Benicia Magazine April 2019

Art Quilts

Textile creations

by Carquinez Strait Stitchers at biennial Clock Tower Show

New Collaboration BOTTG and Benicia High Drama Dept. form a partnership for the benefit of both 3.50

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Subscriptions $18.00 per year. Benicia Magazine, Downtown Benicia, CA 94510. 707.853.5226, Beniciamagazine.com.

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Celebrate Trees At Benicia’s Annual

Arbor Day Event Saturday, April 27, 2019 9am-noon Join the volunteers from throughout the community and help plant trees along Rose Drive.

We’ll be planting young Deodar Cedar trees. All ages are welcome!* No experience necessary, tools and instruction provided!

Meet at 9am along Rose Drive, between Kearney Street and Watson Court; please park on Kearney Street

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Benicia Certified

April - August 4 to 8pm September - October 4 to 7pm Benicia Farmers Market will run from 4/25 to 10/24/2019 First Street between B & D Streets Sponsored by Benicia Main Street 90 First Street, Benicia

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April 2019

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Contents Features

Scene

In Every Issue

Visit artist live-work spaces at annual Artist Open Studios May 4 & 5

707

From the Editor 8

18

Benicia benefits from philanthropic efforts of Solano Community Foundation

Artichoke festival offers live music, food & wine, chef demos and so much more 20

Culture

Designer Omar Gonzales travels the world as designer, hair stylist & educator 24

Events

Cover Photo: Artichokes with Lemons, by Jerry Bowles Above left: Knife And Fork, Solvent Transfer Print by Elizabeth Wooley; Center: At The Foot Of First Street, quilt, by Judy Arrants; Right: Sculptural art dress, courtesy Omar Antonio

6 • Benicia Magazine

Theatre groups benefit each other and the community with new collaboration

Biennial Clock Tower show combines fabric art with community outreach

10

Music 27 12

14

Community

Griffiin Fitness owner Lisa McVeigh helps clients stay fit at every age

15

Featherer Pet mobile grooming service provides care, comfort and convenience

15

Waterfront

Beauty, trails, wildflowers and intriguing history along the Carquinez Strait

Calendar 26

16

Art HQ Gallery offers a not-to-miss, one-day fine art printmaker sale 28 Nancy Roberts acrylic landscapes at Benicia Plein Air Gallery

28

Still of Mind: Gallery 621 showcases works by Linda Stevenson Dunlop 29 Trends For fashion and other inspiration, Paris never disappoints 30

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 7

F R OM THE E D IT OR

April 2019 Is it just me, or does everyone harbor a hidden desire to shout out loud, “The sun is out! The sun is out! And after months of cold, incessant rain, wind and fog, we deserve our moment. Reminds me of a trip to downtown Portland once in late spring when the sun came out and people poured like ants out of office towers to bask in nearby plazas.

It’s been a wild weather ride for California. Russian River residents are still recovering from the disastrous flood, and epic snow has fallen in Tahoe: a whopping 52 feet at Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows ski resorts to date. But spring is on the horizon with the Vernal Equinox March 20, seven days hence from this writing, and though saving water should always be a priority, California’s drought is being reported as over, referencing sites such as droughtmonitor.unl.edu and drought.gov.

Our very own Carquinez Strait has been quite robust the past few weeks. In this issue you can read about its history (including a plan to put a dam near Benicia in the early to mid 1900s) and other interesting facts. Also along the waterfront, the art galleries are bustling and Benicia Main Street’s beloved Farmers Market is back April 25.

April is always a big month for Benicia events, celebrating everything from boats to theater. There’s an outstanding quilt show at the Clock Tower; Sweat, the Benicia Old Town Theatre Group’s spring play, Solano County Earth Day Cleanup, Opening Day on the Straight, the annual Benicia Classic Car Show and the BHS play, Mamma Mia! Each time I return from travels near and far, I inwardly express gratitude for Benicia's beauty. There are scenic vistas in every part of town, reminding me yet again what a wonderful town we live in.

Lisa Duncan Photography

—Jeanne Steinmann

Tweet, post or send your suggestions & ideas to: Editor@beniciamagazine.com Beniciamagazine.com

@Jeannesteinmann

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 9

Scene 707

Give Local Solano team at a KUIC “Coffee Break,” from left: Henry Beecher, Emily Scharenbrock, Samantha Fordyce, Valerie Rogers, KUIC host John Young, and Connie Harris; courtesy Solano Community Foundation

Improving Quality of Life in Solano County Tomoka Red St. Johns Max Rossi, an assistant county tax assessor and community activist, saw Solano County needed a community foundation to help charitable donations remain here.

With others who supported his vision, he founded the Solano Community Foundation, said the Foundation’s chief executive officer, Connie Harris. “He noticed there was nothing here like it, and money that could help people was leaving the county,” said Rossi’s wife, Nancy.

“He really stressed the importance of keeping the money local, and for the need to help each other.”

Starting with $20,000 in 1995, the Foundation has grown to $9.5 million. But the mission remains the same. “We still award grants and scholarships, act as a vehicle for philanthropy, engage decision10 • Benicia Magazine

makers as a community leader and work to encourage collaboration and community involvement to help improve the quality of life in Solano County,” she said.

Its Founders Club has familiar names such as Genentech and Valero Refining Company. For a full list of Founders Club members, visit the website at solanocf.org.

The Founders Club also boasts individuals, such as philanthropist, developer and bank founder Billy Yarbrough and his wife, Louise, C.C. Yin, who owns a number of Solano County’s McDonald’s restaurants, and the Hearn Family Trust. They pledged $15,000 over three years, Harris said. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation matched the contribution to capitalize the Foundation at $600,000.

In 2015 and 2016, the Foundation

received a combined $641,000 in three significant grants from the Buck Foundation and $366,000 in unrestricted bequests in the last two years. The Foundation helps others open charitable funds. In the past three years, it started nearly a dozen.

Through “Education Plus!” grants, the Foundation rewards projects that enhance learning, improve student achievement and augment individuals’ educational experience, especially in achieving grade-level reading skills and proper math placement for ninth graders, Harris said.

Benicia schools have received Foundation grants for their reading intervention programs, and Benicia High School received funds to buy robotic construction kits used to teach mathematics, problem

solving and coding. The Foundation also supports music education, helping schools buy instruments, sheet music and other necessities.

The Foundation emphasizes transparency, recipients are accountable for how they spend the money — and Foundation members sometimes drop in for visits. They were impressed by reading lessons they witnessed, and admired the enthusiasm of students who were teaching a robot to play soccer.

Area nonprofits that serve Solano County may join the Foundation for $75 per year to take advantage of the Foundation’s Nonprofit Partnership Program (NPP).

Among the current members are Benicia Historical Museum, Benicia Tree Foundation, Benicia Volunteer Firemen, Solano Symphony, Sustainable Solano, VOENA and Solano Land Trust. They’re eligible to attend the Foundation’s professional development workshops— fifteen will be offered this year.

NPP members also are eligible for up to $2,500 in competitive professional development grants for education, training and capacity building, so organizations can grow their programs and services, Harris said. Other partners helped by the Foundation are Meals on Wheels, the Humane Society of the North Bay (SPCA of Solano County), Benicia Tree Foundation, Solano County Library Foundation, Veterans Unlimited Services of Solano County and the Solano Coalition for Better Health.

Through the years, needs in Solano County have become greater. “Pockets of inequity have grown and

... Benicia High School received funds to buy robotic construction kits used to teach mathematics, problem solving and coding.

The Foundation also supports music education, helping schools buy instruments, sheet music and other necessities.

become geographically larger,” Harris said. Donations have dropped to $3 per capita since the early 2000s, so the Foundation started Give Local Solano, which accepts online donations at solanocf.org and urges people to contribute annually during Giving Tuesdays.

“Giving to the Solano Community Foundation, to any fund we hold, is an investment that will strengthen our community both now and for future generations, enhancing the quality of life for all,” said Harris.

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 11

Scene Culture

BOTTG and BHS Drama Dept.

Form New Collaboration Tomoka Red St. Johns For years, Benicia Old Town Theatre Group (BOTTG) and Benicia High School’s drama department wanted a partnership. But conflicts got in the way, representatives from both have said.

Finally, that has changed. “The initial concept of a partnership with BOTTG grew out of my wanting to reach out to theaters in the community to help build relationships between the various high school drama departments and community theaters,” said Nathan Day, BHS theater arts director. He discussed options with Pat MacLeod, vice president of BOTTG’s Board of Directors, building a relationship to work together. “Our partnership is in its infancy,” Nathan said.

But he said BOTTG and the school are exploring ways they can work together, and said he’s “excited at the possibilities.”

Both want an ongoing working relationship that can grow through the years, he added. They’ve been crosspromoting each other’s productions, BHS’s upbeat Mamma Mia! based on music by ABBA, and the Old Town Theatre Group’s Sweat, the Pulitzer 12 • Benicia Magazine

Prize-winning drama about poverty and changing times in Reading, Pa. BOTTG President Dan Clark said the partnership could cultivate a pool of performers and technicians, while his group could provide mentoring. “We feel we can expose students to practical theatrical experiences that may bridge the gap between high school and a long-term love of theater as an art form and avocation,” he said, adding that the partnership isn’t unprecedented.

Between 15 and 20 years ago, BOTTG sponsored a production written, directed and performed by students at the Majestic Theater.

Since then, MacLeod has worked with students, advocating for the partnership. Sweat “is probably not the best vehicle for a close collaboration this time due to the subject matter and explicit adult language,” Clark said, but other productions might keep students interested in live theater. “A constant theme among people who audition for us is that they may have been involved in theater in high school or college, but then got away from it for years.

A goal of the group is to provide a training ground for actors and technicians to continue to practice their crafts in the community. “We aim to provide a necessary stage for that to happen,” Clark said. “We would love for young actors to feel welcome on stage as they mature, and will always encourage them to audition and otherwise be involved.”

Both Clark and Nathan spoke of the importance of live theater. “Theater has always been part of the human existence,” said Nathan. “We are, at the heart of it, all story-telling creatures who exist, communicate and evolve through our stories of the human experience.”

At Benicia High School, he said students use their theatrical experiences to pursue a career, learn confidence and self-worth, and develop perseverance and a healthy work ethic. “Live theater is crucial to any vibrant society and is probably the oldest of the art forms.”

“One can easily imagine our distant forebears sitting around a fire at night, telling of and acting out the struggles of the day and the history of the tribe,” he said. “Traditions and the mores of the

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“Theater has always been

#

part of the human existence,� said Nathan. “We are, at the heart of it, all storytelling creatures who exist, communicate and evolve through our stories of the human experience.� society are expressed by the actors, brought into focus or examined for fault. The exchange of ideas and feelings between the stage and the audience is magical and always to be treasured.�

Sweat runs at BOTTG, 140 W. J St., April 19 to May 11.

Tickets are available at beniciaoldtowntheatregroup.com.

Mamma Mia! at Benicia High School, 1101 Military West, runs April 26 to May 4. Tickets are available online at bit.ly/ bhsmammamia Above: Top left: Mama Mia rehearsal at Benicia High School, photos by Ok Kyong. Above: Benicia Old Town Theatre Group Sweat cast members, from left: Julius Rea, Chuck Schilling, Tony Aldarondo and Matt Goff, photo by Dyanne Vojvoda BeniciaMagazine.com • 13

Scene Events

Fun, Philanthropy and Fabulous Quilts at Biennial Show Spring on the Straits Quilt Show May 18, 10am-5pm and May 19, 10am-4pm Historic Benicia Clock Tower 1189 Washington Street, Benicia Admission $10 CSS is a non-profit organization open to anyone interested in quilts and related fabric arts. Members represent a range of ages and interests. People of all skill levels are invited to join; guests are always welcome. Meetings are at 7pm first Thursdays at the Benicia Senior Center, 187 East L Street.

Come visit us or check out the guild’s website cssquilter.org.

Clockwise from top left: Nubian Village on the Nile, Point Lobos, Shanghai Lily, Terelj National Park Ger Camp, quilts by Judy Arrants

Jenny Roetzer In the early 1980s, Charlene McNally and Hope Wingert decided to gather friends interested in quilting, and the first meeting was held in Charlene’s living room in Benicia. “Hope and I sent out invitations to some quilting friends to start a group, and boom! Who knew it would still be alive and kicking after all these years,” Charlene recently stated.

They realized the interest in the craft was growing, and soon it expanded to an organization—the Carquinez Strait Stitchers, or CSS. From the original thirteen attendees, the group has grown to a guild of over 90 members, and is among 50 or so guilds in the Bay Area. Quilting guilds promote the long history of the American quilt.

However, with sophisticated technology in sewing and quilting machines in the 70s and 80s, designated quilt shops stocked with gorgeous fabrics, tools and classes have made a huge difference in the craft. Quilts have evolved over the centuries from an item that was strictly utilitarian, to a modern day artistic medium. The main purpose of the guild is to perpetuate the art of quilting through education and the exchange of ideas.

14 • Benicia Magazine

Community outreach is an important component of the organization, which is happy to make an important difference in the community. For over 36 years, members of CSS have been reaching out to lighten the burden of those in need, by providing comforting quilts and other items to hundreds of Solano County men, women and children. CSS is currently making quilts that are donated to Books ‘n Blankies, a program promoting literacy for children under the age of 5.

Over the years, the group has donated quilts to Solano County veterans, NapaSolano Holiday Connection, the Benicia Police Department, the Family Resource Center and Johanna’s House. In 2017, quilts were given to teens and pre-teens spending the year-end holidays at a Vallejo psychiatric facility, and recently, to victims of wildfires.

Each year CSS makes holiday gifts such as tote bags, place mats and other specialty items for the Benicia Community Action Council to distribute to participants of Meals-On Wheels and Holiday Connection for low-income seniors. Other regular projects include making colorful pillowcases provided to Camp Royal, a summer camp program for foster children, and flannel baby blankets

for the Intensive Care Nursery at Kaiser, Vallejo. CSS has also provided Friends of Animals with much needed beds for our canine and feline friends.

One of the events the organization is most proud of is its biennial quilt show.

This year’s featured artist is Judy Arrants.

“I began sewing as a young teenager, and started quilting 20 years ago. I enjoy trying new techniques and style. My husband and I retired early with a goal to travel. We have been to all 7 continents and over 60 countries. If I can find a quilt shop or show, I am there, even if it means a long walk or a Tuktuk ride. Travel and quilting are my adventures in life,” Judy said.

Spring on the Straits will also feature a raffle for an Opportunity Quilt, Traditionally Modern, which was pieced and quilted by members. The winning ticket will be drawn at the end of the show.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or from members at $1 each or 6 tickets for $5. There will be quilts and other art made and displayed by members. The event also includes vendors selling fabric and supplies, food booths, sewing machines and the organization's own Country Store packed with member items for sale.

Scene Community

Professional trainer weighs in on Long-term Fitness Goals BM: How long have you been a personal trainer?

LM: I’ve been a personal trainer for almost 17 years.

Tomoka Red St. Johns Photo by April Szabo When they realized some needs weren’t met by traditional gyms, Joel Griffin opened Griffin Fitness Personal Training Studio in 2002 with his partner, Lisa McVeigh, to help those who want healthier lives. In 2017, it was awarded the Benicia Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business of the Year.

Lisa studied hard and became certified as a personal trainer.

Continuing the mission after Griffin’s death in 2016, she said that she personally enjoys working with weights and leading clients by example.

BM: What do you do personally to stay in shape?

LM: I strength train with weights four to five days a week. I also enjoy Jazzercise classes and yoga, and walking.

BM: Could you describe your youngest and oldest clients?

LM: My current youngest client is 32, and had never lifted weights before.

She was very nervous and felt she was uncoordinated. She now loves weight training and found out how strong and coordinated she really is! My current oldest client is 73 and has been training with me for many years. She recognizes the value of weight training in her life and rarely misses a session.

BM: What is the most common thing prospective clients request, and what is primary in meeting a goal?

LM: One of the most common questions from clients when they start training is “Will I bulk up?” The answer is no. Most females do not bulk up. Most clients have a goal of preserving or attaining muscle tone and/or losing weight. One of the most important things to do when you have a goal with fitness is to be consistent with your workouts and know that the results will come. Fitness must become part of your lifestyle, permanently. It must become a habit.

Lisa McVeigh Griffin Fitness Personal Training Studio

2038 Columbus Parkway, Benicia 707.747.6677, griffinfitness.com

Benicia’s Mobile Pet Grooming Salon

Beth Steinmann Lisa Duncan Photography Featherer Pet has been serving Benicia’s furry friends and their people for almost 30 years. The business was opened in 1983 by Dolores Featherer, and is now owned and operated by her daughters Karen Hubbard and Kim Duchene. Dolores started by selling mail order pet doors out of her garage, and now the fully-stocked pet supply shop on East Fifth Street is a Benicia staple, complete with a full-service pet grooming facility (with a self-service option) and a talented staff of pet groomers.

In November 2014 the business took it to the next level and purchased a van to offer mobile pet grooming, a service rapidly growing in popularity with today’s busy lives. Karen runs the mobile salon, and recommends it specifically for large breeds who can’t fit well in a car, old dogs or dogs with anxiety that don’t travel well, and folks with busy schedules who desire the convenience of a luxury service.

The mobile salon is open to dogs and cats and, for an extra fee, offers all the amenities the shop facility does, including bathing, brushing, scissoring, de-matting, flea treatment, nail trimming, ear cleaning, potty trims and dental care.

However, in the van, dogs get specialized, individualized treatment. Karen also just traded her old van in for a new one with a second table to accommodate twopet households. She loves driving the

van because of the special bond she develops with her clients. “We usually keep a regular schedule so we become friends. When their pet becomes old or they lose their pet, I grieve along with them.”

The mobile pet salon also offers a latchkey service so Karen can come into the home or garage and pick up the pet, get them taken care of and then bring them back inside. Appointments usually take about an hour and a half, depending on the size of the animal, and she currently serves Benicia, Vallejo, American Canyon and Fairfield.

Visit Featherer Pets’ online store at feathererpet.com or call 707.745.5016 to find out which kind of grooming services are best for your pet.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 15

Scene Waterfront

Things you may not know about the

CARQUINEZ STRAIT 1

Photo by Jerry Bowles

2

The Strait is named after the Karkin (also spelled "Carquin"), a linguistic subgroup of the Ohlone, who, along with several other Native American groups, have inhabited both sides of the strait for thousands of years.

Wikipedia, wikipedia.org/wiki/ Carquinez_Strait#History.

3

16 • Benicia Magazine

According to Wikipedia, the Carquinez Strait is a narrow tidal strait, part of the tidal estuary of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin rivers as they drain into the San Francisco Bay. Formed in prehistoric times, the strait is eight miles long and connects Suisun Bay to the east and San Pablo Bay to the west.

While Benicians can boast that a section of the San Francisco Bay Trail runs along our waterfront, according to baytrail.org, the SFBT will eventually encircle the Carquinez Strait. Baytrail. org/get-on-the-trail/map-by-number/carquinez-strait/.

4 According to Solanoarticles.com, in the 1920s, a dam on the Carquinez Strait near the Benicia Bridge was considered, planned and finally approved over the course of the decade, but the project was scrapped in 1930. The reason for the dam, re-considered in 1959, was to increase the amount of water available to Delta farmers. (Jerry Bowen, published August 12, 2001.)

Solanoarticles.com/history/index.php/weblog/more/a_ dam_across_carquinez_strait/

5 There were three lighthouses on the Strait: The Mare Island Lighthouse at the southern end of Mare Island, 18731917, the Carquinez Strait Light Station, 1910-1930, and the Lighthouse Harbor project in 1955, part of which is now the Vallejo Marina office. There were 12 Lighthouse Keepers and assistants from 1909-1957.

6 The Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline is a regional park in the East Bay Regional Park District system. Ebparks. org/parks/Carquinez. The district encompasses a huge area of trails and parklands, including the Black Diamond Mines and Brown’s Island.

7 With over 2,000 species of plants in the Bay Area, many of which are native, the Carquinez Strait shoreline features a showy array of wildflowers including California Buckeye, Hillside Gooseberry and California Buttercup. The many colors and shapes of blossoms that blanket the hillsides in spring enhance the experience for hikers and bikers.

See the downloadable guide at eastbayparks.org.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 17

O

BENICIA

PEN

s o i d u t S

Offers a Glimpse Into Artists’ Creative Spaces

Rebecca Gulick Arts Benicia is set to reprise its popular Benicia Open Studios on May 4 and 5, showcasing the vibrant community of local artists with studio spaces throughout Benicia’s Historic Arsenal District and downtown Benicia.

During Open Studios weekend, dozens of artists will open their doors and invite the public in to view and discuss their work and see demonstrations. Arts Benicia produces this event every year to support the many artists in Benicia and give patrons the opportunity to purchase art directly from them, and the artists welcome the opportunity to give visitors a glimpse into their creative worlds.

With past events attended by more than 2,000 visitors, Benicia Open Studios is Arts Benicia’s most popular annual event. Nearly 100 participants registered last year, and with galleries typically representing several artists, the organizers estimate between 150 and 200 regional artists actually participated.

Admission is free and open to the public, and visitors can ride a SolTrans Shuttle free of charge between Benicia’s Arsenal District, where a number of artist studios are clustered, and the downtown First Street area, where glass-blowing studios, galleries, and other art venues are located. The 20-minute shuttle allows visitors to park in one location and get a ride to the other.

18 • Benicia Magazine

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Arts Benicia publishes a full-color Benicia Open Studios Catalog with artwork images from participating artists and galleries, a list of studio locations, and maps showing studio locations and the SolTrans Shuttle route. During Open Studios weekend, visitors can pick up a copy of the catalog at Arts Benicia, located at 991 Tyler Street, Suite 114, in the Benicia Arsenal. Hours are 12-5pm Wednesday through Sunday.

Benicia Open Studios takes place Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, 11am-5pm. A Preview Exhibition at Arts Benicia runs from Wednesday, April 27, through Sunday, May 5, and features selected work from the participating artists and galleries. The Preview Exhibition gives attendees the opportunity to get a sense of the participating artists' work and pick up a catalog, and then they can plan where to go during the weekend.

Arts Benicia is a community-based non-profit organization in its third decade, offering educational programs, workshops, and exhibits. For more information, visit artsbenicia.org or call 707.747.0131.

Photos: Artists in their studios, Open Studios 2018.

P. 18, left: Laura Garcia, Right: Elizabeth McKinne; P. 19, top: Mark Van Norman; bottom: Chris Meade (on right).

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Jeanne Steinmann Not exactly an elegant choice, the humble artichoke, which is basically just a thistle, has a strange mystique that keeps us going back for more, to triumph over a scant bit of tooth-scraped pulp. So just what is it about the vegetable that has us paying whatever price is asked at the grocery store?

There are plenty of reasons not to love artichokes. They require work to get results. Pointy barbs prick your fingers.

One by one, unsightly leaves gather on the plate. Cook them too long, they get mushy; too short, they are inedible.

And artichokes beg for an accompanying sauce. But love them we do, and we eat them by the megatons.

Since there are many tons more artichokes grown in countries along the Mediterranean, the Castroville title, “Artichoke Capitol of the World,” perhaps alludes to its spirit and its history—and to its annual artichoke festival. Also, John Steinbeck’s story, Johnny Bear, was set in Castroville, and Marilyn Monroe was Castroville’s 1948 Artichoke

20 • Benicia Magazine

Queen. Though artichokes are harvested nearly all year, peak season is March through May. California produces almost 100% of the nation’s artichokes, mostly grown by Ocean Mist Farms. Plus it’s the State Vegetable.

Artichoke lovers, set your calendars now, because you won’t want to miss the 60th Annual Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival, June 1 and 2 at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center in Monterey. Going way beyond live music, which is abundant, the festival offers a wine, beer and spirits garden, family entertainment, kid zone, field tours, farmers market, chef demos, 5K beach run, an agroart competition and, of course, artichoke-inspired food, from artichoke cupcakes to artichoke burritos.

General admission to the festival is $15 for adults (13+), $5 for children 6-12, seniors (62+) and military personnel $10 with ID. Family packs, “It’s a Date,” tastings and field tour tickets are available. For more information visit artichokefestival.org/tickets.

Artichoke Facts Castroville has the nation's only artichoke processing plant An artichoke plant is good for five to 10 years of production The artichoke is technically a flower bud that has not yet bloomed One artichoke plant can produce up to 20 artichokes per year

ccording to Californiacountry.org, artichokes are healthy: A 65 calories per serving, more antioxidants than red wine or chocolate, provides 20 percent of an adult's vitamin C requirement and 24 percent of recommended dietary fiber. It's high in potassium and magnesium, has 4 grams of protein and contains no fat.

Artichokes can be steamed, boiled, sautéed, baked, grilled or microwaved. Try rubbing lemon on the artichoke before cooking, for flavor and to prevent browning. Here are two recipes to get you started on a new culinary adventure.

Grilled Artichokes with Caper Aioli Californiacountry.org Serves 4 4 large artichokes Salt and freshly cracked black pepper Olive oil 1/2 bunch parsley, chopped 1/4 cup grated Parmesan 4 cloves garlic, chopped Juice of 2 lemons Aioli 1/4 cup mayonnaise 2 tbsp. capers 1 tsp. anchovy paste (optional) Juice of 1 lemon 1/2 bunch parsley, chopped Rinse artichokes under cold water. With a sharp knife, cut about 1 inch from the top of the artichoke. If desired, use kitchen shears

to clip the thorns from the outer layer. Trim stems. Add 2 tbsp. salt to a large pot of boiling water and submerge artichokes for 20 to 25 minutes or until leaves become soft. Remove from hot water and place in a bowl of ice water to halt the cooking process.

Drain artichokes. Cut in half from top to bottom and remove the center choke with a spoon. Toss artichoke halves with 1 tbsp. olive oil, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place on a grill over medium heat and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from grill and toss with a mixture of parsley, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, 1 tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on a serving tray and serve with aioli.

Aioli: Place mayonnaise, capers, anchovy paste, lemon juice and parsley in a small bowl and whisk until incorporated.

Stuffed, Whole Artichokes Recipe by Margaret Bowles Serves 4 2 large artichokes 1½ cups breadcrumbs 1 small clove garlic, minced 4 tbsp. minced basil ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese 4 tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Snip the tips off of leaves with scissors.

Rinse the artichokes under cold water and drain. Cut artichokes in half. Combine the breadcrumbs, garlic, cheese, salt & pepper and olive oil in a mixing bowl. Stuff the mixture into the leaves of the artichokes.

Place a steamer at the bottom of a pot that will hold the four artichokes upright.

Add water to the top of a basic metal steamer, about 2 inches. Bring water to a boil; then reduce heat to medium or medium low. Put the artichokes on the steamer, stem-side down, and cover.

Check water level after 15 minutes, adding hot water if needed. Check leaves at 30 minutes, and 10 minutes thereafter until not quite done. Drain artichokes and let cool on a plate. Cut in half from top to bottom and remove the center choke with a spoon.

Serve with a simple mixture of olive oil, salt & pepper and lemon juice.

BeniciaMagazine.com • 21

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By Tomoka Red St. Johns

24 • Benicia Magazine

Sculptural art dresses by Omar Antonio

A

Benicia stylist with a worldwide reputation originally wanted to design fashions. But Omar Gonzalez, known professionally as Omar Antonio, found fashion design school too expensive for a young father of four children.

“So I decided hair school sounded cool,” the Vallejo native said.

Antonio grew up in a family of artists, dancers and musicians. He found his own art through Marty’s School of Cosmetology in San Francisco, started what he called “this amazing journey I’ve been on. Every day is art class for me as a hairstylist.”

At a hair trade show in Las Vegas, he connected with the Sebastian company. “It was more than just another beauty product line. The platform artists on stage had a message.

They were about edge. They were about contrast. Perfectly imperfect. That’s when I knew I wanted to be an educator, a part of their tribe.” He’s been based in Benicia for 12 years, now working at First Impressions Salon and Spa, 832 First Street, firstimpressionsbenicia.com, where he’s both master stylist and salon educator.

“Balancing my schedule can be overwhelming at times,” he said shortly before traveling to India, where he participated in the launch of Sebastian’s newest collection of haircuts, products, and techniques. He also taught cutting and styling techniques in Sebastian’s advanced academies. “It’s exciting,” he said, adding that he takes his inspiration from his children. “They have such a unique sense of fashion and are quite clever when it comes to repurposing old leather jackets and accessories.” He’s often awed by how they combine punk elements with a sense of class. “My children are artists, dancers, comedians.

They are activists, designers and skateboarders,” he said.

“Their amazing little free-spirited minds continuously fill my heart with imagination.”

A few years ago, Antonio’s own imagination led him to blend the artistry of fashion design combined with hair styling. “In 2010 I created a headpiece for a hair show in Las Vegas, all made out of crocheted strands of long black hair,” he said. “I love this headpiece so much that I added on a majestic collar. And then I added shoulders and then before you knew it, I had a whole dress. It was a real showstopper!”

He realized it had become one of his favorite art pieces.

The artist created another dress last year. “This dress was made out of thousands of little tiny braids,” he said. “I try to find different ways of manipulating hair into fabric. My style is very Gothic. All of my dresses are designed using black hair. My dresses are regal, elegant and a bit creepy, I’ve been told.”

But he’s continuing creating dresses, now working on his fifth. He hopes to display all five on manikins in a Benicia art gallery, where local admirers can see them. Those in Japan, Paris, Montreal, Madrid, Puerto Rico and the Canary Islands already have seen his hair dresses, and the newest dress was displayed March 31 in India as his finale to his Sebastian showcase.

Antonio said he’s spent 18 years perfecting his craft through education and seminars, from learning cutting in Japan to color techniques in Europe. “I am blessed,” he said.

“My world on the road is high fashion. Avant-garde.”

He said he brings that spirit daily to First Impressions, where his clients get more than a haircut or color, but also experience, inspiration, reinvention and a celebration of confidence. “My job is art,” he said.

If world trips are invigorating, the return trips to Benicia are his most pleasurable moment. “Benicia brings a sense of calm into my life. It centers me. I feel safe. I feel creative.

Being with my children and my friends—it grounds me. The sense of community. The celebration of art and diversity,” he said. “It’s my home.”

BeniciaMagazine.com • 25

Calendar

April 2019 Events

Benicia Friends of the Library Book Sale

Benicia Certified Farmers Market

4/25, 4-8pm First Street from B to D Streets Benicia The Benicia Certified Farmers Market 27th season begins April 25 and runs through October, offering farm fresh produce, and fresh cut flowers , arts and crafts vendors, specialty foods, baked goods, and numerous gourmet food vendors.

Children can enjoy activities like face painting and an inflatable bounce house.

Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

4/13, 10am-4pm Benicia Library 150 East L Street, Benicia Monthly book sales occur second Saturdays in the library basement.

Peruse over 50,000 donated items including books, DVDs magazines, paperbacks and more. Drop off donations at the library during open hours. Member preview nights are on previous Thursdays. Volunteers are always needed.

Benicialibrary.org/friends 707.746.4343

Kids & Film Workshop

4/13, 10am-1:30pm North Vallejo Community Center 1121 Whitney Avenue, Vallejo Kids have the opportunity to work on self-esteem and confidence building through on camera and behind the scene training. They learn to direct, camera operation, audio capture, clapperboard, memory exercises, and to produce monologues, short scripts, or improvs. Cost $35-$42.

Kidsnfilm.com

Renegade Craft Fair

4/13-14, 10am-6pm Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco Shop the very best in handmade from 250+ local and national makers and designers while enjoying views of the Golden Gate, cocktails, vinyl DJ sets, interactive features, and local food trucks.

Renegadecraft.com

BOTTG Presents Sweat

4/19-5/11, show times vary Historic B.D.E.S. Hall 140 West J Street, Benicia Benicia Old Town Theater Group is proud to present Sweat by American playwright Lynn Nottage.

The play won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and portrays a meeting between a parole officer and two ex-convicts, and three women who were childhood friends and had worked together. It takes place in a fictional bar in Pennsylvania. Friday and Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees. Tickets online; $22, $20 seniors & students.

Beniciaoldtowntheatregroup.com 707.746.1269

26 • Benicia Magazine

Benicia Certified Farmers Market

Solano County Earth Day Cleanup

Opening Day

4/20, 21 & 27 Benicia & around Solano County Community volunteers remove trash and improperly disposed recyclables from waterways, open spaces and roadways. This is an opportunity to spend a portion of a day in an effort to make our county a better place. Students can earn community service hours, clubs/service organizations can participate in a service project with a big impact, and families, friends and individuals can give back to the county. Times/locations online.

Solanovolunteers.org

Earth Day San Francisco

4/20, 11am-7pm Valencia Street between 19th & 20th San Francisco Caring about the environment and gaining knowledge about human impact on the earth is more important than ever. There will be booths by non-profits providing information about environmental causes, transportation issues, health care, technology, the environment and other topics. Earth Day SF provides a platform for ways to deal with social issues, factbased science with speaker panels, cutting edge green technology displays/demos, and non-profits working to help sustain the planet.

Earthdaysf.org

April 25

Opening Day on the Straight

4/20 Benicia Marina 266 East B Street, Benicia The public is invited to a full day of celebrating Benicia’s beautiful waterfront at Opening Day on the Strait. Benicia Yacht Club is open to the public (free) with the event featuring arts & crafts booths and children’s games on the lawn, opening ceremonies, and the Boat Parade/Blessing of the Fleet. Enjoy a day of food, drink & entertainment, then dinner and dancing.

Beniciayachtclub.com 707.746.0739

Benicia Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt

4/21, 12-2pm Benicia City Park 150 Military West, Benicia Rain or shine, this event brings children to enjoy games, face decoration, the Easter Bunny and the hunt itself. The hunt is open to children ages 2-8 years. There are separate hunts for each age group, which may be sped up if bad weather is looming.

Visitbenicia.org/event/beniciakiwanis-easter-egg-hunt/

Benicia High School Presents Mamma Mia!

4/26 & 27, 5/3 & 4, 7pm; 4/28, 2pm Benicia High School 1101 Military West, Benicia Through the hit music of ABBA, BHS theater students tell the hilarious and touching story of a young woman's search for her birth father as her wedding day quickly approaches. Her past, present and future collide as destiny unfolds.

Tickets $10-20 are available online.

Bit.ly/bhsmammamia

Art Scavenger Hunt

4/27, 12-4pm First Street, Benicia Discover amazing art found in downtown galleries while doing a scavenger hunt. Participants will receive a free “I Love Benicia” bag and be entered in drawing to win $100 in Downtown Dollars.

Beniciamainstreet.org 707.745.9791

Benicia Classic Car Show 4/28, 9am-3pm

First Street Green First & B Streets, Benicia Benicia waterfront will be filled with over 400 classic cars. The show is free and also features a vendors row with food and other items, a beer and wine garden and performances by the award-winning Benicia High School band. All proceeds benefit the music program at BHS. Beniciaclassiccarshow.com

Live Music

April Music

Empress Theatre 707.552.2400

330 Virginia St, Vallejo EmpressTheatre.org Apr. 03, 7:30pm

Apr. 06, 8pm

Apr. 08, 7:30pm

Apr. 13, 8pm

Apr. 24, 8pm

JazSynergy in the Lounge $10 Online/$10 Phone & Box Office House of Floyd $25 Online/ $30 Phone & Box Office West Coast Songwriters Competition $10 General/$5 Empress Members/Online/Phone & Box Office Pacific Mambo Orchestra Salsa Dance Party $30 Online/$35 Phone & Box Office Wee Willie Walker and The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra $20 Online/$25 Phone & Box Office

Uptown Theatre Napa 707.259.0123

1350 Third Street, Napa UptownTheatreNapa.com

Apr. 06, 8pm

Apr. 13, 8pm

Apr. 18, 8pm

Steven Curtis Chapman $36.75 - $75, Ticketmaster or Box Office Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox $60 - $90, Ticketmaster or Box Office Michael McDonald $75 - $115, Ticketmaster or Box Office

Lucca Beer Garden 707.745.3749

439 First Street, Benicia Luccabar.com Apr. 04, 6:30pm - 9pm

Apr. 05, 6:30pm - 9pm Apr. 06, 1pm - 3:30pm

6:30pm - 9pm

Apr. 07, 3pm - 6pm

Apr. 11, 6:30pm - 9pm Apr. 12, 6:30pm - 9pm Apr. 13, 1pm - 3:30pm

Apr. 13, 6:30pm - 9pm Apr. 14, 3pm - 6pm Apr. 18, 6:30pm - 9pm Apr. 19, 6:30pm - 9pm Apr. 20, 1pm - 3:30pm

6:30pm - 9pm Apr. 21, 3pm - 6pm Apr. 25, 6:30pm - 9pm

Apr. 26, 6:30pm - 9pm

Apr. 27, 1pm - 3:30pm

6:30pm - 9pm Apr. 28, 3pm - 6pm

The Foxcatchers w/Jeff Tamelier & Christophewr Cole Nell & Jim Band Bruce Brophy & Paul Trombetta Jacob Aranda & Sara Gallagher Whiskey Brothers Chris James & The Showdowns The Bell Brothers Shaana Keller Bodhi Shrugs Jill & Kevin Dan DeShara Wake The Neighbors Chris Ahlman GarageLand Rodeo Diablo Rhythm Wranglers Jinx Jones & The Kingtones Don Bassey, Jeff Tamelier, Jeff Campitelli & Jim Funk Chris Estes Stolen Cars GB Gents

Clockwise from left: Bell Brothers, Nell & Jim Band, Sarah Gallagher & Jacob Aranda, Jinx Jones

BeniciaMagazine.com • 27

Art

Fine Art Printmaker Reception and Sale at HQ Gallery Staff Writer Benicia’s HQ Gallery on First Street is again running a Fine Art Printmakers Sale and Reception for its printmaking members. This makes the gallery’s second year at 333 First Street, Suite D; near the 621 Gallery and Plein Air Galleries.

The HQ gallery is unique in its approach. In addition to showing the works of established artists, emerging members have a chance to exhibit their artistic creations art in a gallery setting. Gallery members work in a range of media that include fabric art, oil and watercolor paintings, pottery, photography, metal sculpture, jewelry, fabric art and mixed media.

The Fine art printmaker’s sale will include original etchings, monotypes, clay prints, collographs, woodblocks, and mixed media graphic arts. Their works are featured at the gallery in a one-day show and sale April 13. The printmaker sale commences at 10am and runs until 5pm.

An artist reception will be held the same day, 2-5pm. HQ Printmakers are inviting the public to stop by and enjoy refreshments, meet the artists and view their latest works that are available for purchase.

Training, Monotype by Christina Finnie

Bold Landscape Paintings

by Nancy Roberts at Plein Air Gallery

Bridge Vista by Nancy Roberts

28 • Benicia Magazine

Benicia artist Nancy Roberts will showcase her acrylic landscape paintings as the featured artist at Benicia Plein Air Gallery this month. The show runs April 4 through May 5 with an artist reception Saturday, April 6, 4-6pm.

Roberts, a retired architect and award-winning plein air painter, uses vibrant colors and dynamic design in her paintings that suggest a certain geometric-like quality, putting a fresh spin on the landscape tradition.

The gallery show, Color Journeys, invites the viewer to "walk into" her paintings, experiencing new trails. Roberts paints vistas all around the Bay Area, and sees reality as a jumping-off point. "I start by paring a thing down to its bones," she says in her artist statement, "then respond to its spirit with energized color and pattern.

Robert’s bold lines lead the viewer through vineyards, hillsides, waterfalls, farmers markets, waterfront commerce, farmland and more. Her deep hues manage, all at once, to be energetic, inviting, cohesive and engaging. This collection of paintings and others can be found at NancyRobertsStudio.com.

Also on view is a new collection of plein air paintings by all 13 of the gallery's artists, showcasing a colorful variety of media and styles. Benicia Plein Air Gallery is located at 307 First Street in the heart of historic downtown Benicia.

Staffed by member artists, the gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays, 11am-5pm. For more information visit BeniciaPleinAir.com.

Still of Mind: Gallery 621 Features Works by Linda Stevenson Dunlop “Working with material, tools, and equipment is a physical process that sets me still of mind while moving my body to the next creation,”

∸

­— Linda Stevenson Dunlop ∸ Rebecca Gulick During the month of April, Gallery 621 highlights the artwork of Linda Stevenson Dunlop, an abstract painter, sculptor, and printmaker who has been with the gallery almost since its inception a decade ago.

“Working with material, tools, and equipment is a physical process that sets me still of mind while moving my body to the next creation,” she explains in her artist's statement. She is fascinated by the power of the hand and tools to change the flow of the work. “It’s a powerful feeling. I release myself to the moment in time while working my images.”

Dunlop's exhibit runs from April 1 through May 6, and a reception will be held Saturday, April 13, 4-6pm.

One of the most enduring membership-run galleries in Benicia, Gallery 621 showcases original, contemporary fine art of various media, from painting and printmaking to 3D ceramic sculpture.

Visit Gallery 621 at 309 First Street during the hours of 12-6pm, Thursday to Sunday. More information can be found online at gallery621.com.

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Trends

The City of Light, Love and Lingerie Christina Strawbridge What could be more romantic than to spend Valentine's Day in Paris with the one you love? February is not the most pleasant month to wander the massive boulevards and people watch while seated at an outdoor café, but it's Paris, and the airfare was a bargain at $340.00 round trip.

It had been nearly three years since my last rendezvous with this city I love, and by all accounts, the weather was going to cooperate for our six-night stay. The yellow vest protests that had captured headlines the last 17 weeks were somewhat quiet—although there was military presence on the Champs Elysees and station closures on the Metro lines during the weekend.

Valentine's Day morning we made our way to the lingerie department of Galeries Lafayette across from the Opera House. Why I thought this would be a good idea is curious, since shopping for underwear is not one of my favorite activities, especially with a husband at my side. But my need for functional undergarments outweighed my reason.

The Lingerie Department covers the entire 4th floor of the Galeries Lafayette’s famed atrium and offers lines from all over the world, including La Perla, Chantelle, Guia La Bruna and even Playtex.

Over 11,000 square feet of delicate merchandise is hung to perfection in colored areas of blue/purple (Fashion Trends), pink (Luxury Design and Contemporary Styles) and red (Tights and Socks). There are 50 dressing rooms with adjustable lighting and plenty of expert staffing to make the experience, well… palpable. After spending what seemed an eternity roaming the isles and disagreeing about what constitutes underwear, we left the store in search of good Bordeaux, and a conversation about function and fantasy.

French designer Jean Paul Gaultier's fascination with undergarments is well documented, starting as a child when he fashioned a cone-shaped brassiere for his teddy bear, Nana. Fast forward to Paris 2019, with the opening of Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show at the FoliesBergère. We were fortunate to get tickets to this musical revue/fashion show based on the designer's life and work. It has been described as eccentric, scandalous, provocative, exuberant and funny. Although it was performed in French, there were unmistakable references through the runway, music, costuming and dance to Josephine Baker, Anna Wintour, Madonna, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Nana the teddy bear.

The production uses film and video cameos of Gaultier's long time friends and supporters such as Catherine Deneuve, who reads the hysterical names that Gaultier gave the creations in his men’s couture show of the early 90s. The strapping he-men wore bustled ball gowns with off-the-shoulder bodices as part of the androgynous movement. It was a look that was recently seen on the red carpet at the Academy Awards, by designer Christian Siriano.

As an impressionable little boy, Jean Paul watched a broadcast from Paris’s legendary Folies Bergère on a black and white TV. The production’s scantily clad performers in their glittering costumes and feather headdresses had a profound effect on the future designer: it was his dream to be a part of this magical world.

It has been my continued dream to be able to witness the world’s great beauty, in fashion, architecture, food and people. Paris never disappoints, except maybe in the underwear department.

30 • Benicia Magazine

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BeniciaMagazine.com • 31

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