After a long season of working 16-hour days in my family's thistle orchards, Pappy would finally let me and my 21 siblings take a day off, and we'd gather 'round a pan of Mama's corn pone and a pot of steaming thistle stew and enjoy each other's company without worrying which of us wouldn't survive the harsh Kansa-homa Winter.
The best parts of the harvest festival have been kept alive with Slide Ranch's annual Harvest Celebration. Sure, there's not as much dysentary, and you can milk goats instead of the traditional prairie marmot, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a more authentic harvest celebration this side of Amish country.
On Saturday, October 10th from 10am to 4pm, come to Slide Ranch for:
Scarecrow making - Now in my day, we used witchcraft to transform disobedient children into statues, but I understand these will be made primarily from straw. (Sigh) Simpler times...
Wool spinning - In addition to spinning wool for clothes, we'd also spin sheep for entertainment. You'd get the sheep as dizzy as possible and then race them across the barn. Then you'd eat the loser. And the winner. We were hungry in those days.
Relaxing in the garden - A lot of people think that we didn't know the meaning of the word "relax," and that's not true. We just defined it differently: "the time between when your heart stops beating, and your body finishes decomposing."
Coastal hikes - If by hikes you mean back-breaking work, and by coastal you mean in the thistle orchard, then yes, we did go on coastal hikes.
Great live music - I was actually a classically trained jug-blower and washboard player back in the day. I had ambitions to go pro until a giant tumbleweed came and destroyed the local symphony.
Now, the bad news is that it does cost money: $20 a head in advance, or $25 at the gate. $75 for families of 4 or more.
But the good news is kids two and under get in for free, as opposed in my day, when kids under two would have to work the fields for 16 hours at a time. And if they complained? No thistle stew for them that night!
So come on down to the Slide Ranch Harvest Celebration. Marvel at nature's bounty, and be grateful you don't live in a era when you actually have to live with her as your cruel, cruel mistress.
The foundation of any good time is the knowledge that you're experiencing something unique. Chance and circumstance have conspired to give you a moment that you're lucky to catch and will never come again.
It's with an eye to the unique that I'm letting you know about an opportunity to culture yourselves at the upcoming West Marin Review release party, August 16th, Sunday, 4pm.
Since the last Harry Potter book was released two years ago, the literary world has been yearning for the next big event that would whip readers everywhere into a frenzy and trigger a mass of literate-hysteria. I'm letting you know right now: the West Marin Review, Volume 2 release party is that event that we've been waiting for.
The West Marin Review is a literary and art journal that features some of the best talent in the area such as Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Hass, California Award winner Philip Fradkin, and influencial poet Joanne Kyger.
If they were selling tickets to this thing, the tickets would be sold out. People would be camped out for weeks around the venue, Toby's Feed Barn Gallery in Point Reyes, just to get a glimpse of all the talent that will read there. Inexplicably, but lucky for you, the event is free and you won't even have to set up a tent outside of Toby's to be assured a seat.
All you have to do is show up on August 16th ready to be blown away by the blinding convergence of literary and artistic talent that happens only once in a generation.
There's so much good stuff here, only an FAQ will be able to handle it all.
Q.What is it?
A. A massive music festival.
Q. Why?
A. Because music festivals are awesome. Also to raise money for KWMR and Love Field. Unless you hate love, fields, and local radio stations you have no business avoiding this festival.
A. Yes. This is a very cool and very eclectic line-up. It has hip-hop, indie, afrobeat, country and more. If you have ears, you'll find something you like. Even if you don't have ears, there'll be food. If you have no mouth, I really don't know what to tell you.
Q. I now understand life will be pointless if I don't go to this concert. When is it?
A. Saturday, July 25th, 2009. It starts at 11am and goes until it's over. Tickets for adults are $25 in advance, and $30 at the door. It's only $10 if you're 21 or under. Buy 'em here and start counting down the days until awesomeness.
Q. I refuse to go to concerts unless there are oysters. Will there be oysters?
Q. I hate oysters but enjoy eating local food. Will there be local food?
A. Also yes. And to preempt any other questions, there'll also be craft vendors, a pickin' porch (whatever that is), and "circus acts"... although I don't know which ones. Maybe an elephant on a tightrope, maybe just a flaming hoop. Maybe both. Come see for yourself.
With the NBA finals now over, another event must step up and fill the need for exciting competition.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the paddle race!
For the second year in a row, there will be the Shore-to-Shore Paddle Board race from Bolinas to Stinson and it promises gripping drama, intense athleticism, and moving across several miles of ocean in floating watercrafts.
Come to the finish line at Stinson Beach Federal Park to watch the exciting conclusion! The race will start at 9:00 AM on June 20th and proceeds will go to the venerable Stinson Beach Junior Lifeguard program and the Surfrider Foundation.
If that wasn't incentive enough, there will also be a beach clean up and picnic following the race, all as part of the International Surfing Day.
And if you haven't gotten enough surf culture, there's one more thing worth checking out. From 3-5 PM, there will be an art opening and reception at the Bolinas Museum. Internationally-known photographer Brown Cannon
III will be attending to show off his exhibit Surface, which features "dramatic images of the oceans mounted on surfboards."
You might fall in love with one and want to buy it, which raises the question, can you put a price on art?
The answer is yes. $6,500. Fall in love carefully.
If it's May in Stinson, it must be time for Cuisine on the Green!
It's happening this Saturday, May 9th, 2009 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Village Green and it's not to be missed.
This annual party features some great food, great music, and best of all it's a fundraiser for the Stinson Health Center. This clinic offers vital community health services and is reliant, in part, on donations in order to continue its good work.
At the event will be:
A "world famous dog show"... possibly like this one
A free KWMR silk screen booth (bring a blank t-shirt and make a free souvenir!)
A whole bunch of crafts booths
Games and activities for kids
A whole bunch of eclectic musical acts, such as:
Ariana Agnew
Matt Lax and Friends
And back from their 90 country world tour, selling out stadiums in Paris, London, Tokyo, and Rome, The Montessori School Singers!*
*Note: I might be confusing The Montessori School Singers with The Rolling Stones. Or I might not be. Come to the the Cuisine on the Green and find out!
If for whatever reason you can't come to this great event, you can still be a part of the magic by donating to the Stinson Health Center right here. True, you won't get to hear The Montessori School Singers perform "Satisfaction," but donating to a good cause is the next best thing.
If you're thinking about a trip to the beach next week will be a great time to combine relaxation with some great views of the Perseid meteor shower. The showers will peak on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008. Get up early for a great show of the falling stars.
The Chief of the Stinson Beach Fire Department, Kenny Stevens has announced a restatement of the no tolerance policy for any and all fireworks and open fires due to the extreme fire danger this year.
This is unlike many years ago when Seadrift used to host wonderful professional fireworks. Bill Kent, who was the son of the original developer of the Seadrift subdivision, was a licensed pyrotechnician. It was then the custom for Seadrift to open its gates to invite the local residents of Stinson Beach to come to the end of the sand spit for a wonderful fireworks display. If the night were clear, it was possible to view not only the Seadrift fireworks, but also those in Pacifica and Half Moon Bay. It was a real shame when this wonderful tradition ended. Now, with the terrible fires raging in California, even “safe and sane” fireworks are too dangerous.
However, there is no fire danger with the wonderful “Tug of War” tradition between the residents of Stinson Beach and Bolinas. This is really one of the fun traditions of Coastal West Marin.
Melody Anne-Shultz (1999 and 2003 Dipsea Champion) breaks the tape in 2003. (Courtesy Dipsea.org)
This Sunday, June 8th, is the annual Dipsea Race from downtown Mill Valley to the Pacific Ocean at Stinson Beach. The Dipsea is the second oldest foot race in the United Stated (second only to the Boston Marathon). Its scenic (but grueling) 7.1 mile course climbs up hundreds of stairs up Mount Tamalpais, runs down through Muir Woods and back up Cardiac Hill to tie in with the Steep Ravine Trail through beautiful redwood forests, wildflowers, and water falls. The highest point in the race is at an elevation of 1360' above sea level.
The runners come out into the open and cross the finish line at Stinson Beach with throngs of people cheering them on!
Elevation Map of the Dipsea Race (Courtesy Dipsea.org)
It is a truly wonderful and inspirational race with such a great sense of history. Not to be missed. This will be the 98th running of this race!
Welcome to the first posting of the Seadrift Realty web blog where we hope to provide information about happenings in the Stinson Beach/Seadrift area.
Seadrift Realty has been here in Stinson Beach for over 35 years. Our office staff, Katie Beacock, Betsy Wood, William Barrett, Gary Martin, Heidi Ryerson and Hannah Crutcher will all be posting thoughts at various times with views of life on the "Fault Line."
Smooth Water, Mountain Fog photo by William Barrett
We have a window on the wonderful views of Mt. Tam Ridge with the kite surfer parachutes off to the South of the office windows! We hope this site will offer tips on things to do here in the area, how the surf is, bird sightings, wild flowers and whatever comes to any of our minds. We hope that some of you will be moved to share your views of things in Stinson Beach.
We would love to hear from some of our past guests as to what they liked about their stay and what their family enjoys doing in Stinson Beach/Seadrift. Anybody have a favorite hiking/biking trail to talk about? How about tips on the best bird watching spots? We would love to hear from as many of you as are interested. —Katie Beacock, owner
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