Come to our SPCA FUNDRAISER at Alain Pinel Realtors-Carmel
Tell them Susan Clark sent you!
Tickets need to be purchased prior to the event at the web site. Tickets are $50 and all proceeds go directly to the SPCA.
Junipero between 5th & 6th, Carmel
Tuesday, August 15th 4:00 – 7:00pm
Feast of the Lanterns! July 26 -29th
My hometown was kind of like Pacific Grove – but lose the coastline. Now I live 4 blocks away from the water and love it – matter of fact it’s my Xanadu! In my estimation, Pacific Grove has one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world – and I’ve seen a lot of them – but that’s really a different subject!
Back to Feast of the Lanterns. I’ll let you click the link to learn all about the story and the wonderful young women and men who are lucky enough to land on the court. They will spend all year doing service for their community and receive academic scholarships. I have to give a shout out to Juliana Aliotti who is the daughter of Dominic and Mary Aliotti who own the very popular Pacific Grove eatery known as “Victorian Corner”. Not only great food (you will find my husband and I there most Saturday and Sunday mornings), but just a welcoming atmosphere that never fails to make you feel like you just walked into “Cheers’ and everyone yells your name.
Another place we love is the “Beach House” and love to take advantage of their Sunset Special (read Early Bird special by 5:30PM). As I looked out onto the beach this evening as we were being seated, I literally asked my husband to sit in the chair that faced the beach, so I wouldn’t have to look out at all the blankets that some people have put down 3-4-5 days before the event — so they can have a front row seat. It drives me crazy! The event isn’t until Saturday night 2 days from now and the blankets have been on the beach for days!
I know this may be a controversial subject, but it raises the hair on the back of my neck every year! I usually try to stay away from controversial matters on my blog, but my Social Media Guru, Katie Lance, says one shouldn’t stay vanilla on your blog – express your opinion – so here goes. Look at this photo above. There are 20-25 people who have spread out blankets -as they do every year – 3-4 days – maybe more – before the big Saturday night event and fireworks. They have decided, Me First – doesn’t matter if someone might actually want to enjoy the beach this week like our locals and the many visitors that bring income to this lovely resort town.
I am really interested in how you feel about this. Am I the Lone Ranger here? I would love to hear your comments and what you think on the subject.
But don’t worry, I’ll get over the angst of the beach taker overs and enjoy Saturday night and the fireworks! I love this town!
Thinking of buying or selling in Pacific Grove? I’m your gal. I love it here and know you will too!
Chris Botti will play to a SOLD OUT crowd at the Sunset Center Sunday evening. Every year I have missed seeing him, but last time I swore that the next time he came back – I would be there! So this time I bought tickets as soon as the announcement was made that he was coming.
So I will be there this weekend, head cold and all, but I wouldn’t miss it for anything. Chris has become the largest-selling American instrumental artist and puts on a fabulous show. He has four #1 jazz albums along with multiple Gold, Platinum, and Grammy awards. My husband said, “You mean he’s just going to play the trumpet all night? ” I told him – “just you wait!”
We are so lucky to have such a fabulous venue like the Sunset Center here in Carmel. Wonderful entertainment is brought here practically at our door step without having to travel to San Jose or San Francisco – although I love our trips into the City to see shows.
Hope to see many of you there Sunday night – but if not – next time rush to buy tickets as soon as he is announced – he’s a sell out every time he comes.
For a list of upcoming events at the Sunset Center this year go to their web site but be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible – the great acts sell out fast!
P.S. Post show. The show was fantastic!! Not only was Chris Botti amazing, but the array of musicians and singers he assembled for the show was awesome! Thanks for the video, Kim!
https://www.facebook.com/kim.dibenedetto.3/videos/10209484311002322/
Susan Clark is a realtor in Carmel-by-the-Sea and loves to share community information as well as real estate news. Call her for more information about Carmel Real Estate 831-320-6801.
The 2016 Smuin Christmas Ballet in Carmel-by-the-Sea
For me the beginning of the holidays starts with my husband and I going to the Smuin Ballet at the Sunset Center every year.
Now previously my husband had never gone to a ballet and if I had approached him and said, “Let’s go to the ballet,” he would have looked at me like I was crazy and gone back to watching the football game. I think it was about 5 years ago when I heard about the Smuin Ballet coming to town with a special Christmas program and I knew I would need to be a little cagey to get my hubby to come along.
I gave him a call and said I’d like for him to go to a dance with me. The other end of the phone was silent and then I followed it up with, “Remember it’s my birthday!”. He said OK (how could he refuse on my birthday!) and I think I told him the morning of that we were actually going to go watch other people dance. Long story short, he actually really liked it. Particularly, Act 2.
ACT I Classical Christmas is what most of us think of as ballet. However ACT 2 Cool Christmas is full of fun acts with wonderful dance numbers including some jazz and tap and Irish dancing thrown in.
One really fun and favorite dance number is to “Santa Baby” sung to the Eartha Kitt recording. The singer drags a long boa onto the stage and she is offered all kinds of worldly goods as the song lyrics indicate. In honor of the boa – everyone was asked to wear a boa to the performance. Thus, the red boa below gracing my neck!
I have to admit though, my very favorite is the Christmas in New Orleans number seen below. It’s just so clever and I love the music by Louis Armstrong.
The grand finale is White Christmas with snow drifting down onto the stage and into the audience and the dancers jubilantly dancing and playing in the snow.
So that’s it — my holiday season has started! Now we’ve picked out our Christmas tree . . .
and trimmed it. This was a team effort.
And voila!
And so our holiday season has started. I have decided not to be in a frenzy this year. I want to sit back and enjoy the holiday season by getting together with good friends, enjoying being with my wonderful husband, enjoying all the decorations, singing carols, getting in touch with my spiritual side, and just enjoy being.
All my best holiday wishes to you to experience love, joy, peace, happiness, and good health in this holiday season. Enjoy your friends and family and hold them close. All my best!
