Category: Events

Rachael Short Fundraisers

donations and cards can be sent to PO Box 161, Big Sur, CA 93920.

As many of you may have heard, local photographer Rachael Short was critically injured in an automobile accident on Halloween night. She has undergone two surgeries at Stanford and will likely be hospitalized for many months to come. Rachael has lived and worked in Big Sur and Carmel all of her life. She is an extraordinary photographer and recently opened her own gallery in Carmel … EXPOSED.

On Sunday November 14th, Big Sur River Inn Manager, Selena Perez along with Big Sur River Inn Comptroller, Jennifer Guzowski, her husband, Captain Cooper School Teacher, Ted Guzowski, will be participating in the Big Sur Half Marathon. All three will be running in honor of Rachael and they are inviting others to honor and support Rachael by pledging a donation for each of the 13 miles that they will run that day. All donations will be used to assist Rachael with her mounting medical expenses.

In the spirit of the upcoming season of giving we would ask you to be thankful for all that you have and to help in any way that you can…no amount is too small.

Questions, additional information, donations and per-mile-pledges can be made by contacting Jennifer Guzowski at jennifer@bigsurriverinn.com or Janet Lesniak at janet@bigsurriverinn.com. You can also find the event “Running For Rachael” on Facebook. You will be contacted after the race so that we may collect your donations. Contributions may be made by cash, check or credit card.

Thank you for your support and participation in this pledge drive for Rachael!

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.

More Jade Fest 2010

Hello everyone. Avis here to post some more pics from this years Jade Festival.

But before I do….

If Kate were posting, she would tell you all about the rain we are having here in Big Sur. It rained most of the day on Friday and my rain gauge down at Highway 1 level recorded “1/4 inch”.  Saturday started off absolutely beautiful. Later in the day it started to rain and it has been raining all day today. It’s been a steady rain that has given me another inch of rain as of 5:00pm.

This post is going to be pictures of Jade in all it’s glory. I wish I had more time at the festival to devote to getting really good pics but I do volunteer work that keeps me very busy. I have to take the camera and make a mad dash around the vendor booths. And here are some of the results of my mad dashing.

Although she's a bit dusty, the Jade Lady has been one of my favorite carvings for many years. Carved by Gary Goudy
Ahhhhhh...Siberian Jade. My favorite!!!
I love when Jade is the right quality and just the right thickness that you can see the light through it. We call Jade you can see through "A Lens"
This hunny is Botryoidal Jade. Otherwise known as "Bubble Jade". Resting on a piece of Redwood burl. And the whole thing is sitting on top of a local jade slab.
This represents the many colors and types of local Big Sur Jade. Including the Red "Vulcan Jade"
This face is so sweet. I've seen this piece at the festival for a few years now...Don't know the history of the piece or the artist.

That’s it! Hope you enjoyed the beautiful Jade!

Kate will be back to posting very, very soon.

Items of Note

Before Avis posts more Jade Festival photos this weekend, if she does, I would like to bring a couple of items that are dear to my heart to your attention. First, the Bal Masque at Nepenthe benefitting the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade is on Halloween, October 31st.

Second, Mike Gilson, of CPOA and the Big Sur Bakery is making a plea for the MCWPP on KUSP in a piece produced by Meade Fischer. “His plea to pass the wildlife plan will air on Mon, Nov. 1 on KUSP 7:33A and 4:33P” writes Meade.

I’ll be back to my usual blogging next week.

Jade Fest 2010

Hello everyone. Avis here stepping in for Kate. As she has stated, she is taking a break from things to catch up on life.

Kate lives on top of the world and I live at very close to sea level. Today in Lucia, we woke up to thick, drippy fog. About an hour ago the fog lifted and we can see the rain clouds. It’s sprinkling on and off with moments of sun peaking out. I love looking out at the ocean on days like this. So many different layers of clouds and colors. From the looks of these clouds, I suspect Kate’s house is in the clouds and having a bit more rain than us down here.

During Kate’s brief  interlude, I’d like to share some photos with you from this years Jade Festival.

I thought I’d start off with a whimsical theme. There’s plenty of time to show off the Jade.

"Gourd Man" Never did see this guys face. He played with the african drummers
"Clown Shoes" You have to admit....it's not everyday you see clown shoes. I couldn't resist.
"Belly Dancer" The belly dancers have been coming to the festival for years. I always look forward to watching them and love how they make the crowd smile.

"Cat's Dance Group" I think the smile on Cat's face, the other dancers faces and the woman in the background...says it all!

 

And one final pic. Without these two guys and their awesome crew, the Jade Fest wouldn’t have the incredible entertainment it does.

"Dan & Sid" The music & entertainment gods. We love you guys and thank you for putting on another FANTASTIC & AMAZING show!

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!

Traffic Delays this Saturday

Most of us who live in Big Sur received this notice today, but for those who live out of the area, and may be planning a visit, like our Santa Cruz or San Luis Opispo neighbors, I am providing this public service announcement. I have tried to upload a scanned copy of the letter with no luck, so instead I will give you the traffic highlights ONLY, and a website for additional information.

The Audi Best Buddies challenge will be leaving from Carmel Valley this Saturday morning and entrants will be walking and bicycling to Hearst Castle.

The Carmel Valley traffic patterns will be substantially disrupted from about 5:00 am until 8:00. A portion of Valley Greens Dr. will be closed during this time period, and there will be restricted traffic along Carmel Valley Rd until 8 am.

On Highway One, there will be delays, particularly at the beginning of the race, but those will lessen as the riders begin to spread out. The race is being overseen by the CHP, and all rules of the road are to be obeyed by the riders.

There are three other starting points at which congestion will be significant. These are: Big Sur Station; Sand Dollar Beach; and Ragged Point. The race organizers advise using caution in these areas as well.

This is a fund-raising event put on by “Best Buddies” a non-profit organization which promotes one-on-one relationships with and support for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. For more information, you can check this website:
Best Buddies