GETTING OUT/PAGE

The List

What’s going on in and around town this week

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

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THURSDAY | 16

MISSION CLUBHOUSE ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring the kids to Mission San Juan Capistrano for hands-on, fun educational activities in the Mission Clubhouse space. Youngsters can weave baskets, build structural arches with miniature blocks, and engage in more Mission-themed tasks. Clubhouse events happen every day from Tuesday through Sunday. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. 949.234.1300. missionsjc.com.

WINE NIGHT AT THE ABODE 4-6 p.m. Join The Abode for a wonderful night of wine tasting. Taste cork pop wine selection, preview wine accessories, and shop while you sip. There will be a presentation by Karen of Sales Producers. Admission is free. Wine not? The Abode, 228 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente. theabodesc.com.

FRIDAY | 17

COFFEE CONCERTS WITH HIGH TIDE 10-11 a.m. In partnership with High Tide Coffee, enjoy a cup of coffee and watch an acoustic performance with local musicians at Casa Romantica’s outdoor Redmond Amphitheater. The show is free with the price of general admission. Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. casaromantica.org. acoustic or electric instruments every Monday night at Knuckleheads. Amps are allowed, but drums are not. Knuckleheads, 1717 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.

Editor’s Pick

Photo: Courtesy of Casa Romantica

THURSDAY | 16 VICTORIA BAILEY AT CASA ROMANTICA 7 p.m. Victoria Bailey, aka the Honky Tonk Woman, is a Huntington Beach-based country music artist. The classic country singer-songwriter was surrounded by music in her household from an early age. From her drumming father’s rock ‘n’ roll band practices to her mom playing the narrative-driven songbooks of folk icons such as Cat Stevens and James Taylor, Bailey was naturally drawn to music and the art of storytelling. It was the at-first daunting yet exhilarating aspect of performing live that made Bailey realize this was life’s path for her. She found a sense of community very early on by playing honky tonks and bars that allowed the opportunity to cut her teeth on the craft of traditional country music. This live concert takes place outdoors at Casa Romantica’s Ocean Terrace. Admission is $12. Casa Romantica Cultural Center & Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. casaromantica.org. shopping and learn more about the history of the local state parks at San Clemente and San Onofre State Beaches. Historic Cottage and Visitor Center is located within the San Clemente State Beach Campground at 225 Avenida Calafia, San Clemente. 949.366.8599. admin@sanoparks.org. sanoparks.org.

SUNDAY | 19

FARMERS MARKET 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Shop for a wide selection of fruits, vegetables and artisanal goods from organic growers at the Community Center/San Clemente Public Library parking lot. 100 North Calle Seville. 949.361.8200. san-clemente.org.

MONDAY | 20

IMPROV MONDAYS WITH BOB BURNS & IMPROV CITY 3-5 p.m. Put on by the San Clemente-based Noble Path Foundation, teens between the ages of 13 and 18 can receive comedy lessons with professional actor Bob Burns and Improv City, where they’ll build confidence, stage presence, a funny bone and a chance to perform at Improv City. Sign up for these Monday classes at thenoblepathfoundation.org/ social-activities. The Noble Path Foundation, 420 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.234.7259.

OPEN JAM 7-10 p.m. Play your own percussion,

TUESDAY | 21

DANCE AND MOVEMENT FOR TOTS 10:15-11 a.m. Enjoy a fun dance class series made for tots outdoors in Casa Romantica’s seaside Redmond Amphitheater. The price is $50 for the public (free for Family Household Members). Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente. 949.498.2139. casaromantica.org.

WEDNESDAY | 22

SAN ONOFRE PARKS FOUNDATION POP-UP SHOP 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Historic Cottage and Visitor Center showcases local history, flora and fauna at this original 1934 ranger’s cottage. A rotating exhibit features the history of San Onofre. Stop in to the San Onofre Parks Foundation’s Pop-Up Shop to say hello, do a little BINGO AT THE SENIOR CENTER 1:30 p.m. Every Wednesday, the Dorothy Visser Senior Center will host Bingo. The center will begin selling cards at 1 p.m., with the game starting promptly at 1:30. The buy-in is $12 for 10 games with four cards and a special pick-your-number game. For more information, contact the center at 949.498.3322. Dorothy Visser Senior Center, 117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente.

BIKING CLUB FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND HIGH SCHOOLERS 5-6:30 p.m. Anyone have middle school- to high school-aged kids who love to bike? Community Outreach Alliance’s biking club meets every Wednesday afternoon at different trails, with professional biker and mentor Mike Russell from Freakshow Aloha. San Clemente High’s COA club, which hosts this free activity thanks to the Hardman Classic, has bikes and helmets for participants to borrow. To participate, fill out a registration form online at form. myjotform.com/91392099886576. For questions, call or text 949.795.4721. communityoutreachalliance.com/bike-club/.

PAINT & WINE NIGHT AT BARNOA 6-8 p.m. Head to Barnoa Wine Company for a Paint & Wine Night hosted by Chrystal Dubay. Admission is $35, which must be paid in advance, and includes all supplies and step-by-step instructions. Beginners are welcome, so gather up your friends and paint together. Participants should arrive about 20 minutes early to order drinks and get prepped for painting. Sign up at conta.cc/38dbgGw. Barnoa Wine Company, 831 Via Suerte, #106, San Clemente. 949.441.2360. peaceofartsoulstudio@gmail.com. facebook.com/peaceofartsoulstudio.

TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE BREWHOUSE 6:30-8:30 p.m. The BrewHouse hosts a trivia night every Wednesday. Test your knowledge with friends, or show up solo and join a team. The BrewHouse, 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite D3, San Juan Capistrano. 949.481.6181. brewhousesjc.com.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT KNUCKLEHEADS 8-10 p.m. Knuckleheads is open for food, drinks and live music. Performers of all skill levels are welcome. If you are a musician, do stand-up comedy or the spoken word, this is the place to be on Wednesday nights. So, come down, grab a drink and go for it. Knuckleheads Sports Bar, 1717 North El Camino Real, San Clemente. 949.492.2410. knuckleheadsmusic.com.

GUEST OPINION | Life’s a Beach by Shelley Murphy

JUNE DELIVERS CHANGE TO PARENTS

June is an underrated month. January gets all the glory. As a parent, I maintain June is a much more pivotal month than January.

January is advertised as the season of new beginnings. Yet, most changes such as adopting a holistic diet, exercise regimen or financial plan are short-lived.

June, however, is the month of life-changing metamorphosis, including momentous graduations, weddings and childbirths.

This month, I celebrated both a graduation commencement and a baby shower.

Reflecting upon the fork-in-the-road milestones, I realized that while they are divergent, they share some similarities. Each marks an ending and beginning; elicits trepidation and excitement; and

LIFE’S A BEACH prompts cheerful and

BY SHELLEY MURPHY tearful responses.

It had been years since I participated in the time-honored tradition of showering soon-to-be parents with congratulatory gifts they’ll need to navigate their new baby’s arrival.

So much has changed, thankfully, since my baby showers back in the 1990s.

First, our decades-old “fashion” was hideous. We wore ugly, billowy tents covering our growing bellies instead of chic knit dresses hugging our baby bumps.

At my shower, female friends and I ate tiny sandwiches, sipped fancy teas and played games involving diapers. Today’s baby showers have evolved into lively coed parties featuring trendy games and spirited beverages.

I’m grateful for the many gifts showered upon me; the countless baby blankets, books and bottles came in handy. But nowadays, baby shower registries include a plethora of amazing possibilities, include high-tech gadgets and designer strollers.

Today, a baby monitor is a surveillance device complete with infrared night vision, video cameras, and two-way communication. My first baby monitor transmitted so much static noise that I lost sleep lying awake trying to detect my son’s sounds.

At this point in my life, I have been a parent for almost half of my existence. Yet, I don’t feel qualified to offer advice to soon-to-be moms and dads.

There are no words to prepare parents for that first embrace with their newborn, the moment when a love so powerful turns life upside down and the little person placed in your arms rules your heart and world forevermore.

It’s been decades since my boys were small enough to swaddle, but I remember long nights spent cradling an inconsolable infant, and questioning my parenting skills, or lack thereof.

Back in the day, there were no blogs to turn to for pregnancy advice, no online support groups or access to answers with the click of a mouse.

In hindsight, I wish I could’ve spent more time appreciating the moments instead of worrying about my babies, but I’m a hall-of-fame worrier.

And, as a parent, I worry, because it’s part of the job. There’s truth to the adage, “With little kids come little problems and with big kids come big problems.”

Photo: Courtesy of William Ayer and the San Clemente Historical Society

FROM THE ARCHIVES Resident Betty Sue Jones sits in front of the first homes built that didn’t conform to Ole Hanson’s specifications for white stucco and red tile roofs, circa 1930s. This photo can be purchased from the San Clemente Historical Society at sanclementehistoricalsociety.org.

Every week, the San Clemente Times will showcase a historical photo from around the city. If you have a photo you would like to submit for consideration, send the photo, your name for credit as well as the date and location of the photo to sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com.

In the beginning, when they’re newborns, concerns center around meeting benchmarks, measuring motor function, cognitive advancement and physical development.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the sleep schedules, growth charts, and first steps give way to worries about teen driving, covert parties, and newfangled romances.

It’s cliché, but true, the sleepless nights spent lying on the floor next to a little kid’s crib will pale in comparison to nights spent pacing the floor waiting for a big kid to walk through the door.

But, alas, parenthood is not all gloom and doom.

Being a parent also means experiencing some of life’s most fulfilling heartfelt moments.

And there’s more good news, with bigger kids come bigger joys: the excitement of watching them walking across the stage at high school graduation; witnessing them make decisions about college and careers; and seeing them find the person to share their journey.

Parenthood is a perplexing paradox. Being a parent is both my most challenging and most rewarding job.

At times, weathering the changing seasons of parenting is trying, but it’s well worth it: being a mom is the best part of life.

For more than 20 years, Shelley Murphy and her husband have lived in San Clemente, where she raised her two sons. She’s a freelance writer and has been a contributor to the San Clemente Times since 2006. SC

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the SC Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the SC Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@sanclementetimes.com.

ADOPTABLE PET OF THE WEEK

Leia

SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

Nine-month-old Leia is full of happy energy. Her favorite pastimes are going for long walks and playing in the yard with her dog buddies. She is treat-motivated and would thrive with an active owner who can continue with her training. If you are interested in adopting Leia, please visit petprojectfoundation.org/ adoptions/ to download an adoption application form. Completed forms can be emailed to animalservices@scdpanimalshelter.org, and you will be contacted about making an interaction appointment.

Sudoku

BY MYLES MELLOR

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION: Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium