this little life of mine

Sepia Scenes: Travel Clock

I swear I used to have a travel clock just like this one many, many years ago. In fact, who knows? It might still be somewhere amongst all our stuff in this very house! Also, I totally fell in love with these little birds that were scattered all over the store. I think I might  have to go back and buy one. 

2013 Sweetheart Stroll

The 2013 Sweetheart Stroll was this past Saturday in downtown Atascadero. Thankfully the sun burned through the early morning fog, melted the frost, and it turned out to be a beautiful, spring-like day! It seemed to be a slightly smaller event than years past, as there were only 14 wineries represented. Still, that gave us a chance to actually try most the wineries without getting TOO tipsy!

First we tried Flirtations Muscato by Opolo. I don't usually like the sweet dessert wines, but this was quite good and I could see myself enjoying a glass on a hot summer day.

We drive by August Ridge every time we go to visit Grandpa, but we've never tried their wine until now. It was quite good, and someday we'll have to stop in for some wine tasting (and purchasing!).

Castoro Cellars is one of my go-to faves. Their Viognier is delish! I've always liked their Savingon Blanc and Chardonnay, too! I felt really bad for this poor guy, though. While the sunshine was warm, there was a bit of a breeze, and it was cold in the shade.

St. Hilaireis a new one for me. I tried the Zinfandel and really liked it. I would've tried a couple more, but there was one guy totally bogarting the table and the winemaker's time, and there was a line out the door, so I gave up.

Next we stopped into Time Since Remembered, a cute little antique/crafty shop, to try some Blenna Blanca from Whalebone Vinyard. It was very good, and I loved looking around the shop as well. They have so many cute, unique things!  The only problem is that all the shops here in Atascadero are really small and cramped, and while I understand the Sweetheart Stroll and Art and Wine Stroll organizers want people to go INto the shops and look around (and possibly, hopefully shop), rahter than just going from wine tasting table to wine tasting table along the sidewalk, it's a bit annoying to always be in such cramped quarters, shuffling along in a twisty queue to get a shot of wine, then try to make your way back out, all the while trying to avoid people who are browsing in the store, or trying to browse yourself.

Edward Jones didn't have wine, but they did have some delicious homemade chocolate mini cupcakes with a white chocolate dollar sign and some sparkling cider. Yummy!

Larrenita is another new winery - or at elast one I don't recall tasting before. I couldn't find a website for them, but their wine was good, too!

Tarrica Cellarswas being poured at The Barrel Room, and I think if we'd'vesat down he would've poured for us all day! I didn't know they started serving beer here, too! And, they have Fat Tire, which has been my go-do beer for the past couple of football seasons.

Bella Luna winery at Ranch Dog Knitting. 

Here are the Treble Makers, a local barbershop quartet. We stopped them on the street and made them sing us a song. They're really good! It's too bad I was iPhone incompetant on this day, because I tried to take a video of them, but it it didn't work.

Hearst Ranch Wineryat Calicopia, a artist co-op that has TONS of awesome, artsy things. 

The Red Tree Art Gallery didn't have a winery this time, but we stopped in anyway to pick up a bottle of Kitehawk Farm olive oil. We'd tried it during one of the Art and Wine Strolls and really liked the flavour of it. I've been thinking about that olive oil ever since, and finally got some! 

Indigene Cellars I've tried before and really liked their Cabernet.

 

Hidden Oaks is pretty much a regular at these events, so I'm pretty familiar with their wine, too. I didn't get a picture of it this time, but they also have a nice compact box of wine (which I always SWORE I would never get because, gah! wine in a BOX!) that contains 4 full bottles of wine, and lasts a long time. I haven't bought it yet, but I'm actually very tempted!

More entertainment and yet another iPhone fail. These guys were really good - the little girl on the banjo was awesome, and they were both great singers as well! I don't know who they are so I can't look them up, which is pity, because I really enjoyed them.

Next up was Rotta winery and another delicious Cabernet.

Frolicking Frog was set up at Bru Coffeeshop where we finished our tour with a delicious Viognier then had a yummy cup of coffee before heading home. I very nearly talked myself out of going to the Sweetheart Stroll this year because it was SO cold and foggy and nasty first thing in teh morning. But as the sun came out, and it looked like it would be a good day, I decided, what the hell, let's give it a shot! Both mom and I are glad we did because it was a beautiful day and we enhjoyed some great wine and snacks and treats, and generally had a wonderful time!

Atascadero Winter Wonderland

Friday night was the annual Winter Wonderland in downtown Atascadero. There were booths with food and beverages, and a variety of items such as handmade soaps and candles, jewelery, knitted scarves and hats, lavender stuff, honey, and olive oils, blinged out handbags and other accessories, as well as groups and non-profits sharing their various messages and gathering donations. The Sunken Gardens had several bounce houses, a rock climbing wall, and some jumping harnass thing I didn't quite understand. Four streets were blocked off and tons of snow was brought in (or made, I don't know) for the kiddies to play in.  One street was blocked off for a skateboarding/BMX bike desmonstration and another one blocked off for a little train for the little kids to ride around in. Somewhere there was an area with pony rides, too, but I didn't come across that. (Also, my iPhone takes really crappy pictures at night. Should've taken my real camera!)

I think this was the biggest Winter Wonderland Atascadero has ever thrown! I haven't gone to too many of these, but the last time I swear it was only in the Sunken Gardens with only the East and West Mall strees closed for snow and vendors, and there weren't nearly as many people. I swear the entire population of Atascadero was downtown, there were SO many PEOPLE! It was really nice. I would really like to see downtown Atascadero thrive; it's been such a struggle to keep businesses from leaving the downtown area or closing entirely. The more people who come down for events like this the more likely they'll come back later to shop and dine.  Cheers!

SLO County Cuisine: Crazy Sushi Fever!!

Thursday evening before doing our grocery shopping, mom and I stopped by Crazy Sushi Fever, a new sushi place in Atascadero.

 It's right by the Albertson's (where we rarely grocery shop becasue they're the most expensive store in town, but that's a rant for another time) where the Big Bubba's Bar-B-Que used to be. We never made it to BB'sBBQ which I regret, as I LOVE a good BBQ.

But anyway ...

So, yeah, sushi. Now I love sushi, but my mom has been hesitant to try it despite enjoying seafood in general. The idea of eating raw fish squicks her out. However, I assured her Crazy Sushi Fusion served cooked food and she wouldn't have to eat raw fish, and she finally agreed to try it.

We started with something safe: grilled asparagus. It was delicious!

I also ordered oysters on the half shell because I've been craving them hard since having some delcious oysters (as well as baked mussels) at Hog Island Oyster Co. in SF during Rehab last year. Most half-shell appetizers have 6 or 8 oysters minimum which is just way too much raw shellfish for me to consume by myself, but Crazy Sushi Fever serves just three. That I can handle!

Or so I thought before I saw the damn things:

 I really wish I'd had a ruler to show just how ginormous these things were. Maybe you can tell by the standard-sized slices of lemon at the top and bottom of the plate. In swear that one in the middle was at least 4 or 5 inches long! (insert dirty joke sniggering here. i am a ten-year-old boy sometimes) The top one I was able to down no problem. The bottom one I had to cut in half. The middle on I tried to cut in thirds to make it managable, but was only able to choke down one part of it before giving up. (shudders) I think my craving for raw oyters has been satisfied and perhaps damaged for quite some time.

Not that they were bad or anything, but they didn't taste as good as Hog Island's and when they're so big hyou have to chew them a LOT ... well, that's a bit more than I really expected.

Anyway, we both chose better for our entrees with my mom having the teriyaki salmon and I had the Mustang (cooked) roll which had soft-shell crab, avocado and eel.

 Mom said her salmon was very good and my roll was good, too, but it was not as good as the rolls I've had at Shin's Sushi, plus it was huge! We were both stuffed when we walked out of there.

In general, the food is good, the atmosphere is nice, and the people are really nice and attentive, but with two other sushi places in town (neither of which I've tried yet), I'm not sure I'd make another trip to Crazy Sushi Fever any time soon. Three-and-a-half stars out of five, I think.

You Capture: Windows

Last Friday my mom and I went to the Atascadero Art and Wine Tour downtown, and I managed to remember this assignment and capture a couple windows.

The first is actually a pair of windows on a once-blank wall that now has a mural painted on it. (This photo is just the detail of the piece, not the whole thing) That part of the building actually houses an art supply store called The ARTery, so having a painting on that wall makes sense. However, it was hotly contested since the owner didn't get the proper permits before having the work done, and it was in danger of being painted over. In the end, however, the City Council decided to let the project stay.  Personally I'm not a fan of this piece. I think it's depressing and sad and looks like a poorly done portrait of one of the transients that hang around in the Sunken Garden. I would've much preferred something more cheerful and upbeat that would WELCOME people to our tiny but increasingly fun downtown area. I mean, really. Would YOU want to check out a downtown area where that was the first thing you saw? My other complaint is that the mural wasn't even done by a LOCAL artist. Gah! But, whatever. No one asked my opinion (Or anyone else's opinion, actually!!), and art is subjective, anyway.

My second shot was taken from inside Colby Jack Restaurant where my mom and I enjoyed a delicious late dinner after walking around downtown sampling lots of delicious wine and viewing lots of lovely art. I liked how the lights inside appeared to be hanging from the tree branches when I looked outside.

 

Cheers!

Art and Wine Tour

Last Friday mom and I went to the Atascadero Art and Wine Tour  in downtown Atascadero. It was wonderful! So much better than the last time. This time the weather was perfect (as opposed to uber hot, dusty, and windy), and there were TONS of people downtown enjoying the wine, food, art and entertainment (as opposed to, say, nearly none).

Almost all the wineries there were the same ones from the previous Art and Wine Tour or other Wine Festivals we've attened, so we really didn't try anything new.  They were, however,  all delicious. I don't think there was a single wine I tried that I didn't like. There weren't very many whites, however (which really isn't a surprise since this area is quite known for its zinfandels and pinot noirs), and I was hoping to find something perfect for sipping on the back patio during the warm autumn evenings. The above Picnic Chardonnay by Pomar Junction, however, was a contender.

I don't know the name of this singer/band, but that girl had a really amazing voice!

I've never been a fan of the "box" wines, but Hidden Oak's Merlot was quite good, and they claim to have four bottles of wine in this one little box, so I'm a little tempted to give it a shot!

We also tried some delicious olive oil with french bread (I believe it was Brian's Bread which is the best bread around these parts! Honest to Pete, it's the only specialty bread we buy.). It was seriously good - very light flavour and maybe even a little sweet. I think I liked it better than the oils I tasted at Olivovas de Oro Olive Company. (Although you guys are awesome, too!)

I didn't actually take this picture below; the girl behind the bar at The Barrel Room did. I would actually like to go down there and spend some more time trying their wines. Mom and I stopped by during either a Wine Tour like this one, or the Sweetheart Stroll, or some event like that before they were officially opened, and it appears from the picture that they've added more wineries!

I remember this uber enthusiastic and adorable lady from last time! She was pouring a really yummy Chardonnay that both my mom and I really enjoyed.

There was also some fantastic art on display this time! I don't recall seeing many artists last time except for one poor guy who was trying to keep his paintings from blowing away in what was a pretty nasty wind.  The following pieces are from the sketchbook of the crazy talented Liam Daley, a young artist I met at Calicopia, a local artist coop (which also had some amazing art pieces as well!).

I can totally see a cartoon or a comic book series based on these two interesting characters!

A cute reminder to stop and smell the flowers!

I can't quite tell if this little guy is happy, sad, relieved or simply content with his accomplishment.

I love this bird escaping from its cage picture. I think it would make a fantastic tattoo!

This little fella was my favourite and prompted a brief discussion of our mutually favourite film: Roxanne with Steve Martin. Liam told me I should check out Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, as it's another Steve Martin film that's (according to Liam) very good!

Art Wall July 2012

I finally got around to changing out the photos on my Art Wall:

They are (top row left to right): Atascadero Landscape, Photo a Day June #14: Time, Photo a Day June #15: Yellow, Sunlight Through Trees; and (bottom row left to right): Olive Trees, Flower, Atascadero Lake Reflection, Latte @ Blu. 

Atascadero Main Street Art and Wine Tour

Last night mom and I went to the Atascadero Main Street Association's Art and Wine Tour. There were several wineries and artists set up in various businesses in the downtown area (though I'm not sure how many artists were really out there as I only saw one guy set up outside of "Bling it On! Babe" The only other art I saw was at Envisions Gallery and Dexter Smith Gallery & Gifts). Most of the wineries were new to us. I'm always amazed at the number of new wineries that keep popping up around here. We started out with a glass of wine and a rather sad little cheese plate at Haven then headed out to taste some wine and see some art. 

We ended the evening at our favourite coffeeshop, Bru. They had a winery there, too, but by then we were vino-ed out, and just had lattes instead!

Cheers!

Sepia Scenes: Vintage Valentines

Day 5: 10:00 a.m. #febphotoaday #instagram