5 minute read
Notes from the Publisher
Dave Koz once told me that he tries to fit in an extra day or two when he’s on tour in a new town or country to explore the sights and culture.
Nearly every time I work at a jazz festival out of town, I try to do the same, but have yet to succeed at it or return as a proper tourist. There are so many places I wish I had time to explore when I’m finished manning the Smooth Jazz News booth. But, a typical festival work day starts before the oil has heated up to fry the first batch of battered catfish filets in the food court, and doesn’t end until after the stage crew has cleared off the last piece of equipment. By then, another deadline is calling me back home. For more than 20 years, an off-season visit to Catalina Island has been at the top of my New Year’s resolution list––and, just like my dieting and fitness goals, has never come to fruition. I had hoped last year would be different, especially because I had a little extra motivation: the Chihuly exhibit at the new Catalina Island Museum. Dale Chihuly, a renowned artist and leader of the avant-garde development of glass as a fine art, has a permanent home at the Chihuly Garden and Glass in Seattle and in more than 200 museum collections worldwide, as well as temporary exhibits at other venues around the globe. So, seeing his works in Catalina would almost be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and certainly a convenient one for me. Plus, the museum had advertised the exhibit in our Annual Catalina Island Visitors Guide that year, and I always patronize our advertisers’ businesses. But, with the hustle of working the booth during JazzTrax and racing to get meals in between afternoon and evening shows, it simply never happened ... until Dec. 11, 2017. On the day I had planned to leave for Avalon with a Chihulyloving friend, strong Santa Ana winds had fueled thousands of acres of fires throughout California, including one 30 miles from my home. The weather had also whipped up some pretty high seas, making it nearly impossible to travel by boat from the mainland to Avalon. My friend didn’t want to travel on rough waters, and was also fearful the flames might spread to our community, so she canceled.
It was the final day of the Catalina exhibit, and I didn’t want to miss it. So, I decided to go by myself, high seas and all. When I checked into the Hotel Metropole, there was a crowd in the lobby. I thought, “Wow, these low, mid-week, off-season rates really pack in the people.” It turned out that they were Chihuly’s Seattle-based crew in town to break down, pack and ship the delicate glass art pieces. I dropped off my luggage in my room and headed up the street to the Catalina Island Museum to see the last two hours of this amazing art show, which featured indoor and outdoor displays of Chihuly’s award-winning work. After that visually exhilarating experience, I had a 90-minute massage at A Touch of Heaven Day Spa (compliments of Sana Hernandez, the spa owner) downstairs from the hotel, where guests receive a 20 percent discount on any treatment. My massage therapist, Ramona Garcia, who has become a friend, possesses amazing reflexology, hot stone and Thai massage skills. She also introduced me to “raindrop” therapy, a treatment in which she sprinkled a variety of doTERRA brand essential oils (lavender, peppermint, clove, frankincense, oregano, eucalyptus, jasmine, ginger, etc.) onto my back and massaged them into my skin. And, at the end, she applied doTERRA’s Deep Blue oil (similar to an Icy Hot-type product, but all natural) to relieve my hip and back pain. After the massage, I took Ramona to dinner at Mi Casita to celebrate her recent engagement. On the drive to the restaurant in her golf cart, we saw so many festive sights: homes, businesses and streets spiffed up with holiday lights and decorations, and a big Christmas tree in the middle of town next to a palm tree. When we arrived at the restaurant, I was surprised to be seated immediately. There is usually a wait during JazzTrax. We ordered the “Catalina’s Original Cazuela” (a 28 oz. cocktail with tequila, fresh citrus fruit, special house mix) to share, along with chips with guacamole (served deconstructed on a plate with three scoops of avocado, chopped onions, tomato, serrano chiles and a fresh lime wedge, ready to assemble to your own liking). And, for the entreé, we had the Ranchero Enchilada (cheese enchilada covered in ortega chiles, relleno sauce and sour cream, with beans and rice). All delicious! After the meal and cocktail, it was time for me to get to bed. The next morning, I had planned on taking a tour, but opted for another massage instead. This time, I spent 60 minutes at the day spa, repeating the prior day’s therapies. By the time I was finished, the complimentary continental breakfast offered at the hotel had ended. So, I went to my favorite breakfast spot, Jack’s Original Country Kitchen. Again, I was surprised to see no line and no wait. I ordered the Dungeness crab cake benedict.
Afterward, I borrowed Ramona’s golf cart for one last spin around Avalon. I drove to the Casino, and over to Descanso Beach, then in the opposite direction to Lover’s Cove just past the ferry dock, and also made some stops at my favorite shops before it was time to board the boat back to Long Beach. I can’t believe how much I got to do in less than 24 hours, which is more than I can usually fit in during 10 days in October, and it was all at a leisurely pace at that!
