A Small Observation
If Obama’s name was “Lester,” none of this would be happening.
Last Tango?
Since the “peace candidate” has announced that we should be sending more troops to Afghanistan, I figure it’s time to party like there’s no tomorrow.
And to help, here’s a new organic, luxurious butter from the nice folks of Clover. Ultra-creamy European-style, seasoned with sea salt, and on your morning multi-grain toast, it’s fabulous. Weighing in at 8oz and just under $5, it’s shameless indulgence of the sort that our forebears rubbed all over themselves during the plague years. From where I sit, now would be a good time to do likewise. At Shoppers & New Leaf.
Fresh Mint Gelato: the Sequel
Yes, I know. Many of you ran out to Shoppers to find this extraordinary frozen sin and it was all gone. Here’s why. My original source, gourmet realtor Dee Vogel, confessed. She kept buying tub after tub of this Ciao Bella gelato, and has by her own admission taken on ballast from eating so much of it.
However – here’s the good news. Ciao Bella Fresh Mint gelato is currently available at Deluxe. If you need to keep up with the very best in high-calorie creamy desserts, then you know what to do. Frankly, it’s an amazing combination of flavors — intensely creamy vanilla gelato, nuggets of dark chocolate, perfume of fresh mint. Mmmmmm.
Plein Air Prize
Last weekend’s Plein Air Affaire event at Santa Cruz’ Museum of Art and History attracted thousands of visitors, and made even more thousands of dollars for the downtown arts venue.
The invited artists included some of the Bay Area’s leading outdoor and impressionistic painters, including the legendary Howard Ikemoto, Peter Loftus, Charles Prentiss, Barbara Lawrence, Mike Bailey, and Frank Galuszka. The artwork displayed was striking, beautiful, and of noticeably higher quality that what many have come to expect from plein air shows.
Galuszka, whose day job is professor of art at UCSC, won the “QuickDraw” prize for his atmospheric egg tempera study, Sun and Fog: View over Monterey Bay, (r.) painted on Sunday morning before the public viewing.
If you missed this summer’s Plein Air Affaire, make plans to visit next year at MAH. Alfresco artwork never looked so good. The Museum of Art & History is located at 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz (next door to the new Lulu’s).
Farm-fresh Produce
By now you’ve already finished up your romance with English peas and have moved on to peaches and chiogga beets. We’ve been enjoying the strawberries and tender baby greens — both wild and cultivated — offered by the Farm Cart at UCSC.
Tuesdays and Fridays, the fresh harvest is loaded this time of year with all manner of onions and garlic, leafy greens, blueberries and plums, herbs and beautiful old-fashioned bouquets. Everything is organic, sold by the young growers of the Agroecology apprentice program and utterly delicious. Even if you think you only need spinach for dinner, the seasonal produce might surprise you. Stretch your palate – try some intriguing item you’ve never had before. Tuesday and Fridays, at the corner of High and Empire Grade, noon – 6pm.
Inside the Flame
A book of sensory adventure: The rituals, passions and discoveries of an engaged life.