Monterey County is comprised of 5,280 square miles of some of the most diverse topography in the Golden State. That’s a fact Hollywood moviemakers have been taking advantage of for many, many years, and more than 200 films have been shot here. The oldest are said to be two silent movies, “Hotel Del Monte” and “Surf at Monterey,” shot on October 25, 1897, by film pioneer James … [Read more...] about Picture Perfect
Carmel’s Hidden Gem
For such a small geographical region, the Monterey Peninsula area is home to a lot of secrets. One such is San Clemente Rancho, a privately owned 2,600-acre tract located near the end of Robinson Canyon Road, south of Carmel Valley. This is the site of 100 cabins, owned by “members,” concentrated on only 160 of the acres. The remainder is a bucolic, remote and serene vacation … [Read more...] about Carmel’s Hidden Gem
A Century of Utopia
The world-renowned, one-square-mile, beach destination of Carmel-by-the-Sea celebrates its 100th birthday in 2016. This patch of paradise has evolved over the past century into a hotspot with big-city offerings of art, theatre, music, and dining, while existing on the canvas of a fairytale. The magic of Carmel has been carefully fashioned over the last 100 years. From its … [Read more...] about A Century of Utopia
Where the Wild Things Are
Everyone knows that a dog is a man’s best friend, but Charlie Sammut of Salinas stood that notion on its ear. For many years, his best friend was a lion. Yes, a lion. As in “King of the Jungle.” His name was Josef. Sammut has always loved exotic pets. The son of hard-working Maltese immigrants who built and operated the Laurel Inn on North Main Street, he’s maintained a … [Read more...] about Where the Wild Things Are
A California Dream Girl Comes Home
Since her first appearance as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model in 2002, breathless journalists have thumbed through their thesauruses to find just the right adjectives to describe supermodel / actress / entrepreneur Marisa Miller. Most focus on the obvious: her stunning good looks. But the attributes that make a woman truly beautiful, what makes her image jump off the … [Read more...] about A California Dream Girl Comes Home