A bronze bust rests on a pedestal at the corner of Drake and Wave Streets next to the Monterey Bay Recreational Trail. It depicts a pleasant, studious looking man. A magnifying loupe hangs around his neck, a pen is clipped to his opencollared shirt; he holds a sea star in his hand. More often than not, the star is joined by a sprig of flowers some passerby has placed there. … [Read more...] about Steinbeck’s Legendary Friend
Bringing Carmel History to Life
The multitudes that have hiked its meandering miles of trails and have reveled in its gorgeous vistas of sea, land and mountain will tell you: Point Lobos is the crown jewel of the California State Parks system. And those who’ve been lucky enough to accompany Monica Hudson on a tour of this scenic wonder will attest: she is truly a gem of the Monterey Peninsula. Hudson is … [Read more...] about Bringing Carmel History to Life
Boys and Their Toys
We typically don't pay much attention to self-storage places. Their invisibility is compounded by locations in out-of-the-way commercial zones. Though many of us have occasion to rent a space from time to time—perhaps for temporary storage of household goods—for the most part they go ignored. Aside from the frenzy displayed by those rabid resellers who bid on the contents of … [Read more...] about Boys and Their Toys
If You Can’t Stand Up, Stand Out
Give Chelsie Hill lemons, she'll make lemonade. Put her in a wheelchair? She'll dance. Most Peninsulans know Hill's tragic story: a bright and beautiful Pacific Grove High senior, she awoke in a Santa Clara trauma center paralyzed from the waist down after a horrendous alcohol-related automobile accident. "Dance is the only thing my daughter has ever wanted to do," says … [Read more...] about If You Can’t Stand Up, Stand Out
This Is Jazz
They're still talking about that September Saturday. The day Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews strode out onto the Jimmy Lyons stage with his band Orleans Avenue and proceeded to permanently and deeply carve his name into the tree trunk of Monterey Jazz Festival lore. "He absolutely owned the 2010 festival," says one longtime attendee. Guess what? He's gonna do it again. "I've … [Read more...] about This Is Jazz