Holiday shopping, dining and sipping

“...our downtown area and its stores are still open for business, and eager to assist you in that hunt for the perfect gift.”

Jeannine Mendoza Ed.D

Ten years ago American Express launched Small Business Saturday on a national basis to encourage holiday shoppers to patronize local small businesses on the busiest shopping weekend of the year. Small Business Saturday is scheduled to fall between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Normally, here in Benicia, we kick off every holiday gift-giving season with a Holiday Open House & Tree Lighting that takes place the evening of the first Friday in December. This much anticipated regional event has occurred for the past 30 years, as First Street businesses welcomed shoppers, walkers, and other casual observers to enjoy some holiday refreshments and goodwill as they perused holiday merchandise, goods and services. During the tree-lighting ceremony, carols and other entertainment propelled all attendees into a jolly mood and ushered in the holiday season in an enjoyable and convivial manner.

This year, however, nothing is normal, and although the tree lighting and Open House festivities have been cancelled, our downtown area and its stores are still open for business, and eager to assist you in that hunt for the perfect gift.

So begin your holiday shopping with Benicia’s Small Business Saturday, which falls on November 28th. The First Street merchants are mindful of existing health precautions, but everyone can socially distance themselves from others, wear face coverings, and still enjoy the season. Benicia is as charming and picturesque as it was before the pandemic, and the longsuffering shopkeepers and restaurant owners would appreciate and welcome your patronage.

Shopping can make you hungry and yes, thirsty, so include a couple of breaks in your gift search and indulge in the bevy of restaurants, bars and eateries in the Benicia area. The restaurant hosts look forward to keeping you well-fed and hydrated during the holiday shopping season. They are available for carryout, dine-in and good times. And this year, especially after all we have been through, we really need some good times.

Benicia Shops and Restaurants

Retail & Other

Adobe Second Chance Thrift Shop, 431 First St., 707.999.0039 Angel Heart 4 You, 501 1st St, 707.745.2024 Arata Art Gallery, 637 1st St, 707.297.6151 Artcentric Pottery & Glass Studio, 307 1st St, 707.745.9553 Arts Benicia, 991 Tyler St #114, 707.747.0131 Benicia Plein Air Gallery, 307 1st St, 707.297.5903 Bookshop Benicia, 636 First St, 707.747.5155 Christina S Fashion Destination, 3 70 First St, 707.745.5125 Collektive Boutique, 935 First St, 707.742.4031 Computer 1, 737 First St, 707. 747.0417 Daughter of Luna Floral Design, 931 1st St, 707.750.5167 Elisa’s Cottage, 622 First St., 707-712-9038 Gallery 621, 309 First St, 707. 297.6860 Gallerie Renee Marie, 1038 First St., 707.480.5501 Happy Life Pottery, 632 First St, 707.742.4311 HQ Gallery, 333-D First St., 707.319.1136 Mozart, Einstein & Me, 620 First St, 707.746.7565 Pedrotti Ace Hardware, 830 Southampton Rd, 707.746.6887 Pink Arrows Boutique, 374 1st St, 844.264.6456 Pups N Purrz, 422 First St, 707.748.7433 Romancing The Home, 617 1st St, 707.747.1717 Rags To Riches, 946 Tyler St, Ste C, 707.747.5050 Sparkly Ragz, 560 1st St Ste. B-160, 707.426.4303 Succulents and More, 433 1st St, 707.400.5565 Sweetness & Light Flowers, 707.652.5599 The Little Art Shop, 129-E First St., 707.771.6667 The Steffen Collection, 627 First St., 707.745.1170 Timeless Memories, 129 First St., 707.745.6600 Two Days Jewelry, 612 First St., 707.747.0941 Wheels in Motion Skate & Bike Shop, 707.746.8856 Zeppelin Comics, 929 1st St, 707.297.6126

Restaurants, Bars, & Pubs

Aroma Indian Cuisine, 818 First St, 707.745.1870 Aung Maylika, 836 Southampton Rd #E, 707.361.5675 Bella Siena Restaurant & Bar, 127 First St, 707.805.0575 Benicia Coffee & Tea Company, 2036 Columbus Pkwy, 707.746.1242 Benicia Grill, 4760 E 2nd St, 707.751.0155 Benicia Main Street See's Candies, 1383 E 2nd St, 707.745.9791 Bottom of the Fifth, 498 Military E, 707.745.9949 Char’s Hot Dogs, 131A First St, 707.745.4476 Dianna’s Bakery & Cafe, 639 First St, 707.297.6186 Elviarita’s Mexican Bar & Grill, 727 First St, 707.751.1705 Ensenada Restaurant, 864 Southampton Rd, 707.745.5563 Farm & Flour, 700 First St, 707.750.5345 Fox & Fawn Bakehouse, 305 First St, 707.280.0667 Freshly Rooted Tribe, 252 First St, 707.315.5947 Got Plate Lunch, 1034 First St, 707.745.4751 Izakaya Japanese Tapas & Sushi, 920 First St, 707.853.8262 Java Point Café, 366 First St, 707.745.1449 Juice House Co, 611 First St, 707.400.5638 Kaigan Sushi, 560 First St, 707.747.1084 Kimono, 1654 E Second St, 707.750.5418 Lucca’s, 439 1st St, 707.745.3749 Mai Thai Cuisine, 807 First St, 707.747.1868 Mirchi Indian Grill, 2032 Columbus Pkwy, 707.297.6328 Napoli Pizza, 2062 Columbus Pkwy, 707.746.8906 One House Bakery, 918 First St, 707.361.5919 Pacifica Pizza, 915 First St, 707.746.1790 Pearl Thai, 879 Southampton Rd, 707.747.9777 Pizza Pirate, 72 Solano Sq, 707.745.1667 Rosie's Café, 3001 Bayshore Rd # 1, 707.745.1154 Round Table Pizza, 878 Southampton Rd, 707.746.7000 Rrags Caffe, 1383 E 2nd St, 707.748.4247 Sailor Jack’s, 123 First St, 707.746.8500 Sandoval’s Mexican Food, 640 First St, 707.746.7830 Sepay Groves Olive Oil, 364 First St, 707.434.8222 South Villa Chinese Restaurant, 2040 Columbus Pkwy, 707.747.1688 Sprankle's Deli, 155 Military E, 707.297.6119 Szechwan House, 500 First St, 707.745.4743 The Cellar, 685 Stone Rd #1, 707. 297.6457 The Loft Wine Bar & Restaurant, 280 First St, 707.745.4200 The Workshop, 511 Claverie Way, 707.747.6028 Union Hotel Restaurant & Bar, 401 First St, 707.746.7847 Venticellos, 911 First St, 707.747.5263 Whipt Cookies, 1440 East 2nd St #A, 707.742.3125

Cocktails, Wine & Beer & Bites

Bottom of the Fifth, 498 Military E, 707.745.9949 Bruehol Brewing, 4828 E 2nd St, 707.327.6768 Cullen’s Tannery Pub & Saloon, 131 B First St., 707.637.5300 Rookies, 321 First St., 707.746.7665 The Chill, A Wine & Beer Bar, 362 First St., 707.746.5530 The Rellik Tavern, 726 First St., 707.746.1137

Photo, courtesy Downtown Benicia Alliance

Celebrate Small

Bitsy Hall

“ …with a smaller guest list, this year’s more intimate celebration may lend itself to more connection.”

In March of 2020, the thought of Covid persisting beyond a few months seemed unlikely. We felt sad for our friends with March and April birthdays, until we realized we would all get a Covid birthday. Now in November, we are still limiting social interaction and getting groceries in our PPE. It’s without a doubt that we will be celebrating Thanksgiving much differently this year.

When we envision Thanksgiving, we imagine warm autumnal gatherings with mounds of comfort food and the buzz of the kitchen. We think of a home bursting with activity, noise, and heaps of family. Many of us look forward to visiting our seldom seen loved ones and watching family tradition unfold before us. Now, none of us are quite sure what our first pandemic-era Thanksgiving will look like.

Per Centers of Disease Control recommendations, Thanksgiving is going to look a lot different. The CDC recommends keeping your gathering local, small, shorter in duration, and, preferably, outdoors. Your far away relatives may have to join your meal via Facetime, perched at the end of your table on a laptop. You’ll have to celebrate with your closeby relatives and friends and keep the gathering small. No need to add a leaf to your dining room table – you won’t

“Now, none of us are quite sure what our first pandemic-era Thanksgiving will look like.”

have to accommodate extra seating. After all, you may even be eating your turkey on the patio.

While the thought of your traditions taking pause may rob you of some joy, one must remember the silver lining of gathering small. By having more intimate gatherings, we are able to experience the seemingly impossible: a relaxing and calm holiday. Complete and total grocery store mayhem? Not as much. Picking up your in-laws from the airport with traffic to boot? Not a chance. Floor to ceiling dishes and kitchen mess? Probably, but not nearly as much.

In addition to the minimization of the less favorable parts of the holidays, with a smaller guest list, this year’s more intimate celebration may lend itself to more connection. Rather than having multiple short-lived conversations with your many relatives, you can delve deeper into conversation with a select few. You have the opportunity to get to know that local relative

or friend more deeply. Perhaps you have roommates or tenants you will celebrate with, who normally wouldn’t make it to your Thanksgiving table. When we someday have a Covidfree holiday season, you might have new guests, new recipes, and a greater appreciation for relaxation and connection.

Though none of us can accurately predict when we will socialize without the worry of Covid, we all know for certain that human interaction and celebration has new meaning. With the absence of touch and closeness on a large scale, we have grown to appreciate time with people off-screen and the simple joy of hugging our loved ones like never before. When some semblance of normalcy someday returns and we are able to gather fully, what we took for granted will bring us more joy than it ever has. This Thanksgiving, what we miss may steer us towards a new depth of gratitude. In the meantime, take a pause to enjoy the relaxation and new connections.

&ThanksGiving Giving &Thanks Feature

Patty Gavin Patty Gavin

Giving Giving

It's different from Thanksgiving, or giving thanks. It's thanks AND giving. The time is ripe. Gratitude is making a comeback. Really. With all that's going on around us, the pandemic, wildfires, civil unrest, hurricanes, and political turmoil, for what, you might ask, can we have gratitude? Plenty. And then, instead of just expressing gratitude through words, how can we put gratitude into action? First and foremost: before you can step out with an attitude of gratitude you have to take care of yourself. In the words of White Eagle, an indigenous Hopi woman, "This moment humanity is going through can now be seen as a portal and as a hole. The decision to fall into the hole or go through the portal is up to you." She cautions that you will fall into the hole if you spend your day listening to the news, with little energy, nervous all the time, with doom and gloom on your mind. But if you take the time to look at yourself, take care of yourself and others, "you will cross the portal." For some, embracing the spiritual in a time of crisis might be helpful. For others, it may be meditation, or enjoying the outdoors, or yoga that is needed to be well and strong. Perhaps it's food that's good for you that will bring you to health and contentment. Our pets can bring us a sense of calm. Art, music, dance, or a good book can feed the soul. And of course, our family and friends who bring love and laughter to our lives can help us "go through the portal." Have you seen someone lately do a good deed? Have you watched a group of children play, or have you gone outside on a clear night to spend a few minutes gazing at the moon and stars? Beauty and goodness surrounds us. There are plenty of simple things to do, see, and experience that help us take care of ourselves, plenty of simple things for which we can be so very grateful. But, as Gertrude Stein once said, "Silent gratitude isn't very much use to anyone."

The forces of nature have created a perfect storm of victims of the pandemic, hurricanes, and wildfires. Job loss, hunger, and homelessness are all around us, along with a multitude of other issues that come with tragedy and catastrophe. Benicia is not immune, but the goodness and generosity of people will sustain our local community and beyond. Studies have shown that giving time, money, goods, or other resources to a cause brings happiness to the giver. We enrich our own lives and perpetuate the lives of others through the joy of giving. With the reminder from Gertrude Stein that "silent gratitude" is not very useful, the challenge is to put gratitude into useful action, by giving what you can to those who need help. Donations of service, goods, and money are all welcome. The time is ripe for thanks AND giving.

Perhaps you have your own favorite charity, but if not, some suggestions of where to give are listed below.

American Red Cross Community Action Council Family Resource Center FEMA Go Fund Me Meals on Wheels Mission Solano Solano Food Bank St. Vincent de Paul Sustainable Solano Wildfire Relief Fund