PEOPLE, PLACES & EVENTS Cont’d

Paint, Wine, and Bonding

By Debra Friedman, photos by Debra Friedman, Jeff McCoy, and Jodie Trainer

For years, residents of Casta del Sol have been clamoring for a “Paint and Wine” experience on our doorstep. These types of events that have been popular for years, take place in dedicated studios, or in restaurants and clubhouses that were rented for the event by a specialized company.

There are many benefits to this type of experience. It is, of course, always enjoyable to have an environment where friendships are formed or strengthened during the process. The subject of the painting is selected for successful completion in the time frame of the event. Also, the outcome

Ping Pong: A Sport for All Ages

By Parizad Sethna, photos by Jeff McCoy

Want to try a new sport? Try Ping Pong. Ping pong, whiff-whaff, or table tennis, whatever you call it, is a low impact sport and is playable at the pace you choose, thereby making it more accessible to seniors. It had its humble beginnings as a parlor game in England in the 1880s. Taking inspiration from lawn tennis, it used a champagne cork as a ball, cigar boxes as bats, and books for the net. An Olympic sport since 1988, it is now played in more than 200 countries worldwide and is steadily gaining followers.

The set up and rules are similar to those of tennis. Just like tennis, you can play solo or in pairs. It offers moderate-intensity activity, which is good for your heart, and you will find that your hand-eye coordination improves the more you play. Your arms, core, and shoulders get a good workout as you swipe for and direct the ball. Played indoors or outdoors, this weather resilient sport improves your reflexes and sharpens reaction times which is helpful as we age. And most importantly, you will meet and make new friends. Ping Pong can be a great game to play with grandkids. Don’t know where to start or need a refresher? Why not stop by the Garden Room at Rec Ctr 1 on any Saturday at 9 a.m. and check it out for yourself. Don’t have a bat (or paddle)? No worries, the group will provide you with one. The Casta del Sol Ping Pong group is not a club and has no dues. Check the Courier’s sport section for contact information and play joyfully.

“Beginning as an English parlor game in the 1880s, players used a champagne cork for a ball, cigar boxes as bats, and books for a net.” gives the participants bragging rights to say they’ve created an original painting.

On June 23, the Casta del Sol Paint and Wine event was a sold-out activity hosted by the Casta Creatives Club with Maribeth McFaul leading the artistic endeavor. Maribeth McFaul has lived in CdS for about four years and for the past two has been the President of the Casta Creatives Club. The Club has open studio opportunities weekly, brings in experts for demonstrations, has hands-on workshops, and most recently was featured during the Heritage Garden Open House.

The attendance for the June 23 event was limited to 36 people. Due to the long waiting list and interest expressed, this event will be repeated at intervals.

The painting created was abstract and the subject was a starburst. Mari- beth gave a brief description of color theory, the color wheel, and how to create the sample painting that she completed in advance. Then she led the participants through a step-by-step demonstration. She stressed the individual nature and preferences of each artist and the offered choices. She also emphasized returning to the painting to enhance it, since acrylic paint allows for painting over the undesirable elements. Her memorable quote was: “Creativity is making mistakes. Art is knowing which to keep.”

While a few experienced artists ventured off in different directions, the rest of the novice painters followed the starburst pattern in their own fashion. Feedback was offered by Maribeth, as well as the other assistants and tablemates. Both the process and the results were enjoyable. The finished painting photos reflect the happy participants.