Lifestyle

No respect—I don't get no respect!" If Custom House could speak, the old adobe might very well utter Rodney Dangerfield's famous one-liner to describe its place in contemporary Monterey. The building is well-preserved, and contains curated displays of trade goods common during the Mexican era. A gift shop beckons, as do engaging State Parks staff members and volunteer docents. … [Read more...] about Custom-Made

One day, thousands of years ago, one of our human ancestors discovered that the wooden branch of a tree could be shaped using a sharpened tool. Obviously, that precise date is lost to time, but what is known is that over the millennia, humans have used this extremely versatile material to craft a myriad of objects ranging from the rudimentary to the sublime. Wood artist Craig … [Read more...] about Intricate Art With a Twist

José Ortiz grew up in Mexico, in what he describes as a "box city," working as a newspaper delivery boy at age four and very aware of the marginalization those of his indigenous culture experienced. His mother had left to work in the U.S. as a migrant farmworker, and he wouldn't be reunited with her for many years. On a fortuitous day, a nun saw young Ortiz out delivering … [Read more...] about Growing Wings to Fly

Upon entering the upper level of the Carmel Youth Center (CYC), one is greeted by a large black and white portrait of a smiling man sporting a jaunty bow tie. Being more attuned to the music of Drake and Taylor Swift, the kids who visit CYC will be forgiven if they have no idea who that gentleman was, but their grandparents are sure to know. His name was Bing Crosby, one of the … [Read more...] about The House That Bing Built