emblem of the season. The Fourth of July immediately transports me to the scene of the boys cracking their baseball bats under a sky of fireworks, only to soon become awestruck by the patriotic display of sparks. While these crafts would probably be ill suited for Benny and his rambunctious group, they may be perfect for the kids in your life.
Starry Chalk Paint Are you looking to make your driveway or sidewalk scream Fourth of July? Well, this is the craft for you. This craft activity is a great way to get kids of varying ages outside, and involve them in the decorating process. Because the later stages of this craft do not require too much precision, even your toddler can successfully participate with a little help.
To begin, you’ll need: Scissors Paper (Any kind is fine, but I recommend sturdy cardstock for stability.) Pencil, pen, or marker Masking tape (optional) Cornstarch
Water Cups for mixing Red and blue food dye Paint brushes
Directions for chalk paint 1. M ix ½ cup of cornstarch and ½ cup of water. If you’d like to make more, just keep a 1:1 ratio of cornstarch to water. 2. Stir until smooth and blended. 3. Separate into three mixing cups. 4. P ut 8-10 drops of red food coloring into one cup. You may need more to avoid creating pink chalk. 5. Repeat step 4 for blue. 6. Leave one cup sans dye for white.
Toilet Paper Roll Fireworks Snap a picture of your craft and tag @beniciamagazine on Instagram. We would love to see your versions of these Fourth of July inspired crafts! 14 • Benicia Magazine
around town Community Directions for the DIY star stencil 1. D raw a star on your piece of paper You can use as many pieces of paper as you’d like. You can use varying sizes of stars–it’s up to you and your creative preference! If you’re all about neatness, tracing is absolutely an option. 2. Carefully cut the star shape out and discard it, keeping the surrounding paper as your stencil.
Events July 3rd | Torchlight Parade & Pedrotti Ace Hardware’s Centennial Drone Show & Music July 4th | Family Festival & Fireworks Extravaganza Thursdays in July | Farmers Market 4:00pm-8:00pm, First Street Every Thursday in July, enjoy our local Farmers Market on First Street from 4:00pm-8:00pm
For the activity 1. P lace the star stencil down on the cement. If you’re looking for more paper stability or to free up a hand, use masking tape. 2. Using a paint brush, blot the star shape with your chalk paint. You’re welcome to stick to one color per star, but knowing the unbridled creativity of children, colors are bound to mix (think of your play doh containers…). 3. Let dry. 4. Enjoy your starry display!
Toilet Paper Roll Fireworks Upcycle your toilet paper rolls to create fun and beautiful fireworks! This craft is best suited for preschool and above.
July 22nd-23rd | White Camel Trash to Treasure Sale 9:00am-3:00pm, Benicia Historical Museum July 30th-31st | Waterfront Festival 11:00am-6:00pm, First Street Waterfront The Waterfront Festival is back! Enjoy two days of live music, microbrew tasting, arts & crafts marketplace, delectable gourmet foods, and kids’ activity area. B
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M (707) 567-5016 O (925) 627-3096 1646 N. California Blvd., Suite 101 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 License #00908045
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To begin, you’ll need: Toilet paper rolls, 3 Scissors Red, white, and blue paint Paper plates, 3
July 9th | Art Walk 1:00pm-5:00pm, First Street Every second Saturday, enjoy Benicia’s Art Walk with live demonstrations and entertainment at 8 downtown galleries.
July 16th | History Talks 11:30am-12:30pm, Benicia Historical Museum Enjoy this monthly speaker series from 11:30am-12:30pm at the Benicia Historical Museum. Free after museum admission.
Black paper, preferably construction or cardstock. (You can also use white printer paper if you just use blue and red paint.) Glitter (optional)
Directions 1. C ut small slits (about ¾ to ½ the roll’s length) along one side of the toilet paper roll. Do this all the way around your chosen side. 2. B end the sides back to fan out the toilet paper roll. 3. R epeat for your remaining rolls and put aside. 4. P our each paint color onto your paper plates. Tilt, roll, etc. to make sure the paint reaches the edges. 5. P lace one toilet paper roll on each paper plate to pick up the paint like a stamp. 6. C hoose a color to press down onto the black paper. 7. R epeat over the same spot with the other colors. 8. I f you’d like, add some glitter! B
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Feature
Fourth
OF
July
n Caitlin McCulloch After the past few years, holidays and events have slowly been ramping back up. All of the usual and beloved Fourth of July festivities on First Street, including the fireworks show at the water, were canceled last year; this time around, get ready to make up for lost time. Benicia’s fun is bigger and better than ever! Get some comfortable shoes ready and break out your red, white, and blue to celebrate without needing to leave town. Here are a few festivities to keep in mind along with some insider tips and tricks for making the most of this year’s patriotic Sunday and Monday.
Sunday, July 3rd
Torchlight Parade
Many residents may already know this, but Benicia likes to celebrate with a two-day bang! Take in the iconic Torchlight Parade the day before the Fourth of July. This giant event runs the entire stretch of First Street and will include everything from massive floats, local groups, dancers, bands, and tons of other entertainment. The fun officially kicks off at 6:30 pm and will run for roughly two hours.
Tips: If you’d like to have a seat at the parade instead of standing or walking along with the parade on the sidewalk, lawn chairs and blankets are allowed—but if this is a must for your attendance, plan to get those chairs there early! People often stake out their areas many hours before the parade begins.
• E xpect to be faced with large crowds around restaurants, food areas, and bars. Depending on your group, you might consider eating before the parade or bringing your own snacks and water bottles. • F irst Street will be blocked off to cars for the parade, so plan accordingly. Side streets will be open for parking. If you’ll be going downtown with others, you might want to consider carpooling or using a ride share service.
Sunday, July 3rd
Pedrotti Ace Centennial
This year, thanks to community staple Pedrotti Ace Hardware and their Centennial celebration, there’s an extra-special treat for our tiny town immediately following the parade! East Bay Mudd, which is composed of nine members complete with a horn section and a rhythm section, will get the classic R&B and soul music bumping at 8pm. Catch their sounds on the waterfront’s main stage. After the sun has set, an awesome drone performance by Verge Aero will begin around 9:40 pm and end at 10 pm. The notable company won themselves a gold buzzer from Simon Cowell on America’s Got Talent: Extreme; you aren’t going to want to miss this show!
Tip: The breezy conditions by the waterfront can be unpredictable—even if warm temperatures were present earlier in the day, nightfall can quickly become quite chilly. Consider bringing a light jacket or a sweater so that you can enjoy all the night has to offer while staying cozy.
July 3rd — Torchlight Parade 16 • Benicia Magazine
July 3rd — Evening Entertainment
y Festivities Monday, July 4th
Family Festival
You don’t have to wait until nightfall to start the Fourth of July fun on First Street! Beginning at 3:00 pm, check out the waterfront area of First Street with the whole family. There will be plenty of vendors, food, and arts & crafts, so there’s sure to be a little something for everyone. From 3:00 pm all the way to 9:30 pm, live music will be played on the pier’s main stage.
Tip:
If you’ll be staying for fireworks, the same goes as above—bring a light layer as the wind has a history of ramping up!
Monday, July 4th
Fireworks Extravaganza
Fireworks lovers rejoice: beginning at 9:30 pm, catch the show along the end of First Street by the Marina Green. The spectacular visual will last for a full 30 minutes, finishing at 10:00 pm.
Tip:
Want to avoid downtown First Street? There are other places to get a great view of some fireworks, even if it’s not as up close and personal. Example: try heading to the bridge by Mary Farmar Elementary School along Military West!
Barbecues and Picnics To celebrate the Fourth, many people may opt for their own backyard barbecues or picnics. You can enjoy all of your favorite foods or ask friends and family to bring something they like to make it a potluck. If you’d like to venture out of the backyard, public parks in Benicia should be fine to snag a last-minute spot in the grass for a blanket setup, and there might be individual picnic tables available that are not part of the reservation areas. Many parks have spaces to reserve (Benicia Community Park, Jack London Park, and the City Park). B
Spots for the extended holiday weekend are filling up fast, but feel free to check in with the city to see what’s available to you. The best number to do this through is 707.746.4285. No matter what you decide to do, we wish you a safe and fun time with loved ones! July 4th — Street Fair Festival
Barbecues and Picnics BeniciaMagazine.com • 17
Feature
Lake Tahoe Campgrounds
Sleeping Under the
Lake Tahoe is loaded with camping sites for camping tent and trailer spots. The Tahoe National Forest and the Lake Tahoe campgrounds have more than 20 campgrounds, plenty of hiking trails, and phenomenal fishing. Tahoe is part of the Sierra Nevada range, so it is easy to find a place to hang your camping hammock. As the largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe not only offers memorable scenery but plenty of activities, too. D. L. Bliss State Park - The premier campground along western Lake Tahoe's shore. Great campsites, many with lake views, good amenities, and sandy beaches. Sugar Pine Point State Park - A popular campground with many campsites set back from the lake. Day use area along the shore. Fallen Leaf - Spread between Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake. Nice campsites, close to Emerald Bay and South Lake Tahoe. Camp Richardson - A Tahoe landmark, Camp Richardson boasts over 300 tent and RV sites, plus cabins and vacation rentals galore. Choose a site at one of two excellent campground locations; one on the lakeside of Hwy 89, and the other tucked into the forest across the road.
Sonoma Coast n Mary Hand When the weather is inviting, the smell of campfires and pine trees lure many of us into the woods and mountains for camping trips. At the start of summer, when the days are getting longer, or perhaps in fall when the nights are chilly and the leaves are beginning to turn, are ideal times to camp. There’s simply nothing more relaxing than camping under a canopy of stars. It will slow you down, help you recalibrate, and remind you there’s more to life than a strong WiFi signal. Best of all, there are countless ways to camp, ranging from simple tent camping to RV-based camping, to glamping, sometimes all at the same campground. Benicians are very lucky to live in close proximity to many of the state’s best camping areas. The varied regions of northern California offer a wide range of camping opportunities, from rugged beaches to towering redwoods, from sparkling lakes to snow-capped volcanoes. Northern California is a mecca for those who love the outdoors. Our area is full of natural wonders including mountains, forests, deserts, beaches, rivers and lakes. It’s no wonder there are so many amazing places to camp. Benicia is home to many people who love to camp and they have suggested a few favorite spots. 18 • Benicia Magazine
It’s the dream option for families that want to park the car, set up shop and not worry about traveling around. It really offers resort living in a forest setting, with more outdoor recreation than you could imagine.
Mendocino
Other campgrounds - Find campgrounds along the Truckee River (popular for rafting and fishing) and all the way south to a city run campground with full hook-ups in South Lake Tahoe.
North Bay Campgrounds Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Yolo, and Marin counties - wine country, lakes, coastal mountains, and beaches - campgrounds north of the San Francisco Bay Area have a wide variety of offerings. Sonoma Coast Beaches - Enjoy the wild and rugged Sonoma Coast. Camp right next to the sand at Wright's Beach or close to the bay at Bodega Dunes.
Lake Berryessa - Over 18,000 acres of great fishing. Campgrounds are in transition as new management takes over, but sites like Putah Canyon, Spanish Flat, and Pleasure Cove are available. Lake Sonoma - A smaller lake with 97 campsites at Liberty Glen. Clear Lake - California's largest freshwater lake entirely within the state. Camp at Clear Lake State Park. Salt Point - North of Sonoma Coast beaches is Salt Point State Park with two great campgrounds.
MacKerricher State Park - Just north of Fort Bragg, MacKerricher has great coastal camping with lots of nearby attractions.
Big Sur Big Sur is home to the Hearst Castle as well as the relaxed areas of Monterey and Carmel-by-theSea. You will be able to stretch out your hiking boots on the plethora of remarkable trails and find perfect trees to support your camping hammock.
Mendocino
Sonoma Regional Parks - Great beach camping at Gualala, Doran, and Stillwater.
Big Sur
Pillsbury Lake - Find adventure at more remote lakes such as Pillsbury and Letts Lake.
Mendocino Beach and Forest Campgrounds Mendocino County is known for its spectacular coastline dotted with pocket beaches and for its magnificent forests spread across the coastal mountains. Hendy Woods Redwood State Park For anyone seeking a quiet redwood park with lots of streams and trails for children to explore, try Hendy Woods. Russian Gulch and Van Damme Beach - These two coastal state parks offer camping near the ocean close to the picturesque town of Mendocino
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park - Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park encompasses over 1,000 acres at the heart of the Big Sur coast. The state park features nearly 200 campsites along the meandering Big Sur River, which flows through the park, with sites to accommodate both tents and RVs. Big Sur Campground & Cabins - At the heart of the Big Sur coast, this familyfriendly campground offers nearly 100 spots next to the Big Sur River. It has space for tents and RVs and features one- and two-bedroom camping cabins with private bathrooms Fernwood Campground & Resort Camp surrounded by redwoods and the Big Sur River. It is centrally located along the Big Sur Coast, just north of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Pfeiffer Beach. The resort has tent and RV campsites, forest cabins, and canvas tents. There's also a motel with 12 standard rooms. A general store, restaurant, and laundry facility are also onsite. Two large bath houses are shared by camping guests.
Lake Tahoe
Wherever you choose to go and whatever your camping style may be, be sure you have reservations before you hit the road. Camping has become more popular in recent years so it’s important to have a plan before heading out. Also, due to the drought and extreme fire danger conditions, there are some restrictions about campfires. Be safe and have fun. Hope to see you out there.. B
“And at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy and your eyes sparkling.” – Shanti BeniciaMagazine.com • 19
around town Food and Drink
It’s that time of year again. Pack up your tent, bear spray, dogs and kids. We’re going camping! If you’re like me, when a white claw doesn’t cut it when digging your hole by the tree, I got you covered. Purchase some 8oz – 16oz Mason jars and make sure they have the screw cap included. Let's get to infusing. Of course, I know everyone enjoys their own brewed cup of tea. So, I’ve created a chart for each jar. You may choose your combo based on your favorite spirit and flavor.
Bar None:
Mason Mixologist
n Maura Sullivan
1st Jar
This jar needs to be at least 16oz. This will be your spirits jar. The good stuff. In this jar, you’ll create your own infusion for the base of your cocktails. Pick your poison, create, seal and tuck this away in your cooler overnight to infuse. SOMETHING EXTRA
JUICE
SPICE
½ oz simple syrup
Your choice of unsweetened ice tea
Lemon slices
½oz sweet & sour mix
Simply lemonade
½ sliced jalapeno
½ oz St. Germain
No more juice, just prosecco
Garnish with a slice of grapefruit
½ oz simple syrup
2oz of Lime Juice
½ can Campbell's tomato soup
Your choice of tomato juice, one freshly squeezed lemon
Worcestershire & tabasco sauce to your desired heat. Garnishes of choice for a bloody Mary.
1oz Stoli Blueberry vodka
Simply lemonade
Garnish with mint
2nd Jar
You will see there is some color coding happening. Colors that match are suggested pairings. I prefer a 16oz jar for this next part, as well. It will be for the mixer. 8oz jars could be used for additional lemon and lime juice. Feel free to go outside the color code and pick your own mix to create your own blend. Measurements are for each serving. SPIRIT
FRUIT/VEGGIE
SPICE
Bourbon Whiskey
White peaches, sliced
One cinnamon stick + cloves and one lemon peel
Tequila Blanco
Sliced strawberries & jalapeños or cucumber
Fresh mint and lime zest
Gin or Vodka
Grapefruit juice, slices and 1 Freshly Squeezed lemon
Lemon zest, fresh basil and a pinch of pink Himalayan salt
Tequila Blanco
Fresh slices of watermelon and 2 fresh limes, squeezed
Chili flakes or fresh chili peppers
Gin or Vodka
4 cloves of garlic (optional), 1 jalapeno, sliced with two pieces of cooked bacon
Chili and lime salt seasoning
Rum (clear)
Fresh blueberries, 2 squeezed lemons
Mint, lemon peel . B
Enjoy, my little mixologist! 20 • Benicia Magazine
around town Business
This year's Eco Award Winner n Genevieve Hand Packaged foods manufacturers aren’t often touted for their “green” initiatives. And yet, tucked away in the Benicia Industrial Park is Valley Fine Foods, winner of this year’s Eco Award, presented by Republic Services. Valley Fine Foods has been a fixture in Benicia for the past thirty years Production Supervisors Maria Barragan and their products grace the aisles of our and Brandon Lloyd who oversee local grocery stores and our waste program and have beyond. The company been pivotal in its success! was established by husband-and-wife Taiwanese expats and Benicia residents, Mei and Chuck Tu, in 1992. Both food scientists by trade and deeply committed to the environment, they began by producing frozen ravioli with a focus on environmental friendliness with their flagship brand, Pasta Prima™. Valley Fine Foods eventually developed two other brands, ARISTOLA™ artisan pasta and sauces and Three Bridges™ breakfast products. Republic Services’ Eco Awards recognize local businesses for their commitment to exceptional sustainable efforts and for setting a positive example for others through their recycling efforts. With the Tu’s values guiding the company, Valley Fine Foods is a shining example of such an organization. We spoke with the company’s CEO, Todd Nettleton, and the director of manufacturing, Simon Woods, to learn about all Valley Fine Foods has been doing to be a responsible company to the environment and community. They reported that the Valley Fine Foods production plants run on solar power, and that the company has always been fastidious about recycling and reducing food waste. But in 2019, they began the Organics Initiative to establish even better practices.
The Organics Initiative aims at addressing food waste further by redirecting it out of landfills and increasing recycling of single-use plastics. These goals were reached by rethinking their production line so that plastics are washed for a better acceptance rate by recycling sites, food scraps are diverted, and each piece of waste is placed in its proper receptacle. Woods emphasized that training has been a big factor in the success of the program, as has their relationship with Republic Services. Republic Services has provided resources such as separate containers for each type of food waste to help streamline the diversion process at Valley Fine Foods. They send trucks to pick up the food waste and carry it to a processing center in Richmond. There, the food scraps are turned into compost. This summer, Woods reports, the resulting compost will be returned to Benicia for the first time to be mixed into the community’s soil. Republic Services also initially helped with much of the training of the Valley Fine Foods staff. Now, an ambassador program has been established to support training efforts. Woods and Nettleton say that in the future they would love to explore turning their food waste into feed, further extending the usefulness of their “waste.” A particularly private family Chuck, Mei, and sons Ryan and Wayne Tu’s names don’t even appear on their company’s website. Nettleton and Woods impart that the Tu’s don’t seek recognition for their accomplishments and contributions, but simply care deeply about their community and being good stewards of it and the environment. Nevertheless, they and their team’s efforts are deserving of the Eco Award and of our community’s appreciation for being leaders in sustainability. B BeniciaMagazine.com • 21
Pedrotti Ace Hardware – Advertorial
The long-time up Pedrotti’s sleeve Margaret Vizuet
has been a 40-year hardware fixture
n Rich Freedman Lifetime Benician Margaret Vizuet was a supervisor at Foster Freeze until she quit to have her two kids. When her son started preschool, “I wanted to do something with my spare time,” she says. That “spare time” became a still-active 40-year career in the hardware business – the last 30 with Pedrotti Ace in the Southampton Shopping Center after a decade at the former Dan’s Ace on Fifth Street. Vizuet celebrates her personal milestone hand-in-hand with the 100th anniversary since Gene Pedrotti’s grandfather started the family hardware legacy in Crockett in a 500-square foot building. “Margaret is Benicia’s hardware ambassador and is the epitome of the great person: kind, perennially and infectiously happy, and never hesitates to help anyone at any time,” Pedrotti says. “She and my father (the late Larry Pedrotti) are the best examples of the Helpful Hardware person.” Vizuet has covered just about every possible job at Pedrotti’s – cashier, sales, supervisor – and even at 70, continues to work for Ace “which I am incredibly grateful for,” the owner says. “She
22 • Benicia Magazine
knows everything about hardware.” Vizuet’s knowledge is matched only by her personality, Pedrotti adds. “She represents the best in human nature,” he says. “She is always approachable, remarkably good-natured, never judgmental, and truly enjoys helping others.” Pedrotti notes that it’s not all joy and laughter, yet Vizuet remains positive. “She’s always happy,” he says. “I don’t know how she does it.” When Pedrotti relocated from Crockett to Benicia and bought Dan’s in 1992, Vizuet remained on board. Three decades later, she still works, handling four-hour shifts Mondays and Wednesdays. You can’t keep a stillvibrant grandmother down. “I told Gene from the get-go that I’m a lifer,” Vizuet says. “I like customer service; dealing with customers. I want to be out there where the challenges are and you get to help people. You see the frustrations they have when they come in and you do what you can to make sure they leave happy.” Though Vizuet is the subject of Pedrotti’s constant praise and she’s recognized through the community and beyond, she downplays her nearcelebrity status. “I don’t even think about that; that I’m important,” she says. “It embarrasses me when Gene makes a big deal of it.” Yet, she continues to handle her popularity with aplomb. Even when off-the-clock, Vizuet gets approached in town by residents seeking answers to home improvement problems. "The biggest pleasure I have is when I’m suggesting something and I can see the customer is not getting what I’m talking about,” Vizuet says. “He’ll be like ‘Yeah, right.’ Then he comes back a week later, takes me aside, and says, ‘You know,
you were right. You knew what you were talking about.’” Retirement? It’s not in the cards for this ace with Ace. “People ask why I’ve stayed with this business so long. I love it. It’s always different. There’s nothing boring about the hardware business,” Vizuet says, emphasizing that “you do have to have patience. And you have to have empathy. Sometimes customers are frustrated or they’re angry. You just have to listen and put yourself in their shoes. Sometimes, they just want to talk about their problems.” Vizuet fondly looks back on her career that has no end date. “A lot of people go through life working a job, and it’s work. I’m so fortunate. I’m in a place where I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of the job,” she says, laughing that “the wrinkles I have are ‘laugh lines’ from smiling. It’s still totally fun.” Vizuet acknowledged the importance of a community celebration for Pedrotti’s Ace Hardware’s 100th year. “Hopefully, I can see 100. That’s only 30 years from now,” she smiles. B
I’m in a place where I thoroughly enjoy every aspect of the job...the wrinkles I have are ‘laugh lines’ from smiling. It’s still totally fun.
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Half Price Bottles of Wine with $15 Food Purchase
Look for our new travel section
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Subscribe today on beniciamagazine.com.
SOLANO PACIFIC
BeniciaMagazine.com • 23
Pedrotti Ace Hardware – Advertorial
Dentures to Dollhouses Creating a mini-Ace
n Richard S. Freedman Howard Richmond isn’t delusional. As a dentist still practicing at age 86 after 62 years behind the drills, he realizes people are as excited about seeing him as they are sitting down for an IRS tax audit. Quite frankly, Richmond says, “probably 99.9% who come and see you are not happy to be at the dentist. You have to make these people comfortable in the situation they’re In.” Ah, but Richmond’s endeavor beyond dentistry is polar — better yet, molar — opposite: Richmond makes dollhouses or, more accurately, “architectural miniatures.” Yes, it started with an elaborate dollhouse for his granddaughter some 20 years ago, but it’s evolved into a nifty side business of buildings that stir fond memories — including the original Pedrotti family-owned hardware store in Crockett a century ago. Richmond figures he’s done 100 or so miniatures with 100% satisfaction. “Everyone’s been happy,” he says. “I haven’t had anyone say, ‘I thought it would be more like this …'” Richmond’s created a scaled-down bakery, drug store, farmhouse, gas station, and jewelry store. The original 500-foot Firpo & Pedrotti hardware store is a first and, says the dentist, “the first one with stuff inside.” With windows big enough to peek inside and wired for lighting, the miniature includes an array of hardware store items with the building matching the original brick. It’s easily more detailed than Richmond’s usual projects, he says. A native New Yorker, Richmond’s family relocated to California when he was about 8. “As a kid I always built stuff in the garage – model airplanes, model trains. I
24 • Benicia Magazine
made plastic jewelry for the girls. I was working with my hands all those years repairing stuff around the house.” Graduating from Beverly Hills High School in 1960, Richmond enlisted for two years in the Air Force, stationed at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, which closed in 2001. After two years at the University of Southern California, Richmond went to dental school in Cleveland, Ohio. Never had he imagined his trusty hands would be creating miniature buildings until he attended a dollhouse show with his granddaughter in the early 1970s and saw dollhouses for $400, “which was a lot of money back then,” Richmond says. “My granddaughter wanted me to buy one and I said, ‘I could make it myself.’ So I built her a dollhouse.” Richmond created dollhouses for about 15 years, he said, buying some of the furniture and, when possible, making it himself. “I’d make them for friends of mine with kids and grandkids, nieces, relatives,” Richmond says. It wasn’t until the 1990s that he had the request to build a miniature front of a Craftsman home. “That was the start,” he says. “People get so excited seeing miniatures of their house. It’s very gratifying.” Finishing a wood-working project and seeing the recipient’s reaction is unbeatable, Richmond says, recalling one miniature lifeguard station he created with the top coming up, revealing an engagement ring. Then there was the 1890s farmhouse for a father’s 85th birthday made almost completely from recycled wood from the original farmhouse. When the farmhouse was unveiled, “everyone cried,” Richmond says.
At age 86, Richmond says he’ll continue his dental practice and his “miniature architecture” as long he has a passion for it and can physically excel. But first, completing the original 1922 hardware store, Firpo & Pedrotti. “It’s been a great challenge,” Richmond says. Unlike most of his projects that are shipped, Richmond hopes to hand deliver the original Pedrotti’s hardware shop model to Gene before the July 3-4 celebration. People undoubtedly will be impressed, he hinted, with a plethora of hardware accessories such as nails, hammers, garden tools, and power tools neatly organized inside the model. “I’m satisfied with it,” Richmond says, enjoying the process as much as he always does, laughing at first that it takes someone who is “stupid, dumb and insane” to consider making the miniatures. More seriously, “as with, I think, anything you do, you have to have a passion for it,” Richmond says. “And a satisfaction in completing a project and making the person happy you’re doing the project for.” No doubt Pedrotti will be all smiles after finding Richmond on Etsy, a global online marketplace. “I was musing, ‘If I could only find someone who could do a custom dollhouse… and he popped up,” Pedrotti says. Pedrotti hopes the miniature becomes an attraction not only at the Ace store in the Southampton Shopping Center but perhaps at Farmers Market and other Benicia events. “That way kids can see inside the store and what it looked like for an early 1900s merchant,” Pedrotti says. B
Pedrotti Ace Hardware – Advertorial
Hats off
to Pedrotti Ace
Bart Bridge — A growing Solano County company n Richard S. Freedman It’s almost an inevitable challenge for Mike Hampton: convincing a client that, basically, you can’t fit the details of the Sistine Chapel on a postage stamp. Hampton is a 42-year-old graphic designer for Bart Bridge, a growing ball cap company born out of owner Luke Fraser’s Vallejo garage. It’s Hampton who helps create – if not completely creates – an eye-catching patch for hats that typically represent small towns or a small business. Or special events – like the 100th anniversary of Pedrotti Ace Hardware. A hat’s impact must be immediate, Hampton says. “You want it to be easy to read and recognizable in relaying that image of the essence of what the company is. People see it from a glance. They’re not going to stop walking to inspect the hat,” Hampton says. Unfortunately, Hampton continues, “people want details in a small space and embroidery is a whole other medium. You don’t want it to where you can’t tell what it is. It’s a tricky thing. As a designer, your job is to take your knowledge in the process but still help the client get what they want.” Bart Bridge is unique, he says, because of that “vintage retro feel to it.” “It’s something you might have seen in the late ’70s or early ’80s,” he says. “And that’s kind of what our approach is.” Bart Bridge has churned out more than 800 different hats, Hampton says, immediately thinking of a hat for the city of San Carlos as one of his personal favorites. “I did the digital artwork of a train station there that is an iconic building,” he says. “With the colors and simplicity of it all … that’s one of my
favorite designs.” In creating the Ace patch, Hampton says he gained a quick admiration for Pedrotti, a person “who is very passionate about the business, his work ethic and care to details.” With the hardware store an important aspect of the Benicia community, “we want to get this right, and I think we did,” Hampton says. “To do something for someone’s family legacy that’s been in the community so long has been an honor.” Pedrotti couldn’t be happier. “He nailed it,” Pedrotti says. “It was clear from all his work that Mike is very talented and also patient as I pushed hard. But this is such a special time for a company and community that it was essential we capture the essence of the moment.” Hampton has worked with Fraser since 2012 after answering an ad for an artist/graphic designer on Craigslist. The two initially created Golden State Warrior-themed T-shirts, selling them on the overpass between BART and the Oakland Coliseum – thus, “Bart Bridge” was hatched. One other vital member of the small Bart Bridge crew, Ashley Muller, met Fraser in 2011 and now handles accounts and much of the marketing and social media. “In the beginning, I was just helping at pop-up events,” she says. “It was just on the fly. Now it’s transitioned into becoming a bigger situation and I have more responsibility.”
Nobody imagined how big Bart Bridge would become, says Muller, with a recent relocation to a bigger space in Vacaville. “We had joked about our Vallejo garage as ‘a cave of mistakes,’” Muller says, acknowledging that Fraser “has tried so many different things, and not all took off.” Ah, but that retro looking hat caught on. A niche was found. “I didn’t think my life would be surrounded by hats,” Muller says. “I don’t think any of us thought it would catch on the way it did. I love our hats.” The hats’ success, she believes, is in their homage to small towns and small communities. Bart Bridge doesn’t sit back and churn out a million “San Francisco” hats with a patch of the Golden Gate Bridge. “People have pride in their own community,” Muller says, with a key to the hat’s success: “our artwork looks good and it speaks to the place.” B
BeniciaMagazine.com • 25
Advertorial
In Memoriam
Richard David Boltz A native Californian, born in San Francisco and raised in Oakland, Richard was a man of many friends, travels and interests. Richard attended Oakland’s Fremont High. After graduation he moved to Hawaii to spend a year surfing the waves before being called home to say goodbye to his older sister, Sondra, and then enlisting to serve in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. After his time in the military, and a stint with Bechtel, Richard was sent to Houston, where he stayed for less than a year. It was there that he met Robyn, by the pool at the Houston apartment complex where they both lived. After a whirlwind romance and the opportunity to change directions in a new role with Morrison-Knudsen, Richard and Robyn moved to The Hague, Netherlands and then Cologne, Germany before returning to the States. During this time overseas Richard and Robyn welcomed their only child, Natalie [Boltz] Keller and met lifelong friends, Cole and Rina Morgan. An avid lover of music, water and all things boating, Richard enjoyed his Carver Yacht ‘Lazy Daze’ and spending time at his second home, the Benicia Yacht Club. Richard was a pillar of support in helping the club through the years and always made sure to lend a hand whenever needed. There was nothing he loved more than being on his boat or up at ‘The Club’ with the people he enjoyed, blaring some of his always epic playlist, having a cold tequila and cigar in hand.
26 • Benicia Magazine
Richard will be sorely missed by all who knew him, but most importantly by his wife, daughter, and son-in-law. Often seen together at Natalie and Mark’s business, Bruehol Benicia Brewing, Richard was a very proud supporter. He was a friend to all and a man of his word. He will be remembered by his incredible ability to always be positive and his dedication to those he loved. His love of art collected from various travels, reading, trying out a new recipe and finding new music was shared with everyone he met. Richard is predeceased by his parents Nell Stahl and Vernon Boltz, sisters Sondra Boltz and Valerie Boltz Woods, nephew Andrew Woods. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Robyn; daughter Natalie and son in law Mark Keller; sister Sabrina [Gus] Carroll and family; niece Wendy Woods and family; nephews Alexander Woods and family; Kevin Greer and family; Bobby Moore and family; the family of nephew Andrew Woods, wife Zoe and children Mya, Leigh and Mitchell; the children of lifelong friends Cole and Rina Morgan, Kate and John Paul. Richard passed peacefully on May 2nd, 2022 with his family by his side. A celebration of life will be held at Benicia Yacht Club on Saturday, July 23rd, 2022 from 2-5pm. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation in his name to the Benicia Yacht Club. B
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Valley Fine Foods Receives the 2021 Eco Award Republic Services awards the 2021 Eco Award to Valley Fine Foods for its comprehensive work in recycling. Valley Fine Foods has been quietly producing quality food in Benicia Industrial Park for 30 years and has been deeply committed to the environment and the community. These Steps were taken to reduce waste and extend it’s usefulness: Powered production plants using solar power
Established organics initiative to improve practices Directed food waste out of landfills Recycled single use plastics
Reconfigured plastic washing line for better acceptance rate
Composted food scraps and added it back to community soil Republic Services, along with the City of Benicia, is proud to present this award to them.
Congratulations Valley Fine Foods! BeniciaMagazine.com • 27
column Booktails
Book and Cocktail Club
“When you can recognize a pattern, you can change an outcome. Change a pattern in your own life, you change your whole life. But I tell you the truth, the only pattern worth repeating is kindness.”
28 • Benicia Magazine
n
Cooper Mickelson
The Perishing, by Natashia Deón, is a novel that sat on my shelf for almost a year before I felt the pull to read it. The cover is elegant, the author praised, and the synopsis intriguing, yet something kept me from picking it up. Although I'm upset with myself for not diving into this story the moment I had it in my hands, I think I ended up reading The Perishing at the perfect time for me. This beautiful, heartbreaking, and critical novel isn't the book that every reader will expect it to be from the description alone. Nonetheless, it deserves to be read. Lou, our protagonist, gains consciousness naked and alone in a Los Angeles alley, and from the moment she recognizes her existence, she's in danger. This awakening is not only the beginning of our story but the beginning of Lou's journey toward self-discovery.
Lou is immortal, and the life that begins for her in this dark alley in 1930 is the one where Lou ultimately reclaims her "self" and unlocks the memories of her past lives. It takes some time for the reader to find their footing at the novel's start. We jump between the 1930s and 2102 relatively often, and the confusion felt by Lou as she grapples with her identity and situation is so accurately portrayed through Deón's writing that it transfers seamlessly to the reader. As Lou grows more comfortable in her life, the plot becomes easier to follow. After graduating high school, Lou gets a job at the "death desk" of the Los Angeles Times, where she is in charge of writing obituaries. Through this, Lou discovers her calling as a writer; to emphasize how Black lives matter by capturing and conveying their beauty within their final stories.
Up to this point, apart from some unnatural healing abilities, there is almost no mention of Lou's immortality. That changes when she befriends a firefighter at a downtown boxing gym. Even though Lou has no memory of this man, she is shocked to realize that she's been drawing his face for years. Increasingly convinced that they have a history together, possibly in a past life, Lou begins to believe she is an immortal sent to this time and place to accomplish something meaningful. She decides to investigate the mystery of her enigmatic existence and attempt to make sense of the myriad of jumbled lifetimes that fill her dreams. Using flashes of Lou's past and future lives, we see our protagonist observing and growing, ultimately discovering an intense empathy for all beings. This development is emphasized by Lou's narration, living in the middle of a timeline without the benefit of remembered experience. Intergenerational trauma is a major theme of The Perishing, as are reflections on social issues played out over and over through time. These are topics that others could speak about much more eloquently than I can, but I think it's important to mention that they are central to the story. The Perishing has some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read (a theme for the past few Booktails picks) and a message that everyone can learn from. References to pivotal Los Angeles events add interest for local California history buffs, and I enjoyed learning about depression-era Los Angeles while reading this book. B
Lou's Summer Highball This month’s cocktail features Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the first major spirits company to be founded and run by an African American woman. Head to their website to learn more about this company's exciting history. We are also using Recess products which can be found online or at Mighty Market in Martinez. INGREDIENTS: 2oz Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey 6 Fresh Black Cherries 3/4oz Lillet Blanc 3/4oz Fresh Pink Grapefruit Juice 1/4oz Fresh Lemon Juice Recess Pomegranate Hibiscus PREPARATION: 1. Remove pits and muddle the fresh black cherries in the bottom of a mixing glass. 2. A dd Lillet Blanc, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and ice. Stir. 3. Strain over new ice in a Collins glass. 4. Top with Recess Pomegranate Hibiscus. 5. Garnish with the peel of a fresh grapefruit.
24 HOUR
Community Information Line:
707-745-7534 Questions? Contact:
BeniciaCommunityRelations@Valero.com
BeniciaMagazine.com • 29
column Dinner and a Movie
The twenty fourth in a series of at home food and movie pairings.
and
s ot DoAg94591 H y t s C a Sac’s gTs Road , Vallejo0,am
prin 10:3 2445 S pen daily at O 442
2-2 707 64
n Gourmet Gracie and Movie Magic This classic spot with a vintage vibe opened in 1976 with one goal: Serve the best hot dogs in Northern California. “We don’t serve fast food, we serve good food.” Many believe that dogs were first sold as “dachshund sausages” by a German immigrant with a food cart in 1860s New York. Coney Island made frankfurters famous in 1870 with the “Coney Dog.” In 1890, a St. Louis vendor offered his customers gloves to sample his sausages. When he ran out of gloves, he used buns to serve the dogs. Along the way, hot dogs became synonymous with beer and baseball. Hot dogs have history! And, maybe a little culture as well.
30 • Benicia Magazine
Sac’s is serious about sausage. Their 100% beef dogs, made from a private recipe, are delivered twice a week. An Oakland bakery delivers freshly baked buns daily. The menu at Sac’s has….well…hot dogs! Cheese dogs, kraut dogs, Cajun dogs, chili dogs and of course, the Super Chili Cheese Dogs — all scrumptious. A good place to start is with the “Original Tasty Dog,” an unadulterated hot dog with, simply, mustard, relish, onion and tomato. Get the cheesy chili right on your dog, or enjoy it on the side. Everything is fresh and made on the premises — they have no freezer. Welcoming and efficient staff, easy parking, limited seating inside/outside. Sac’s is a favorite hang out for local high school alum and a destination for hot dog lovers all over the Bay Area.
YEARS 1946 ~ 2021 Continuing to Build Community
Miracle
2004, 136 minutes, PG, Amazon Prime The United States Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team beat the highly favored Soviet professionals for the Olympic Gold in 1980. Theirs is a journey of extraordinary determination. Their plan to attack versus simply defend against their intimidating opponents is contrary to tradition. Almost two decades later, their victory still exhilarates and assures us that miracles are always possible. This is a true story about loyalty, perseverance, commitment and heart. Who are YOU playing for? One of the profound training scenes in the movie gives the answer…we are not playing for ourselves,
“we are playing for the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.” or for our coach, or for our alma mater…we are playing for the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. This was a turning point in the story when the players became a team with a common goal. Coach Herb Brooks, played by Kurt Russell, has an ax to grind. He’d been a player who was removed from his 1960 Olympic team just before they went on to win a medal. Bucking the traditional system, Brooks, a former college coach, selects each Olympic team member based on passion and desire. His style is brash and unique, he takes no prisoners, makes no friends, but his stalwart philosophy carries them through. Egos are smashed, full blown patriotism takes over while personal triumphs are celebrated. The scenes on the ice are authentic and inspiring. Kurt Russell shows multi-layered emotion and grit. Even knowing the ending, the tale takes us over and we’re sitting on the edge of our seats in anticipation. Dubbed “Miracle on Ice,” this nostalgic and heartwarming story is just the ticket for Fourth of July celebrations in 2022. B Movie Magic gives this an enthusiastic 4 ½ moons.
ESTEY Since 1946
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BeniciaMagazine.com • 31
Benicia's KI TC H E N A N D B ATH EX PE RTS
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AFFORDABLE QUALITY Cabinets and Countertops
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