The UnGarden

The UnGarden

Sunset Manzanita, California Native     What makes a garden feel at ease with itself? I love different garden styles: Chinese, German, and Zen. They all have an attraction and calm aesthetic when done right. But while some feel calm and relaxed, others seem...
Blue Jeans and a Mr. Pibb

Blue Jeans and a Mr. Pibb

Monterey Bay, Monterey, California   We grabbed a window table at a cafe in Moss Landing. The smell of potatoes simmering in hot oil, bacon, and fresh coffee filled the small dining room. It was the kind of place where a guy in blue jeans and work boots fit in...
Not a Thing

Not a Thing

Venice Beach, California   The Venice Pier had that blank, tilted feeling empty tourist spots have. The dawn sun cut low across the water as it winked in and out of the sea haze. Fishermen dotted the pier, and surfers rocked and bobbed on their boards, chatting...
Del Monte Forest Philharmonic

Del Monte Forest Philharmonic

The wind sings through the Monterey Pines, a short flourish overture with a low drone, mid-range whip, and a treble trickling of cottonwood leaves like a swift stream. And above it all, the trill of birds add sparkles of color as the oratorio begins. It moves with a...