MONTCLARION: Sept 21, 2012
Everyone talks about wine pairings — especially during September and crush. But did you know that a spicy plate of chicken wings goes best with beer? It’s something I discovered when I tested out our neighborhood Red Boy Pizza’s new pairings menu. Continue reading
Courtesy of the Yolo County Visitors Bureau
OAKLAND/ALAMEDA MAGAZINES: Sept/Oct 2012
The wine blush becomes you. Yet everyone, it seems, is “crushing” on wine country this time of year. Luckily, there are plenty of off-the-radar regions where you can get away from the crowds during harvest. The lure, here, is wineries where you can talk tannins with vintners, taste for a nominal fee and — in some cases — even help crush the grapes by breaking their skins to prepare them for wine production.
Here are three emerging California destinations to explore: Continue reading
HILLS NEWSPAPERS: September 14, 2012
Autumn. Just the word gives me goose bumps. Autumn is chili and beer with a big square of cornbread. It’s pumpkin-braised short ribs and a peppery Zin. It’s oompah bands and Octoberfests and — did I mention the beer?
Few places are more serious about beer than Montana. Where we have our wine trails, they have a Brewery Trail — no small feat when you consider the state is 700 miles wide. Montana is also the No. 1 producer of barley, and more folks than ever are harvesting hops there — the flowery cones that grow on leafy green vines up to 20 feet tall.
MONTCLARION: Sept 14, 2012
My cat is a night owl. She slips out at dusk on our mild, moonlit eves and doesn’t return until dawn. Where she goes, nobody knows — until now.
Seeing the performance of “Cats” at the Woodminster Theater opened my eyes to her escapades. Cats of all stripes took the stage Sept. 7 for a marvelous moondance and prance. The performance was perfect for a summer musical under the stars at one of Oakland’s real treasures — the little theater in the redwoods. Continue reading
MONTCLARION: August 31, 2012
The stained glass caught my eye as I strolled by. It was throwing shards of light across the landscape. My family and I stopped to admire the work.
Not since the days when shopkeepers swept their sidewalks have I seen this kind of community pride. Gina Dominguez was gently embedding the colorful glass into a motif on the cement planter near Starbucks. The owner of Snapshot Mosaic (6202 La Salle Ave.) was on her knees, eyes darting back and forth between an artist’s rendering and her emerging masterpiece. Continue reading
MONTCLARION: August 17, 2012
Canyon — the whole town revolves around two buildings, the school and the post office, and the post office is slated for dramatic cuts in service and the elimination of its longtime postmaster (or in this case, postmistress).
You’d half-expect there to be a protest. After all, Canyon is known for its countercultural roots. Many of the folks moved to the nearby unincorporated community from Berkeley and had ties to the Vietnam War protests. But instead, the town is taking a different tack. They’re working within the system by pointing out the post office’s assets and historical importance. Continue reading
HILLS NEWSPAPERS: August 17, 2012
I call it the $5 face-lift; but it’s really gravity and saltwater working to make you feel 10 years younger.
Since 1924, more than 59 million people have ridden the Giant Dipper at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
It’s a classic wooden coaster that plasters a smile on your face at top speeds of 55 mph. Legendary columnist Herb Caen called it a “tooth-loosener” for its jarring twists and turns, but my favorite part of the ride is the view. As you climb the crest before the first drop, you see miles of scenic coastline dotted with palm trees and sailing ships. There’s nowhere like it on Earth. Continue reading
MONTCLARION: August 10, 2012
It was like finding a time capsule. When the Beaumont family started their remodel, last month, they discovered an old Montclair Village business directory on the wall of their Estates Drive garage. With the recent changes in town, including the retirements of the Sarber and Sullivan families, Bob Beaumont thought it would be fun to look back to 1978. Continue reading
HILLS NEWSPAPERS: August 3, 2012
The ghosts of a dozen sailors swirl across the dance floor. Some fan out toward the deck, others sweep into the sleeping quarters. And one sassy spirit slips into the powder room to tease the ladies. Yes, the USS Hornet is haunted. I’ve felt the presence myself. Many years ago I walked the ship with two ghost hunters and heard heart-thumping tales of men who met untimely deaths on the aircraft carrier — at least one in the blades of the propeller. Today they are part of the draw to this ship dubbed “The Gray Ghost.” Continue reading
MONTCLARION: August 3, 2012
I really put my foot in it this week. I jumped right into a fray over politics, knowing it would be awkward. The conversation arose during a walk on the Village trail. “Look at all these squirrelly dogs, sniffing and yipping at each other,” I said to my friend. “I’m so glad Montclair has a cat for a mayor.”
A slip of the tongue, I admit. After all, my friend was walking her dog, an adorable mini pinscher that kept getting “oohs” and coos from other pup owners. Maybe I was a little jealous. My cat never gets attention like this. Continue reading
Ginny Prior 