Benicia Magazine August 2023 Issue

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Jean

Photo by Luke George

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August always seems to catch me off-guard. In my childhood years, the turning of the calendar to the eighth month triggered a sense of panic: the long, carefree days of summer were drawing to a close and before I knew it, I’d be back in school. I remember, early in my childhood, not starting school until after Labor Day, which meant I could enjoy the last month of summer as just that, a full glorious month in which to fit any and all final summer activities. When the start of the school year got pushed back into the final weeks of August, I remember feeling, as many of my peers did, downright cheated. Indignant. Call the authorities; a crime has been committed and I demand justice! How could I possibly cram all the sleepovers, trips to the beach, camping, pool days, crawdad fishing, Slip n’ Sliding, and family vacationing I wanted to do into a measly couple of weeks (never mind that I had just spent the previous two months doing exactly all of these things, already)?

Nowadays, I still get that mild sense of panic. Not because school is about to start, but because in my adult life, like so many of us experience, time just seems to be speeding up. The start of June seems like it was merely a blink ago and, now that it’s August, what show and tell will I have to present to the class about my summer? Those who do not plan their summer trips and experiences rigorously are often left doing this sort of headscratching scramble, trying desperately to make the most of what’s left of the warm weather and long days. And no, I did not plan this summer rigorously. I’ve heard about and seen photos of many friends’ and acquaintances’ lovely trips out of town, state, and country. In return, I have progress photos of one nearly fixedup room in my project-house. A small win. I did also manage to make it to a few BBQs and get far too many mosquito bites. Oh yes, and also helped migrate our business to a quarterly production with monthly digital editions. Small potatoes. Alas, perhaps my lazy planning will yield me returns on off-season travel deals. I’ll bet the crowds are more tolerable then, too!

angst

n From the Publisher

Welcome to our first digital monthly edition of Benicia Magazine. As a reminder, we have changed our publishing package from monthly printed magazine to quarterly printed magazine with digital-only monthly editions. The first Benicia Quarterly will debut in early September and will cover autumn in Benicia — September, October and November. Benicia Quarterly will have 48 pages instead of 32 and will contain a tourism section. Big changes and a lot of work but the change was necessary and, we believe it will serve our city and residents well.

I’m particularly excited about our tourism section. I believe strongly that Benicia should have a more robust tourism program and that our city, shops, restaurants, arts, culture and historical sites will benefit from increased tourism. To that end, Benicia Quarterly will be distributing to local Visit California Visitor Centers in Solano, Sacramento, East Bay and San Francisco. The focus of this section will be seasonal and we will be reaching out to Benicia residents for suggestions of favorite Fall places and activities in and around Benicia.

Our feature for the August issue is “Young Minds Give Small Business a Boost.” Benicia Magazine was invited to attend the final presentations of the Benicia High Digital Marketing class and it was impressive. The project paired students with Benicia businesses with the objective of analyzing a business and creating actions to improve its digital footprint. The suggestions and comments made by the students were well researched and their suggestions insightful. If you have a chance to participate in this program, or any of the Benicia High CTE projects, I encourage you to do so. Our students are inspiring!

n From the Editor

Shakespeare's Hamlet Comes to Benicia

August 5th at 4 pm ― The Marina Pavillion Green

n

Cooper Mickelson

To be, or not to be. That is the question…but one thing’s for sure. You won’t want to miss this upcoming performance from Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park!

Established in 2010 by Vallejo resident Dalia Vidor, Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park produces one live Shakespearean production each summer. The show is performed in outdoor settings FREE to communities around the San Francisco Bay Area, and this year they are bringing Hamlet to Benicia.

If you’re unfamiliar with this particular work of Shakespeare, here’s a little peek into the play.

Prince Hamlet has returned home from college to bury his father and attend his mother Gertrude’s wedding to his Uncle Claudius. During his stay back in Elsinore, Hamlet is visited by his father’s ghost and learns that he was murdered by none other than Hamlet’s Uncle Claudius. The ghost demands Hamlet seek revenge for his untimely death, and our young Hamlet goes about this by feigning insanity, breaking off his relationship with the lovely Ophelia, and plotting to kill Claudius. Feeling threatened by Hamlet’s behavior, Claudius plots to have his nephew killed. As Hamlet’s act of insanity slowly grows closer to truth, the entire cast is enveloped in chaos and miscommunication, leading up to an exciting climax.

Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park takes this already spectacular play and creates something truly exceptional. Their aim is to provide professional performance opportunities to Bay Area actors of color, various gender identities, and women through non-traditional casting. As a result, the cast is made up of multi-ethnic actors of various backgrounds and experience levels, creating a production that reflects the community in which they are performing. Exciting contemporary staging helps the audience connect to and understand classical theater in a new and magical way.

Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park presents a “barebones” production, focusing on the actors’ performances and authentic storytelling, with a minimal set and modern

dress. This genre of performance makes a centuries-old play accessible to all audiences, young and old, regardless of their knowledge of Shakespeare’s work. 400 years after his plays and sonnets first took the world by storm, Shakespeare is still one of the most famous playwrights in history. He wrote about timeless themes such as fate and free will, love and hate, and life and death. In a world that is constantly changing, these themes remain relevant. Shakespeare also invented many of the words we still use today, connecting words together, changing nouns into verbs, and sometimes creating wholly new words from nothing at all. A few examples include: generous, negotiate, gossip, amazement, and even bedroom! It’s astonishing that one person could have such a large influence on our language. Shakespeare has given us wisdom, language, laughs, and heartbreak, but his most lasting contribution was the idea that success comes through creativity and play. Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park is carrying this on through their magnificent performances. So don’t miss out! Shakespeare in the Park’s performance of Hamlet will be coming to Benicia on August 5th at 4 pm on the Marina Pavilion Green located next to the Benicia Marina and Benicia Yacht Club. This performance is picnicstyle seating, so you’ll want to bring a blanket or low beach chair as no chairs will be provided by the venue.

If you missed the Benicia performance, you can still catch future shows at the following Bay Area parks: Susana Park in Martinez (August 6th at 4 pm)

Peralta Hacienda Historical Park in Oakland (August 12th at 4 pm)

Lower Dracena Park in Piedmont (August 13th at 4 pm)

For more information, visit www.vallejoshakespeare.org. B

Contributing artists include Jos Sances, Elizabeth Catlett, Enrique Chagoya, Dewey Crumpler, Daniel Galvez, Mildred Howard, Rupert Garcia, Mary Lovelace O'Neal, Betye Saar, Raymond Saunders, Elly Simmons, Patricio Toro, Carlos Villa, and Miranda Bergman.

Betye Saar

Jos Sances

Mildred Howard

“Robeson was really an internationalist, and I think these pieces reflect that kind of broad view of the world.”

Robeson Portfolio Highlights Print Exhibitions at Arts Benicia Highlights Print

Freedom or Slavery: The Paul Robeson Portfolio, a set of 14 screenprints and inspirational texts published by Jos Sances and Alliance Graphics, is one of two exhibitions that opened in late July and will be on display at Arts Benicia through August 27. The portfolio, on loan from the Vallejo Center for the Arts, was created in 1998, the centennial of Robeson’s birth, to honor and re-introduce him to a national audience. Robeson was an American concert artist, actor, professional football player, and activist who was famous both for his performance and athletic accomplishments and for his political views. After becoming a popular international screen and singing star, Robeson spoke out against racism and became a world activist. He was blacklisted during the paranoia of McCarthyism in the 1950s.

Sances, based in Berkeley, is an American printmaker and muralist, writer, activist, and community organizer. He founded Alliance Graphics to generate support for the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA). “Some of the people from MECA were on a Paul Robeson Hundredth Birthday Committee, centered in Chicago,” recalled Sances. “I thought that he was a pretty unknown figure to a lot of people, and that maybe we could do a portfolio. Many of the artists that I work with were familiar with him and would want to contribute, so that's kind of how it happened. All of the prints were created specifically for this project.”

Contributing artists include Jos Sances, Elizabeth Catlett, Enrique Chagoya, Dewey Crumpler, Daniel Galvez, Mildred Howard, Rupert Garcia, Mary Lovelace O'Neal, Betye Saar, Raymond Saunders, Elly Simmons, Patricio Toro, Carlos Villa, and Miranda Bergman. Themes relating to Robeson’s activism are incorporated into several of the artists’ prints, as well as images of Robeson. Mildred Howard’s Red depicts a smiling Robeson overlaid with red and other patterned colors, invoking the accusations leveled against him regarding communism. Betye Saar’s National Racism: We Was Mostly ‘Bout Survival, depicts an African American woman enduring racism after the end of slavery.

The portfolio also includes essays by ten writers, some of whom knew Robeson, including June Jordan, Pete Seeger, and Angela Davis, and an introductory essay by Howard Levine. “They helped us get some of the other people who we didn't know, like Harry Belafonte and Studs Terkel,” said Sances. “Robeson was really an internationalist, and I think these pieces reflect that kind of broad view of the world.” A limited edition of 100 of the portfolios were printed.

Robeson grew up in New Jersey, son of an escaped slave. He was one of the first African American students to attend Rutgers, where he excelled at football, baseball, basketball, and track. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was class valedictorian. He graduated from Columbia Law School but worked only briefly as an attorney. An attractive man with an excellent singing voice, Robeson went into entertainment and appeared in hundreds of plays, 11 major films and sang in thousands of concerts. He was well known for his rendition of “Old Man River’’ from Showboat.

Robeson traveled the world as part of his performing career. As a political activist he campaigned for civil rights, labor rights, socialism, and against racism. He was investigated by the FBI and testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He was later blacklisted and prevented from traveling abroad from 1950 to 1958, affecting his performing career. Nonetheless, he continued his political activities until his health declined. He died in 1976. “Looking back at this portfolio 25 years later, I still think it's a good document,” reflected Sances, “and you know, many of the issues expressed in the prints are still with us, unfortunately.”

Also on display at Arts Benicia this month is an exhibition called California Printmakers … Tradition and Innovation, juried by master printmakers Yuzo Nakano and Kazuko Watanabe, both of Kala Art Institute in Berkeley. The exhibition highlights the best in recent California printmaking. Approximately 90 works by 40 artists are included, featuring a wide range of printmaking techniques.

Arts Benicia is located at 1 Commandant’s Lane, in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters in the Benicia Arsenal district. The galleries are open from Thursday through Sunday, 1 to 5 pm, during exhibitions. For more information, visit artsbenicia.org B

n Jean Purnell

August 24 - Ribbon cutting and private sponsor event

August

Thursdays April 27th to October 26th 4 - 8 pm (Jun-Aug) and 4 - 7 pm (Sep-Oct)

Thursdays April 27th to October 26th 4 - 8 pm (Jun-Aug) and 4 - 7 pm (Sep-Oct)

First Street between B & D Streets

First Street between B & D Streets

Sponsored by Benicia Main Street 90 First Street, Benicia

Sponsored by Benicia Main Street 90 First Street, Benicia

The Benicia Fire Museum has been transformed into the Downtown Museum of History Benicia. It houses museum artifacts from 1900 to the 1980’s.

Benicia Certified

Benicia Farmers Market runs

Benicia Farmers Market runs

Give Small Business a Boost

At the end of the 2023 school year, Benicia Magazine was invited to attend the final presentations of Benicia High School’s Digital Marketing class. The students, we were told, had been grouped into teams that functioned as miniature digital marketing firms, and paired with a local business or organization. Each marketing team would do a thorough digital marketing audit and analysis on its assigned organization, complete with suggested actions for improvements.

Benicia High’s Digital Marketing class is part of the CTE (Career and Technical Education) program at the high school, through which students can gain transferable education and hands-on experience related to various career paths. Local businesses are always encouraged to contribute to the CTE program by providing real life perspective through guest speaking or even offering internships. While involvement in this way can lead to benefits in the form of a primed and ready workforce down the road for these businesses, it is rare to get direct and immediate benefits like this Digital Marketing class project offered.

The class is led by teacher Jesse Zitrin, but the project was the brainchild of David Batchelor, whose charity organization, Benicia Community Foundation, was a participant and beneficiary of the project. Other participants included Pacifica Pizza, Benicia Chamber of Commerce, Pups ‘n’ Purrz, Lucca Bar and Grill, Benicia Main Street, and Hire My Husband, among others.

Mr. Zitrin’s students took what they learned through the course, including how to do website, SEO, and social media audits, and reviewed the online presence of their “clients.” Being real-life case studies, each business had unique issues along with a few commonalities. Through the process, students got to experience what it’s like to work with a real client in business, managing deadlines and schedules, learning what their pain points and limitations were, and learning to communicate across generations (these students are digital natives, whereas their clients ranged from proficient to digital novices).

n Genevieve Hand

Photos by Luke George

We spoke with Sonya Battersby, general manager of Lucca Bar and Grill about her experience with the project. She explained that the students pointed out some areas of improvement on their website, like the viewable menu, and with their social media strategy. Said Sonya of the experience, “It’s interesting what you find when you search your own business online, and I actually have never viewed our business as a customer. Sure, I have read our reviews but never dug deep into what pops up when you type different types of food and or restaurants in a search bar.” She appreciated having a fresh set of eyes on the business’ online presence strategy. “They were able to give me more ideas that took thinking outside the box.” Sonya says that while she has not had the chance to implement some of the changes her group suggested, she looks forward to working with one of the team members again soon to do just that. “Overall,” she says of the project, “I believe it was great for both the students and us.”

One group was assigned to a local business with virtually no online presence, whatsoever. This group had many suggestions for their business owner, but soon realized she needed help getting her digital footprint off the ground. Going above and beyond what the project required of them, the students took it upon themselves to create a basic website and a new social media account for the business, and set up a GoFundMe to raise money for a digital marketing campaign idea they came up with. One of the students in the group also agreed to intern with the business over the summer to help get the ball rolling.

Yet another group learned that working with small businesses isn’t always easy. Unable to get a meeting with their local business on the books, the team had to get creative with their research, diving deep into the company’s web presence, talking to employees, and doing competitor analysis to construct a working image of the company’s standing and strategy. Remarkably, they were able to pull together a complete and successful project, just the same.

In general, the project seemed to be quite successful. The students learned how to parlay their digital fluency into skills that would give them a leg up in the marketing world, and participating businesses gained valuable insights and a fresh perspective on their digital marketing strategies that will likely have tangible results. And in the instances when students went above and beyond their assigned tasks, the project shined a spotlight on Benicia’s youth giving back to our community. B

“They were able to give me more ideas that took

'why' 'why'

n Kevin Nelson

School is revving up again in Benicia. Young people all over town are saying goodbye to the summertime blues and eagerly looking forward to the first day of class of the new school year. Okay maybe not, but they’re going back anyway, much to the relief of their beleaguered parents.

With this in mind, I called a friend of mine, Kathleen Sauter, who is a Benicia resident and a teacher at Liberty High School here in town. Now, if you asked yourself, “Liberty High—what’s that? Where’s that?” you are likely not alone. I raised a family in Benicia and three of my kids went to Benicia schools, but in doing the research for this article I had to drive downtown and go to the school to remind myself where it is.

It’s tucked away down on East J Street, close to the administrative headquarters of the school district. It is truly a “hidden” resource in a city that the San Francisco Chronicle once ranked as the top place to raise a family in the Bay Area.

Liberty is a “continuation” high school, different from Benicia High, which is a “comprehensive” school. For the most part, the students at Liberty, between the ages of 16 and 18, transferred over from BHS. But why? Why leave the school on the west side for the one on the east side?

Well, they’re the troublemakers, that’s why. They’re the misbehaving castoffs who’ve been sentenced to serve out the remainder of their high school days at the educational equivalent of the Island of Misfit Toys. That’s what some people seem to think, anyhow, and it couldn’t be any further from the truth.

“That’s a big misconception,” says Kathleen, rankling at the idea that the 60 to 80 kids who will attend Liberty this year are troublemakers of one sort or another. “Our students are not kids with behavior issues. They’re not sent here because of disciplinary problems. Not at all. It’s their choice. They and their families have decided that this is what’s best for them.”

“These kids are remarkable human beings. Every year, I learn something new from them. Many of the kids who come here have experienced some sort of trauma. They were hurt. But they’re able to work through these things and come out really strong. They get seen, they get heard, they get understood, and they blossom. They come into their own.”

She adds, speaking with a passion that is no doubt shared by the rest of the staff at Liberty, “These kids are remarkable human beings. Every year, I learn something new from them. Many of the kids who come here have experienced some sort of trauma. They were hurt. But they’re able to work through these things and come out really strong. They get seen, they get heard, they get understood, and they blossom. They come into their own.”

I first met Kathleen when we were neighbors; I lived on West K Street with my family and she and her parents, John and Pat Spottiswoode, were next door to us on Dominic Court. She was in high school then, on her way to college and finding her path as a teacher. John taught middle school in Pleasant Hill and at a memorial service for him a few years ago at the Benicia Masonic Hall, his former colleagues lauded him as a man with a gift for working with students with unique talents and skills. Now married and with children of her own, his daughter also appears to have an aptitude and interest in developing the talents of young people who are “not cookie cutter kids,” as she puts it.

Her main job at Liberty focuses on those with learning disabilities—hyperactive youngsters, for instance, who can’t sit still in their seats and concentrate on what the teacher is saying. Other children she provides support for have “processing disorders” or vision and hearing problems. According to a 2022 accountability report prepared by the school for the California Board of Education, more than half the students at Liberty are deemed “socioeconomically disadvantaged” and 19 percent have disabilities. Boys outnumber the girls, but not by much—a margin of 3 to 2.

What these youngsters have in common is that when they were at Benicia High, they failed or dropped out of classes and fell behind on the number of credits required to graduate. Needing help to get back on track in their studies, they came to Liberty. According to that same report, three of four students do indeed earn their high school diploma and they and their families can be seen celebrating this achievement at the graduation ceremonies held every spring at the Benicia Yacht club and sponsored by the local Rotary Club, a big financial supporter of the school.

Liberty’s success is due in part to its small class sizes and high teacher to student ratio. Principal Kim Lewis oversees a staff of six teachers, a counselor, psychologist, and others. Its school day typically ends at 1:15 p.m., which is shorter than at Benicia High, although, says Kathleen Sauter, the hours dedicated to instruction are the same at both schools. Liberty is able to do this because there are no passing periods between classes and no long lunch, only a snack break.

Many youngsters, whatever school they go to, will always hanker for the day when there are “no more pencils, no more books, and no more teacher’s dirty looks,” to quote the immortal bard Alice Cooper. Liberty recognizes this by making a big effort to connect students with the larger community, setting them up, if possible, with internships. Here, many local people have stepped up to help. Businesses and organizations such as Fox & Fawn Bakehouse, Benicia Fire Department and Kids K have provided work opportunities for Liberty kids. Ric Small, a local insurance agent, runs a successful mentoring

program at Liberty, in which adults connect with students. Arts Benicia supports after school art classes, and gardeners in town show up each week at the school to get their hands dirty with students at the garden on campus.

Kathleen cited the success story of one struggling Liberty kid who was mired in substance abuse problems and avoiding school like the plague. That is, until Lindsay Art Glass, the respected glass blowing studio that closed three years ago with the retirement of its founder, David Lindsay, hired him as an intern. “He did a 180,” reports Kathleen enthusiastically. “He totally flipped around. He developed a rapport with the glass blower, learned to blow glass, and found a connection with the community. He figured out his why.”

With the advent of the new school year, let’s hope that all the children at Liberty and every other school in Benicia find a way to connect with the positive things in their lives and figure out their why. B

Kevin Nelson

The award-winning author of more than 20 books and numerous articles for national publications, Kevin Nelson writes the monthly “Hidden Benicia” column for the new online Benicia Magazine.

About the author

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Book and Cocktail Club

n Cooper Mickelson

Some might recall how I set out to read more translated books this year, fiction and nonfiction. This little mission has led me to some fantastic reads, including the poetry collection I reviewed back in April, but I never expected it to lead me to what I now consider one of my all-time favorite books.

Earlier this year, a relatively simple cover caught my eye at an indie bookstore in Oakland. The title, The Bookseller’s Notebooks, told me little about the story, but I was inexplicably drawn to it. After skimming the blurb on the back, I noticed a few buzzwords that make a book an instant buy for me; a schizophrenic mc, multiple POVs, and, you guessed it, translated fiction.

The Bookseller’s Notebooks, written by Jalal Barjas and translated from Arabic by Paul G. Starkey, is a vastly underrated, subtle, and beautifully poetic novel set in the city of Amman between 1947 and 2019. In it, we follow Ibrahim, a bookseller and avid reader, who loses his book kiosk and finds himself living on the street.

Navigating undiagnosed schizophrenia, he assumes the identities of the protagonists in his favorite novels. Ibrahim commits a series of crimes, robbing banks and houses and even committing murder disguised as Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Said Mahran from The Thief and the Dogs, among others. He unwittingly becomes a modern-day Robin Hood, taking from the most wealthy and corrupt to help the abject poor and impose his idea of justice.

Drowning in profound loneliness, the voices that fill Ibrahim’s head become

The Bookseller's Notebooks The Bookseller's Notebooks

louder and more demanding. He is slowly pushed past the brink of his sanity and morality, reaching a point where he believes the only way to end this descent into madness is to end his life along with it. That is, until he meets a mysterious woman who changes his life.

This woman’s story and others are told through notebooks and multiple narrators. Simultaneously painful and mind-altering, this is a fragmented tale of the marginalized people who are too often ignored or used as tragic examples by society.

Barjas’s exceptional novel uses generational trauma, society’s marginalized individuals, and everyday injustices to acknowledge a global social system that leaves too many of our most vulnerable behind. Through a unique cast of characters, Baras highlights the struggles of people who want desperately to live full lives but cannot due to circumstances beyond their control.

I am honestly stunned by how overlooked this innovative Arabic novel is. As I write this review, it has only 10 ratings on Goodreads (one of those being mine)! Barjas is an award-winning Jordanian poet and novelist, having written two poetry collections, many short stories, and four novels. I was disappointed to find that his other books have yet to be translated into English, but I will be on the lookout for any future translations or releases from Barjas.

This novel is relatively unknown, and I wasn’t able to find it at our local library, but don’t worry, The Bookseller’s Notebooks is available to order from Bookshop Benicia. If you’re anything like me and believe that the best books are meant to be shared and discussed, I suggest you order an extra copy to give to a loved one. I anticipate this novel taking off as soon as some celebrity book club finds it, so get it before it sells out! B

Bookseller's Notebooks

Bookseller's Notebooks Bookseller's Notebooks

by Jalal Barjas

Translated by Paul G. Starkey

Loved The Bookseller's Notebooks?

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Booktail's Cocktail of the Month

Sweet Peach Fros

Sweet Peach Fros

Ingredients

6 cups Frozen peaches

1 bottle Ros

Hall

Supermarket by Bobby

The Spinal Cord Perception by Joshua S. Porter

(I used Hand on Heart Rose Wine, an alcohol-removed wine available at SendSips)

1 Tbsp Honey

Peach Slices (optional garnish)

Preparation

1. Place all ingredients into the blender.

2. Blend on high until creamy.

3. Pour into your favorite, fancy glasses and share this sweet treat with your friends!

Sip Tip:

If you have a Ninja Creami, I suggest making a sorbet out of this recipe. Just blend ingredients in a blender first, freeze overnight, and use the sorbet setting on your Creami!

“There are stages in life that have to end for us to preserve the bright side of the picture—and that depends on the memory of joy to fight the sorrow we have been given.”

n Gourmet Gracie and Movie Magic

Gracie's Tried and True Treats

Gracie offers some tasty and DIYQ (do it yourself quickly) recipes for a picnic or potluck while summertime is in full swing. Grab a blanket or beach chairs and head out to your favorite spot for some sunshine or sunset viewing, or just some people watching at the park. Also delicious while on the couch enjoying some movie magic!

Buffalo Chicken Dip Redneck Caviar

Ingredients

8 oz Cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. each Frank's Red Hot Sauce

Bleu cheese dressing

Bleu cheese crumbles

2-9.75 oz Canned chunk chicken breasts, drained.

Preparation

Mix all in baking dish. Bake 350 degrees, 30 minutes. Slip into a heated picnic pack or wrap in dish towels for your picnic basket. Serve with your choice of chips/crackers/bread. Serves 4 - 8 famished foodies.

Ingredients

2 cans Black eyed peas, drained

1 can White hominy, drained (or garbanzos)

1 c. Diced tomatoes

1/2 c. Green bell pepper, chopped

1/2 c. Yellow onion, chopped

1/4 c. Red onion, chopped

3 Green onions, sliced thin

3 Hot peppers of your choice, chopped

1-8 oz Bottle of Zesty Italian dressing

Fresh ground pepper to taste

Preparation

Mix together, chill 3 hours. Serve with dipping chips or as a side salad. Serves 6 - 8 hungry surfers.

Little Miss Sunshine

1hr, 41 min; 2006

Comedy/Drama

Rated R (mostly for language)

Seven year old Olive (Abigail Breslin) is an aspiring beauty queen. Her dad (Greg Kinnear) is an unsuccessful motivational speaker. Teenage brother, Dwayne (Paul Dani) has made a vow of silence until he achieves his dream of becoming a test pilot for the Airforce. Uncle Frank (Steve Carrell) was just dumped by his girlfriend and is contemplating the meaning of life. Grandpa (Alan Arkin) was recently dismissed from his retirement home for doing drugs and sleeping around. Now, he coaches Olive on her dance routine. Olive's mom (Toni Collette) is very busy trying to hold this family together. They all pile into a VW van for an eventful 700-mile road trip from Albuquerque to Redondo Beach to reach the beauty

pageant that Olive has her heart set on. This is a gentle, quirky family satire about dreams, the roads to reach them and the inevitable detours and illusions along the way. So much humanity, so much reality and yet, pricelessly funny throughout. There's a bit of pain and a bit of heartbreak...but it’s sweet and hilarious all the while. The acting is stellar, the cast is perfect. Alan Arkin won the Oscar for best supporting actor and the movie was Oscar nominated for best picture. With no special effects or bombastic action scenes, this movie will charm your socks off.

Movie Magic gives Little Miss Sunshine 4 1/2 Moons out of 5.

In memory of Alan Arkin, an incredible talent. 1934 - 2023 B

Magic Chocolate Mouse

Ingredients

1 c. Semisweet chocolate chips

1 Egg

2 Tbsp Sugar

Pinch Salt

3/4 c. Hot cream

Preparation

Blend top 4 ingredients in blender, add hot cream, blend until chocolate is melted. Pour into paper/plastic cups, cover with plastic wrap. Chill for two hours or overnight before picnic packing. Add dollop of whipping cream before serving. Serves 2 - 4 chocoholics. Enjoy!

Comments welcome at benicialove20@gmail.com

Streaming on Amazon Prime, Hulu, Max, and Apple TV

August 13

Suminagashi: Floating Ink Prints Arts Benicia Annex 991 Tyler Street, Suite 116

1-4:30pm

EVENTS

August

August 12

60th Annual Benicia Peddlers Fair Downtown Benicia

8am-5pm

This outdoor event began in 1963 with a few collectible and antique stores displaying their items on tables outside St Paul’s Church. It has grown into 300 select antique and collectible dealers from all over the country and the thousands of loyal fans.

Classes & Workshops

July 25-August 10

Children's Summer Yoga Program

The Elevate Company

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1:45-2:15, 2:30-3:15

Innovative curriculum is designed to encourage self-regulation and stress management skills through movement and breath awareness. Hours split by ages.

August 2

Make a Zine Benicia Public Library

7-8pm

Ever wanted to make a zine? We'll show you how! Part of the teen programming.

August 2

Ice Cream in a Bag!

Banicia Public Library

3pm

Please note that the ice cream will include dairy and sugar.

August 4 & 11

Board Games for All Ages

Banicia Public Library

6-8:30pm

Bring your own games if you like, but we have some here, too.

August 5

Sensory Storytime

Benicia Public Library

Limited to 10 families. A welcoming, interactive storytime designed for children with autism and/or sensory challenges. Includes songs, movement, sensory materials and books. Registration required.

August 10

Thursday Night Social Pottery Project (for Adults) — Berry Bowls! Happy Life Pottery

6-8pm

Don't have time to commit to a five or six week class? Come in and play with us for just a few hours instead! It's fun, easy, and you will love what you'll create.

Spend a meditative afternoon learning the ancient art of Suminagashi. This technique comes from 9th-century Japan. Examples of Suminagashi are considered the oldest form of paper marbling.

August 13 & 20

Two Week Pottery Project — Fairy Houses!

Happy Life Pottery

Sundays 11am

Enchanted Fairy House?

Yes, please! We'll meet on two consecutive Sundays: The first week we'll focus on creating the house itself. There is no experience required

August 17

Thursday Night Social Pottery Project (for Adults) — Body Form Vases!

Happy Life Pottery

6-9pm

Join Amy as she walks you through how to make one of your own divinely feminine vases! No experience required.

August 30

Group Transformational Breathwork Class

Benicia Veterans' Memorial Hall

6-8pm

In-person Group Transformational Breathwork Session by Breathe on Purpose with Alex Yeates. No experience necessary. More information at breatheonpurpose.com

Share upcoming events with email general@beniciamagazine.com

Mondays & Thursdays

Group Transformational Breathwork Class

Benicia Community Center

5-6pm

Thursdays (starting 8/24)

In-person group Concious

Connected Breathwork class by Breathe On Purpose with Alex Yeates at the Benicia Community Center. No experience necessary. More information at breatheonpurpose.com

Music & Entertainment

august 4

First Fridays at the Museum — Deep Cover Band

Museum of History Benicia

6:30-9:30pm

Rock to classic Rock and R&B. Be ready to dance!

August 5

Vallejo Shakespeare in the Park presents Hamlet Marina Pavilion Green, Benicia 4pm Free event! Picnic style seating, bring a blanket or low beach chair.

August 12

Renegade Orchestra at Museum of History Benicia Museum of History Benicia

6:30-9:30pm

Enjoy an incredible evening under the stars in the historic setting of the Benicia Historical Museums' Spenger Garden. Tickets $30 Presale and $35 at the door. Food trucks and no-host bar.

Lucca's Beer Garden Stage

439 First Street, Benicia

August 1, 6:30-9pm

The Inaugural Lucca Beer

Garden Guitar Festival

August 3, 6:30-9pm

AgapSoul

August 4, 6:30-9pm

Strange Brew

August 5

Clay Bell (1:30-3:30pm)

Camp Jeff (6:30-9pm)

August 6, 2:30-5:30pm

Scott Bell

August 9, 7pm

BHS Improv (doors at 6pm)

August 10, 6:30-9pm

The Tuneriders

August 11, 6:30-9pm

New Frantics

August 12

The Landbirds (1-4pm)

Wasted Rangers (6:30-9pm)

August 13, 2:30-5:30pm

Jenny Kerr

August 17, 6:30-9pm

Jeff Tamelier & Tony Lindsay

August 18, 6:30-9pm

GarageLand Rodeo

August 19

Vintage Spirits (1-4pm)

Kehoe International (6:30-9pm)

August 20, 2:30-5:30

Michelle Lambert

August 24, 6:30-9pm

Dirty Cello

August 25, 6:30-9pm

Don Bassey & Friends

August 26

CommonUnion59 (1:30-3:30pm)

Mark Hummel (6:30-9pm)

August 27, 2:30-5:30pm

Crossman Connection

August 31, 6:30-9pm

The Real Thang upcoming with us! us at general@beniciamagazine.com

The Rellik Tavern

726 First Street, Benicia

August 25, 9pm-1:30am

Goth Night

Tuesdays, 7-10pm

Open Mic for Musicians

Wednesdays, 7-10pm

Karaoke with Glenn Snyder

Sundays, 6-10pm

Poker Night

Thursdays, 9pm-1am

DJ Live music Friday and Saturday. Visit therelliktavern.com for the full lineup.

Empress Theatre

330 Virginia St, Vallejo

August 2, 6:30pm

A.J. Crawdaddy

August 3, 6:30pm

Empress Uncensored Comedy

Stand-Up Show

August 9, 6:30pm

Volker Strifler Band

August 16, 6:30pm

Nancy Wright

August 23, 6:30pm

Terry Hanck

August 26, 8-10:30pm

Summer Nights in Paradise

August 30, 6:30-8:30pm

Kid Anderson and John Boyd

Blues Band

Tuesdays

Trivia with King Trivia

Mare Island Brewing Co. First Street

Taphouse

6:30pm

Grab your friends for craft brews, food, and a few brain ticklers from the quizmasters at King Trivia every Tuesday upstairs, in the Benicia Room. B