Songwriting is a multidisciplinary calling. A songsmith is equal parts composer, poet, musician, philosopher and entrepreneur. Many times, it's an unsung profession: the performer who interprets the song gets the credit and adulation, the songwriter gets a credit set in microscopic type on a CD cover or record label. Sure, there are exceptions. Individuals such as Cole Porter, … [Read more...] about A Way with Words
Archive
A Wild Adventure
One Man's Vision to Create the Monterey Zoo
Butch the elephant stands 10 feet tall and his long trunk—with its astounding dexterity—makes his height seem almost insignificant. His eyelashes are the length of an adult's hand, his demeanor that of a cat lounging in the sun. He eagerly, yet gently, shovels carrots into his impressive mouth while his best pal, Jasmine the zebra, watches. Butch is one of two elephants that … [Read more...] about A Wild Adventure
Capturing California with a Creative Eye
Monterey Peninsula's Love Affair with Art
Artists of all types have main-tained a long-held love affair with the Monterey Penin-sula in general, Carmel in particular. For nearly one and a half centuries, all manner—poets, musicians, writers, sculptors, painters—have been drawn as moths to a flame by the area's unparalleled beauty, temperate climate and (once) inexpensive cost of living. The earliest Bohemian painters … [Read more...] about Capturing California with a Creative Eye
Home Away from Hollywood
Celebrities Flock to the Monterey Peninsula
From its earliest days, Carmel-by-the-Sea has lured the famous to its borders. Most are looking for a break from the pressure-cooker life that comes with having an instantly recognizable face. In the late 19th century, when a vibrant and thriving artist community sprang up here, literary luminaries such as Robert Louis Stevenson found respite here, followed by Robinson Jeffers … [Read more...] about Home Away from Hollywood
Pivoting During a Pandemic
Local Nonprofits Needed More Than Ever
The dog's owners were despondent. Their "baby," a Border Collie mix, couldn't stop licking her leg after a previous surgery site had reopened, leaving the tip of a metal rod jutting out. Because of Covid-19, both of the dog's parents had been laid off and they were losing their home. Thankfully, local nonprofit Max's Helping Paws was able to cover the vet bill. "People who … [Read more...] about Pivoting During a Pandemic