Download Entertainment Guide

by Kellie Morlock

From Pacifica down to Pescadero, find music along the way listed here by town & neighborhood down the coast. Entertainment venues listed below. Even better – it’s free! (So is the music, except where noted.)

Or visit www.Facebook.com/CoastviewsMusic for Daily List of Music and Entertainment on the Coast. 

PACIFICA

A Grape in the Fog is a charming wine bar in Rockaway Beach that also features community building events during the week and live music on weekends for folks 21 and over. 400 Old County Road, Pacifica; 650-735-5845.

  May 10, 8-9:30 p.m.: Comedy Night

  May 11, 8-10 p.m.:  Kimberly & JD Smith

  May 12, 8-10 p.m.: Saturday Night Live,   Johnny Bamont & Westwind

Pacifica Performances: The Mildred Owen Concert Hall, 1220 Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica; 650-355-1882; (Tickets $12-20, unless otherwise noted)

  May 12 7:30 p.m.:  Morning & Jim Nichols Quintet – jazz/Americana

  May 19, 7:30 p.m.: Jeremy Cohen – violin jazz

MOSS BEACH

Cypress Meadows offers acoustic music once a month in a concert setting; hearty wine and appetizers are included and served at 6 p.m. 343 Cypress Ave, Moss Beach; 650-728-8045; reservations by phone or email: RSVP@CypressMeadows.net

Call for info

Moss Beach Distillery: 140 Beach Way, Moss Beach; 650-728-5595

Call for info.

PRINCETON HARBOR

Crab Landing has two stories of seating with lovely views and acoustics. 260 Capistrano Rd; 650-712-0532; 

  Fridays & Saturdays, 6-9 p.m.: Singer/guitarists

Half Moon Bay Brewing Co has some of the Bay Area’s best boogie music, free every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 390 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay; 650-728-BREW.

  May 11, 7-10 p.m.: Country Casanovas – country

  May 12, 7-10 p.m.: Bay Area Heat – rock

  May 13, 5-9 p.m.: Pamela Rose Band – jazzy blues

  May 18, 7-10 p.m.: Spill the Wine – funk, soul, rock n roll

  May 19, 7-10 p.m.: The Element – rock

  May 20, 5-9 p.m.: Mz. Dee & Anthony Paule Band – r & b

  May 25, 7-10 p.m.: Beach Cowboys – bluesy rock

  May 26, 7-10 p.m.: Robin Campbell Band – funky r & b

  May 27, 5-9 p.m.: Mark Hummel Band with Steve Freund – blues harmonica

Old Princeton Landing offers live music with more of an edge for the later crowd. 460 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay; 650-728-7096.

  May 11, 9 p.m.: High n Tight – classic rock (21+)

  May 12, 9 p.m.: Skyline Blues Band ($5, 21+)

Sam’s Chowder House brings New England style to the West, located between the harbor and Miramar, with music in the bar til May then out on the patio til October.  4210 North Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay; 650-712-0245

  May 11, 5-9 p.m.: Jennifer Kerr – country
 


  May 12, 4-8 p.m.: Daylight – acoustic rock 


  May 13, 1-5 p.m.: Dutch Uncle – classic rock


  May 18, 5-9 p.m.: Steven Pasero – flamenco guitar

  May 19, 4-8 p.m.: Lisa Sanchez & John Eriksen – latin soul

  May 20, 1-5 p.m.: Soul Sauce – latin jazz

  May 25, 5-9 p.m.: Brandon Robinson – urban jazz

  May 26, 4-8 p.m.: South City Blues Band

  May 27, 1-4 p.m.: Stan Erhart, rock & blues

MIRAMAR

Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society has brought world-class jazz and classical artists to the coast since 1964. Members get preferred seating. Douglas Beach House, 311 Mirada Rd, Half Moon Bay; 650-726-4143;

  May 13, 4:30 p.m.: Amina Figarova Sextet, with Jackie Ryan ($35)

  May 27, 4:30 p.m., The Fred Ross Project – dancing 2^nd set ($35)

Miramar Beach Restaurant is located right at the water, featuring 3-course dinner specials for $19.95 every Thursday and live music Thursday & Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. 131 Mirada Road, Half Moon Bay; 650-726-9053

  Thursdays, 5-9 p.m.: Terry Disley on piano

  Saturdays, 5-9 p.m.: Terry Disley on piano

  Sundays, 12-4 p.m.: Terry Disley on piano

HALF MOON BAY

Cameron’s Restaurant, Pub & Inn is a funky family-friendly British pub with fun music as well. Auri’s Open Mic brings local talent together Thursdays at 8; there’s also karaoke on Saturdays, plus live bands each month. 1410 S. Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay; 650-726-5705.

  Thursdays, 8 p.m.: Auri’s Open Mic

  Saturdays, 9 p.m.: Karaoke

  May 11 & 12, 7 p.m.; May 13, 11:30 a.m.: Young Actors Workshop presents “Rocking a Hard Place” ($5 ages 4+; 1/2 off Sat for teachers)

  May 13, 7-9:30 p.m.: Acoustic Round Robin series – “Guitars Gone Wild” with Mark Kostrzewa, Stevan Pasero and Pete Madsen

  May 25, 9 p.m.: “Just CREAM” band – classic rock

Cetrella provides a stylish lounge for solo and duo jazz and pop artists, Friday and Saturday evenings. 845 Main St., Half Moon Bay; 650-7264090.

  Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.

Coastal Repertory Theatre; offers award-winning plays and musicals throughout the year. 1167 Main St, HMB; 650-726-0998;

  May 4-13: The Wizard of Oz - Classic tale featuring 100 youth!  Fri & Sat at 7 p.m., Sun at 2 p.m.; ($15-$20)

Coastside Art Gallery and Wine Bar in Zaballa Square hosts local musicians on Wednesdays, serving wine and beer among the art on exhibit. Doors open at 6:30. 330 Main St, Half Moon Bay; 650-726-4460.

  May 9, 7:30-9:30 p.m.: ParaBytes – 50′s & 60′s classics

  May 16, 7:30-9:30 p.m.:Dave Crimmon – Rockabilly

It’s Italia compliments the Cal/Italian cuisine with jazz and acoustic music on Friday and Saturday evenings. 401 Main St., Half Moon Bay; 650-726-4444.

  Fridays & Saturdays, 6-9 p.m.: Solo Guitar

Ocean View Lodge aka Odd Fellows Lodge 526 Main St., Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, (650) 712-0718

  May 12, 7:30 p.m.: Blue Blanket Improv ($10)

Pasta Moon’s Music Box gets down with jazz and acoustic groups from around the Bay, most Friday and Saturday nights for free. 315 Main St., Half Moon Bay; 650-726-5125;

  May 11, 7-9:30 p.m.: Stevan Pasero

  May 12, 6:30-9:30 p.m.: Mark Owens

  May 19, 6:30-9:30 p.m.: Sonya Jason’s “Tigress” – tribute to 70s/80s jazz fusion artists

Raman’s Coffee and Chai features coffee and the “Best Chai on Earth,” as well as acoustic tunes to enhance the flavor. 101 Main St, Half Moon Bay; 650-726-6292;

  Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon: Mo Robinson & friends

The Ritz-Carlton hosts jazz saxophonist Michael O’Neill & friends every Thursday at 6:30, featuring limited burger and drink specials plus free valet parking. 1 Miramontes Point Road, Half Moon Bay; 650-712-7000.

  Fridays and Saturdays, 7-11 p.m.: Jazz with John Moriarty & Mark Williams

  May 10, 6:30-9:30 p.m.: Kenny Washington, John R. Burr with Michael O’Neill

San Benito House is one of the oldest buildings in Half Moon Bay, serving late night food on weekends in the bar and legendary sandwiches in the deli each day.  356 Main St, Half Moon Bay; 650-726-3425

  Friday & Sunday afternoons: Rockin’ Rich Felix

SAN GREGORIO

The San Gregorio General Store takes you back to traditional Americana music in an authentic general store/local bar/rural community post office. Two bands play each Saturday and Sunday, 11-5ish. Highway 84 and Stage roads, San Gregorio; 650-726-0565

  May 12, 11-1 p.m. Atkinson, Kincheloe & Beynon; 3-6 p.m.: Harmony Grits

  May 13, 11-1 p.m.: Marti Atkinson & Kati Boyd; 2-5 p.m.: Lane

PESCADERO

Gazos Grill is a scenic little cafe south of Pescadero on Hwy 1; 5720 Cabrillo Highway; 650-879-0874

Call for info

by Laurie Keit

Photos courtesy of Don E. Dotter.

May 2012— Got a touch of wanderlust? Nothing is more satisfying than a trip up — or down — the coast. In my 20s I would take a break from the rigors of corporate America with a monthly “mental health weekend.” Friday after work, I would go home and give myself 10 minutes to change clothes and pack. I would then leave for the weekend, spontaneously driving north or south until I felt like stopping. After finding a place to stay, I would explore and relax, only returning when Monday rolled around, or the money ran out, whichever came first.

Now you can indulge in the spirit of a mental health weekend, any day of the week, with a road trip and stop at Gherkins Sandwich Shop. Whether you are fueling up for a day of exploring the rugged California coast or just taking a break for lunch, treat yourself at this casual, gourmet eatery, conveniently located on the southern end of Devil’s Slide in Montara.

Gherkins is the brainchild of Elias Jweinat, owner of Mr. Pickles sandwich shops. Newly remodeled, the shop has a clean and fresh décor. Inside the self-serve, sit-down restaurant features the work of local artists, which is for sale. A beach-themed floor mural painted by Back To The Drawing Board sets the tone for arriving guests. A table outside overlooks the highway and ocean, perfect for al fresco dining on sunny days.

Arrive before noon and you can choose from nine different breakfast and frittata sandwiches in addition to the lunch menu, which is served all day. If you arrive after noon, you can also select from a variety of mouth-watering half-pound 100 percent Angus burgers. From hamburgers to cheeseburgers, and six different specialty burgers, you’ll find something to satisfy your burger craving.

I came for lunch, and was immediately welcomed by manager Zach Sesar. After ordering lucky number 13, the “West Coaster” — chicken, bacon, avocado and jack cheese on a sourdough roll with everything — I took a closer look at the menu.

The lunch menu consists of 33 mouth-watering specialty sandwich creations that can be served hot or cold. From Carnivore to Herbivore, Go Niners to the Silly Philly, you can choose from the menu or create your own from a choice of eight bread options — including gluten-free — eight meats, six different cheeses and 14 extras.

If you prefer lighter fare for lunch, Gherkins also serves your choice of five vegetarian salads and a daily soup special, prepared from scratch. All salads can be upgraded with chicken breast, tuna salad or chicken salad.

Side dishes include salads — macaroni salad, coleslaw, potato salad — fries, garlic fries, hash browns, eggs and soups. Gherkins also has a variety of bagged chips and a cooler full of beverages. It offers coffee and tea and has plans to offer beer, wine, Italian sodas, party trays, catering and on-line ordering in the near future. It even offers a kid’s menu.

After about 10 minutes, I got my sandwich, which I planned to eat on the drive back to Pacifica. It was served hot, and it was huge. If you order with “everything” as I did, be advised: This is not a sandwich you can eat while driving.

This is a fresh and delicious sandwich that merits your full attention if you don’t want to arrive at your destination looking like a freshly slopped hog — or, worse yet, end up at the bottom of the Slide.

Why not stop and enjoy your meal at the Gherkins dining room, or take it with you on your road trip? It will stimulate your taste buds as the ocean revitalizes your senses.

Gherkins is located at 171 7th Street in Montara; the phone number is 650-728-2221. Stop there and fuel up before your next road trip. You’ll be glad you did!

by Jack McKinnon

© Dave Massey | Dreamstime.com

May 2012— Living on the Northern California coast is truly a gift. The beauty here is without compare. Migrating birds are seen all year round and the Pescadero marsh is a wonder to behold.

It is no surprise that gardeners flourish here. The soil has been building for centuries, the water supply is good, the weather is temperate and the spirit of the place invites creativity. All is well here and getting better every day. This month’s garden tips will include resources and techniques that are used by coastal gardeners and farmers to achieve the success that makes this place unique.

1. The Pescadero garden tour is a highlight of the year for local gardeners. No two gardens are alike, and their locations differ so much that they often have unique plants to observe. For more information, call Jodi Behrens at 650-879-0877 or just come to Pescadero on May 19. There will be plenty of people to give you directions to the sign-up in front of the post office. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the cost is $25 per person or $40 for two. I recommend arriving early.

2. My favorite nursery — and I do visit a lot of nurseries — is still Half Moon Bay Nursery. There are several nurseries on Highway 92 and a few to the north on Highway 1, but don’t miss this one. Any nursery that plays opera to its plants has something going for it above and beyond the call of duty. When I was gardening for Sunset Magazine we made regular, seasonal trips to Half Moon Bay Nursery for flowers. This nursery’s perennials, natives, shrubs, groundcovers, azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias and greenhouse plants are always well tended and in very good show. And the staff members are helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.

3. Pastorino’s Nursery has hundreds of roses and the selection is great. Decide on the color you want, and decide if you want a climber, bush, tree or hybrid tea rose. Then have a good time picking out just the right rose for you.

4. Bongards Treescape Nursery has a good selection of trees that grow on the Coastside. Ask the staff for recommendations. Bongards also has shrubs and some annuals.

5. In a world where hand grown is becoming more and more appreciated, there is no better place to buy your food and your preserves than where the people who grow and produce those items can meet you. Granted, more and more markets are selling locally produced foods and they deserve whatever business you cannot get locally yourself, but there is no better way to shop than at the farmers markets. This is where the best chefs go early in the morning to buy their produce. Need I say more? Half Moon Bay has its farmers market on Saturday mornings, starting May 5; the Pacifica farmers market is held Wednesday afternoons, starting May 2; and Pescadero has its farmers market on Thursday afternoon, starting May 3.

6. As I grew up my mother cut coupons to save every penny she could to feed the nine of us in my family. She would also buy her eggs from the local farm and make me grow vegetables in the back yard. This wasn’t just about economy. She watched every Julia Child show and had a shelf of cookbooks 3 feet long. There was no doubt that quality was just as important as quantity. More and more people on the Coastside are growing their own produce. I always recommend starting with greens. They are easy to grow, one can cut what is needed, and the greens will continue to grow year round.

7. There are microclimates to learn and know on the Coastside. I have talked with native plant specialists and it is amazing how a species of plants will flourish in one place and 5 feet away won’t last the season. Often the wind, light, soil and temperature of an area will determine what will grow there and what will not. I recommend doing some research on the plants you want to grow before spending any money. There is plenty of information on the Web about every plant you encounter. Of course you have to get them identified in order to look them up. See tip 9 for my recommended book to help with that.

8. Many plants propagate easily. Dividing a clump of grass can provide from three to 10 new starts. Natives are often propagated from seeds and there are many resources on line for how to do it. Succulents, which are quite popular and varied, propagate easily by placing a cutting in sandy soil.

9. Walk the coast whenever you need to clear your head. There are several good plant identification books out. The first one I would recommend is Plants and Plant Communities of the San Mateo Coast by Avis Boutell, Toni Corelli and Nancy Frost. Published by the San Mateo Coast Natural History Association, this book is a keeper.

10. One of my favorite things in life is watching red-tailed hawks. I had one for a while as a licensed falconer and have never looked at them the same since. With vision like 10-power binoculars, talons like needles and a spirit like a fighter pilot, these birds clean up on gophers, mice, voles, rabbits, rats and rattlesnakes. Anything that eats gophers, let alone all those other nuisances to gardeners, is just fine in my book.

Good gardening!

Jack McKinnon is a garden coach who worked for Sunset’s gardens for 12 years. For a tour of your garden, complete with your own personal tips and techniques, call him at 650-455-0687 or visit his website, www.jackthegardencoach.com.

by Heidi Trilling

The Lighthouse Family: Christopher Bauman, Janice Pratt and their daughters at Point Montara. Photos: Heidi Trilling

May 2012— There’s an old folktale about a fisherman who dreams of finding a treasure in the battlements of a far-off city. He travels to that city only to meet a soldier who once dreamt of finding a treasure in the backyard of a fisherman’s cottage. But the soldier scoffed at his dream’s message. The fisherman, on the other hand, promptly returns home and begins to dig in his backyard. Sure enough, his shovel unearths a chest of gold.

Like the fisherman in the story, Coastsiders have a treasure in their backyard, too: the Point Montara Lighthouse.

Sitting on a parcel of five acres of breathtaking blufftop coast, and perched above a pretty little private cove, the 1881 lighthouse is only 30 feet high and was originally constructed and utilized in Massachusetts. No one quite knows how it came to be transported out west. It’s the only lighthouse known to have stood watch on both coasts of the United States.

The Point Montara Lighthouse is not only a historic landmark, its adjacent buildings have been unique lodgings since 1980, now operated by the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International USA.

In other words, you can stay there overnight.

What used to be known as “youth hostels” — no-frills accommodations for backpacking college kids— are now simply “hostels” which cater to international families, elders, school groups, students, corporate groups — in short, everyone.

A charming garden path leads to a private cove on the Point Montara Lighthouse property.

Accommodations at the Point Montara hostel are either shared dorms or private rooms. Two well-outfitted kitchens, a central gathering room with comfy seating, reading material, children’s books and toys and a generous dining area are all made for sharing.

“Our mission,” says Christopher Bauman, general manger of the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel, “is to help all people gain a better understanding of the world through hostelling and traveling.”

Bauman and his wife Janice Pratt are keepers of the lighthouse. Prior to this, they ran the Redwood National Park Hostel for six years. Bauman and Pratt are gearing up to celebrate their 10-year anniversary managing the Montara lighthouse in the fall of 2012, with their annual Halloween festival. The event features Bauman’s whimsical dragon sculpture, which towers over the hostel’s multi-purpose room.

There’s also a “non-profit monster” sculpture stationed outside, which collects donations for the upkeep of the property. Donors place their dollars and coins in the mouth of the monster and are usually very surprised by the realistic feel and stretchiness of the monster’s tongue.

“Kids love this,” Pratt says, smiling. “And it teaches them about supporting organizations that they visit and enjoy.”

Seashells, rock caves and native flora and fauna at Point Montara will delight children and adults alike.

Another of Bauman’s creations — a shark with a toothy smile — welcomes visitors and points them toward the check-in office. Its painted fins offer up another handy box for donations.

“I was a freelance artist and my background is in sculpture, so this is a playground for that sort of thing,” Bauman explains, “but it’s really about educating the next generation. Grade school kids will be our next independent travelers and hostel guests, and then later, if they are able to, they will become donors and give back to the organization.”

Pratt adds: “We work hard with our great staff to make everyone’s experience of the lighthouse as enriching and informative as it can be. We emphasize travel and education … but make it fun for kids — and adults — too.”

Bauman and Pratt also emphasize environmentalism.

The hostel at the Point Montara Lighthouse is a certified green business featuring water-conservation aerators, Energy Star appliances, solar lighting, biodegradable cleaning materials, and on-site recycling and composting. There are also selections of organic, fair-trade products in the espresso bar.

Boy Scout Troop 53 from Sacramento enjoying an educational and recreational getaway at Point Montara's lighthouse hostel.

“We’re promoting well-being through travel, through environmentalism, and through understanding people from other places,” Bauman says. “But underlying all of that is the idea of stewardship, of responsibility. Be a responsible traveler in the environment you’re traveling in, to the culture you’re visiting, and to each other. It’s the key to building a harmonious community.”

Education is another key.

Bauman and Pratt have made the lighthouse property a veritable museum, library and information center all in one, with educational panels on the walls, a flatscreen TV displaying documentaries of migratory birds and other coastal wildlife, and plenty of informative books, pamphlets and brochures on natural history and points of local interest. Bauman also compiled a meticulous history of the lighthouse, available as a downloadable PDF on the website.

“We also have several courses offered through our Hostel Adventures Program,” Bauman adds, “like World Travel 101 and Cultural Kitchen. Groups can also hire a naturalist to take them on coastal or inland hikes to learn about the surrounding environment.”

The hostel hosts over 10,000 travelers a year, in addition to regional school groups and youth organizations.

Richard Cable, leader of Boy Scout Troop 53 from Sacramento, organized a trip to the Point Montara Lighthouse hostel in February 2012. “It’s the perfect place for us: far enough away to be an adventure, close enough to be convenient for all the boys’ families. … It’s a beautiful spot, the rooms are great. It’s probably the best kept secret on the coast.

Banana slugs abound at the lighthouse property. These gentle coastal natives can have over 25,000 teeth and grow to be 8 inches long. Their favorite food is mushrooms.

Boy Scout dad Sean Tracy adds: “The staff here have been really helpful. Being able to stay right on the coast for such a reasonable cost is amazing. It’s so good for the boys to be able to enjoy and explore nature like this. The dads love it, too.”

At any given time, one might be staying at the lighthouse with a French professor studying marine biology, students from Japan, a family from the Ukraine, newlyweds from Finland, or a mom and daughter from Silicon Valley getting away from it all for a long weekend

“That’s the quintessential travel experience,” Bauman says. “It’s the joy of travel: going to places you’ve never seen, meeting new people. … It’s your story, your adventure, the stories you will tell later in life. I’m so glad I’ve had the privilege in my life to do that. … And so, I want to help people have that here, have them embrace the full experience of being here.”

Greta Becker, a German exchange student from Berlin, is fully experiencing as much of California as she can. Her one-week stay at Point Montara has been transformative. “I learned to surf and kayak, and have been enjoying the most beautiful sunsets and delicious organic foods. This is one of the best hostels I’ve stayed at in the U.S. So well-kept! And the view is simply stunning.”

Pristine tide pools at Point Montara's private cove yield wondrous coastal treasures.

As Bauman, Pratt and their staff can attest, the upkeep of the lighthouse hostel property is a lot of hard work, but it is a treasure for both travelers and locals on the coast.

“You know, one of the things that’s so amazing about the little cove here is that on a high, high tide, it completely disappears,” Bauman says. “It’s like those mysterious places in legends: Shangri-La … or Brigadoon. And if it’s one of those days with the fronts moving through, there are big clouds and the sun peering … and occasionally you’ll get a rainbow. It’s just beautiful.”

by Phyllis Neumann, MFT

Our ketch, Adventure. Photo: Phyllis Neumann.

May 2012— In 1993 my husband and I retired, sold our house and bought a 47-foot ketch. We cruised for 10 years, spending time in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama. We transited the Panama Canal, returning to the United States 2½ years later. For the remaining years we traveled the East Coast, from Florida to New England. When our two daughters began having children of their own, we decided it was time to become actively involved as grandparents rather than continue cruising. But those cruising years gave us amazing memories and insights about life.

Live your dream, not someone else’s. Cruising life tends to put stress on most relationships. Many of the women we met while cruising had careers of their own, but gave it all up to follow their husband’s dreams, not really choosing the cruising life for themselves. These women often became relegated to the role of galley slave and seemed pretty angry at having given up so much for their partners. We found that if both partners really want to cruise, then giving up land life can be an exciting adventure.

It takes time to understand the real meaning of cruising. No sooner had we arrived in La Paz in March than we were making plans to leave so we could be in Costa Rica by June, before hurricane season. A cruiser, hearing our plans, asked us what the rush was for. She suggested that we take the summer to explore the Sea of Cortez, and then head to Mexico in November where we could take a year or so to explore the Mexican coast. She was right, of course — we changed our plans right then and there. That was when we officially became cruisers.

In the first few months of cruising we actually began to feel twinges of guilt for having so much fun. One question kept haunting us — was it OK to spend our days playing, reading or just relaxing? We found that society tends to frown on people who don’t work for a living. One of my relatives told me to continue working. A friend thought that we should be giving back to society. In time, we became more comfortable in letting go of the old rules and learning to relax. Boat repairs seemed to provide enough work to relieve any guilt.

Time is not perceived in the same way when you’re cruising. When people go on vacation they tend to cram as much as possible into every day. When you’re cruising, time stands still and is not such a precious commodity. If we saw a beautiful anchorage, for example, we often considered staying for a week, or even a month. When we were in Zihuatenejo, the Golden Princess had just come into port. We chatted with two ladies from the ship who had just spent their last few nights at different ports. Once they realized that we had sailed our own boat from San Francisco, they asked us how long it had taken us to get to there. We coolly replied, “About a year and a half.”

Living at anchor is fairly inexpensive. There are no appointments to keep and no bills to pay. We created our own electricity and water, handled our own garbage — and anchoring is free. With no AAA or Home Depot around we became quite resourceful in finding our own solutions to problems, which empowered us and made us feel proud of ourselves when we were successful.

Living in tight quarters together 24/7, without a lot of conveniences, can often be stressful on relationships. In our case, we were quite comfortable sharing our space. I loved to cook, watch videos and do computer work. My husband loved to read and smoke in the cockpit, and write poetry. We really never got in each other’s way. Life on land hasn’t changed all that much — we just have more space.

The cruising community is small, and we soon formed a fleet that became much like a family — we never felt alone. We learned to rely on each other for just about everything. If we needed a boat part, someone usually had it; if we needed advice, someone was usually ready to give it. Sitting in the middle of nowhere made us feel very self-sufficient, yet also very dependent on the people around us.

We found that there’s a surprising difference between cruisers and tourists. Cruisers tend to strike up a conversation easily, and friends are made quickly. Tourists, after being greeted, tended to eye us suspiciously and grab their valuables in rapid social retreat. It was then that I discovered a devilish new pleasure in life — I made it my business to greet each tourist I met with warm enthusiasm.

Cruising life changed our perspective on life. We learned to slow down and smell the sea air. We learned how to live in harmony together in a small space, and to value the people around us. Most importantly, we learned not to cram so much into our lives, but to live each day to the fullest. Those are good life lessons, and ones that we continue to adhere to on land.

Phyllis Neumann is a licensed marriage and family therapist with an office in Half Moon Bay. She enjoys working with individuals and couples and is currently forming a women’s group. Neumann can be reached at 650-726-8199, or by email at phyllneum@aol.com.

by Judy Pruzinsky, L.Ac.

Planning a spring vacation to a colder climate will give you a real sense of the vitality of spring. In places where winter displays frozen ground and the trees all stand bare against a colorless landscape, the new sprouts of bright green — the first leaves of spring — are truly a sight to behold. An unparalleled enthusiasm will be kindled when blossoms dress the trees in colorful attire.

That same vitality and enthusiasm also exists within us. A child bursting forth into existence is no different than the first crocus or hyacinth breaking through the cold ground. Creative expression — through painting, dance or other forms — is another way we see this “spring” energy manifested. If you’re in a city with good art museums, perhaps think of treating your creative side to some inspiration.

In Chinese medical theory, there are five elements, each relating to different seasons, biological organs, tastes, emotions, expressions of movement, and so on. Wood relates to springtime, to the liver and gallbladder organs, to the taste of sour, and to the emotion of anger. It corresponds to the movement of up and out. The energy expresses itself without holding back. 

How comfortable are you with the action of wood, with the up-and-out force? It may excite you to think of bursting forth, or you may feel a bit intimidated. Without ascribing values such as good or bad, we notice what actions come naturally and which ones are challenging for us to experience. We ideally contain all five emotions and movements of energy, with the energy and emotion of wood being one. All five together, in harmony, allow us to live a balanced life, able to express all emotions and movements without restriction and without being overbearing.

The liver controls the sinews, and is in charge of the smooth flow of chi. With what agility do we walk — physically, emotionally and spiritually — through life? Can we change course easily or do we sputter and stammer through life’s changing path? Free flow occurs when we do not get stuck or stagnant.

The liver is in charge of planning and visioning. Our eyes physically and spiritually delight in all that we see as possible. How easy is it for you to see what needs to be done and how to do it? How are you at planning your next day, let alone your life’s course?

When the liver and gallbladder are well and at peace, you can decide clearly what is right and what is wrong. This can relate to something as simple as what to eat for dinner — as well as more complicated issues such as who to spend your summer vacation with, or how to best invest your company’s money.

If you have found yourself concerned about being able to manifest the strengths of the wood element, perhaps your liver and gallbladder could use some help. Here are some simple first steps to help you in that direction, particularly if you travel this spring:

• Get to sleep before 11 p.m.

According to Chinese medicine each organ has a corresponding two-hour period of time. The gallbladder and liver relate to 11 p.m.-3 a.m. Staying up late puts undue stress on these organs and all their functions. If you travel away from our local time zone, this is even more important. Getting in rhythm with the local time will help you avoid jet lag.

• Get daily exercise.

But don’t overdo it; a moderate amount is just fine. Exercise helps move the chi and works the sinews. Walk around the city or country where you’re staying. This will introduce you to your local surroundings and get your body moving.

• Get out into nature.

Soak the vibrant green into your eyes. The liver opens to the eyes. Let the blue skies calm your senses. Green is the color associated with the liver and the gallbladder. Blue is the color of the kidney and the bladder, which are the parents of the liver and gallbladder in the cycle of five elements.

• Shout.

Wood’s up-and-out energy movement is epitomized by shouting. Think of this exercise as more about asserting yourself than about expressing anger. Do not strain and do not direct your shouts at anyone; rather, just use shouts as a release and as expressions of energy.

• Start your day with a warm drink of lemon and water.

Sour is the taste associated with liver and gallbladder. Starting your day with this lemon-and-water drink, instead of depleting your body with caffeine, will both strengthen your liver and clean out your system before any other drink or food comes in.

Also partake of local cuisines that are rooted in the taste of sour, such as lemon or vinegar. Many Mediterranean dishes contain lemon and many restaurants will serve lemon with water. Eastern Europe and Germany may offer you some great sauerkraut. Japan often uses ponzu and other vinegar-based sauces. Koreans will delight if you ask to try their local kimchi.

• Do a liver cleanse at least once a year, and maybe more often.

The need to clean out, particularly the liver, is acknowledged across many cultures. Since the liver is in charge of so much of our detoxification process, it is important to help it to stay as clear as possible so it can accomplish its job. Cleansing the liver lets it do its job better, which in turn helps all of the other organs. This is especially true after a trip; while traveling, you may have eaten too much dairy and sweets, which tend to create dampness and weigh down the functions of the liver.

By keeping the liver and gallbladder happy, you are that much more able to express your uniqueness. This is your gift to the world. Without restraint, allow yourself to come forth, to play out your own creative role in the dance of life.

Judy Pruzinsky, L.Ac., practices Classical Five Element Acupuncture and Herbology, teaches Wu-style Chi Gung, and is on staff at Five Branches Institute. She has offices in Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz and can be reached at 650-576-9749 or 831-426-5717 or JudyPruzinsky.com.

by Janet Periat

May 2012— OK, so I promised myself I wouldn’t write about religion or politics anymore, but this renewed War on Women infuriates me.

The extreme Christian right has recently pushed through laws mandating state-sanctioned medical rape (a transvaginal sonogram) in order to get an abortion in Texas; Topeka, Kansas has decriminalized domestic violence; Republican congressmen want to redefine rape, and Colorado Republicans want to make taking the morning-after pill a first-degree homicide. I’m waiting for the ultra-conservatives to start promoting Christian burhkas.

I was baptized in the Protestant church and was fed its toxic, anti-woman dogma since I was a baby. I received the same brainwashing in school and in society. Gradually, over my lifetime, women’s rights progressed. But now, the extreme Christian right has dredged up all this old toxic waste again, lobbed it straight at us and — in parts of the country — have dragged women back to the cave. And I want to beat them all bloody for it.

What the toxic programming has done to my mind is criminal. No one should have these thoughts about herself. No one deserves these messages. Pets are treated better. I’ve been in therapy for five years trying to rid myself of the poison. And it’s still an ongoing battle.

I was taught that I was dirty because I was a woman. I was taught to be ashamed of myself. That everything was great until the Original Sin when a woman (Eve) ruined the entire world. I was taught that I was a weak moron who wasn’t capable of doing anything but pressing buttons on a typewriter or a dishwasher, or making babies. I was not expected to do well in math, science or sports. I was not encouraged to get an education. I was not encouraged to take care of myself, only others. If I wore a short skirt, I deserved to be raped. If my husband hit me, it was my fault. I had no value unless I was married, and single women were the most pathetic creatures in the universe. Women were harping, gossiping, shallow, vain idiots who needed permanent guidance — children who couldn’t handle responsibility or make decisions.

I was taught that sex was dirty. If I touched myself, I was a slut. If I had sex, I was a whore. If I used birth control, I was a super big whore because I’d planned on having sex. I was taught that good girls hated sex — even with their husbands. Yet I couldn’t say no because I had no rights over my body, I was my husband’s possession. I was supposed to endure the act, find no pleasure in it, and never respond. If I enjoyed sex or had an orgasm, then I was the biggest slut of all. The only reason I should ever have sex was to have babies. If I got pregnant, I was redeemed, but lost all my power and was sentenced to a lifetime of toil, servitude and hardship. If I had an abortion, I was a murderer and deserved to go to Hell.

Basically, I was taught to hate myself. The only way I could redeem my worthlessness and make up for my shameful womanhood was to sacrifice my entire life by serving a man and having children. Only a man could validate my existence.

As a result of these teachings, I’ve always felt defective and ashamed for being a woman. I’ve always been ashamed of my sexuality. I’ve always felt like I was worth less than zero and had to sacrifice every ounce of my energy and every bit of my soul to reach zero. And there’s no path to positive worth. Simply because I’m a woman.

The sole intent of the brainwashing I received was to warp my self-image and make me more susceptible to subjugation and control. The current agenda of the extreme conservative right serves the same purpose: to make women hate themselves.

So when men like Rush Limbaugh call women whores and sluts for using birth control, and Rick Santorum states that he wants to ban birth control because it’s “unnecessary,” and that mothers shouldn’t have jobs outside the home, these “Christian” men might as well be taking a baseball bat to Grandma’s skull. Might as well knife their 12-year-old daughters in the gut. Because that’s the kind of psychological damage they inflict. That’s the reality. Putting their own vile words into God’s mouth is the worst kind of violation. Abusing women in the name of God is blasphemy. Promoting the loathsome view that women are subhuman sex-starved breeding stock who must be tightly controlled by a strict father is the same anti-woman agenda sold by the Taliban, Islamic extremists and the Vatican.

This renewed War on Women is clearly a last gasp effort of a dying breed of terrified old men who have been in control forever and will do anything and everything to ensure they don’t lose their power. The original He-Man Woman Haters Club.

Certainly, they are making progress in their current war. Some states might actually ban birth control. Abortion might become illegal. But neither change will last. The future is already in motion. More women than men are graduating from college. More women than men are becoming doctors and lawyers. More women are working today than men. Many a young woman watched her father divorce her mother, leaving her mother destitute because she’d sacrificed her future to raise her children. And many young women have Deadbeat Dads. Girls today do not want to be like the victims of my generation. And they’re ensuring their lives will be different.

With more money comes more clout. With more women lawyers, there will be more women judges. And if the old white male fear-mongers think those ladies won’t have the self-esteem and resources to fight an anti-woman agenda, they’ve got another think coming.

The extreme right is wrong. The Original Sin wasn’t when Eve disobeyed God and bit the apple of knowledge, it was when men turned their backs on women.

© 2012 Janet Periat

May 2012— Reviewed by Bob Walch

Thinking Small: The Long, Strange Trip of the Volkswagen Beetle (Ballantine Books, 512 pages, $26), by Andrea Hiott

If you ever owned a Volkswagen Bug — or if you are interested in the automotive world — you’ll want to read this entertaining book.

Not only is this book a fascinating account of the iconic auto’s 73-year history, but it also looks at the cultural events that unfolded during the same period and influenced that history. For example, Volkswagen’s early years cannot be discussed without considering the rise of Nazi Germany, since Adolf Hitler was the person who envisioned building such a vehicle for the masses.

The history of the VW Beetle is, in part, the tale of the men who designed and manufactured it, beginning with designer Ferdinand Porsche. These pivotal personalities also include Ivan Hirst, who kept the Beetle assembly plant alive in the postwar years, and Heinrich Nordhof, the man who built the modern Volkswagen company.

But it’s also the story of Wolfsburg, the location of VW’s assembly plant and main office. This was the city where Germany’s “economic miracle” started after the war ended.

And in writing about the Beetle and its impact when it finally reached American shores, Hiott also looks at Doyle Dane Bernbach, the advertising agency created by Ned Doyle, Maxwell Dane and Bill Bernbach. This was the firm that created the early VW Beetle ads.

Those who love the Beetle also realize there were some down years when the car lost its luster and all but disappeared from auto showrooms. That period is also addressed in a fleeting manner before the book closes with a little about the resurrection of the Beetle and the fact that this year marks the release of a new, redesigned and bigger version of the VW Bug.

May 2012— The Coastside Film Society presents a night of films featuring stunning views of wild and natural beauty in remote (and not so remote) lands.

Friday, May 25, 7:30 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Sanctuary

777 Miramontes St., Half Moon Bay (corner of Johnston Street)

Suggested donation: $8 adults, $3 for children and students

The night starts with a few locally produced shorts that highlight the natural beauty of our own San Mateo Coastline — and then moves on to these films:

Short: Mine – Story of a Sacred Mountain  (16 minutes)

Narrated by Indian-born actress Joanna Lumley, Mine tells the story of the battle between an underdog, the Dongria Kondh tribe of India, and Vedanta Resources, a huge mining corporation. As the beautiful photography in the film attests, the home territory of the Dongria Kondh is both remote and extraordinarily beautiful. The tribe members consider the land they live in holy. Unfortunately under all that beauty is a wealth of bauxite that the Indian government really wants to get at. Contracts were written that would allow Vedanta to strip mine the “holy” mountain tops to get at all that bauxite. When the filmmakers arrived to document this David and Goliath story, the assumption was that this Goliath was going to win. But that is not how this story was destined to end.

Feature: China: The Panda Adventure (48 minutes)

In 1936, a widow named Ruth Harkness arrived in China to settle the affairs of her husband Bill. Bill died while observing a mysterious animal known as the giant panda. No one was surprised at his death. After all, everyone knew pandas were ferocious and dangerous beasts. However, that’s not what Ruth read in Bill’s notes. The pandas he described were gentle herbivores, not terrible carnivores. Ruth decided to follow in the footsteps of her husband and prove to the world that her husband was right. The Panda Adventure is a retelling of Ruth’s story, shot in the remote Chinese mountain terrain that pandas call home. The footage is breathtaking and the close-ups of these gentle giants in their natural habitat is heartwarming.

On the Web:

www.hmbfilm.org

reviews by Shannon Bowman-Sarkisian

The Straight Story

The Straight Story is a strange marriage between Disney Studios and surrealist filmmaker David Lynch. There are so many reasons this movie shouldn’t work. Why would Disney’s target audience of children and parents be interested in a movie about an old man driving a lawnmower across state lines to visit his ailing brother? Why would Lynch’s fans, who love television series and films like Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet and Lost Highway, want to see a Disney movie? Perhaps Tinker Bell sprinkled some fairy dust on the celluloid film, because somehow The Straight Story works well enough to have received 12 awards and 29 award nominations, including a Best Actor Oscar nomination for Richard Farnsworth.

Inspired by true events, The Straight Story chronicles the 240-mile journey of Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth), a 73-year-old man who travelled from Laurens, Iowa, to Mt. Zion, Wis., on a John Deere lawnmower to visit his ill, estranged brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton). Farnsworth meets many quirky small-town characters on his journey, a trope with director David Lynch’s signature style all over it. Unlike many of his other works, The Straight Story is told linearly, without the many twists and turns most Lynch films are famous for. That isn’t to say that this is a dull film. Like Farnsworth’s lawnmower, it has a slow, steady pace that is incredibly engaging. Audiences who are put off by Lynch, Disney or lawnmowers needn’t fear The Straight Story. It isn’t anything like what you’ve imagined.

The Straight Story, available on DVD, is rated G. Running time: 112 minutes.

Babe: Pig in the City

Babe: Pig in the City, the sequel to 1995’s Babe, is so full of mishaps for the sheepherding pig that Crisis, Pursued by Disaster, Followed Closely by Catastrophe — the name of Mike O’Connor’s memoir — seems a more apt title. Things go awry for Babe (voiced by Elizabeth Daily) almost immediately with an accident that leaves farmer Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell) unable to work. Cruel twists of fate continue to torment Babe and Hoggett’s wife Esme (Magda Szubanski) for most of the film.

With the idyllic farm in jeopardy of foreclosure, Esme and Babe must travel to a state farm exhibition in order to make some fast cash. An unfortunate misunderstanding with an over-zealous drug-sniffing dog has Esme detained at the airport. The pig and his human miss their flight and find themselves lost and alone in a fantastical mash-up of a city — a place where the Hollywood Sign, Golden Gate Bridge, Sydney Opera House, and Statue of Liberty loom in the distance. Canals wind their way through Gaudí-like buildings.

With a G rating, Babe: Pig in the City seems like it would be rather tame, especially since its predecessor was beautifully made but mostly harmless. However, this is a children’s movie with hard edges. It expresses distrust for banks — whose representatives have “soulless eyes” — and people with authority, most of whom either harm or do nothing to help Esme and Babe. Terrible things happen. The sets and lighting are dark and foreboding. This is a fairy tale the way such tales used to be written. It does not pull punches, nor does it pretend the world is easy to navigate.

Babe: Pig in the City, available on DVD, is rated G. Running time: 97 minutes.