If you tilt your head just right, you can taste it in the air
… Thanksgiving is just around the corner. It’s my most “favorite-ist” time of year!
Enjoy the feast-ive season with Hattie, and she reminds us that there’s a whole lot more to do in Coronado than just sleeping off the turkey. Christine offers us a little color from the old country … a bright, refreshing taste of Italy. Your Fall table is sure to be a beautiful thing, and we have a few suggestions from Mary Palumbo that are sure to make it a treat for the tastebuds, too. And, we shouldn’t forget, the holidays can bring their own special stress … enjoy a moment of Turtle Time with Safe Harbor Coronado …. a little emotional resiliency is sure to go a long ways.
Delve into the fascinating history of Coronado’s beloved Ferries with the Coronado Historical Association … and celebrate Seniors through a special photography exhibit, courtesy of the Coronado Cultural Arts Commission … every wrinkle tells a story.
And, finally, travel with Kris on a few Holiday Adventures … six little escapes sure to make your holiday season bright.
The Holidays are coming to Coronado … get your eatin’ clothes ready, and enjoy all that this wonderful City has to offer for this most wonderful time of year.
Del Coronado Realty is a full service boutique brokerage specializing in Concierge-level real estate in Coronado, CA and the surrounding Coastal San Diego Areas.
Are you ready to make a significant move in your real estate journey?
Our dedicated team is here to help you find not just a house, but a home that will become your legacy Imagine a place where you can create lasting memories, build traditions, and establish a foundation for future generations
We specialize in finding homes that cater to your unique needs and desires Purchasing a property at The Del is not simply buying real estate; it's investing in a storied legacy This iconic establishment and the island itself boast over a century of rich history and luxury, set against the picturesque shores of Coronado Island As an owner at The Del, you are embracing a tradition steeped in grandeur, surrounded by a vibrant, enduring community with world-class amenities.
The island's breathtaking views, warm locals, and superior facilities offer an unparalleled living experience. If you ’ re in search of a place that epitomizes the essence of a perpetual vacation, look no further than Coronado. Immerse yourself in the local charm, relish the peaceful yet vibrant lifestyle, and watch as your new vacation home appreciates in value in this peerless location. Why just visit when you can live the dream every day? Coronado Island awaits, ready to welcome you
For a seamless real estate experience and expert guidance, reach out to Ruth Ann Fisher and the Del Coronado Realty team. Discover exceptional properties and unparalleled service today where your dream home becomes a reality!
Broker
Ruth Ann Fisher DRE #01281432
Broker Associate
Stephanie Basden DRE #01783387
Realtor
Nellie Harris-Ritter DRE #02077055
Realtor
Abigail Baker DRE #02231818
Broker Associate
Cassandra Goldberg DRE #02100680
Gobble Up!
By HATTIE FOOTE
After a chaotic morning getting kids dressed, lunches packed, and a school drop off, all I wanted to do was sit on the couch and catch up on trash TV. I had a few minutes of moaning and groaning when I decided to suck it up and head to Coronado Fitness Club to be productive. I took one of my favorite classes — Spin and Stretch with Sam — and as we were finishing, she shouted for us to be thankful for this moment, our ability to move our bodies and feel the blood pumping, hearts beating. It reminded me how I never regret working out, no matter how much I didn’t want to do it. As our girl Elle Woods said in the movie Legally Blonde, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t kill their husbands, they just don’t!” So, I can assume my husband is very thankful for endorphins this year!
Between cooking and large family gatherings, Thanksgiving can be wonderful or hellish, or even wonderfully hellish! May I suggest getting those endorphins flowing to kick off the day by participating in the Coronado Unit of the Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary 5k Turkey Trot at Tidelands Park! It is one of my families’ favorite traditions, and over the years we have been doing it with all our friends before we all head off to our respective family dinners. We will be out of town this year, as we are headed to Washington DC, but even when we are out of town, we wear our shirts wherever we are and do our own trot. Three years ago, we were frolicking through Lincoln Park in Chicago, all proudly wearing our Coronado Turkey Trot shirts!
This year has been chock-full of lessons in gratitude for me, and one situation sticks out specifically. After turning 40, I had my first mammogram (ladies don’t forget to schedule yours) and I was stressed. I was dreading it and made it much more dramatic in my head. It wasn’t terrible and I was relieved to be done with it, only to
then completely panic while waiting for the results. When I got the all clear I felt like I could breathe… until next year when I do it all over again. But in this moment, I am so grateful for my health. I saw this meme once and it said something along the lines of “when your nose is stuffed and all you can think about is how you take breathing normally for granted.” Ain’t that the truth! Health is wealth!
Speaking of gratitude, I am extremely grateful we are traveling this year, and I will not be cooking! My mom and aunt will take the lead, while the rest of us lounge around drinking wine and harassing our chefs. My son asked if we were having chicken and avocado again this year, which I am assuming that he is referring to the turkey and green bean casserole from last year. I’m glad my cooking left such an impression on him. I asked what he would like to be served, and he requested shrimp, French fries, and banana splits, so that should be delicious.
I really do enjoy Thanksgiving so much; it is a beautiful time for reflection and love. I am so appreciative for this space to connect with my
community, and our special town. I hope you enjoy your day with your loved ones, eat as much as you can, and chill out because as you know, we have a very quick turnaround time for the holidays! As soon as the tryptophan wears off it is time for the Coronado Annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting! Mark your calendars for 12/06! Happy Thanksgiving Coronado, you jewels of the crown!
Did you know that there are over 14,000 known species of mushrooms on the planet? It is also assumed that there are more yet to be discovered. Of those known species, only around 650 have been widely studied and cultivated for distribution and consumption. White button mushrooms are the most commonly consumed in the United States, along with Crimini, Portabella, Shiitake, Oyster, and Enoki.
While they come in many shapes, sizes, and colors, each of these mushroom species is the fruit-bearing part of a larger living fungi. Mushrooms are a lowcalorie source of protein, antioxidants, fiber, potassium, B vitamins, and vitamin C. They also contain several health-benefiting minerals such as selenium, copper, iron, and phosphorus. Because of this, mushrooms are thought to prevent numerous forms of cancer and health conditions like diabetes, as well as contribute to cardiovascular health. Also, while many people take folic acid or folate supplements during pregnancy, eating mushrooms can often help achieve the same health benefits.
With so many types of mushrooms to choose from, their tastes can vary from species to species. However, a majority of the mushrooms you find in stores have a savory, rich, earthy, and even meaty flavor and texture. In fact, many vegetarians substitute mushrooms for meat in their favorite dishes. Peak mushroom season in Southern California is typically late October through April, making them the perfect addition to all of your soothing comfort meals this fall.
Every day we offer you ITALIAN AUTHENTICITY and the best Balsamic Vinegar from a family-owned business directly from Modena, Italy! HAPPY HOUR SUN-THURS 4-6PM
Explore our Cooking Classes, Wine Dinners, and a variety of exciting events!
Silver Strand Exchange At Loews Resort (619) 424-4000
Smokehouse at the Del (619) 435-6611
Spiro’s Greek Café Ferry Landing (619) 435-1225
Stake Chophouse + Bar 1309 Orange Ave. (619) 522-0077
Subway 1330 Orange Ave. (619) 435-8272
Villa Nueva Bakery Cafe 956 Orange Ave. (619) 435-1256
Village Pizzeria Bayside Ferry Landing (619) 437-0650
Village Pizzeria 1206 Orange Ave. (619) 522-0449
Vom Fass Ferry Landing (619) 534-5034
Which Wich 926 Orange Ave. (619) 522-9424
Yummy Sushi 1330 Orange Ave. (619) 435-2771
Drink In The Colors Of The Season
By CHRISTINE JOHNSON
Welcome to November, the true beginning of the fall season. The air turns crisp, the leaves change color, and the holiday season begins.
This November, I am reminded of the importance of examining gratitude. One should examine those that are important to oneself and spend time with them. This mindset should always be present, but sometimes, it takes getting away from one’s daily routine to see the world differently.
Spending time in several countries has allowed me to relax and remember what is near and dear to me. Visiting Europe with my recent college graduate daughter, her best friend since kindergarten, and her mom enabled us to laugh, smile, and explore new landscapes without interruption. We had planned this trip for so many months. We watched our children grow up before our eyes, and this vacation was part of their success and outlook toward their futures. It was an opportunity to see them explore things not on their cell phones.
This was not just a trip to visit Europe and buy souvenirs. It celebrated people and cultures and how they welcomed others into their homes. Was there a language barrier? (YES—everywhere!) There were also time differences, tea instead of coffee, and travel variations.
But none of it seemed to matter. I sat back in awe as I watched us navigate through so many places, and still, every person smiled, wished us well, and wanted to make our time in their home better.
Thanksgiving in the U.S. brings that same kind of warm and loving feeling—a time to bring family and friends together from various places into one home. The feast is prepared, and we sit down to enjoy one another and concentrate on what we are thankful for. Maybe everyone doesn’t like the same food or have the same views or beliefs, but the time together is the only thing that matters. Life is a short and unforgiving process sometimes, and we should be thrilled to embrace the time we spend together — no matter where we are.
The drink for November is most likely familiar to everyone, given its popularity at home and abroad. While in Italy, it occurred to me that even though this drink seems to have gained “tourist” status, it brings people from different places to the same place to celebrate and even has the colors of fall.
Be thankful for your family and friends, remember to honor our Veterans for all they sacrifice for our freedoms, and welcome in the fresh autumn air with an Aperol Spritz in hand!
INGREDIENTS
(per cocktail)
Ice
3 ounces Aperol
3 ounces dry Prosecco
1 ounce (a splash) club soda or unflavored sparkling water
Orange slice for garnish
MIXOLOGY
Pour the prosecco and club soda in a tall wine glass over ice.
Top with Aperol, then garnish with orange slice.
Making Beautiful Things...
Fall table with an unexpected pop of pink is a nice change from the classic orange & gold. The white pumpkins add the finishing touches that speak “season’s change.”
~Mary Palumbo
Poached Pear Blue Cheese Tart
To Make:
Ingredients:
Thinly sliced poached pear
Blue cheese (or goat cheese, if preferred)
Freshly made pie dough (or store bought refrigerated, if preferred)
Fresh Rosemary
Egg wash
Thinly slice pear, and poach in equal parts sugar & water plus 2 sprigs of Rosemary. Allow to cook for about 5 minutes or until tender. Let cool on paper towels.
Roll pie dough into desired shape and place on parchment paper. Top with crumbled blue cheese (or other preferred cheese), leaving a 2" edge. Arrange pear slices in desired pattern then fold edge in and pinch or crimp, as desired.
Sprinkle with Rosemary sprigs.
Bake at 400 degrees for about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your oven. Cheese should be melted and bubbly, and the crust should be golden.
Slicing a beautiful pear and filling it with baby greens, goat cheese, and chopped walnuts, then lightly dressed with Balsamic Vinaigrette, makes for a lovely and different way to serve salad.
Autumn’s cooler weather is a perfect time for comfort food. A pot of slowly braised Chicken
fills the kitchen with a delicious Italian aroma.
Cacciatore
Fresh roses and gold cake beads are all you need to make this beautiful naked cake elegant. Choose your favorite flavor and keep it simple. A special plate brings it together.
THE REAL
CONNECTION
Seasoned Realtors® join forces to better serve thei r clients, proudly representing Military clients and their fam ilies.
We have perfected the “Military Move” with our network of Relocation Specialists. Both Connie and Bob hold Active Real Estate Licenses in California and Florida.
With over 75 years of combined experience, we excel in representing Buyers, Sellers and Relocation. We wor k and know ALL neighborhoods! We go where our client goes!
HOURLY & 24 HOUR CARE
Personal Care, Medication Reminders, Post-Surgical Care, Meal Preparation, Dementia & Parkinson’s Care, Companionship, Driver Services, Light House Cleaning, Assist with Activities of Daily Living, Errand and Medical Appointment Assistance
Why should you choose Always There, LLC?
Always There has been successfully serving Coronado Residents and those within the greater part of San Diego for over 10 Years! We are a local family owned and operated business. As an independent agency we are able to provide highly competitive rates to our Clients by avoiding all of the unnecessary franchise junk fees.
Why should you choose Always There, LLC over a private caregiver?
Always There is a licensed, bonded, and insured home care agency. We bear the burden of all the risk and liability associated with having a caregiver in the home. Our Client’s do not need to worry about a private caregiver injuring themselves while in the home, lost valuables, paying caregiver taxes or social security benefits, scheduling issues, properly reporting wages, abiding by wage and hour laws, and defending potential lawsuits filed by disgruntled private caregivers. Our Clients are shielded from these common private caregiver pitfalls.
What sets our Always There, LLC Care Team apart from the rest?
Each member of our Always There Care Team is personally interviewed, hired, and trained. Our staff is composed entirely of W-2 Employees, no Independent Contractors, and they each must pass a rigid State of California Department of Justice and FBI background check in order to have the opportunity to work for our Agency.
Who will I be communicating with when I contact Always There, LLC?
Sherri and Cherie provide our boutique white glove service to all our Clients. You
Should I get a flu shot?
Quality medical care for the whole family
Yes! Preventing the flu is not only important for yourself, it is also important for protecting your loved ones. We recommend that everyone 6 months and older get the flu shot.
When should I see my doctor about a backache?
if your backache was caused by trauma (especially if you felt or heard a “crack” or “pop” during the injury ) You should also be seen if the back injury has lasted for greater than 6 weeks or if it is accompanied by weakness, tingling or numbness. Other red flags would be back pain accompanied by unexplained weight loss, fevers, or worsening pain at night
What about for heartburn?
If you experience difficulty swallowing, food/drink “getting stuck”, or weight loss, you should be seen in the office You should also b e evaluated if your symptoms have not improved with 2 weeks of over the counter medications If your heartburn is accompanied by chest pain, dizziness or pain radiating into the neck, jaw, back, or arms, you should be seen in the ER to rule out a heart attack.
Do I need to treat my high blood pressure even though I feel fine?
Absolutely Hypertension is one of the root causes of many severe health conditions, and many patients do not even know they have it! Uncontrolled hypertension causes damage over time to the vasculature of your body This damage can make you more likely to develop a heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, kidney failure or retinal damage There are many great medications to help treat high blood pressure available to patients Taking high blood pressure seriously and treating it accordingly may save your life
Considine, D O | Lisa Considine, D
Ruslana V.M.
Founder | Skincare & Facial Expert
248-904-7312
Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving
SPECIALIZING IN:
Facelift/Sculpting
Buccal Face Massage
Mesotherapy
Microcurrent/LED Treatments
Dermaplaning
Advanced Facial Peels
1010 Park Place, Coronado • www.lanaskinfitmethod.com
LANA SKINFIT METHOD
1. Tell us a little bit about Lana Skinfit Method and you.
I am Ruslana Medyanikova and I Love skin. My passion is performing amazing facials and layering multiply techniques and technologies for the most spectacular results. And my clients love it! My specialty is my sculpting facial massage and Buccal Intraoral Facial Massage.
2. What makes your facials different from others?
Every facial treatment is the realization of the vision intermixing the very best results that clinical treatments have to offer combined with the healing touch and time honored traditional skincare. All my facial includes my sculpting massage or Buccal massage; it flashes stagnant lymph, lifts and sculpts, floods the tissue with nutrients and improves skin oxygenating. When we are exposed to the sun, I like to concentrate on the neck, chest and hands treatment which includes peels, oxygen, nano infusion treatments and more . I like to add LED light therapy (face/hands) - it promotes collagen, circulation and gives the skin a youthful, healthy glow. In my practice I use Microcurrent Treatment, microdermabrasion, Gua Sha, cupping for face, neck and décolleté, advance peels and much more.
3. Holidays are around the corner... any suggestions for clients?
Each of us has individual needs, with everything from age and lifestyle to climate and stress all dictate what your skin needs. My suggestion is, during the day focus on prevention, starting with just splashing your skin with warm water, and following with a toner or essence, antioxidant/ hydrating serum, eye cream, moisturizer and SPF. In the evening, a corrective regime is the key. Begin with a double cleanse, then apply exfoliant or toner followed by targeting treatment such as lactic acid / retinol, and finish with a nourishing cream to lock in active ingredients to support your skin's own repairing process while you sleep. If necessary I like switching night cream for an overnight mask to really nourish dry or dehydrated skin. Use targeted eye cream. Abandoning your eye creams and using your normal skin care around the eyes is just not enough: the eyes need specific products. Choose light textured creams (heavier creams can cause puffiness) that are absorbed easily to hydrate ultra-dry/ thin skin; everyone will benefit from more moisture here, as very often those fine lines are from dehydration, not age.
Ruslana V.M., Founder | Skincare & Facial Expert
What makes your office unique?
We are a mother-daughter orthodontic team that strive to provide our patients with personalized orthodontic care in a warm and empathetic environment. We make sure that each patient understands their ‘bites’, their individualized treatment options, our common treatment goals, and ensure their treatment plan is a good fit for them.
What kinds of ‘braces’ do you offer?
We offer traditional metal braces, clear/ceramic braces, braces on the inside of the teeth (lingual braces), and Invisalign-type aligner treatment.
At what age should my child receive an orthodontic evaluation?
Diane J. Milberg, DDS, MSD
Laura Milberg Rein, DMD, MS
We follow the American Association of Orthodontist’s recommendation to see children by the age of 7. Early assessment and monitoring will allow us to address certain situations/’bites’ that may be more difficult or not possible to address when the child is older.
Why would my child need 2 sets of braces?
Early or Phased treatment is often recommended to intercept certain bites or orthodontic problems. In early treatment, we are able to improve the relationship of the upper and lower jaws and alleviate future crowding. Early treatment may also reduce the time and extent of future orthodontic care once a child is ready for full braces.
What do you love about your profession?
It is a privilege and joy to see our patient’s grow and be a part of their lives. We love educating our patient’s and having them become actively involved in their own treatment and overall health. One of the most rewarding aspects of our career is the honor of having former patients bring their own children in for orthodontic care,
REAWAKEN TO YOUR TRUE SELF, RECLAIM YOUR POWER Book Your Free Clarity Call - lylelanabernardez.com
st potential by aligning their actions with their core values, unique strengths, ct with their true selves, releasing limiting beliefs and moving forward with clarity. s, unlocking their deepest desires and purpose.
and the Akashic Records with practical, personalized coaching. This unique approach helps n their lives and unlock their fullest potential.
ar on your unique strengths, gifts and barriers so that you can align with your purpose, heir birth chart come alive, revealing their core patterns, potential challenges, and unique talents that is already in their chart and soul’s record
Together, we make these insights practical with tailored, actionable steps, so that they can start living a life that aligns with who they are truly meant to be.
Q: Why is it important to activate your unique soul blueprint?
A: It will help you make decisions faster, have unwavering trust in yourself, and know that you are on "the right track".
You no longer feel confused about the next right step. You magnetize your dream career that perfectly suits your gifts, strengths, and uniq
Create harmonious relationships, deep lasting love, and meaningful connections.
Generate more abundance with ease and position yourself for long-term financial success.
Know for certain you are living out your life's purpose.
Q- What are the Akashic Records?
A: The Akashic Records are a complete vibrational history of every thought, experience, emotion and interaction of every soul that has ever existed.
Think of them as a metaphysical library.
Every person has a soul and so every person has an Akashic Record. The Akashic Records are so delicate that every single thought, every emotion, and everything that your soul has ever experienced in this and every other life has been imprinted into your Record.
By accessing this information, I help clients move beyond barriers, step into a life aligned with their highest calling and use these insights to co-create their desired life on this planet.
how to lose weight
+your appetite
Dr Y shares the skinny on the GLP-1 agonist Semaglutide
How does Semaglutide cause weight loss without diet or exercise ?
It works by curbing your appetite, so you naturally eat less without feeling deprived. On this medication your body resets and returns to its natural hunger cues, leading to healthier eating habits and sustainable results.
What results can I expect based on the scientific data ? based on the scientific data ?
On semaglutide you’ll lose on average of 15-20% of body weight over 56 weeks. Incidentally, you will also enjoy reduced risks of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and maybe even neurodegenerative diseases.
What are the common side effects using Semaglutide?
Common side effects include tummy troubles like nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea, especially when you first start or increase your dose. Thankfully, these usually settle down over time or with dose change.
Is there anyone who should NOT use this medication?
If you've got a family history of thyroid cancer, especially the sneaky medullary kind, or if you've had a run-in with pancreatitis, it's best to steer clear of Semaglutide and other GLP-1 medications.
Patrick Yassini, MD ABIHM is medical director and founder of Peak Health Group, an integrative medical practice in Coronado dedicated to maximizing HealthSpan and Optimizing Function. Peak Health Group brings to our community affordable programs for medical weight management and bio-identical hormone replacement that literally change lives.
What are some of the most common dental conditions?
Cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, but also tooth wear! Some wear and tear on teeth are normal, but many people overlook the severe consequences of worn down teeth if not prevented early Worn teeth are common, but they aren’t necessarily “normal.”
Why are people getting more cavities today than ever before?
Due to the increased acid living in our mouths because of our (higher carbohydrate) diets and stress!
Why are dentists asking me about my sleep?
There are many correlations between the sleep you are getting, your mouth, and your overall health. The rst sign of sleep apnea is often teeth grinding. Undiagnosed apnea can cause a person to mouth breathe, which causes dr y mouth and increased risk of cavities, gum disease and mouth sores. And those are just the dental correlations! It ’s also a life threatening disease!
What ’s the common fac tor between gum disease, hear t disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis?
In ammation! Untreated in ammation of your gums can transmit to the rest of your body to cause other harmful diseases
Is straightening teeth just cosmetic?
No! It provides a better foundation for your occlusion, or bite, which can lessen the amount of wear on your teeth and it also can widen your air way so you can get a better night’s sleep and live longer!
619-704-7903
1105 8th Street • Coronado
www.realmnaturopathicca.com
What services does Dr. Laurence Freitas at Realm Naturopathic & Integrative Medicine provide?
Dr. Laurence is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist providing integrative medical approaches and lab analysis to help with a variety of wellness concerns, addressing aliments, and managed conditions. He is thorough, empathic, and pragmatic with his approaches using evidence based natural medicine approaches whenever possible, but can prescribe medications when needed at a reasonable cost.
What is a Naturopathic Doctor?
A naturopathic doctor (ND) is a primary care doctor who specializes in natural medicine and is trained in conventional medical sciences. We use a variety of labs, natural therapies, and techniques to treat a range of conditions.
Does Acupuncture always need needles? What are the needles for?
No. Dr. Laurence specializes in a variety of approaches including pediatric and non-inserted needle approaches, such as cupping/slide cupping, guasha, tissue mobilization, sotai, neuromuscular reeducation, tissue and joint mobilizations, cranial sacral techniques, and topical herbal medications, and more. People commonly request needles, though, for their relaxing and painless benefits most studied for pain relief but can treat most conditions. Acupuncture needles are very thin and solid unlike blood draw needles.
What are some conditions Dr. Laurence treats and tests?
• Chronic gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, constipation, bloating, parasites, SIBO and heartburn.
• Women’s hormones such as perimenopause, menopause, PCOS, painful menstrual conditions, & preconception
• Chronic or acute pain best treated with multiple approaches including acupuncture
• Lifestyle and diet recommendations for improved quality of life, prevent illnesses, and treat conditions
• Insomnia and other sleep problems • Stress management, and mental emotional conditions • Low energy/fatigue due to a variety of conditions
• Adjunctive cancer treatments and approaches • Family medicine and help with children's wellness
• Traditional blood work, in-depth specialized saliva, urine, and stool analysis not commonly offered by conventional medicine.
•B12 and B-complex vitamins and weight loss injections
• Dr. Laurence offers a free 15-minute Meet and Greet via phone if you have questions or want to learn more.
Let our specialized expertise, diagnostic technology, and professional dry eye therapy options help you regain comfortable vision. Proper diagnosis is the first step toward relief.
New patients welcome Dr Stephen Mo ett
What is Dry Eye?
Dr y eye is a chronic disease of the surface of the eye characterized by a decreased quality of tears to su ciently lubricate the eyes. This may cause symptoms such as burning, excessive tearing, irritation and itchiness. Dr y eye can have multiple causes including tear lm instability and hyperosmolarity, ocular sur face in ammation and damage, and neurosensor y abnormalities. For tunately, dr y eye treatments are available to help reduce symptoms and increase a patient’s quality of life
What Contributes to Dry Eye?
There are a number of factors that can contribute to dry eye, such as: Age, gender (women), windy, smokey or dr y environment, seasonal allergies, prolonged screen time, laser eye surgery medications (antihistamines, antidepressants, birth control pills, etc), autoimmune disorders (Sjogre’s syndrome, Diabetes, Thyroid Disease, etc.), rosacea.
How Do You Test for Dry Eye?
We use the Marco Phoenix Corneal Topographer for Dr y Eye testing. This state - of-the -ar t device allows us to diagnose and classify dry eye more thoroughly than ever before
What Treatment Options Are Available?
IPL: Intense pulses light is a proven method of reducing telangiectasis that contribute to in ammation and Dry Eye The only treatment in Dr y Eye that actually treats the cause of symptoms. I t is the Gold Standard for Dr y Eye
How does it work? During the IPL procedure, the heat emanating from the light helps liquidity and release oils that have hardened and clogged the meibomian glands in the eyelids, thus reducing block ages that cause dr y eye symptoms and improving the quality of your tears Call to schedule your eye exam today! (619)435-6221
By Any Other Name
By Jodi Picoult
Book Corner
WHAT PEOPLE ARE READING THIS MONTH
Girl, Woman, Other
By Bernardine Evaristo
Young playwright Melina Green has just written a new work inspired by the life of her Elizabethan ancestor Emilia Bassano. But seeing it performed is unlikely, in a theater world where the playing field isn’t level for women. As Melina wonders if she dares risk failure again, her best friend takes the decision out of her hands and submits the play to a festival under a male pseudonym.
In 1581, young Emilia Bassano is a ward of English aristocrats. Her lessons on languages, history, and writing have endowed her with a sharp wit and a gift for storytelling, but like most women of her day, she is allowed no voice of her own. Forced to become a mistress to the Lord Chamberlain, who oversees all theatre productions in England, Emilia sees firsthand how the words of playwrights can move an audience. She begins to form a plan to secretly bring a play of her own to the stage—by paying an actor named William Shakespeare to front her work.
Told in intertwining timelines, By Any Other Name, a sweeping tale of ambition, courage, and desire centers two women who are determined to create something beautiful despite the prejudices they face. Should a writer do whatever it takes to see her story live on . . . no matter the cost? This remarkable novel, rooted in primary historical sources, ensures the name Emilia Bassano will no longer be forgotten.
The Round House
By Louise Erdrich
One Sunday in the spring of 1988, a woman living on a reservation in North Dakota is attacked. The details of the crime are slow to surface as Geraldine Coutts is traumatized and reluctant to relive or reveal what happened, either to the police or to her husband, Bazil, and 13-year-old son, Joe. In one day, Joe’s life is irrevocably transformed. He tries to heal his mother, but she will not leave her bed and slips into an abyss of solitude. Increasingly alone, Joe finds himself thrust prematurely into an adult world for which he is ill-prepared.
While his father, who is a tribal judge, endeavors to wrest justice from a situation that defies his efforts, Joe becomes frustrated with the official investigation and sets out with his trusted friends, Cappy, Zack, and Angus, to get some answers of his own. Their quest takes them first to the Round House, a sacred space and place of worship for the Ojibwe. And this is only the beginning.
The Round House is a brilliant and entertaining novel, a masterpiece of literary fiction. Louise Erdrich embraces tragedy, the comic, a spirit world very much present in the lives of her all-too-human characters, and a tale of injustice that is, unfortunately, an authentic reflection of what happens in our own world today.
Winner of the 2019 Booker Prize and short-listed for the Gordon Burn Prize, Girl, Woman, Other paints a vivid portrait of the state of post-Brexit Britain, as well as looking back to the legacy of Britain’s colonial history in Africa and the Caribbean.
The 12 central characters of this multi-voiced novel lead vastly different lives: Amma is a newly acclaimed playwright whose work often explores her black lesbian identity; her old friend, Shirley, is a teacher, jaded after decades of work in London’s funding-deprived schools; Carole, one of Shirley’s former students, is a successful investment banker; Carole’s mother, Bummi, works as a cleaner and worries about her daughter’s lack of rootedness despite her obvious achievements. From a nonbinary social media influencer to a 93-year-old woman living on a farm in Northern England, these unforgettable characters also intersect in shared aspects of their identities, from age to race to sexuality to class.
Sparklingly witty and filled with emotion, centering voices we often see othered, and written in an innovative, fast-moving form that borrows technique from poetry, Girl, Woman, Other is a polyphonic and richly textured social novel that shows a side of Britain we rarely see, one that reminds us of all that connects us to our neighbors, even in times when we are encouraged to be split apart.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
By Gabrielle Zevin
On the faded Island Books sign hanging over the porch of the Victorian cottage is the motto “No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World.” A. J. Fikry, the irascible owner, is about to discover just what that truly means.
A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. His wife has died, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. Slowly but surely, he is isolating himself from all the people of Alice Island—from Lambiase, the well-intentioned police officer who’s always felt kindly toward Fikry; from Ismay, his sister-in-law who is hell-bent on saving him from his dreary self; from Amelia, the lovely and idealistic (if eccentric) Knightley Press sales rep who keeps on taking the ferry over to Alice Island, refusing to be deterred by A.J.’s bad attitude. Even the books in his store have stopped holding pleasure for him. These days, A.J. can only see them as a sign of a world that is changing too rapidly. And then a mysterious package appears at the bookstore. It’s a small package, but large in weight. It’s that unexpected arrival that gives A. J. Fikry the opportunity to make his life over, the ability to see everything anew. It doesn’t take long for the locals to notice the change overcoming A.J., or for that determined sales rep, Amelia, to see her curmudgeonly client in a new light; or for the wisdom of all those books to become again the lifeblood of A.J.’s world; or for everything to twist again into a version of his life that he didn’t see coming. As surprising as it is moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an unforgettable tale of transformation and second chances, an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.
Turtle Time
SAFE HARBOR CORONADO: ANNIE GARDNER
Learning Emotional Resiliency
Arguably, one of the hardest skills to learn as a child is to identify big emotions and how to respond appropriately to those feelings. As a child, the response to big feelings may be explosive and dramatic –most of us have witnessed a child in meltdown mode where they are kicking, punching or screaming. Kids react in big ways because they do not yet have the skills necessary to identify what they are feeling, and then make a good choice with what to do with those big feelings.
Learning how to cope with emotions is a lifelong journey. At each stage of development, we are able to add new skills for developing resiliency, as well as methods for coping to avoid meltdown. Science tells us that as the brain grows and develops, the pathways for responding to emotions changes. When we are young, our emotions are managed by our amygdala. This means that big feelings cause us to be reactionary and respond with fight or flight. It is why kids automatically get stuck in meltdown or seem out of control. As we age, the prefrontal cortex develops and helps manage emotions. When this happens, we gain the ability to slow those big feelings. We become proactive and think through our thoughts, feeling and reactions, and take the time to make good decisions.
Further, studies show that when we start young, we have more opportunities to learn multiple coping mechanisms, have more time to practice those skills, and are thus more equipped to learn and grow into adults with healthy social emotional intelligence. The brain takes around 25 years to develop, so the more practice, skills and supports we can provide, early and often, the easier the pathway becomes to healthy decision making and emotional regulation. Like building a sturdy house, we must start from the ground up with a firm foundation. This means we must
teach our young kids how to identify and manage their emotions and move from being reactive to being proactive.
Safe Harbor Coronado is a local non-profit that provides our community with skills, supports and resources for mental health and wellbeing. This vision extends from our oldest to our youngest community members. Thus, throughout the school year, Safe Harbor Coronado visits each school in Coronado to deliver, dynamic, evidence-based curriculum that teaches kids the skills to identify, manage and respond when they have big feelings at different ages. For our youngest kids, Turtle Time is the curriculum utilized to help kids build a strong emotional foundation.
Turtle Time is a program that follows Tucker Turtle as he navigates big feelings. Tucker helps kids relate to real world examples of what might cause big emotions in their lives, how the body feels when experiencing those feelings, and then what to do. At the base level, Turtle Time teaches 3 simple steps to managing a big feeling: The first step is to stop, which means to freeze what you are doing when you feel your body reacting to an emotion. The second step is to ‘tuck into your shell’ and take three deep breaths. This step allows kids a moment to pause and calm the body down. The third step is to put on a thinking cap and think of a plan for what to do next. In this way, students learn to recognize the signs the body gives them when they are having big emotions, and then teaches them to pause, calm the body, and think before acting.
Through engaging storytelling, classroom games, group discussions and dynamic actions, students spend four sessions learning and practicing Turtle Time. Upon completion of the Turtle Time series, students are equipped with knowledge and skills they can use in the real world. Plus, thanks to a collaboration with FOCUS,
“Learning how to cope with emotions is a lifelong journey”
they receive their own Turtle Time book, a water bottle sticker and a squishy turtle to help them remember Turtle Time, encourage them to practice and teach others the easy steps, and connect with the content over time.
Learning how to manage emotions is hard. Turtle Time is a wonderful program that helps build a strong emotional foundation that lays the groundwork for learning future coping skills as kids manage more complex emotions as they age. It sets the groundwork for emotional well-being and resiliency by teaching and practicing the practical skills to apply in big emotional situations. Though it is clearly aimed at
young kids, the content transfers to people of all ages and is a steppingstone for growth.
No matter if you are young, old, or in between, the next time you are feeling a big emotion try Turtle Time: Stop, tuck into your shell, take three deep breaths, put your thinking cap on and make a positive plan for action. Tucker Turtle says, ‘You can do Turtle Time anywhere, and the more you practice, the better you will be.” Managing emotions takes time, selfdiscipline, and grace. But with practice and intention, we can all learn to better manage big feelings and grow into less reactive, more emotionally resilient healthy humans.
Do You Need To Fear Retirement?
If you’re planning to retire in a few years, are you looking forward to it?
Or are you somewhat apprehensive?
Are you asking yourself: “What sort of retirement can I afford?”
It’s a good question — because the answer can make a big difference in your ability to enjoy life as a retiree. And retirement can indeed be enjoyable, exciting, and fun. Consider this from a recent survey by Edward Jones and AgeWave: A majority of respondents said retirement should be looked at as a whole new chapter of life, and not just a time for rest and relaxation. In other words, people are viewing retirement as a chance for new experiences and new opportunities, rather than a time to simply wind down.
But if you’re going to make the most of your retirement — which could last two or even three decades — you need to be financially prepared.
This preparation can involve many steps, but here are some of the key ones:
• Decide what your retirement lifestyle will look like.
How you choose to spend your retirement years can make a big difference in the financial resources you’ll need. For example, if you plan on traveling the world, you might need more income than if you were to stay close to home and pursue your hobbies. If you can envision your retirement lifestyle and estimate how much money you’ll need to support it, you can help reduce some of the uncertainties you might face once you do retire.
• Review your income sources.
During retirement, you’ll likely need to draw on all your income sources, so it’s a good idea to know what you’ll have available, such as your IRA, 401(k), and other investment accounts. You’ll also need to decide when to take Social Security — if you wait until your full retirement age (probably between 66 and 67), you’ll get much larger monthly benefits than if you started taking them at 62. And here’s another variable: earned income. Even if you’ve retired from your career, you might, if you desire, use your acquired skills in a consulting or part-time position. The more you can earn, the less you may have to withdraw from your investment accounts and the better position you’ll be in to delay taking Social Security.
• Consider adjusting your investment portfolio.
For most of your working years, you may have invested mostly for growth — to increase your assets as much as possible. But growthoriented investments are also, by nature, riskier, so when you retire, you should review your portfolio to determine whether you need to move it toward a more conservative position. Also, more conservative investments may provide more current income in the form of interest payments. However, even in retirement, you may need some investments with growth potential if you want to keep ahead of inflation. Retirement is certainly a major milestone in your life — and adjusting to it can take some time. But there will be much less to fear — and much more to enjoy — if you’ve done what you can to prepare yourself financially.
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The Coronado Historical Association’s New Exhibit Delves into the Fascinating History of Coronado’s Beloved Ferries
Many people who grew up in Coronado in the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s have fond memories of riding the ferry to and from downtown San Diego. The boats they rode on were operated by the Coronado-San Diego Ferry Company, once a subsidiary of the J.D. & A.B. Spreckels Company. The Coronado-San Diego Ferry Company had a monopoly to service South Island, thanks to a provision in the original land deed dating back to 1885.
However, another ferry company serviced the commuter traffic to North Island—the Star & Crescent Boat Company. This company is one of the longest still-operational ferry services on San Diego Bay.
Captain Rufus M. Creswell started a passenger ferry service between San Diego and Ballast Point in 1893. There were no roads to Point Loma at the time. By 1898, Creswell had added another boat to his line, the Point Loma, which was used by the government to carry supplies to Fort Rosecrans, then under construction. By 1908, the Point Loma Ferry Company acquired the Star Boat Company. The expanded business now provided additional harbor excursions and passenger ferries to San
Diego, Point Loma, and the Coronado Islands of Mexico.
In 1915, the Point Loma Ferry Company merged with its rival, the Crescent Boat Company, and changed the name to Star & Crescent Boat Company. This new 16-boat fleet provided transportation between Roseville in Point Loma, Fort Rosecrans, Imperial Beach, and the Coronado Islands with deluxe harbor tours.
Famously known in Coronado as the “nickel snatchers,” due to the 5 cent fare in the 1940s, were the military traffic ferries operated by the Star & Crescent Boat Company.
Commuter service started soon after the U.S. Army Air Corps established Rockwell Field with the onset
of WWI. After the war, ferry service to North Island slowed but significantly increased in the early 1940s during WWII and the growth of Naval Air Station North Island. By 1945, Coronado’s population had grown to 25,382—up from 6,932 before the war. The ferry service also included night operations. When Capt. Creswell died, his stepson Oakley J. Hall assumed control of the company and continued to build on the company’s interests. During his tenure, Hall expanded the Star & Crescent Boat Company to provide services associated with San Diego harbor’s recreational activities, including ferry service, tugs, shipbuilding, and petroleum acquisition. Hall built a waterfront empire that contributed greatly to the expansion and develop-
ment of the Port of San Diego.
In 1967, Captain Hall, then the company’s sole shareholder, passed away. The Star & Crescent Boat Company remained in operation with descendants of the Hall family. The completion of the Coronado Bridge in 1969 forced ferry service to come to a halt. Under California law, ferries were banned from operating within ten miles of a toll-crossing so as not to compete with the bridge tolls then financing construction bonds. This ended what was reported at the time as the most frequent ferry service in the United States, with 338 crossings per day and an approximate average of 8,000-plus vehicles carried daily. In 1972, the shipyard site was sold to San Diego’s Campbell Industries.
By 1976, the excursion fleet had been transferred to a new corporate entity using the Star & Crescent name. Other floating assets had been sold off, ending the company’s involvement in the tugboat sector.
In 1986, when the $47 million bond used to finance the construction of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge was paid off, the way was open for the return of ferry service operated by the Star & Crescent Boat Co. on July 1, 1987. In 1990, the Star & Crescent company changed its name to San Diego Harbor Excursion. In 2011, the name was changed again to Flagship Cruises and Events, a banner under which the company continues to operate into its second century in business.
To learn more about the history of ferry service to Coronado, visit the Coronado Historical Association’s latest museum exhibit, Ode to the Ferry.
Celebrating Seniors A Portrait Exhibition
What better use for a camera is there than taking photographs of people?
Celebrating Seniors is a unique portrait exhibition open now at the John D. Spreckels Center showcasing the beauty, wisdom, and resilience of Coronado’s seniors. This collection of portraits by five photographers captures the faces and stories of individuals who have lived through decades of personal triumphs, challenges, and profound change.
Through each portrait, we witness not only the passage of time but the rich tapestry of experiences that shape a life.
In honoring our patrons who are age 50 or better, we recognize their invaluable contributions to families, communities, and society. These portraits reflect the dignity of aging and offer a window into the personalities, memories, and journeys that make each subject remarkable.
Barry Allman - Photographer
It was my pleasure to capture “moments” with a few willing seniors, recently. I met with each participant, briefly, to get a feel for how to best portray their fondness for the senior center, and what activities that they enjoy there, and I tried to make them feel comfortable with me and my cellphone. We used available onsite props. And I coaxed
them to just act naturally. I think that it was a memorable experience that they will remember forever.
I’m pleased with the resultant photos. I’m honored to have been selected for this unique opportunity. I truly enjoy my time in Coronado.
Thank you for trusting me with a few of your treasures.
Kel Casey - Photographer
This project was so much fun and was a great opportunity to get to know some of our local seniors. It was a bit of an unusual venture for me. Most of my portrait subjects are high school seniors, athletes, or young professionals who need headshots. With this project, I photographed five unique women in 15-minute time slots. It was important for me to spend a few minutes with each of them before we started shooting. This allowed me to get
a quick read of each senior, which helps me decide how and where to capture them.
Each of the women had strong, and very different personalities, so I took advantage of some of our great city locations that lent themselves perfectly to the sessions. We used not only the Spreckels Senior Center, but the library and Spreckels Park as well. I truly enjoyed my brief time with each senior, and I’m looking forward to seeing them at the opening.
Keith James - Photographer
What better use for a camera is there than taking photographs of people? They are the ultimate, endlessly fascinating subject, are they not? I had never taken formal portraits of anyone before. So, for me, joining the photography team for the Celebrating Seniors project was a chance to break new ground. I was determined to learn new skills and provide my subjects with a portrait they would love. It was a wonderful experience: making
new acquaintances, and deepening connections with existing friends. At my urging, several brought along an item meaningful to them. We worked out how to incorporate these, both personalizing the portrait, and enhancing its visual impact. I learned a lot: how to set up and use a studio lighting system; and how to partner with each of my subjects, helping them to relax, as I guided and posed them. When can I do it again?
Katie Karosich - Photographer
It was a pleasure to meet the four individuals that I photographed for the Spreckels Senior Center.
Photography is an excellent way to get to meet and learn about
people and their life experiences. I tried to capture some of the spirit of each individual after learning a bit about them. Thank you for the opportunity.
Bill Sandke - Photographer
In my work, I see the main task of a portrait photographer as capturing a pleasing image for your customer that represents them looking their best and is lit, posed and shows an expression conjured that reveals a bit more personal
depth in the subject. Viewers should be able to see both the person photographed as well as a bit of their personality and spirit. I use the word “conjured” to allude to my belief that there is always a bit of magic in the best portraits.
May this exhibition remind us that every wrinkle tells a story, every smile reflects years of wisdom, and every gaze carries the depth of a life well-lived. Feel inspired by the legacy and stories these faces represent. Celebrating SeniorsA Portrait Exhibition is open through March 2025 at the John D. Spreckels Center located at 1019 Seventh Street in Coronado. The Spreckels Gallery is a city-own gallery featuring artwork and exhibitions of local artists. It is managed by the City’s Cultural Arts Commission.
For more information about the Commission visit CoronadoArts.com
This beautiful property features three ensuite bedrooms, with the option to convert a space into a fourth bedroom if needed. With a total of 4.5 bathrooms, there’s ample convenience for both residents and guests. This space is designed for relaxation and enjoyment of the serene waterfront setting. The home boasts impressive high ceilings that enhance its airy and spacious feel.
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H ere Come the Holidays!
From festive day trips to weeklong adventures, these six getaways will make your holiday season bright.
By KRIS GRANT
Whether you have just a day or a full week to venture out this holiday season, I’ve got some recommendations for you. Some are daytrips; others will whisk you away to snow-covered wonderlands. All are guaranteed to get you into the spirit of the season.
Let’s start with a trip up the coast to San Simeon and William Randolph Hearst’s “La Cuesta Encantada,” Spanish for “Enchanted Hill.” That’s what the newspaper magnate called his palatial home that most of us know as Hearst Castle.
I had visited Hearst Castle decades ago and thought that was enough. But that was before I saw the castle decked out for the holidays in 2023 in the same tradition as Hearst and his mistress, the actress Marion Davies, did when they entertained countless Hollywood stars including Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, studio heads like Louis B. Mayer and Jack Warner and world leaders like Prime Minister Winston Churchill and
President Calvin Coolidge. Thomas Edison also made his way to San Simeon as did writer George Bernard Shaw.
Hearst inherited his family fortune in 1919, including 48,000 acres of land along the Central California Coast. He eventually expanded those land holdings to 250,000 acres, heading inland to what is today Highway 101. He had always immensely enjoyed outings down to the ranch, and decided to build a home that was “somewhat more comfortable” than sleeping in tents. He enlisted architect Julia Morgan for the project that he assured her would only require six months of her time, start to finish. But after visiting the site and hearing what her client envisioned, coupled with her own informed ideas, Morgan knew the job would take years.
Morgan had been introduced to W.R., as he liked to be called, by his mother, Phoebe, and he had subsequently enlisted her to do a few other projects including a cabin at the Grand Canyon and a Mission-style building to house
his Los Angeles Examiner newspaper. She was imminently qualified: she was the first woman to graduate from University of California Berkeley’s College of Engineering, the first woman to study architecture at the School of BeauxArts in Paris, the first female architect to head her own firm and the first to win the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal. For nearly 30 years, she worked with Hearst, ultimately designing and often redesigning his castle, as Hearst often changed his mind mid-stream on projects. She served not only as architect, but interior designer, landscape architect, personnel manager and shipping and logistics director. This latter responsibility included shipping European antiquities, including entire marble fountains, priceless tapestries and artwork. Morgan even designed the animal enclosures for Hearst’s zoo, at one time the largest zoo in the world.
So let’s talk about your next visit to Hearst Castle, hopefully this Christmas.
At Christmastime, William Randolph Hearst always held parties for his employees and their families in his castle’s palatial Assembly Room. Each end of the room featured a Christmas tree, one with presents for girls, the other for boys.
Photo by Kris Grant.
San Simeon: Hearst Castle at Christmas
From the end of November through the end of December, Hearst Castle is bedecked for the holidays in the same fashion as it was in the 1920s and 1930s, when William Randolph Hearst entertained guests and also held a special night for his employees and their families. For that occasion, Hearst had two large Christmas trees installed in the 25,000-square-foot Assembly Room, one for girls and one for boys, with oodles of presents displayed underneath.
This is the same room where Hearst would entertain his overnight guests. They would have the grounds at their disposal by day, but were expected to show up for dinner, which was served promptly at 9 p.m. Hearst would quietly enter the Assembly Room from a side door, virtually hidden among the intricate paneling. Guests would then be ushered into the adjoining Gothicstyle Refectory for dinner.
The room includes a Musician’s Loft, where such performers as Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers were frequent entertainers. Hearst always sat at the center of the table, with his guest of honor to his side, for easy conversation. It was all quite elegant, well, except for the Heinz ketchup and French’s mustard bottles, which sat on the table.
The decorations you see on the Christmas tour reflect how Hearst entertained. The tour includes the outdoor Neptune Pool and the indoor Roman Pool. You’ll also get to peek inside the kitchen, go inside the opulent and spacious guesthouses, and see period clothing laid out on beds, tour the billiards room (where both ladies and gentlemen were welcome to play together) and finally see Hearst’s private movie theatre, where guests would adjourn to watch a feature flick after dinner. It all made for quite a late night.
Hearst Castle shines brightly and elegantly on a December night.
Photo by Kris Grant.
Hearst Castle is about 40 miles north on Highway 1 from San Luis Obispo, so it’s about a six or seven-hour drive from Coronado, meaning this is a three-day trip. I encourage you to stay in the delightful town of Cambria, about 14 miles south of San Simeon, which is little more than a collection of roadside hotels. I recommend any of the hotels at Cambria’s Moonlight Beach, where you can hike the beachside boardwalk, or the Bluebird Inn in the center of town.
Your Hearst Castle tour will start at the base of the hill, where you will board an air-conditioned tour bus to take you up the winding drive to the castle. None other than the voice of the late Alex Trebek entertained us on the five-mile trip, with tidbits on the history of the castle. On your return trip down, you’ll see the enclosures that once housed Hearst’s bears. Alas, all the animals except for zebras that you might spy grazing with the cattle on the rolling hills were sold off to the Los Angeles Zoo. In fact, Hearst was such a poor financial manager that most of his assets including much of his land holdings had to be sold off in the late 1930s. He held on to his beloved castle. Hearst’s health compelled him and Davies to leave the castle for the last time in 1947; it was still unfinished but was comprised of 165 rooms plus 123 acres of landscaped, grounds, terraces and pools. Hearst died in Los Angeles on Aug. 14, 1951. The Hearst family gave the castle and many of its contents to the State of California in 1958 and it opened to the public that June, now officially known as San Simeon State Historical Monument. Tour reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance at www. ReserveCalifornia.com or by calling (800) 444-PARK (7275). Tours sell out, so you’ll want to be sure to do this well in advance.
Do arrive a couple of hours early, so that you have time to take in the
Included in the Holiday tour is the kitchen, where cookies are displayed on a counter that appears to be stainless steel but is actually Monel, an alloy of nickel and copper. It was considered “the best” that money could buy, so Hearst called it to the attention of his architect Julia Morgan. Photo by Kris Grant.
45-minute movie on Hearst and the building of his castle at the Visitor Center. It’s included with your tour ticket. There’s also dining facilities, an ice cream kiosk, and an excellent gift store. On the opposite side of the highway by the very dock where all the materials were received that went into the building of the castle, Hearst Ranch Winery now offers oceanfront
wine tasting. Reservations are required, at www.hearstranchwinery.com, with lunch options available from outside vendors and food trucks.
Oh, one more thought – about 4.5 miles north of Hearst Castle on Highway 1 is the California Elephant Seal overlook. There’s free parking and viewing areas. Seals are present most of the year.
Dinner in the Refectory featured elegant place settings, quite in contrast to the ketchup and mustard bottles. Photo by Kris Grant.
Solvang: Julefest
I’ve been trekking to Solvang ever since I was a high school student who lived just an hour and a half away in Thousand Oaks. I’d drive up the 101 past Santa Barbara and Goleta, then head east, away from the coast at Gaviota State Park. Emerging from the Gaviota Gorge tunnel, I always got a thrill of anticipation when the gently rolling hills and pasturelands dotted with oak trees came into view. I still do, as the turnoff for Buellton, Lompoc and Solvang are on the valley floor.
Absolutely the best time of year to visit Solvang is during “Julefest,” which it celebrates each year in late November through December. Many events take place in Solvang Park, which is where Mr. Claus holds court from noon to 4 p.m. daily in Santa’s Village and where 10-minute light and music shows take place nightly on the hour from 5 to 9 p.m. If you’re in town on Dec. 6, don’t miss the tree-lighting ceremony here that begins at 5:30, complete with ballerinas, musical entertainment and
Trolleys and iconic windmills, like this one on Alisal Road near Copenhagen Square, add old-world Danish charm to Solvang. Photo by Kris Grant.
Solvang’s huge Julefest Parade takes off the next morning, Saturday Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. with floats, bands, horses and more than 400 participants marching and cruising down Solvang’s main avenues – Mission Drive, Fourth Street, Copenhagen Drive and Alisal Road.
More holiday highlights include the “Maker’s Market,” held this year from
3 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 4, 11 and 18, featuring crafters and local artisans selling their wares at an open-air Christmas market at Solvang Park. The renowned Christmas Matters Holiday Carolers, decked out in Dickensian outfits, will roam through the downtown on the three Saturdays leading up to Christmas, with performances from 4 to 7 p.m. The Solvang Trolley also offers Christmas
Santa.
Solvang’s shops are decked out for the holidays. Photo by Kris Grant.
Lights tours of the Santa Ynez Valley, complete with hot chocolate, on several December dates; book at www.solvangtrolley.com.
If you will be in town on New Year’s Eve, you can join in the “Copenhagen Countdown,” with a party from 2 to 4 p.m., the same time Denmark welcomes in the New Year.
Best of all, you’ll find the town’s windmills, gables, turrets and Danish Provincial architecture outlined in white twinkle lights.
Solvang was settled a little over a century ago when three Danes purchased 9,000 acres of ranchland in the Santa Ynez Valley. They then recruited Danish farmers and ranchers mostly from Nebraska and Iowa where towns like Pella and Orange City were strongholds of Danish settlements, extolling the area’s fertile soil and sunny year-round climate. I attended California Lutheran College (now University) in my hometown, where several students with last names like Larsen and Olsen hailed from Solvang. The city of Solvang is relatively young, incorporated May 1, 1985. You can learn more about the region’s history by visiting the Elverhoj Museum.
In the last 20 years, Solvang’s fame has grown, with a big bump in tourism prompted by the 2004 release of the movie “Sideways,” which was filmed partly in the town and in the nearby Foxen Canyon wine region. What used to be a two, maybe four, block tourist area back in the ‘70s has grown to roughly a 30-block area. Yet, as it has grown in fame, Solvang has retained its “hygge,” a Danish word that translates to something like coziness. But it’s more than that – it’s quaintness and tidiness, most evident when you drive through the surrounding residential area, where homes are neat as a pin. Likewise, Solvang’s pastries are as pretty as they are tasty and, in truth, it’s those pastries – particularly the petit fours filled with luscious cream and topped with butter cream or chocolate ganache, that habitually taunt me to make the ten-mile round-trip detour off the 101 when I’m going or coming from Paso Robles or Monterey or the Bay Area. Yes, I’ll pop into one of those Danish bakeries – Mortensen’s or Olsen’s or my old standby, Birkholm’s Bakery – purportedly to pick up a box of pastries for friends. But make no mistake, there’s another box just for me!
This Doxie waited patiently with his owner for Danish pastries at Mortensen’s Bakery. Dog treat please? Photo by Kris Grant.
The Old Fudge Kitchen, circa 1961, makes fudge on its premises in giant copper pots, using recipes from the 1800s. Photo by Kris Grant.
Riverside: Mission Inn’s Festival of Lights
It’s hard to believe that the Mission Inn and Spa’s Festival of Lights has only been in existence since 1992. That’s when the Inn’s owners, Kelly and Duane Roberts, introduced the lights extravaganza as a way to give back to their community. In 2019 USA Today named the Mission Inn’s festival the Number One outdoor lights event in the country.
Do come on opening night when the Inn throws the switch on its nearly five million twinkling lights and follows up with a fireworks show.
The free event runs seven weeks, from Nov. 23 through Jan. 6. In addition to the lights adorning the Inn’s Spanish Revival-style architecture, festivities extend into downtown Riverside, with a holiday wonderland pedestrian mall featuring animated sculptures that you can walk through, trees wrapped in colored lights and a lively arts and crafts market. It’s a great spot for holiday gifts, and treats like hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies. There are horse-
The Mission Inn bedazzles with nearly five million lights outlining the Spanish Revival building. Photo by Kris Grant.
These happy holiday patrons enjoyed hot cocoa from the Gingerbread Shop, complete with crunchy Gingerbread Men sitting atop mountains of whipped cream. Photo by Kris Grant.
drawn glass carriage rides round the inn and a merry-go-round at the inn’s entrance; an ice-skating rink is nearby at the Cheech Marin Center.
Why not stay at the Mission Inn and get the full experience? The hotel was built as a cottage boarding house in 1876 but didn’t operate as a full-service hotel until the early 1900s. And then it just got better and better, expanding in 1903 to more than 200 guestrooms and the addition of the Mission Wing, built in Mission-Revival style and incorporating architectural features from 20 of the California missions. Over the next three decades, three more wings were added.
Countless movie stars and ten presidents have stayed at the Inn; President Richard and Pat Nixon were married there and the Reagans spent part of their honeymoon there.
But from the 1950s through the 1970s, the inn changed hands multiple times and one subsequent owner sold off antiques and engaged in substandard
restoration work. Finally, the inn closed, while preservation groups and the city of Riverside banded together to save the Inn from demolition.
It was in 1985 that Duane Roberts, who was raised in Riverside, and his wife Kelly rescued the Inn. Duane grew up in his family’s meat business and made his fortune by inventing the first frozen burrito. With annual sales of $80 million and the production of one million burritos per day, Duane sold the business in 1980.
He had the means, and the heart, to save the Inn. After a seven-year, $55 million renovation, the Robertses reopened the Inn in 1992 and Kelly introduced the first Festival of Lights.
On August 8 this year, Historic Hotels of America announced that Kelly and Duane Roberts had been named recipients of the 2024 Historic Hotels of America Steward of History and Historic Preservation Award for their efforts.
A holiday lights tunnel steers guests past the Mission Inn’s main lobby and back to the festivities on Main Street. Photo by Kris Grant.
The carousel outside the Mission Inn’s entrance is a popular venue for small fry and their parents. Photo by Kris Grant.
Santa is ready to hear from all kids who’ve been very very good in the Inn’s lobby. Photo by Kris Grant.
Redlands: Holidays at Kimberly Crest House & Gardens
Have you ever been to Redlands? It’s at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains; hence the city enjoys a slightly cooler climate than other parts of the Inland Empire. Once upon a time it was covered with orange groves and the intoxicating scent of orange blossoms enticed many a Midwesterner to the city.
Many of these wealthy snowbirds built beautiful Victorian mansions, several of which still grace the outskirts of Redlands.
One of these mansions, the Kimberly Crest House and Gardens, was bequeathed to the citizens of Redlands and is the site of festive holiday events.
The landmark French Chateau was commissioned in 1897 by Cornelia Hill, who shortly thereafter moved to a smaller home. Helen Cheney Kimberly and her husband John then purchased the home. (He was the Kimberly of the Wisconsin-based Kimberly-Clark paper goods company.) In 1905 Helen Cheney Kimberly commissioned the design of the Italian gardens and interiors. Her
daughter, Mary Kimberly, married a naval officer, Elbert Walker Shirk in 1905. During World War I, he died of injuries sustained when he dove off a steamer ship to rescue a Belgium soldier. Mrs. Shirk moved to Redlands to live with her parents and never remarried. She lived at the Kimberly-Crest home for the rest of her life of 99 years. She became a beloved philanthropist, supporting a wide swath of charities throughout the city, and was particularly known for her sponsorship of Kimberly Juniors, which trained young girls to become leaders. She held many dinners featuring luminaries of the time – one included aviatrix Amelia Earhart.
The Kimberly-Crest holidays kick off with the “Windows into Christmas Past” celebration on Sunday Dec. 1. Tickets are $5. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with a lighting ceremony of the mansion at 6 p.m. The event is entirely outside but when the lights go on, characters in period dress are visible inside the mansion.
Regular daytime tours of approximately 45 minutes continue throughout the holiday season. Additionally, special evening tours, “Holiday Lights and Victorian Nights,” are held at various times beginning at 4 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays during December and are $20. These tours include all interior decorations lit up, plus guests receive ginger cookies made with Mrs. Shirk’s recipe.
Both tours take you through the first and second floors with docents presenting a glimpse of life in the early 1900s. Guests will hear endearing stories about the people who once lived and worked at the house.
Garden admission is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday and Sunday, 1 – 4 p.m. Note: closed Saturdays. House tours are $15 for adults, $8 for children nine years and under and $12 for seniors, veterans, active military and students.
The Kimberly Crest Mansion is at 1325 Prospect Drive, Redlands.
The Kimberly Crest House & Gardens is splendidly decorated inside and out for the holidays.
Photo by Bruce Herwig courtesy of Kimberly Crest House.
Corning, New York: Crystal City Christmas
Looking for a Hallmark Channelworthy Christmas town? Check out Corning, New York, known as “the Crystal City,” owing to its glass-making history that dates back to the 1860s. That’s when the Brooklyn Flint Glass Company relocated from New York City to Corning and subsequently changed its name to Corning Glass.
Today, Corning, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, operates worldwide from its Corning headquarters. Not only did Corning invent such household favorites as Corning Ware, Pyrex bake ware, and Corelle kitchenware, it has also manufactured glass windows for the Space Shuttle and invented Gorilla glass, the glass that’s used in most cell phones.
At the Corning Museum of Glass, a magnificent tree in the lobby, composed entirely of glass ornaments, makes a splendid backdrop for an annual holiday photo. You can also make your own ornaments at the museum’s Studio.
Just across the Chemung River from the museum, Corning’s historic Gaffer District kicks off the holiday season Nov. 1. “That’s when all five blocks of the historic district are transformed into Christmas,” said Emilie Agee, communications director of the Gaffer District, the organization charged with bringing “feet to the street” of the district. A gaffer is a master glassblower, Agee explained. “We’ve been called Hallmark-esk,” she said, praising design specialist Annie Koerner on the Gaffer District staff for her work with individual merchants in designing and lighting their shop windows each year. Indeed, over the past two years, the Hallmark Channel has set up a webcam in the district’s Centerway Square.
This year, the district will have its own webcam set up at www.gafferdistrict. com, just in case you can’t make the trip to Corning. By the way, you can easily fly into the Corning/Elmira Airport and rent a car.
Two dates stand out on the Corning’s holiday schedule: Nov. 30 the town celebrates national Small Business Saturday, with the Gaffer District giving away commemorative shopping bags and gift cards. That night is the Parade of Lights that begins at 7:30 p.m. with more than 100 entries including brightly lit floats, bands, and dancers traveling the five-block historic route.
The following Saturday, Dec. 7, marks the 50th anniversary of Sparkle, the biggest event of the year in Corning. Streets are closed to vehicular traffic, and more than 100 vendors and food trucks set up shop, offering art, crafts, wreaths, farmer’s market produce, and Christmas trees for sale, in addition to special promotions within the district’s stores and restaurants. Carolers will perform in each block and on the Centerway stage, with Santa again at his Crystal House headquarters. The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m.
Wagon rides led by Percheron draft workhorses, weighing 2,300 pounds each, will be offered during Sparkle and on weekends in December ($10, adults; $5, children, no advance sales, first-come, first-served.) Dress warmly! Photo courtesy of Steuben County CVB.
Sun Valley, Idaho: America’s First Ski Resort
I toured Sun Valley Resort in October this year, and got a preview of how special Christmas is to guests lucky enough to stay here for the holidays, and to everyone who is in town on Christmas Eve.
It’s a fabulous resort, with round pools that remain open throughout the year, with temperatures kept at 98 degrees, and an ice-skating rink that also operates year round.
The ice-skating rink, with tiered seating where you can order drinks and meals, is the site of a Christmas Eve pageant on ice, followed by a torchlight parade of ski instructors down Bald Mountain, followed by a fireworks show.
It’s all free to visitors and everyone in the community.
Here’s a little history on the Sun Valley Resort: W. Averell Harriman, the Chairman of the Union Pacific
Railroad, hired an Austrian Count, Felix Schaffgotsch, to scout out the western states for a suitable ski resort. Harriman had met the young Count while staying at his family’s hunting lodge in Austria. Years later when the Count had moved to America and was engaged in banking, he had intrigued the railroad executive with tales of Austrian ski resorts, which attracted tourists who were transported there via trains from ports on the English Channel. Harriman hired the young Austrian, who also happened to be handsome, charming and erudite, to assess the viability of such a resort in America, and its potential impact for his railroad empire.
Harriman’s instructions were for the Count to find “a place close to Union Pacific tracks but far enough from a city to prevent it being overrun by weekend skiers arriving in their automobiles.
… A valley with sun pouring in, a dry climate with not too much snow, and yet enough for skiing. …” It had to be powder snow and “not too wet or too much of it.”
After scouting various sites throughout the west that included Mount Rainer in Washington, Mount Hood in Oregon, Yosemite and Lake Arrowhead in California, plus the mountains of Utah and Colorado, Schaffgotsch had about given up. Then he was encouraged by a train agent to investigate the area around Ketchum, Idaho, which could be reached by a spur route of the Union Pacific.
Schaffgotsch arrived in Ketchum on Jan. 16, 1936. Eleven months later, on December 21, 1936, Sun Valley Lodge opened its doors, and the Count worked there for the first three seasons.
And then the world went to war.
Following its Christmas Eve Pageant on Ice, Sun Valley Lodge’s ski instructors participate in a torchlight parade down Dollar Mountain while fireworks light up the night. Photo by Lydia Parker, courtesy of Sun Valley Resort.
Schaffgotsch returned to Austria. He became a first lieutenant in a Nazi cavalry outfit made up of ethnic Germans from outside Germany. In 1942, he was killed while fighting on the Russian front. He was 38. Sun Valley closed for the duration of the war and a hill just north of Bald Mountain that once bore the name Schaffgotsch Mountain stands nameless.
Sun Valley was the site of America’s first ski lift, still standing in a residential district of the valley.
Both before and after the war when the resort reopened, celebrities flocked to Sun Valley, including Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, Ava Gardner, Bing Crosby, Ingrid Bergman, Marilyn Monroe, Gary Cooper, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and the “Rat Pack’s” Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin.
Ernest Hemingway fell in love with Sun Valley and made it his home; he is buried in Ketchum’s Cemetery. At Sun Valley Lodge, in Suite 206, he finished his novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls. Today, Sun Valley Lodge features an
entire village within its campus, with wonderful restaurants and shops. I recommend you dine at The Ram, where you can order steak and seafood, or order from the “Heritage Menu” featuring dishes from the restaurant’s storied culinary history. I’ll have the Ram fondue, thank you.
You can choose from five types of lodging, including the original Lodge, which looks like it’s constructed of wood, but is actually steel-reinforced
concrete, along with condos, townhouses, cottages for larger groups, and the more modest Sun Valley Inn.
Skiing includes Bald Mountain, with 3,400 feet of vertical slopes and Dollar Mountain with beginner-friendly slopes, 16 trails and five lifts.
Should you have any down time, you can venture out to the restaurants and shops of nearby Ketchum. But that’s another story…just wait till next month!
Hemingway, who died in 1961, is buried at the Ketchum Cemetery. Many aspiring writers leave pens at his gravesite.
Photo by Kris Grant.
A Hall of History at Sun Valley Loge includes photos of the many celebrities who have visited over the years. Here, Ernest Hemingway chats with director Henry Hathaway and actors Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman who dined at the lodge’s rustic Trail Creek Cabin. Photo by Kris Grant.
Photo by Lydia Parker, courtesy of Sun Valley Resort.
