Benicia Magazine May 2023 Issue

Caring, Compassionate Service

Serving the Benicia/Vallejo area for over 76 years

Only on-site crematory in the area Funerals, Celebrations of Life, VA Burials

John “Sherm” Passalacqua Passalacqua Funeral Chapel

901 West Second St., Benicia • 707-745-3130 www.passalacquafuneralchapel.com

Greg Silva Twin Chapels Mortuary

1100 Tennessee St., Vallejo • 707-552-6696 www.twinchapelsmortuary.com

Voted Best Funeral Home In Solano County 9 Years In A Row

Books, Gifts, Toys, Games, Greeting Cards, Journals, Puzzles & More

Cooper Mickelson

Gethsemane Moss, Ed.D

Kevin Nelson

Jean Purnell

Maura Sullivan Social

From the Editor

n From the Editor

May flowers are springing up everywhere (as are my allergies!). If you haven’t been out to enjoy this year’s super bloom yet, I hope you’re able to sometime this month. Some great viewing areas might be on Mt. Diablo range, on the trails surrounding Mt. Tamalpais, China Camp, and some of the Suisun Valley meadows.

May is a time to celebrate moms, as well as honor those who perished in service to our country. Be sure to check with the Veterans’ Hall to see what they have planned for a Memorial Day ceremony. Opening Day on the Straits provides us with another celebratory occasion, as does Open Studios, and of course, Cinco de Mayo. With the reopening of our Farmers Market at the

end of last month, we can once again bask in its bounty and enjoy a lovely downtown stroll through the stands. In this issue, I hope you’ll enjoy reading about two moms’ perspectives on motherhood, about the remarkable life of Penny Stell, and about Benicia’s newest librarian. Check out NY2CA, a new gallery on First Street, and get a jump on summer activities for the kids with our list of local STEAM-themed summer camps. Just a few short weeks remain before they’re on break!

As the weather gets warmer, here’s a friendly reminder to don your sun protection, watch out for foxtails and ticks, and enjoy this balmy weather while it lasts. Before we know it, we’ll be in full summer heat!

— GENEVIEVE

n From the Publisher

It’s May! Actually, it’s not. As I’m writing this, it’s early April. But I know that May will be great, the weather will be lovely and there will be so many things to do. The month of May has more to offer than Mother's Day and Memorial Day. There’s a plethora of activities and events and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get out and about!

First there’s Mother’s Day, a holiday that I tend to milk for all it’s worth. I might start the day with a facial from Chrisanne at Luminosity. I also like a combination of outdoor activities, like hiking or kayaking, usually in wine country, followed by wine tasting and either a gourmet picnic or fine dining. Yes. I do like to have it all, and my wonderful family makes sure that I get what I want. Okay, it’s possible that there is some slight direction from me.

The music scene is in full swing by midMay and we will be going to Lucca’s, The Rellik, First Fridays and any other pop up music event we can find. Outdoor dining will be possible again!

The art scene will also be active with Open Studios on May 6-7, Gallery 621 and HQ Gallery both have new exhibits, and definitely stop in to see Benicia’s

newest gallery, NY2CA.

In the midst of all this fun and frivolity, I still work. Although I never retired, I am of retirement age. I’m just not interested in stopping yet. In the May issue, we take a look at encore careers. Although the focus in this article is more on women, the encore career phenomenon is happening with both sexes. Many people in retirement age have decided that they are also not quite done yet, and have started new careers in areas that interest them. They have started businesses of all kinds, or taken jobs in a different field than the jobs they had prior to retirement. This is a healthy trend. People continue to need engagement, interaction, new thinking, and new skills in order to thrive.

There are plenty of people in Benicia that currently are in their encore career. Take a look at Penny Stell, she has engaged in a few very interesting careers, and when she retired, she segued to volunteering in multiple nonprofits and City appointed positions where she offers the expertise she has accumulated over her career.

It’s May! Work hard, play hard and be safe!

Benicie Yacht Club

"Make a Date on the Strait"

Opening Day 2023

n Jeannine Mendoza, Ed. D

Photos by Luke George

Once again the popular and beloved Benicia Yacht Club will celebrate Opening Day on Saturday, May 20th from 10:00 am until 10:00 pm. The Club promises more than twelve hours of music, water activities, vendor booths, and food and drink as well. Two years ago, Opening Day was canceled due to the pandemic, and last year, BYC outdid itself in providing, “one of the best parties of the year,” according to Dena Stults, Commodore. This is a great opportunity to explore all the amenities the club has to offer, as the usually private facilities are open to the public all day. For a brief history on BYC and Opening Day, please see our 2022 article on the topic.

Take a look at the Opening Day 2023 schedule.

Additionally, the Outrigger Club and Youth Sailing group will be present and will offer demonstrations and information. A supervised kids’ play area will have enjoyable activities for the younger attendees. The Club’s Ship Store will be open for shoppers to purchase BYC t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, napkins, burgees, and other assorted gear.

Yacht club members will be available to answer questions about the club regarding membership, youth sailing program, the cruising program, volunteer opportunities, and entertainment activities. Membership is open to both boaters and non-boaters of good character. Commodore Stultz stresses that Benicia Yacht Club is a great way to meet new people and have fun. Trivia Night, Karaoke Night, Talent Night and other seasonal celebrations round out the monthly events. Benicia Yacht Club functions throughout the year, and its facilities are open seven days per week. What more could one ask for? B

BYC Opening Day

According to Ms. Stultz, a full day is planned as follows

10:00 am

Vendor booths and kids’ activities open for business. The Benicia Fire Department will have equipment on display as well.

11:30 am

Welcome by BYC Vice Commodore Brian West, Flag Raising Ceremony & National Anthem, Guest speaker: Interim City Manager Mario Guiliani

12:00 pm

1:30 pm

2:00 pm

5:00 pm

7:00 pm

BYC restaurant open for lunch

Blessing of the Fleet, decorated boat parade (Prizes for first, second and third place decorated boat)

BYC Closes for lunch; live music on the back deck featuring Uncommon Wealth

BYC restaurant open for dinner, vendor booths closing

BYC restaurant closes, live music upstairs in the Norton Lounge featuring dancing with The Fabulous Cruisetones

10:00 pm

Opening Day Festivities conclude

“My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea. And the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.”

— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Benicia

New Gallery on First Street Opens

n Jean Purnell

Vickie Marchand and Terry Twigg have opened NY2CA, Benicia’s newest art gallery, at 617 First Street. Their first exhibition, featuring Oakland-based ceramic artist Vicki Gunther and abstract painter Terry Twigg, opened on April 20 and will run through June 4. “Most galleries don’t show one person’s works,” explained Twigg. “There’s a real need for an artist to have an individual show, to exhibit a body of work, instead of just a couple of pieces. We’ll have work by two artists, with a 2D artist’s work on the walls, and a 3D artist’s work on pedestals or in display cases.” The gallery will draw artists from the local area as well as other locations, and include diverse media –painting, sculpture, jewelry, fiber, metal, and mixed media. The couple has spent most of the past year preparing for the recent opening, renovating the First Street storefront with a new façade, flooring, and light fixtures, which give a bright spacious feel to the 600 square foot space. Receptions with live music will take place in a courtyard behind the building.

The gallery name symbolizes the process of the couple’s relocation from New York to California, after lives spent mostly on the East Coast. Born in Iowa, Twigg grew up in Palo Alto, but moved back to Iowa with his family when he was in junior high school. He graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1968 with a major in fine arts and a minor in education. He began a career in the creative arts managing exhibitions at the Museum of Natural History in NYC. A summer vacation in Europe turned into a four-year stint in Italy, during which he studied painting and developed a wide range of artisan skills, crafting handpainted belts, jewelry, and clothing. After returning to NYC, he continued to develop his fine art jewelry business, which became a life-long career.

Painting has been a constant since grade school for “Twigg,” as he is known to most friends. Using acrylic paints and paint pens, he creates largely abstract works that incorporate organic imagery hidden among swaths of bright color which fill the canvas. “A lot of these strange creatures that I come up with have to do with memories of the past, positive and negative.” He uses meditative states while painting to explore these ideas, resulting in the visions and images that find their way onto the canvas. “I’ve been influenced by the impressionists, especially Joseph (JMW) Turner, an English landscape painter. He did a lot of paintings that were just ocean and sky. I’ve always considered him the father of expressionism, of modern art.”

Marchand grew up in Skaneateles, New York. From an early age she was a creator, always doing something with her hands. Art, sewing, and horses were her primary passions. She graduated from Lowell University in 1978 with a BA in art and psychology. She also completed a BA in education from Dowling College and a MA in reading from Long Island University. She taught middle school art for a year but was disillusioned when her students did not display the same passion for art that she felt. But she had

discovered a passion for teaching and later became a multisubject teacher in the elementary grades in Tully, NY. She found numerous ways to incorporate creative activities into her teaching lessons. Her fascination with sewing and fiber arts continued, and she learned to spin her own yarns for unique, hand knit garments. “I won numerous awards in the New York State Fair’s Arts & Crafts Division in Syracuse. I still have a room at home full of yarns, wheels, and looms.”

The couple met in 2011 and pursued a long-distance relationship for several years from their homes in central New York and Hudson Valley. Visits to California resulted in the purchase of a home in Oakland in 2014 where they had friends, with hopes of eventually becoming part of the art scene there. For a while they lived bi-coastally, six months in Oakland, six in New York, exploring the country during RV trips back and forth. “Oakland didn’t turn out to be what we wanted, and we found our house in Benicia in 2019,” said Vickie. “We looked for a studio in the Arsenal, but everything was full at that time. Twigg was out walking and saw this property for sale, and he thought, ‘here’s my studio and maybe we’ll do a gallery in the front.’ Benicia has a lively art community, and we’ve found that everything that we want to do, we can do here.”

NY2CA will be open Thursday through Sunday, 11 am to 6 pm. To learn more about the gallery and current exhibition, visit www.ny2cagallery.com. B

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n Genevieve Hand

Penny’s story begins in Glendale, Los Angeles, where she grew up musically, playing flute, guitar, and clarinet in middle school and singing a cappella at Glendale High. She has always been a big Disney fan – Disneyland opened two weeks after her birth and she had already made her first visit by 1 month old.

After graduation, Penny went to UCLA where she majored in early childhood education and psychology and minored in music. She worked at Disneyland to afford school, landing a part-time character position as Mary Poppins, thanks to her talent as a singer, for $2.05/hr. She worked as a teacher for a short time after graduation, but found the salary lacking. So, she pivoted into the corporate world to work in retail. She would eventually meet her husband Bob during this period of her life. Their first date? You guessed it: Disneyland.

Penny was working for the May Company in 1992 when the LA riots broke out. She recalls hiding in her car for eight hours one day as a store she was working with was looted. This was the first time she would lose her wedding ring.

Anticipating a move to the east coast to be near Bob’s kids, Penny began searching for a job and answered a blind ad in the Washington Post citing retail experience. “All they told me when they called for an interview was that it was on a Marine base, but it was a retail store.” The job had always been a military position, but they were trying to transition it to civilian. She walked into the interview to nine uniformed men. “They handed me a P&L statement and said, ‘We’re going to leave the room for 10 minutes and you need to come up with five

Penny Stell

things we can improve.’” After pointing out far more than five areas of improvement, Penny got the job.

Penny became the Director of Morale, Welfare and Recreation, and moved to DC; Bob would soon follow. In this position, Penny oversaw the selffunded department store that resides on every military base – the proceeds of which go to things like after school programs, recreation facilities, etc. Penny drew great satisfaction from this role as it directly benefited the service members and their families. “Best job I’ve ever had,” says Penny, “It really laid the foundation for me for serving the underserved and giving back.”

She also worked on a Congressional project involving the Army, Airforce, and Navy, traveling the world, studying quality of life for soldiers. “It was life changing for me,” she says, describing how soldiers at the DMZ wanted two tubes of toothpaste in their rations instead of one. “They wanted simple things.” Penny also secured a million dollar deal with New Balance to get women’s size shoes in the women’s diddy bag. Until then, they had only been given ill-fitting men’s shoes. “Everything you did meant something,” says Penny of her work.

Penny was the first civilian and the first woman to hold this position with the Marine Corps for a very long time. Penny’s 12 year tenure had been the most profitable years for the MWR. Not to say that it was an easy place for a civilian woman. Penny recalls learning to navigate the macho “boys’ club” world of the military, developing a thick skin and relying on her intellect to get ahead.

Penny was at times called on to act as a tactical field exchange officer, traveling to set up supplies in areas of conflict. She was sent to Bosnia and to Guantanamo Bay in such a capacity. “I’m not a gun person,” says Penny, though she had to learn to shoot a gun for these occasions.

Then, 9/11 happened. Penny had been in a conference room in the Pentagon when the plane struck the building. A fortunately timed phone call drew Penny far enough away from the strike zone to survive. Due to the strict communications protocols in the Pentagon, she didn’t find out it was a terrorist attack until later in the day. Reporting as a tactical field exchange officer, she began distributing aid in the form of supplies like water bottles, etc. This was the second time

she lost her wedding ring.

Though alive, Penny did not get away unscathed. It is believed that the oral cancer she developed a few years later was linked to asbestos exposure from the attack. This was a battle that required surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and a stint with barometric oxygen (3 hours/day). “The scariest part, to me, was the surgery and learning to speak again. But I lived and so many people did not,” she says. This ordeal would also cost her the ability to sing.

After 9/11, the director of MWR job returned to a military post, so Penny and Bob moved back to California, choosing to settle in Benicia. She explains that she fell in love with the town when she stayed overnight during the Christmas Tree Lighting event. “There were carolers on the street and people walking around with hot cocoa,” she recalls, “It was like something out of a movie!”

Since moving to Benicia, Penny has been very involved in the community. She first joined Benicia Yacht Club, developing new friendships there and serving on the board, as its entertainment chair, and as vice commodore. Then, she joined the newly formed tourism committee and was eventually invited onto the Economic Development Board for the City. She still felt like she wasn’t doing enough to support the quality of life that Benicia strived to provide, so she got involved with Soroptimist. She then joined the board of the Library Foundation. From there, she got involved with Benicia Historical Museum and joined its board, for which she now serves as president. “At the heart of it, it’s about quality of life,” Penny says of her service to these institutions, “It’s expensive to live in Benicia, but there’s so much [offered] and we have to protect all the avenues of it.”

As someone who has survived so much and thrived in spite of it, we are lucky to have Penny among our ranks. Her dedication to looking out for the underserved and helping to ensure our quality of life is something to be admired. Her Benicia home has a room dedicated to Disney and she has been back to Disneyland for her birthday every year except two years during the pandemic. “There’s something about it – when I walk through the gates and I read the epitaph that Walt put up there, I just forget everything. Everything is just as magical as it was."

A more detailed version of this article is available on beniciamagazine.com B

Photo by Luke George

Birding

The grass is green, the wind is gentle, and the sun is setting a little later than it did yesterday. I’m walking along the trail, admiring the orange glow ripening behind the Crockett Bridge, when I notice a subtle, rhythmic tapping out of the corner of my eye. It’s a tiny gray bird, flitting across the rocks between me and the Carquinez Strait. It moves in sporadic bursts of excitement, bouncing its tail two or three times with every pause. Between bounces, it notices me, blinking silently as it accepts my presence into its evening foraging foray. Quickly, it jumps to the next rock, moves around the back and faces me for the first time.

A totally different-looking bird is revealed! The feathers on its chest are white, interspersed with brown, eye-catching spots. While I’ve been an avid birder for years, it is rare for me to see such a collection of spots on any bird, especially one this small. Even in the fading light, it’s easy to see how special this little guy is. I know it can only be a Spotted Sandpiper.

The Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) is common throughout the U.S., and I’ve seen them in both urban and rural areas, wherever there is water. Salinity and turbidity don’t seem to matter to these shorebirds, so long as invertebrates are readily available for their next meal. Unlike Plovers, Sanderlings, and their other small, shore-dwelling kin, Spotted Sandpipers tend to go about their business in solitude, at least until their summer breeding season.

According to the Audubon Field Guide online, Benicia lies at the far corner of the Spotted Sandpiper’s year-round range.They tend to breed in the north and winter in the south, and Northern California is a rough midpoint where some are almost always either wintering, breeding, or on the move. Spotted Sandpipers typically breed between the months of May and August, so they’ll need to make preparations in March and April. During early spring in Benicia, adult Spotted Sandpipers, both male and female, will grow out the plumage they’ll need to attract mates. This consists of a smattering of small brown spots running from their throat, down their chest, and along the underside of their tail.

But what about that bouncing motion that caught my eye in the first place? Both Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology refer to this behavior as “teetering,” which they say still puzzles the scientific community. The Cornell Lab’s Spotted Sandpiper page indicates that studies haven’t identified a purpose for this unique behavior, though the birds do seem to quit when they’re alarmed, courting, or feeding. As far as I’m concerned, the birds don’t need a reason, so long as they embrace their uniqueness!

And you can embrace their uniqueness too! I have seen many Spotted Sandpipers in Benicia—at the harbor, the state park, Lake Herman, and the numerous public beaches. I’ve been able to find at least a few here throughout most of the year, but I find their plumage to be the most exciting in March and April. Look for water, then look for small bouncing tails, and then look for the spots.

Happy birding! B

n Kyle Gerner

Photos by Kyle Gerner

ENCORE CAREERS EXPLORING NEW

n Mary Hand

There are many women, mothers or not, who are empty nesters, retired or simply ready for a more fulfilling career. These women are capitalizing on this interesting time in life when they now have time and freedom to launch an encore career. These encore careers can include full-time work in the nonprofit sector, part-time schedules in a new field or even starting a business. "People are living longer, and we're adding more productive years to our lives," says Richard J. Leider, one of the pioneers of Life Reimagined, an AARP program that helps people navigate this new life stage. "They're eager to use this time to discover new possibilities and make new life choices." An encore career, or second career, is work in the second half of life that combines continued income, greater personal meaning, and social impact. These jobs are paid positions often in public interest fields, such as education, the environment, health, the government sector, social services, or other non-profits.

The idea of an encore career dates to 1997, when a San Francisco-based nonprofit called Civic Ventures (since renamed Encore.org) introduced the idea. Civic Ventures Encore Career Study found that among respondents interested in an encore career, most wanted to find a new type of role in a completely different industry. The reasons for starting a second career are sometimes rooted in need, but for some women, it is a necessity. Not everyone has a healthy retirement fund. Age discrimination is real and makes it hard for many older Americans to keep working in traditional jobs, even when they need the income.

Many women have pivoted to second careers in the nonprofit sector, although many have opted to explore the arts, business coaching or launching a new business. A fairly large percentage of women, late Boomers or early Gen X, are involved in earlystage entrepreneurship and planning new businesses. With roughly 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day, an encore career as a business owner is a way for women to maintain their energy, interest and creativity while adding to their financial security. Adults in late-middle age and older want to remain connected, relevant, useful and engaged. “There's this collective feeling of 'we're not done yet,'" says Marci Alboher, author of The Encore Career Handbook.

CAREERS DIRECTIONS

Some women who start businesses in their mid-sixties and beyond are looking to get into a new line of work that doesn’t come with the pressure of an earlier career, according to Donna Kelley, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Babson College. “They get to the point in their lives where they ask, ‘Why should I pile all of this stress onto myself?’” One thing that’s made it easier for them to take the plunge is the growth of gig economy platforms, such as the crafts marketplace Etsy, where they can connect with clients, Kelley has found. “It reduces the entry requirements and makes it easy for people,” she said.

What a remarkable change and opportunity for retirement-aged women to reinvent themselves at an age that has historically been a time to exit the workplace! The prospect of enjoying an encore career is exciting as we consider how much fulfillment and fun can come from doing something that actually holds our interest. B

"What a remarkable change and opportunity for retirement-aged women to reinvent themselves..."

for Kids and Teens

n Genevieve Hand

Summer is right around the corner. Along with the long, luxurious days of carefree play for the kids, comes the inevitable summer slide, or summer learning loss. Want to help your kid stay on top of their game? Luckily, there are many options to get their minds working in fun and playful ways

BrickSpace

This STEAM education-focused business offers camps and classes for preschool and elementary school aged kids throughout the summer. Kids learn through play, using Lego bricks and other tactile tools to enhance their creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills, and more. BrickSpace’s summer offerings include camps for Preschool1st grade as well as for ages 6+. Within the 6+ grouping, there are more and less advanced options which are broken down by suggested age range. Camp topics include, Fiber and Mixed Media Arts, Mindstorms Robotics, Lego Sonic the Hedgehog STEAM Inspired Adventures, and more. The camps run for a 5-day week, for 3 hours each day, from mid-June to mid-August. For more information and to sign up, visit brickspacebenicia.net.

Learning Circles

This after-school tutoring business focuses on academic rigor with emotional well-being. Students have the opportunity to work one-on-one with a tutor or in a small group setting. Summer courses with Learning Circles include the following:

Morning STEAM camps for elementary ages with artist studies and projects, robotics, fossil excavation, and more. These camps emphasize collaborative learning, building confidence and social skills,

and integration of multiple subjects. Instructor to student ratio 1:5.

— Early afternoon small group series for elementary-middle school ages with an emphasis on honing one area of learning such as math or creative writing. Instructor to student ratio 1:4.

— Afternoon and evening 1:1 private tutoring. Subjects offered include all math up to calculus, reading intervention, language arts, Spanish, French, biology, chemistry, and physics.

More information can be found at learningcircleseducation.com.

Summer Cool Camp

This organization is another afterschool tutoring service that offers a summer camp. Originally located in Benicia, off of Lake Herman Road, the camp is moving to Cordelia. A bus service will pick kids up at the old location to take them to the new location to make it easier on parents. Summer Cool Camp is structured like a school day and runs from the first week of June through August. The first part of camp focuses on reviewing what kids learned last school year and the second part dives into what they will be learning next school year. Fridays are always “fun Fridays,” focused more on play than academics. More information and new location can be found at summercoolcamp.com.

Benicia Library

Benicia Public Library offers many great programs for kids, tweens, and teens. Kids will be able to choose from six activity packets that foster summer learning, and each packet includes a booklist, several activities and some small prizes. The themes are Art, Movement, Origami & More, Outdoors, Science and Toddler. Programs will include fun acts like magician Mike Della

Penna and Rock Steady Juggling – a juggling show that also teaches about water use. All programs and events at the library are free. More information can be found at benicialibrary.org.

Benicia Historical Museum

Kids can join Callie’s Kids’ Camps this summer, choosing between History Detectives, Archy Adventures (archaeology), Zany Brainy Science, and Innovation Station (STEM) camps. Each camp has either a 5- or 3-day option and one camp theme occurs each week mid-June through July. Camps are geared for kids age 7-12 and run from 9am-12:30pm. There is a 15% discount for Museum Members. More information can be found at beniciahistoricalmuseum.org/callieskids-camps-summer-2023.

City of Benicia

The City of Benicia rec department offers Adventures Day Camp each summer. It takes place at the Benicia Community Center and utilizes surrounding facilities within walking distance, like James Lemos Pool, City Park, etc. The camp keeps kids active, socialized, engaged, and learning through a combination of craft activities, mystery solving, sports, and free play. The camp runs from 7am to 6:30pm. Camp registration is based on grade level. More information can be found at ci.benicia.ca.us/adc.

Summer is also a great time for your kids to discover new extracurricular activities. Check out the City of Benicia’s rec department for their list of summer classes, including youth oriented dance classes, sports, and theater. Teens can also spend time this summer getting babysitter, lifeguard, and CPR certified through City programs. More information can be found at ci.benicia. ca.us/pcs. B

Meet the Artists at

Benicia Arsenal Artists' Open Studios

n Jean Purnell

Approximately 45 artists have extended an invitation to Benicia Arsenal Artists’ Open Studios, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7, from 10am to 5pm. Participating artists’ working studio spaces in the historic Benicia Arsenal will be open to the public, providing the opportunity for visitors to meet and talk with artists about their work.

The event, coordinated by the artists whose studios are in the Arsenal area, is intended to enhance regional awareness of the strength and artistic diversity of the local artist community. Arts Benicia will host several local artists with weekend pop-up displays and live music in the galleries at the Commanding Officer’s Quarters as well as in its printmaking studio. Ironhorse Home is also hosting several artists. A list of participating artists with links to their websites, locations of each studio, and a map can be found at www. beniciaarsenalartists.com.

The Arsenal is a former US Army base dating from the Civil War. After the Army vacated the base in the 1960s, various buildings were repurposed for artists and small businesses, and a creative community began to thrive and grow. While some artists have lived and worked in the Arsenal for more than 30 years, generational change is occurring, and new artists and types of art are emerging, making the experience new and refreshing each year.

Artists welcome the opportunity to explain their techniques as well as the personal motivations for their creativity. Janis Anton, a member of the Printmakers Workshop, will be showing her Mokulito prints and watercolor paintings at the Arts Benicia gallery at 1 Commandant’s Lane. Mokulito is a lithographic process using wood plates instead of a traditional stone. The grain in the wood plates shows the history of drought and rain cycles, fires, the attacks of insects, and these effects are represented in the printed artwork. The process represents a spiritual connection between the life of a tree and Janis’ art practice. “My art examines and illuminates these interconnections on a personal scale. The fluidity of the connections and the flow of change drive my art practice.”

Artist studios are located along Tyler and Lincoln Streets, and on Grant Street inside Ironhorse Home. Participating artists include abstract, figurative and landscape painters, printmakers, sculptors, photographers, glass, digital, jewelry, and mixed media artists. Arts Benicia Printmakers will display their mono-prints, etchings, woodblocks, lino-cuts, and fine art prints at 991 Tyler Street, Suite #116. Printing demonstrations will be given on both Saturday and Sunday. Parking is plentiful at all locations. For more information about artists and events, visit www. beniciaarsenalartists.com and artsbenicia.org B

"The event, coordinated by the artists whose studios are in the Arsenal area, is intended to enhance regional awareness of the strength and artistic diversity of the local artist community."

"While some artists have lived and worked in the Arsenal for more than 30 years, generational change is occurring, and new artists and types of art are emerging, making the experience new and refreshing each year."

Cultivating Community

A Conversation with Benicia's Library Director

n Jeannine Mendoza, Ed. D

The City of Benicia is lucky to have a new library director, Jennifer Baker, who has taken the helm of our community’s library. During the short time she has been on board, Ms. Baker has supervised the tricky transition from strict COVID library closure, to a less severe and more welcoming situation. She has revived foot traffic in our city library with workshops, book readings, computer/ wifi access, and tutoring with the help of able staff members. Her resume includes serving as library director at St. Helena Public Library, supervising librarian at both Solano County and Fresno County Public Libraries, communications media specialist at Napa Valley Unified School District, and more. Benicia Magazine had an opportunity to interview Ms. Baker and find out more about her.

BM: What was your first impression of the library in Benicia?

JB: I started in January of ’22, so I’ve been here a little more than one year. I came in at what I thought was an opportune time to recover from the isolation of COVID and get back to normal, and continue to provide the excellent services that we are known for. Benicia is such an exciting and dynamic town. People are so welcoming and ready to emerge from the COVID experience, and are getting used to normal life.

BM: What were the positive things that you noticed about Benicia Library?

JB: Right away, I realized that Benicia is a solid community, and that Benicia’s people are its biggest asset. People are kind and willing to work together. The library staff is also reliable and hardworking. Some staff members have been here for a long time, and have a strong connection with the community. They are good at what they do and actually know people by name. I am excited to work with such a dedicated staff.

We have some new grants that will fund new programs and opportunities for our community. Most of us are ready to welcome new activities and experiences to move on from the doldrums of the pandemic, and the library is ready to help in that regard.

BM: What can we do better?

JB: Our beautiful brick and mortar building is reflective of our solid community, but it is thirty years old. We even had a 30th birthday party for the library. The services that libraries were expected to provide in the ‘80s and ‘90s have changed over the decades. Our library was built before the Internet was mainstream, and before WiFi. Today’s libraries are expected to provide access for all library patrons and level the playing field. Libraries are the great equalizers. But sometimes libraries have gaps in services. We need to be culturally sensitive as well as culturally supportive. Lastly, we need to make people aware of the many opportunities that the library offers.

BM: How did your prior experiences prepare you for your present job in Benicia?

JB: I have worked for the past thirty years in different Northern California communities in various capacities. I’ve spent time in K-12 libraries, and served on a college board. My experience has shown me that the bigger the city, the slower things change. It is like the difference between the Titanic and a speedboat. And that ability to make positive change within a short period is possible in our city. I hope to expand the vision of the library for all stakeholders to include more workshops and opportunities for self-improvement and learning.

BM: What recent doings at the library have you facilitated that have been well-received?

JB: Well, recently we had Benicia Reads, an event attended by more than 300 people. Now, I can’t take full credit for this successful event, as there were lots of volunteers and staff members who gave their best effort. Benicia Reads is an event put on by a partnership between BUSD, the City of Benicia and the community. This event promotes literacy and a love of reading and books. We had a book giveaway, storytelling, children’s activities, teen activities, book readings and other interesting things to do. Best of all, we had people drop in who had never visited the library before.

Besides Benicia Reads, we have other exciting and interesting events, thanks to some grants that we have received. We have speakers like Claudia Rankine, an award winning poet who read from her recent book, Just Us: An American Conversation, a collection of essays, poems and stories. Ms. Rankine has also written five books of poetry and three plays. We also hosted a reader’s theater program and a play that was sent out to patrons via Zoom. We have had talks and workshops on permaculture, monarch butterflies, women’s history, “create it yourself” art lessons, making cards, paper, and how to do watercolors. Library patrons really get to enjoy themselves. B

“In the nonstop tsunami of global information, librarians provide us with floaties and teach us to swim.” -Linton Weeks

Family Outing to Mare Island

n Kevin Nelson

Moms, dads and grandparents are always looking for fun and educational outings to do with their children and grandchildren. One splendid place for just such an outing sits right next door to Benicia: Mare Island, in Vallejo.

The Mare Island Naval Shipyard is a National Historic Landmark. It opened in 1854 and closed in 1996. That represents almost a century and a half of American and military history, and with Memorial Day coming up, a visit there carries a special meaning and poignance.

The best spot to start a tour may be Alden Park, in the center of the island’s “historic core.” This grassy green space is easy to spot because of the threestory high Polaris missile that stands near the bandstand. The shipyard built more than 40 submarines in its history, including nuclear subs with ICBM warheads that formed part of America’s national defense during the tense Cold War years with the Soviet Union.

The last time I was there, I saw a family gathered around the missile with their children posing for pictures on it. Kids can also inspect and climb on Civil War-era cannons displayed in the park. Most fascinating to me are the many bomb shelters that were built after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December

7, 1941, that brought the United States fully into the Second World War. Mare Island, a key military base on the West Coast, was a potential target for Japanese planes being launched from aircraft carriers offshore. So, on the day after Pearl Harbor, work on the bomb shelters began. The shelters have metal doors, no windows and are made of concrete with one-foot thick walls. Ivy now crawls across the walls and doors. Unfortunately, the doors are locked and it’s not possible to peek inside one.

This is one of the problems with Mare Island, in general. There are fenced-off areas, “No Trespassing” signs here and there, and various old structures closed to the public. (The Mare Island Museum, for instance, is shuttered until further notice.) Some of the sidewalks and alleys are uneven and may contain walking hazards, so watch your step.

Nevertheless there are still lots of things to see and explore. Within steps of the park are the Admiral’s Mansion and the row of Officers’ houses on Walnut Avenue. If you walk (or drive) along Walnut past the bomb shelters you will come upon sweetly beautiful St. Peter’s Chapel. This small ancient church, which served as a refuge for Navy and service personnel through two world wars and other hard times, is famous for its Tiffany stained glass windows.

The island’s can’t-miss attraction is, of course, the waterfront with its views of the sailboats, the bay ferry passing by, and the big ship civilian repair work still going on there. You’ll also see something you won’t see anywhere else: the actual dry docks where they built and repaired nuclear subs such as the USS Mariano G. Vallejo. Named after Vallejo’s founder, a memorial to the submarine’s “sail”—the structure that sits above water

when the vessel is submerged—has been erected close to the rusted massive cranes that built it.

Not a tourist spot, but still a place worth visiting, is the restored Mare Island Naval Cemetery. It’s in the nature preserve at the end of Blake Avenue. Park there, and follow the asphalt path behind the gate a short way on foot. It is a quiet and solemn place, one that helps to remind us of the sacrifices that have been paid by men and women to protect our fragile freedoms. Three Congressional Medal of Honor winners are buried here, as are Anna Arnold Key Turner—the daughter of Francis Scott Key—and her husband, a veteran of the War of 1812.

If you’re feeling adventurous, keep following the path about a quarter- to a half-mile up the hill. There, you’ll find splendid views of the Mare Island and the Carquinez Straits, and a sculpture in the form of a ship that holds metal placards of the names of the ships built by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in its glory years.

The best days to visit are Saturday, Sunday and holidays, when the work week is over and business activity is on pause. Tours of St. Peter’s and the Admiral’s Mansion occur on the first and third Saturdays of each month for a fee. See the website of the Mare Island Historic Park Foundation for reservations. Nice spots to have a bite to eat and a beverage are Mare Island Brewing and Savage and Cooke, at opposite ends of the waterfront promenade. B

SPICY POM

n Maura Sullivan

If you're a regular reader, you're aware of my love for tequila and Mezcal. Cinco de Mayo is around the corner and it wouldn't be kind of me to keep this cocktail recipe to myself.

A dear friend of mine recently enjoyed the tasting menu at a restaurant called Beckon, in downtown Denver. She raved about their unique dishes and zero-proof drink menu. She was on the hunt to recreate a beverage she had enjoyed all night throughout her courses. Together we were able to recreate this refreshingly savory beverage. Alcohol is optional!

First, you'll need to create your honey syrup. Unfortunately, simply pouring the honey into the cocktail won't work to achieve the desired flavor.

Honey Syrup

1/2 cup 1/2 cup

Honey (adjust to taste). I recommend Bee's Knees Spicy Honey. A bottle can be ordered on amazon.

2oz 1/2oz 1/2 1 1 1/2oz

POM 100% pomegranate juice

Honey syrup

Fresh lime

Small bottle of Fever Tree

Ginger Beer

In a shaker, add a scoop of ice, lime juice squeezed from half a lime, and

Give a quick shake to cool your juices.

Add your tequila and honey syrup and give

Pour into a highball glass with fresh ice and

My Adopted Treasures

Pre-loved clothing and accessories

n Genevieve Hand

Photo by Viktória Varga

There’s a new shop in town! My Adopted Treasures is a pre-loved clothing shop offering a boutique experience with an online and in-person presence for clothing and accessories, as well as special occasion clothing rentals.

Owner Kimberli Haris has always had a keen eye for vintage fashion and a passion for sustainability, so it made sense for her to meld her values and talents into a pre-loved clothing business. Currently by appointment only, you can shop with Kimberli, who will help style you in her hand-selected pieces. She prides herself on getting to know her clients and gently guiding them out of their fashion comfort zone. You can also buy clothing and accessories directly from her website.

The name, “My Adopted Treasures,” comes from Kimberli’s own adoption story. “I wanted to honor my mother for

Luminosity "Everyone deserves great skin."

n Genevieve Hand

Photo by Luke George

Chrisanne Carwitz is fascinated by skin. Her fascination grew as she worked as a surgical assistant for a dermatological surgeon and saw the skin’s amazing ability to heal itself after melanoma removal and other skin traumas. This inspired her to think about what people could do to prevent disease and improve their skin in less traumatic ways. She became passionate about skin health, transformation, and disease prevention, eventually becoming a paramedical esthetician and opening her own business: Luminosity Skin Therapy.

A paramedical esthetician is an esthetician that is trained to assist dermatologists, surgeons, and other doctors in treating skin conditions. Chrisanne became qualified as a paramedical esthetician through her experience working closely with a doctor who trained her. She has since been in the business for over 30 years.

A skincare minimalist, Chrisanne believes in skin health first, putting only the purest ingredients on her and her clients’ skin. “I think people spend too much money on products that not only don’t

work, but are full of carcinogens, silicone, toxins, parabens, dyes, and perfume. They are actually suffocating and damaging their skin,” she says, following up with, “The skin ingests what you put on it, and this will go into your bloodstream.”

Chrisanne addresses each client’s needs on an individual and case-by-case basis, assessing afresh each visit for any changes to the skin due to hormonal, environmental, or other factors. The services she offers include microneedling, dermaplaning, ultrasound, microcurrent, LED, galvanism, high frequency facial, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and more. She is particularly excited about microneedling right now as she has seen fantastic results with it on a number of skin issues. In addition to her clinical expertise, Chrisanne brings a bedside manner that soothes, relaxes, and educates.

“I wish people would consider prioritizing their skin health and seeing a qualified esthetician over covering up skin [they are unhappy with],” Chrisanne says. Luminosity Skin Therapy can be found at 555 First Street, Suite 203B. Visit luminosityskintherapy.com for more information, shop, and booking. B

giving me the greatest treasure of all when she adopted me at six weeks old,” she says. The name also reflects her “love for rediscovering discarded items that still have beauty and potential.”

Kimberli sees clothing as part of our identities, as a way to express ourselves, and as items that help enrich our lives.

“It’s not about the [clothing] ‘brand,’” she says, “It’s about the look being unique, affordable, and fabulous.” Shopping with My Adopted Treasures is not only planet-friendly – cutting down on fashion pollution by offering a greener option –but also wallet-friendly, and community friendly – with a percentage of each purchase being donated to local charities. Find My Adopted Treasures in the suite above the Chamber of Commerce at 601 First Street, Suite 250D, or online at myadoptedtreasures.com. B

Viktória Varga Instagram: @VIKTOVAR

viktovar@gmail.com

Songs Truth

A Holocaust Awareness Project for Benicia and Beyond

Urs Leonhardt Steiner has directed the Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra and Chorus for the past 30 years, and its Benicia Chapter Chorus since 2019. His wife, Kate Stilley Steiner is a filmmaker who co-founded Citizen Film, a San Francisco-based nonprofit production company which "creates films and online media that foster active engagement in cultural and civic life."

Their latest endeavor, Songs of Truth: Holocaust Awareness Concert and Conversation Project is a collaboration with the New York-based organization Holocaust Music Lost and Found and the Benicia Performing Arts Foundation. It will culminate with concerts in Benicia on June 2, and San Francisco on June 4.

The music is heartbreakingly beautiful. It will be performed by a full orchestra with both choruses, San Francisco and Benicia, as a tribute to the talent and resilience of the Jewish composers who wrote it while imprisoned in WWII-era concentration camps. The concert also features contemporary music dealing with antisemitic violence.

The concert's multimedia storytelling will feature a suite of documentary media clips created by Citizen Film, providing historical context and telling the backstory of the composers and their work. The multimedia, music and live narrator will be woven into a complete experience accessible to all audiences. Kate Stilley Steiner, of Citizen Film says, “The Songs of Truth Project reminds me personally how important it is to stand up to intolerance and hate in my everyday life. If our work in this project can do that for even one more person, then I will feel like we have done our job.”

The project's goal is to promote Holocaust awareness. By sharing music made during a time of unspeakable violence, it hopes to humanize Holocaust victims by performing their music and help us consider how to recognize and resist the rise of antisemitism and disinformation today.

Small ensembles are also performing program excerpts and leading facilitated discussions in Bay Area schools, libraries, and community centers, museums, including the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, and Benicia High School, free of charge. Young musicians are invited to perform at these events with the ensemble. Including and mentoring young musicians is a core goal of project collaborator, the Benicia Performing Arts Foundation. Benicia High School Band

Director Candice Crismond has two students, a trumpeter and a trombonist, who she says “are very excited to play with the Golden Gate Symphony at the concert for Benicia High School.”

After the project’s premiere, it will be offered to other organizations around the nation. It will be distributed to youth orchestras and choruses so young musicians have a chance to perform the music and learn the history as well. A classroom curriculum is being designed in collaboration with Holocaust Music Lost and Found to further promote Holocaust awareness.

Janie Press, President of Holocaust Music Lost and Found writes, “Holocaust Music Lost and Found is thrilled to help bring the Songs of Truth Project to San Francisco and Benicia. We are proud to share Maestro Steiner’s vision and his passion for Holocaust awareness — and with the current climate, sharing these stories, and the music that was written during the Holocaust, could not be more timely.”

The Golden Gate Symphony Orchestra and Chorus has a history of creating an atmosphere of inclusivity and unity for diverse audiences. As part of an ongoing initiative to that end, they are offering 250 free tickets to underserved audiences. Their newest project, Songs of Truth, presents us all with an opportunity to remember and honor the victims and survivors of the Holocaust, to educate future generations, and to unite communities in a shared appreciation of music and culture. The project collaborators and musicians hope that concert goers and students will be inspired to take action against antisemitism and hatred in all its guises.

The Benicia concert is Friday, June 2nd, 7:30pm at the Clock Tower, and the San Francisco performance is Sunday June 4, 2:00pm at Herbst Theatre. To help with the project, get tickets or for more information, please visit goldengatesymphony.org or scan the QR code below. B

n Larnie Fox

“Dear Urs & Kate - Hoorah. Bravo, Bravo!...truly we are so floored at the incredible accomplishment of today. The intimacy and powerfulness of the day was palpable and impactful.”

- Fraidy Aber, Director of Education and Civic Engagement, Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco

Book and Cocktail Club

Gilded Tonic

Glass from Bell&Brass

Ingredients

½tsp Honey

½ Lime (juiced)

12oz Pineapple juice

1 Small bunch of cilantro leaves

Tonic Water

Edible gold glitter

Preparation

1 Optional: Dip a brush in the honey and paint a line down the side of two tumblers. Sprinkle some edible gold glitter over the honey, dusting off any excess. Place the glasses in the fridge.

2 Chop the coriander leaves and place them in a cocktail shaker with lime juice, pineapple juice, and a handful of ice. Shake for ten seconds.

3 Strain into the glasses, add extra ice, and top with tonic water.

* For an added kick, add your favorite gin or Seedlip

Spice 94 (1½ oz)

How High We Go in the Dark

by Sequoia Nagamatsu

n Cooper Mickelson

Photo by Cooper Mickelson

“People have forgotten how to care for each other, for themselves. We can’t expect them to care about the world if they don’t care about what’s in front of them.”

I’ll be surprised if you haven’t heard of this month’s Booktails pick. Published over a year ago, How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu became wildly popular the moment it hit the shelves. Although I considered this debut novel one of my favorite reads of 2022, I was hesitant to review it here, due to its subject matter. I’ve let time pass, and still, I feel my thoughts wander toward the stories in this book from time to time, inspired by the characters and many eerily relevant quotes.

So let’s give this book a second wind, eh?

Before going any further, I want to give a little content warning. This book centers around a plague. If pandemic stories are upsetting to you in any way, I’d skip this one. If you were a fan of Station Eleven, stick around and give this book a try.

How High We Go in the Dark is a deeply moving story following a cast of characters intricately intertwined over hundreds of years as Earth struggles to recover from a climate plague. Mind-bendingly imaginative, this novel is guaranteed to have your thoughts running away with themselves and many extra salty tears streaming down your face.

Beginning in 2030, a grieving scientist picks up where his recently deceased

daughter left off, studying long-buried secrets being revealed by melting permafrost in the Arctic Circle. The most intriguing secret being the perfectly preserved body of what appears to be a young girl killed by an ancient virus. I think you can see where this one is going.

When this virus is unleashed, it quickly spreads across the globe, changing Earth for generations. As a result, humanity is forced to come up with creative ways to embrace hope in the face of extreme tragedy.

A theme park is built which caters to terminally ill children, giving them a day full of fun that ends with a roller coaster designed to painlessly end their lives and suffering. A scientist desperately searching for a cure is given a second chance at fatherhood when one of his test subjects, who just so happens to be a pig, develops the ability to speak. A widowed artist and her teenage granddaughter travel the stars in search of a new home planet.

With funerary skyscrapers and hotels for the dead, Sequoia Nagamatsu takes us on an incredibly unique and compassionate journey as we watch humanity evolve in the wake of this devastating virus.

Get your tabs or highlighting pens ready; this story is full of impossibly beautiful quotes about the resiliency of the human spirit and the threads that connect us all to the universe as well as to each other.

Order your copy from Bookshop Benicia today, and buy some tissues while you’re at it. That talking pig is really going to tug at your heartstrings. B

An Interview with Thelma

Henderson and Juanita Escovedo

n Dr. Gethsemane Moss

There are over 2.2 billion mothers worldwide and 85 million in the United States. About 420,000 babies were born in the United States in 2021, and about 10 percent of the women in the United States are unable or have difficulty conceiving. Naturally, the data varies from year to year.

May brings about several themes to celebrate and acknowledge. National Anxiety Month and Arthritis Awareness Month, to name a few. With May 14th dedicated to Mother's Day. I spoke with the two mothers in my life to get their perspectives on Mother's Day and what they did to remain balanced while managing motherhood, work, and gratitude.

Some moms appear to glide through the unique journey that comes with motherhood, and one can't help but wonder if it comes naturally or if it involves taking it day by day and remembering gratitude. Thelma Henderson and Juanita Escovedo (wife of Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient Pete Escovedo) share their motherhood experiences and perspectives:

How did you balance your life with motherhood, career, and personal self-care?

What does gratitude mean for you?

What does Mother's Day mean for you?

Henderson: It's a special day when I spend time with my daughter and grandkids, we are free from cooking, and I have food catered instead. We attend church together, since everyone has such a busy schedule. Most importantly, it is a celebration of the greatest gift that God has blessed me with

Escovedo: Because of my children, every day is Mother's Day. I may get cards on Mother's Day, but I also get them throughout the year. It's not just one day. I talk to my children daily, and they are a blessing. Our children are always there for us, including our grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. We are a close family.

Henderson: I thought I was the most blessed in the world because I had a boy and a girl. Things were good until my son died. I began to show extra love for my daughter. We started to do things together and have good conversations. She could express herself, which all children should be encouraged to do. I worked in San Francisco and had to have daycare often. Thank God, I had a daughter who was pleasant and respectful. Everything may not have gone how she wanted, but we could talk. Nothing was perfect, but we had a great relationship as a whole, and she has always had my support. She made it easier for me since I had to work. One of the things I have always done is spend time at the gym. I still keep myself looking nice. I enjoy taking soothing baths and staying active in my church.

Escovedo: I was brought up in a loving family. I felt secure and protected and never feared our parents would divorce or fight. We were a very grounded family. We ate dinner every night when my father came home from his nine-to-five job. I also have found balance through the Lord. I prayed for a good family. My children were good children growing up. Earlier in my husband's musical career, I sometimes worked because the money wasn't always there. I had my own time sometimes, and sometimes I did not. I learned not to take things too seriously or to be angry.

Henderson: I am grateful for God being in my life, for my daughter, grandchildren, husband, and friends. I am thankful to have shelter, food, clothes and shoes, and all life's necessities.

Escovedo: I am strong, healthy, and grateful for the person I turned out to be. I'm thankful for my life and my age. I am strong and healthy, and still active. I'm grateful for my family, friends, neighbors, and those I don't know who come up to us when we sell merchandise and want to be in our family B

Thelma Henderson

Juanita Escovedo

bambinosvallejo.com

707.562.2224

Open daily from 11am to 10pm

Mermaids

1h 50m; 1990; PG-13

Fifteen year old Charlotte Flax (Winona Ryder) is going through adolescence, tired of her wacky mom Rachel Flax (Cher) and her wacky ways. Mermaids is a coming of age tale—for all ages. Mrs. Flax relocates herself and her two daughters after each break up, moving 18 times in 15 years. Traditional dinners are “too much of a commitment,” so every meal consists of hors d’oeuvres, even breakfast. Charlotte was born when Rachel was just 16, and now they are both searching for themselves. Mom’s mantra is, “Death is dwelling on the past and staying in one place too long.”

Narrated by Charlotte, we follow her through the cringeworthy adventures of sexual awakening while discovering herself. She’s obsessed with Catholicism but is reminded frequently by her mother, “Charlotte, we’re Jewish!”

n Gourmet Gracie and Movie Magic

Gracie is late to the party! Bambino's, Vallejo opened in late 2019, made it through the worst of the pandemic and is going strong. The pizza is great—and very popular. Try Bambino’s Favorite, fresh veggies and lots of meat. Diners also rave about the Chipotle Fiesta with chicken, bacon, jalapeño and onions. Gracie’s favorite is Bambino’s Zorba, with salami, pepperoni, black olives, tomato, fresh cheese and onions. Multiple toppings are available along with your preference of normal, thin or thick crust. Another winner is the Lasagna Classic—why mess with a good thing? The Bambino’s Spring Salad is also delicious, with apples, cranberries, walnuts and blue cheese. And, don’t miss the fettuccini Jambalaya—those prawns!

Fresh bread sticks arrive at your table by magic. Grazie!

Bambino’s is family owned with another location in Concord. The interior is spacious with a music stage, full bar seating and cocktails. The wine list is continuously improving and they offer 23 selections of beer.

Most servers have been there since the start and really care about your enjoyment. Very friendly and willing to help with suggestions.

Try the Second Sunday Jazz Brunch, or check out the live music from local bands on weekends. Happy Hour is happening Monday – Friday from 4 – 6 pm with great prices on drinks and appetizers. Perfect for brunch on Saturdays during the downtown Farmer’s Market.

Street and private lot parking. Outdoor seating available. Buono! Enjoy.

Rachel finds a kind, funny man in shoe salesman Lou (Bob Hoskins, nominated for an Oscar) when they settle once more in Eastport, Massachusetts. Rachel tells Charlotte, “I know you want to be a nun, and you’re planning a celibate life, but with half my chromosomes, that’ll be tough.” Despite herself, Rachel runs into a bit of her own broken-heartedness along the way. Younger sister Kate is sweet and funny and prefers to spend all her time in water—if only she could just surround herself with fish!

This nostalgic movie is set in the 1960s, with terrific music, wonderful cars and old TVs. It’s fun and funny. Happy and real. We found lots of movie magic in this one. Give yourself a hug.

Movie Magic rates Mermaids 4 out of 5 Moons. B

May 6-7

Benicia Arsenal Artists Open Studios

Benicia Arsenal

10am-5pm

More than 40 artists in Benicia's Arsenal will open their studios to visitors.

May 6-20

Spring into Giving Benicia Main Street

11am-4pm

Donate an item to Benicia Main Street for the Benicia Family Resource Center and receive a 10-15% off discount card valid with participating Downtown merchants.

May 13

Benicia Historical Home and Garden Tour

Downtown Benicia 11am-1:30pm

Featuring Six Vintage Benicia Homes and Gardens. Tour tickets are $35. VIP tickets are $60 and include wine and appetizers (21 and over, ticket quantity limited). Tickets available at Compass Real Estate and Benicia Depot.

May 20

Benicia Neighborhood Garage Sale Benicia

8am Citywide garage sale.

May 20

Starts with the Heart Benicia Community Foundation

5:30-10:30pm

Charity event supporting our local community. Tickets: $100

May 20

Opening Day on the Straits

Benicia Yacht Club

10am-10pm

Once again the popular and beloved Benicia Yacht Club will celebrate Opening Day with fun, food, and music .

EVENTS

May Music & Entertainment

May 5

First Fridays at the Museum

Benicia Historical Museum

2060 Camel Rd. Benicia

6:30-9:30pm

Join HopHead as they break from their traditional repertoire and get you moving and dancing to the sounds of good old rock and roll.

Tickets: $15

Empress Theatre

330 Virginia St, Vallejo Tickets: $13

May 3, 7:30-9:30pm

Mix sinuous Delta/country blues with wildly syncopated rhythms to create a rollicking present-day sound from the past.

May 5, 8-10pm

San Francisco’s Mission District. The birthplace of the Grammy-Award winning band Santana, and so it is also with CARNAVAL! The Premier Santana Tribute Band

May 10, 7:30-9:30pm

Hummel said, “It will be along the lines of my earliest musical inspirations. More of the history of the rock-blues stuff in relation to the old-style blues.

May 17, 7:30-9:30pm

Evan Thomas’s classic, electric blues guitar style, is influenced by some of the great guitar players of our time.

Share upcoming events with us!

email general@beniciamagazine.com with details.

Lucca's Beer Garden Stage

439 First Street, Benicia

May 4, 6:30-9pm

Aki Kumar Blues Band

May 5, 6:30-9pm

Conjunto Romero

May 6, 1-9pm

Fog City Swampers (1-4pm)

Camp Jeff (6:30-9pm)

May 7, 2:30-5:30pm

Van Goat

May 11, 6:30-9pm

Darrell 'DW' Edwards & Lighting Up the Soul.

May 12, 6:30-9pm

Uncommonwealth

May 13, 1:30-9pm

Katie Fry (1:30-3:30pm)

Wreckless Strangers (6:30-9pm)

May 14, 2:30-5:30pm

The Treblemakers

May 18, 6:30-9pm

Jeff Tamelier & Tony Lindsay

May 19, 6:30-9pm

Strange Brew

May 20, 1-9pm

Jim Funk (1-3:30pm)

Luvplanet (6:30-9pm)

May 21, 2:30-5:30pm

Todd Morgan & The Emblems

May 25, 6:30-9pm

MoMoney

May 26, 6:30-9pm

Don Bassey & Friends

May 27, 1:30-9pm

Doug Houser (1:30-3:30pm)

Sixteen Scandals (6:30-9pm)

May 28, 2:30-5:30pm

Steve Freund Blues Trio

The Rellik Tavern

726 First Street, Benicia

May 27, 9pm-1:30am

Goth Night

Tuesdays, 7pm

Open Mic for Musicians

Wednesdays, 7-10pm

Karaoke with Glenn Snyder

Sundays, 6-10pm

Poker Night

Live music Thursdays-Sundays. Visit therelliktavern.com for the full lineup. B