Category: Classic Big Sur

Big Sur in Black & White

I have been meaning to do this for a while. So, today is the day. B&W was my first love, but I must admit it is not as appealing in digital as it was in film when I did my own developing and printing. But here are five for you to enjoy while we wait for the weekend storm.

I will be attending the fundraiser for Rachel Short at the River Inn tomorrow night, and will bring back a report, and probably some photographs. The 6:00 pm time slot is sold out. Also, the River Inn asks that you bring cash or checks for the donated dinner. Thank you.




Weather Report 11/6/10 & Misc. reports

1 pm – blue sky is visible through the clouds, and while cool, it is turning into a very pleasant day.

11 am – What is the weather like where you are? Here, it looks like rain is on its way, and I did have a very light sprinkle or two earlier. NOAA says it is only a “chance” of rain this afternoon, with the heavier rain coming in tomorrow, with the possibility of .75-2.0 inches in these mountains. I don’t know. From where I sit, the rain this afternoon looks like more than a mere “chance.” I’ll keep everyone updated.

Also, was out and about in Big Sur Village last evening, and saw the Food & Wine Festival was off to a great start. Ventana had their wine pairings in the room near the restaurant, but the restaurant itself was open for regular business. Big Sur River Inn had their beer and food pairing, but the restaurant was closed for regular business. So call first.

Save the date of November 17th. I have been informed there will be a fund-raising on that date at the River Inn for Big Sur local Rachael Short, who was in an auto accident on Halloween evening. Rachael has had two surgeries and could have a long recovery ahead.

Finally, Dan Danbom has sent me some gorgeous photos I will be posting this weekend, after weather reports.

Big Sur Wine & Food Festival

The kick-off is tomorrow night. From the website:

THURSDAY, NOV 4TH
GATEWAY TO BIG SUR
Highlands Inn, Carmel- 6 – 9 pm

A wonderful evening in the Fireside Room and Lobos Lounge of the famed Highlands Inn – Hyatt Carmel Highlands, for an unforgettable tasting of wines and food. featuring the Highlands’ Executive Chef Matt Bolton … as well as many other outstanding chefs.

The festival will be supplying shuttles from the Highlands down to Big Sur, so please come and join us. We look forward to seeing you at this marvelous kick-off for our 2010 Big Sur Food and Wine festival Weekend! Ticket Price is $100 per person, including tax and tip.

Please visit the Big Sur Wind & Food Festival website for details, schedule, tickets, and more. Proceeds to benefit Big Sur non-profits.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween by Just Us 3

(Used under the Creative Commons license)

It is a holiday I have always enjoyed, not the trick or treating as much as the story behind this event. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints’ Day.

Samhain is a Gaelic festival held on October 31–November 1. The Irish name Samhain is derived from Old Irish and means roughly “summer’s end”. A harvest festival with ancient roots in Celtic polytheism, it was linked to festivals held around the same time in other Celtic cultures, and continued to be celebrated in late medieval times. Due to its date it became associated with the Christian festival All Saints’ Day, and greatly influenced modern celebration of Halloween.

Many scholars believe that it was the beginning of the Celtic year. It has some elements of a festival of the dead. The Gaels believed that the border between this world and the otherworld became thin on Samhain; because some animals and plants were dying, it thus allowed the dead to reach back through the veil that separated them from the living.
(Information from Wikipedia)

For us, here in Big Sur, it means the traditional Bal Masque at Nepenthe to benefit our local Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade. It is a wonderful time with incredible costumes, so enjoy, if you have a ticket, and if not – be quicker next year!

1000th post

Lordy. Do I really have that much to say?? I would never have thought I would post this many times when I started. So, to celebrate, here’s a glass of Savignon Blanc from NZ to all my readers, contributors, and lurkers. You are the best! Okay, that’s enough. I’ll go on to storm reports now.

Toasting 1000

1/2 inch last night.

Big Sur in October

Here is a list of all the many things going on this month in Big Sur. Thanks to Stan Russell of the Chamber for putting it together and sharing it.

Friday, October 8
Jade Festival kicks off and runs through Sunday
http://www.bigsurjadefest.com/

Al Jardine performing at Henry Miller Library
A Postcard from California

Please join me in the celebration of my new release, A Postcard from California, on Friday October 8th at 7.30 PM at the Henry Miller Library.
I will be giving a concert for our community, backed up by a five piece band of stellar musicians. Including members from the original Beach Boys touring band.
I look forward to seeing you there.
–Al Jardine
http://www.henrymiller.org/events.html#al

Sunday, October 10

Robin Burnside book signing The Homesteader’s Kitchen: Recipes from Farm to Table
Performances by Alisa Fineman, Kimball Hurd, and City Folk
http://www.henrymiller.org/events.html#Kind_to_Earth

Tuesday, October 12
Big Sur Health Center Health Fair
Noon – 5:00 pm
http://www.bigsurhealthcenter.org/

Saturday, October 23
30th Anniversary Big Sur River Run in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
http://www.bigsurriverrun.org/

October 23 & 30
Point Sur Light Station
Two special Ghost Tours benefiting the restoration of Point Sur Light Station

Click to access GhostTour2010.pdf

Sunday, October 31
Halloween Bal Masque at Nepenthe
Tickets now available online.
http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/

Big Sur Food & Wine Festival
November 5-7

Home

Health Center Fund Raiser

Art, Food, Wine & Live Music…
Sunday, September 12
3pm-6pm
The Terrace At The Restaurant At Ventana
Big Sur, CA
Silent and Live Auction (at 4:30 pm)
Tickets: $75.00 per person
http://www.bigsurhealthcenter.org
Call: 831-626-3485
Or Purchase at Event

Live Auction Items:
#1 – ‘Art of Land and Water‘
Belgian Artist Mi Desmedt creates works ranging from the abstract to the figurative. Her inspiration often comes from nature as is shown in this Triptych which is from her collection entitled: “Land and Water” – land and seascapes inspired by the Big Sur area. Each framed piece is 26″ x 33″. Mi Desmedt has exhibited in galleries and cultural centers all over the world.
Donor: Victor and Laura Pavloff
Value: $3,000

#2 – ‘Doe’ #25/50 Limited Edition Bronze Sculpture (13″ x 10″)
Lygia Chappellet is an incredible painter and sculptor who is intrigued by the animals and landscape she observes daily on her family’s ranch in Big Sur. Lygia says, “Intuitively, we are all drawn toward certain elements. These may be visions, weeds, animals, ideas, loved ones, etc…They are all symbolic keys of our greatest revelations and our deepest feelings; subjects worth recording as ‘artwork’.” Lygia has shown extensively in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, Napa Valley, Big Sur, Carmel and Ketchum, Idaho.
Donor: Lygia Chappellet
Value: $1,500

#3 – ‘Art Times Three’
Three incredible pieces of Art that will transform your home…
* Patricia’s acrylic on canvas ‘Luminosity’ 10″ x 30″. Patricia views art as a blessing. Her work is in many private collections and galleries.
* John’s “Ancient Column” Lamp- John has an affinity for natural materials that is apparent in all his works of stone, steel and cement lamps and tables.
* Bob & Sandy’s Ceramic Pond – Their work is often a collaboration of Bob’s wheel-generated textured slabs and Sandy’s hand building of teapots and vases. Their work is in both museums and private collections.
Donor: Patricia Qualls Value: $1,500
Donor: John Chappell Design Value: $595
Donor: Bob & Sandy Kinzie Value: $300

#4 – ‘The Art of Wine’
Love Art and Wine… This special package for two to the 27th Annual Central Coast Wine Classic, July 7th-11, 2011 is what you want! It will include a full weekend of incredible wine and food:
Thursday afternoon Barrel Tasting, in the evening Dinner at Hearst Castle – an unforgettable evening surrounded by Art!
Friday Varietal Symposium, Cooking Demo & Luncheon by Narsai David, Celebrity Chef and much, much more to complete this weekend. Please go to the Live Auction display area for the entire list of events.
This package does not include transportation and accommodations.
Donor: Archie McLaren
Value: $3,350

#5 – ‘Big Sur Tapestry’
Acrylic on paper by Celia Sanborn (22” x 28.5”). Born and raised in Big Sur, Celia creates her paintings as though she is in them. For her, painting is a way of touching the land in a way you cannot touch…a painting becomes a condensed image of what she sees…an essence. Celia’s parents moved here in the 1940’s seeking solitude and land and fell in love with this magnificent place. Artists themselves, they created a backdrop where Celia and her siblings could participate in a world of creativity. Celia continues the tradition by living in the place that ‘stirs’ the art within her, weaving art into all of life’s other callings.
Donor: Celia Sanborn
Value: $2,500

# 6 – ‘Art and Nature’
Four lucky individuals will get to enjoy Condors all day up close and personal with Kelly Sorenson, Executive Director of VWS. You will travel high into the Big Sur wilderness on a private dirt road, stopping for views and to track the birds. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the Big Sur Bakery crew on the way. You will feel as though you are soaring with the birds at 2800 feet. You will leave with a photo by Daniel Bianchetta – ‘Condors over Big Sur’.
Donor: Ventana Wildlife Society, D. Bianchetta and The Big Sur Bakery
Value: $1,425

#7 – ‘Violet Madrones’
Oil on canvas (48” x 36”) by Melissa Lofton. Having lived in Big Sur most of her life, she is constantly surprised and delighted at how rich and varied the coast and mountains are. Melissa paints people and everyday objects in her world and in her travels. Chairs, water, oak and madrone trees are also ongoing subjects of fascination for her and are painted in many permutations. Her work is in many private collections and local galleries.
Donor: Melissa Lofton
Value: $3,800

#8 – ‘Art & Food in a Garden’
Six of you will enjoy a one-of-a-kind Big Sur experience… John Batz and Gabriel Hyppolite will share their private home and Sculpture Garden with a 3-course lunch created especially for you by Executive Chef Domingo Santamaria of Deetjens. Wines will be paired with each course as you take in your surroundings. Choose a date in April 2011 for this immersion of 85 Sculptures, a lunch you will not forget, and the company of two well travelled and entertaining gentlemen… you will not want the day to end.
Donors: John Batz & Gabriel Hyppolite and Domingo Santamaria & Deetjens Big Sur Inn
Value: Priceless

#9 – ‘A Spirit Nest’
Your own personal Nest for dreaming and creating! Not only will your kids love it… you will love it! Each nest is a one of a kind interactive & functional art sculpture that is intended for people of all ages. Jayson will custom build an 8-person Nest and install in Monterey County. Jayson’s Nests can be found on many private properties in Big Sur; Esalen; the Spirit Garden; Treebones Resort; Pacific Grove Natural History Museum; movie set of ‘Wanderlust’ being filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, starring Jennifer Anniston and throughout the US.
Installation outside Monterey County, bidder to work out expense for time, travel, accommodations and transport of Nest with Jayson separate from the Health Center benefit. Cushions not included.
Donor: Jayson Fann, Big Sur Spirit Garden
Value: $10,000

#10 – ‘Body Language’
A private photo shoot with Greg and Susan Hawthorne at their Gallery starts off this amazing art piece of You!! Greg starts off with a Photo Mono Print and then adds his abstract touch of color on you and the background. Body Art with the Hawthorne touch. Greg’s diverse work incorporates painting, sculpture and design. His work is represented in hundreds of private, public, and corporate collections.
Donor: Gregory Hawthorne, Hawthorne Gallery
Value: $10,000

Life & Blogging

I try to post almost every day about what is going on here in the Wilds of Big Sur, whether it be weather, road, fire conditions- or sometimes just photographs, and I usually succeed. Sometimes I cannot. Life is just too busy. My time is not my own. I am juggling too many objects, some of them sharp. Right now is one of those times. I hope to be able to post something of interest in the next few days, as I did promise you Part 3 of my Keeping Big Sur safe from wildfires series. That would be Saturday, if I am lucky. In the mean time, enjoy this beautiful weather we are having. I am!
Namasté

Oh, and don’t forget the “Art from Here to There” on Sunday at 3 pm at the Ventana Terrace to benefit the Big Sur Health Clinic. Will see you there!

Summer’s Last Hurrah

The Labor Day weekend is traditionally the end of Summer for Big Sur. Kids are back in school, parents are back to work, and the retirement crowd in the motor homes come out to play.

I hope to take most, if not all, this weekend off, to enjoy the hot weather and stay out of the way of the end of summer celebrations! But I will be working on Part 3 of the debate over the MCCWPP so it will be ready next week.

People outnumber the Seals

Header Photo Contest #3

For this Fall season’s contest for the header photo at the top of the blog, the subject is JADE – rocks, jewelry, sculpture, Jade Festival – wherever your creativity leads you in this direction. Each person should submit no more than 2 photos by midnight PDT on September 13th. These photos need to be in landscape format, and preferably, full sized, rather than cropped. Last contest many photographers submitted photos cropped to fit my header format, but the main vote getters were all full-sized. On or about September 14th, I will post the top ten photos for readers to vote on. The winner will win lunch at Lucia Lodge or if not local, an SD card, courtesy of Ken Harlan of Lucia Lodge.

So, you have 2 weeks to sort through your existing photographs, or to go out and take new ones to submit for this quarterly contest! Find your favorite piece of Jade, put it in the sun to show off that gorgeous color and submit it in the next two weeks!