Getting Out: Feel alive in Death Valley
Death Valley is the earth bare bones and naked. The light smattering of creosote bushes and cacti does not begin to disguise, even to a beginner’s eye, some of the simple features of the valley’s construction.
‘Being Earnest’: Moving Oscar Wilde into the ’60s
Oscar Wilde's “The Importance Of Being Earnest” was considered a hit in the 1800s and had been played just about everywhere since. His sharp wit and mastery of comedy in just the right places made this piece a gem and appreciated in the theatre world.
$20,000 for a month’s fill in work – good gig if taxpayers will stand for it
Just don’t buy it, that the Gavilan Community College trustees made the prudent decision to pay an interim president $20,000 to sit in for a month while President Steve Kinsella recovers from back surgery. One reader had this to say on our comment board: “I am sure the interim president is very capable but Gavilan has two existing vice presidents who are and should be capable of taking care of business for a few weeks. But to spend $20,000 for less than a month on things that are not needed and refuse to spend dollars on necessary items just does not make any sense.” Couldn’t agree more.
Golf: Masters provides lift for Frys.com Open
Augusta National chairman Billy Payne announced Wednesday that winners of all fall PGA Tour tournaments – including the Frys.com Open from Oct. 10 to 13 at CordeValle – will receive an invite to the 2014 Masters.
Save with homemade ricotta
Before I formally begin this edition of The Flavor Chronicle, I would like to share with you that Sunday is the 53rd annual Morgan Hill Haru Matsuri (spring festival), which starts at 11 a.m. This is one of my favorite local festivals where you are surrounded by an abundance and variety of wonderful Japanese foods. Some of the food items include udon, sushi, manju and, of course, the much sought after and well-known chicken teriyaki boxes. If you don't already have plans for this Sunday, consider a visit and bring your appetite.
Churches provide meals to the community
According to census data, Morgan Hill is a prosperous community. Even the casual observer will notice the million dollar homes lining many streets and expensive luxury cars choking parking lots.
Learning the ins and outs of a vineyard
Last month I got as close to heaven as any oenophile has ever been. I’m not much of a camper, but when Matt Levy, public relations and marketing manager, invited me to attend Camp Schramsberg, a three-day sparkling wine seminar at Schramsberg Vineyards in Calistoga, I jumped at the chance. Schramsberg Vineyards has been producing sparkling wine since 1965 when they became the first U.S. producer to use Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes in the méthode champenoise (where a secondary fermentation occurs while the wine is in the bottle - thus producing bubbles). These sparkling wines are so good that in 1972, the Blanc de Blancs was served at the historic “Toast to Peace” in Beijing, between President Richard Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai. To this day, Schramsberg’s wines are still being served in the White House.
Extra teeth could lead to serious problems
Q: Michael, our 1-year-old pomeranian mutt, has a few extra teeth. The vet tells us that he never lost some of his baby teeth. Now they want to pull out all of those extra teeth, and I wonder if this is really all that necessary. Should we go along with the vet’s plan? Or can Michael live with a few extra enamels in his mouth?
