Bon Voyage to Michelle & Kyle on their Upcoming Trip to South East Asia & A Coincidental Encounter

“There are no coincidences; everything [and everyone] is connected.” —Kevin McDonald

Cecile and I hooked up with Michelle and Kyle for dinner at True Food Kitchens in Palo Alto to wish them a Bon Voyage for their upcoming Honeymoon trip to Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand. Jason and Alex met us there. Upon arriving we were pleasantly surprised to see Michelle’s childhood friend, Kacy who was one of her bridesmaids at her wedding last May in Napa, Kacy’s husband Noel, Kacy’s mom Janice and Gary. This marked the second coincidental encounter with Kacy and Noel at the same restaurant this past year. After hugs, a catch up chat and group photos, we sat outdoors—a table away under the warmth of the heated lamps. 

Though we have been to this fresh and healthy eatery several times before, this was the first time we ate “Al Fresco" in the spacious outdoor section. As usual the food was outragiously good. We ordered some of our favorite dishes, starting with Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon salad, Edamame Dumplings with white truffle oil, and asian herbs, a bowl of Ancient Grains, Grass-Fed Burger, Grilled Fish tacos, Seasonal Ingredients Vegi salad, and for dessert we shared a Flowerless Molten Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream. 

Anyone who knows me, understands I always welcome so called “ hance events” that bring people together—even so called strangers that we discover a connection with on one level or another. I enjoy both the immediacy and the mystery of it.

A serendipitous moment or concidental encounter is one that strikes us as an event with perfect harmony. If you stay on the lookout wherever you go, you’ll begin to realize how often they happen in our everyday lives—when we least expect them. 

The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, defines synchronicity as "a meaningful coincidence of outer and inner events that are not causally related." Jung speaks of a collective unconscious, a universal pool of knowledge. It is the basis upon which the ancient wisdom teachings refer to as being in “sympathy with all things.” We are all swimming in the same waters of life, in touch with each other’s movements, riding the same waves of existence. 

Einstein who was more spiritual than “religious” once said, “Everything is determined by forces over which we have no control…Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust…all dance to a mysterious tune…” He is also famously quoted for saying that, “Coincidences are God’s way of being Anonymous.”

Attended the 100th Year Celebration of Hakone Gardens—A Rich Multicultural Extravaganza

“If you look the right way, you can see the whole world is a garden.” —Frances Hodgson Burnett

Cecile and I attended the Hakone Foundation Centennial Gala Finale recently with our friends Nelson and Susan Bye. Established in 1918 by Isabel Stine as her private retreat, Hakone is one of the oldest and most authentic Japanese Estate and Gardens in the Western Hemisphere tucked away in the hills of Saratoga above Silicon Valley.

During our first visit here, when we first came to California in 1975, we were blown away by the serenity and harmony of our surroundings. But, it wasn’t until I began doing plein air watercolor painting here with the Saratoga Community of Painters, took Haiku Poetry classes, and participated in Japanese Tea Ceremonies that I began to fully appreciate this local treasure.

Selected by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Hakone was designed to express the Japanese ideal of seamlessly merging art and nature.
The 18 acre property is comprised of manicured hillside tea and Zen gardens, historic structures, a gift shop, a series of waterfalls, Giant bamboo, koi ponds, bridges, stone lanterns, meandering walking trails and a pergola with blooming seasonal wisteria. Tai Chi, Karate and meditation classes take place in one of the tea houses.

This gala event was sponsored by Wing Nien Foods. We began our evening with a welcome reception, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, silent auction of Japanese art, clothing, liquor, trips, kimomos, dolls, and gifts, dinner and entertainment. Ann Waltonsmith, former Saratoga City Council member and chairperson of the Hakone Foundation board gave the opening remarks. Cecile and I had the pleasure of traveling with Ann to Japan on a Temple and Garden Tour, including Muko, the sister city of Saratoga.

Robert Handa, NBC Bay Area was the Master of Ceremonies. Being of Japanese heritage, he, his mother and grandmother always felt at home here. Tributes were given to the late, William “Bill” Glennon, former mayor of Saratoga, as well as the Partnership that included two Caucasian couples and four Chinese couples. Hence, a Gourmet Chinese Banquet catered by the Flourishing Gardens Restaurant was both an unexpected but welcomed surprise. 

Other notables present were Shoichi Nagayoshi, Deputy Consul General of Japan, Shozo Kagoshima, former general manager of the Winchester Mystery House, who took over the reins of the Hakone Foundation last March; Emily Lo, Vice Mayor and former Mayor of Saratoga; Faramarz Yazdani, Treasurer of the Foundation, who was seated at our table, and Historian, author, community leader Connie Young, whose parents were in the partnership that owned Hakone 1961-66. The estate was then sold to the City of Saratoga to preserve it's heritage. Connie was quoted as saying, “Imagine a Japanese Garden owned by Chinese Americans who kept it in the tradition designated by Isabel Stine." 

The entertainment for the gala event included, Italian arias and show tunes by renowned Japanese soprano Keiko Kagawa, traditional Chinese music by Emily and Emma Lin, and the Far East Dragon and Lion Dance Association. As we ate dinner under the stars at around the time of the new moon, I thought to myself, to simply call this a multi-cultural event would be an understatement: A Japanese garden, formerly owned by four Chinese partners, catered gourmet Chinese food, a Japanese soprano singing Italian arias along with her Japanese opera group, and sitting at our table, an Iranian American, who is Treasurer of the Hakone Foundation board.

Beach Party and Bonfire at Seabright State Beach

“Enjoy your life now, it has an expiration date.”

Cecile and I were one of ten couples that congregated on Seabright State Beach late Saturday afternoon. It has become an annual event.
We brought our foldable beach chairs, our contribution of food and drink and our intention to have a great time and catch up with old friends. 
It was a beautul day for a beach party. Seabright is less crowded than the Santa Cruz Boardwalk Beach. From where we sat we could see the Santa Cruz Breakwater Lighthouse in the mouth of the harbor. If you enjoy sunsets, walks on the beach, no crowds, this is the perfect place to settle down for a party and be with nature. When one is at the beach, time doesn’t move hour to hour, but moment to moment. After we set down our gear and food supplies, we spotted a solitary playful seal enjoying rising and falling beneath the ocean surf. We had plenty of appetizers like imported cheeses, avocado dip, chips, salads smoked salmon...We had staked out our spot where we had access to a barbecue grill that would later be transformed into a bonfire pit that ran late into the night. Just before sundown, a patrol officer drove-up onto the beach as we were having a drink—busted!🙂“There is no alcohol allowed on the beach,” he said. But as we looked around plenty of people skirt the law and drink discretely. The officer gave us a warning and went on his way. 

Putting aside our run in with the law,🙂 it was a festive evening from start to finish. 
We had music playing, there was some singing and dancing by members of our group. We enjoyed grilled hot dogs, brisket, an assortment of vegetarian dishes and enjoyed the lingering pink-orange sunset. Elaine, one of the friends in our group was celebrating her birthday. The cake that was in a plastic box was covered to keep it cool, and another friend inadvertently left his carbon footprint on it (crunch!)🙂. But, I’m not telling who it was. Whatever happens in Seabright stays in Seabright.😎

One of the most interesting and fun parts of the evening was taking part in a Jewish ceremony called Tashlich, which means to “cast away,” a ritual performed on Rosh Hashanah or the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (the Jewish New Year). It is done by casting crumbs or a morsal of bread into a body of water, indicative of casting off one’s “burdens” or "sins," in preparation for the New Year. In effect it is a purification ceremony, a process of letting go that wipes the slate clean and returns you to your true “unadulterated" self. It reminded me of going into the confessional in my Catholic youth and being absolved of my sins.

Each person was given a morsel of bread. We then walked close to the ocean’s edge, turned our backs and flipped the bread into the water. As we did so, a ton of seagulls came out of nowhere and it became an outright feeding frenzy. It seemed as if these beautiful, energetic and hungry creatures were only too willing to relieve us of our burdens🙂.
As it began to get dark, the birthday cake was brought out with sparklers and we sang Happy Birthday to Elaine and then dug in. By this time all the barbecues along the beach were now full blown contained bonfires. The stars were shining bright and it felt good to be alive.

Rocking out with Michael Franti & His Spearhead Band at the Idyllic Mountain Winery Amphitheater

“You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can’t bomb it into peace.” —Michael Franti, singer song-writer

At the tail end of their "Love out Loud Tour" the band combines hip hop with an eclectic blend of funk, reggae, jazz, folk and rock. Franti's lyrics are filled with an enduring inspirational message about "getting through the rough times while never losing your enthusiasm for life."

Two songs into the concert, it becomes obvious that his brand of music is all about spreading the message of peace, love and community to millions of his fans. He has been described as an American rapper, musician, poet, singer-songwriter and spoken word artist.

The 6 foot six, 51 year old gentle giant who was born in Oakland, Calif. tells stories about love, injustice, isolation in social media, sexuality, gender equality, homophobia, and the environment. He sees his musical lyrics as a unifying force that can help people engage in a conversation about a "new way of being" in a challenging world. As an advocate for peace in the Middle East, his film: I know I’m Not Alone came out of his frustration of hearing generals, politicians and pundits talking abbout the economic cost of war without ever addressing the human cost.

He shared with his audience about his vision of what love and respect for cultural diversity is. He told us he likes to keep and open ear to people who have different political perspectives, come from different faiths and have different ways of living. 

Franti comes from a family of "dreamers." His biological mother Mary Lofy was German and Belgian and his birth father's genealogy is African-American and Nottaway Indian. Lofy put Franti up for adoption because she was afraid her racist family wouldn’t accept him. He was adopted by the Franti family, second generation Finnish immigrants. He credits the school teacher mom who adopted him with instilling the empathetic values that have become part of his musical message. He was taught to find ways to serve the greated good and be good to other people.

He tries to inform not only through music, but film, business and philanthropy. Franti’s organization, Do it For The Love, serves 1,000 families, providing children, adults, and veterans with serious medical ailments or special needs the opportunity to attend live concerts by any artist who performs in North America.

During the performance he paid tribute to his mother and wife who were in the audience. He moved effortlessly throughout the amphitheater, engaging people, singing and dancing with them, hugging them and even inviting young children on the stage to sing with him.

Franti credits a priest he met while attending the Universtiy of San Francisco, with teaching him how to tell a story. Before long he was writing poetry. He purchased a bass at a local pawn shop and began experimented playing music inspired by hip hop, punk and reggae that was being played on the college campus radio station, KUSF.

As to why he goes barefoot: He started playing music on the streets in countries where people couldn’t afford shoes. Every now and then he would take his shoes off and try to play soccer with the kids. As a personal challenge in 2000, he decided to try to go about his business barefoot for three days. 3 days turned into a week, then a month and he has been going barefoot ever since.

The Heirloom Tomato Harvest Festival Breaks a Guinness World Record in Los Gatos, CA

“Knowledge is knowing a Tomato is a fruit and wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” —Miles Kington

On Sunday, my wife Cecile and I attended the much anticipated first-ever Heirloom Tomato Harvest Festival Celebration in the downtown square of Los Gatos. A few things immediately caught our attention. The Blue Grass Band, Dirty Cello with cross over Cellist Rebecca Roudman got the jubilant crowd’s feet stomping and heart pumping (photo). The colorful three tiered display of 241 types of tomatoes were so stunning they could have passed for works of art at a museum (photo). 
Our good friend and former mayor of Monte Sereno, Mark Brodsky volunteered to set up the most ripe varieties of tomatoes before the start of the event (photo) for the judge to review. Christina Conlon, 32, an American born judge represented the British-owned Guinness World Records organization stationed in Philadelphia (photo). She was wearing a navy blue blazer, gray slacks and button-down white dress shirt, reminiscent of the colors of my school uniform at St. Michael’s High School I attended in New Jersey. Then there was the ever colorful and cheerful president of the World Tomato Society, Helen Pastorino (photo) who said she never dreamed that this event would get such a wonderful turnout and support from the community. There was a volunteer ice cream server giving out free sample sized cups of Tomato Saffron ice cream from his refrigerated cart prepared by Treatbot Ice Cream in San Jose that Helen encouraged us to try. It was surprisingly tasty. Even the cute and cuddly one month old tiny chihuahua named Peanut, wrapped in a pink blanket next it’s doting owner liked it (photo). The adorable pup licked my fingers clean of dried ice cream drippings when I went over to say hello to him. 

But, as cute and cuddly as Peanut was, it was Conlon, the judge from Guinness who had garnered much of the attention. After a careful count of these prized jewel-like tomatoes, the former bankruptcy attorney determined that a new world record for the most variety of tomatoes had been set at 241, right here in our beloved village of Los Gatos, CA, handily beating the previous record of 135 set in 2015 in New York’s Time Square.

While thinking about the fun time we had at the Heirloom Tomato Harvest Festival yesterday afternoon, our doorbell rang. It was our next door neighbor Howard Green who generously offered us several pounds of fresh tomatoes from the community garden at Rinconada Hills that many residents participate in. He had no idea that there was a tomato fest in town. For us the joyful coincidence didn’t go unnoticed. The fresh tomato aroma was “to die for,” as Cecile would say. We happened to have two fresh packages of linguini in the fridge and Cecile decided to make a homemade sauce from an inspired recipe from my late Zia (aunt) Cettina from Sicily. Thanks to Howard, my late aunt and Cecile, it was Heavenly Pasta Night at the Augustine's home.

Postscript:
When I was a kid my now, 100 year old dad would ask: “Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable?” I was used to him quizzing me on trivia questions. “A vegetable, of course, dad,” I answered. “No, it’s a fruit,” he would say. At the time I had neither the interest nor curiosity to verify if what he said was true. It was many years later that I discovered it was a fruit. Science Bob says the way to know is to inquire if it has seeds. “If the answer is yes,” he said, “then technically, (botanically) you have a fruit.” Dad was right—again

Just Got My New Sondors Fold X Electric Bike—a Joy and Adrenaline Rush

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride."
—John F. Kennedy."

It’s beginning to feel like Christmas and Hannukah combined. I just got my new Sondors electric bike. It was defintely worth the 3 1/2 month wait. Our friends James (Jimi) and Jennifer Hunter, just back from an Alaska cruise offered to be my “assembly team.” Though Jimi used to race bikes back in the day, he would be the first to admit that, Jennifer was the brains behind the operation. She proved to be more mechanically adept than either one of us, and took the lead assembling it. That said, it was Jimi that got me hooked on electric bikes. We covered many a mile navigating the foothills of Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga as well as the backroads of Napa Valley in the last several months.

Storm Sondors, the creative genius behind his brand says, “Global electric bike sales are projected to increase by about $10 billion over the next 10 years.” His company has sold 20,000 bikes and shipping to customers in faraway places like India, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Just as no-one ever conceived that phones would become smart hand-held computers and the internet would become a worldwide phenomenon, who ever dreamed we would one day be riding electric assist bikes to work, to the beach, to the health club, your favorite yoga studio, and even your local Apple Store (see photo).

In there new promotion, Sondors Inc., the makers of my new electric FOLD X bike says, “The choice is yours…a new iPhone or a new Sondors. That’s right, a brand new SONDORS can be yours for less than an iPhone.” Plus you get recreation, exhilaration and transportation without those pesky roaming charges.

But why limit oneself to either an iPhone or an electric bike. Why not have both? So, I upgraded my old razor flip phone to an iPhone 7 Plus for my birthday last month and now have a Sondors Fold X which has a 48 V battery, 500W rear hub motor, a driving range of 50 miles using the straight electric or 60-85 miles using the pedal assist. It also has an LCD screen for 5 levels of electric assist, can be folded in half for easier storage in your garage or to put in the back of your trunk or back seat of your car, has a adjustable handlebar height, and but not least a 7-speed Shimano gear cassette with hand grip shifter. The knobby fat tires can tackle any terrain and what an “adrenaline rush.”

I love Storm’s story as much as his bikes. Born in Latvia, he struggled to make friends as a kid. He felt awkward around his classmates and even his parents felt there was something off about him. While in his 20s he was making wooden models for major toy companies in Chicago and then went out on his own. But success didn’t make him any happier. He eventually sold his company and moved to Malibu. The surfer businessman came up with the idea of a more economical electric bike (pricing his first model at $500) when he saw how expensive they were. He was also diagnosed with Asperger’s Disease as an adult. It was a liberating moment and explained a lot of the angst he suffered as a child. He now interacts more comfortably with strangers and engages his customers more regularly when they want to test drive his e-bike creation and has become an inspiration to many who have his form of autism. And, judging by his sales video clips, he has a charming sense of humor to boot.

Photo Credit (Apple Store in Santa Monica, Ron White, LA Times)

A Delicious Lunch at the Bell Tower Cafe—A Former Place of Worship & Still a Peaceful Refuge

"Churches worldwide are being given an afterlife by savvy entrepreneurs who CONVERT them to libraries, restaurants, schools, housing, bars, theaters...."

Cecile and I enjoyed lunch yesterday at our favorite Bell Tower Cafe. We had a Greek Salad and Egg White Persian Omellette consisting of 4 organic egg whites, basil, tomato and feta cheese, with a side of potatoes and toasted wheat bread. We chose this Saratoga bistro not only for its diverse menu and tasty food, but for its outside patio that is tucked away from street traffic. It boasts an idyllic shady garden, stone cherubs, potted plants, and an arbor with vines and flowers, and is dog friendly—an important feature as we had our son Jason’s dog Daisy with us. There is even a red phone booth—that in the age of cell phones has become a charming relic and time capsule of the past. The building itself is a relic of the past. It was built in 1895 and served as a Methodist Episcopal Church in 1896. It was also used by the Red Cross during WW l, as the city of Saratoga’s Town Hall, and was even a school. In 1924 the church became an art gallery and sometime later housed a bridal salon. The Bell Tower restaurant opened its doors in 2010 and is kept busy by loyal customers who enjoy the attentive, friendly staff and quick service. 

The Bell Tower is one of a plethora of churches around the world whose clerical residents—for one reason or another have had to vacate the premises. Ironically, Savvy entrepreneurs have given these former places of worship an after life by converting them into clubs, restaurants, theaters, bars, and concert venues. Some examples: The Church Bar & Restaurant in Dublin, Ireland (photo) with remnants of a grand pipe organ on the second landing; a 700-year old Dominican Church converted to a bookstore in Maastricht, Netherlands; A Gothic church built in 1909, in San Francisco turned into housing; St. Sebastian Church in Germany was transformed into a kindergarten; The Church Brew Works in Pittsburg, PA, was once a Catholic Church in 1878. There is even a church in Santa Cruz, CA that became a therapy center. 

Though there is no longer a bell to ring in the Bell Tower, I love to ring a few of the ornate bells located on a stand in the reception area just in front of the blue sign that says “Best of Saratoga 2012.”

An Evening With the Gifted Jazz Saxophonist & Fellow New Jerseyan, Eric Darius

“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.” —Maya Angelou

While in LA last Saturday, Cecile and I had the pleasure of attending an evening performance by Eric Darius, 35, one of the most gifted and exciting musicians to enter the American Contemporary Jazz scene in the last decade. 

He had just closed out the Cancun Jazz Festival with Jazz icon George Benson. From the start this charismatic New Jersey born musician took over the room, and serenaded us with his sultry, original songs and tunes from the old jazz greats. As he roamed around the ballroom, he generated so much energy and excitement, we were up on our feet dancing.

Darius entered the world jazz scene at the age of 17, and since then has six critically acclaimed albums under his belt. He realized his calling at the tender age of nine when he heard a saxophone being played at his local church. He found himself “blown away by both the emotion and the soul of the instrument."

By age 11, after playing a saxophone for only a year, Darius was chosen to be in Sonny LaRosa and America’s Jazz Band, consisiting of young musicians, age five to twelve. The group toured the country and even played at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

In 2004 he was named the “Debut Artist of the Year" by Smooth Jazz News. He has shared the stage with some of the most renown Grammy Award-winning artists, such as Mary J. Blige, David Foster, Carlos Santana, Wynton Marsalis, Babyface and Prince. His Jazz music crosses into other musical genres such as R&B, Hip-Hop and Pop resulting in a fresh, distinctive sound that is uniquely his own.

Born into a musical family with rich traditions in Caribbean music. (His father is from Haiti and his mom is from Jamaica), Darius attributes his inspiration to Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis and Prince for fearlessly trail blazing new frontiers in music.

He has been featured on Fox’s TV show, The X Factor, one of our favorite entertainment shows, and TNT’s hist drama series, Mob City. With the help of radio stations worldwide, his radio single, “Breakin’ Thru” recently made it to # 1 on the "Mediabase Smooth Jazz Chart." 

He was also featured on the up and coming musician Adam Hawley’s radio single, “35 Street” that made it to # 1 on the “Billboard Contemporary Smooth Jazz Charts” for 5 consecutive weeks. 

Humbled, grateful and honored by all the attention his music has been receiving, Darius continues his involvement in the “Mission in the Schools Campaign” he established several years ago. His goal is to inpire the younger generations of musicians to follow their dreams, play music and keep music alive in schools. Dedicated to this cause and having the desire to “Push it Forward" he has faciliated workshops with the Birmingham School of the Arts.

For those interested in attending one of his concerts while on tour around the country, check out his website at: www.ericdarius.com

One Lucky Dog, a Monkey god & Other Meaningful Coincidences

“When you live your life with an appreciation of coincidences and their meanings, you connect wth the underlying field of infinite possibilities”—Deepak Chopra

While attending a medical conference in LA this weekend, Cecile and I met a woman named Sue who manufactures and distributes nutritional supplements from Vietnam where she works and lives. I was attracted to her booth by a rather large familiar looking wood puppet, propped up on her display table. As I got closer I noticed it was Hanuman, the mighty monkey god in Hindu mythology that symbolizes, physical strength, perseverance, devotion, and how to face and overcome adversity in life. 

I noticed a number of coincidences were beginning to unfold. For example, Sue told me she bought the puppet in Myanmar (Burma), a place where I have visited over the years to study and practice mindfulness meditation. Her manufacturing plant is in Southern Vietnam where my son Jason and I visited years ago, and where Cecile and I will be touring in 2018. While we continued to talk, a cute golden dog joyfully popped out from behind the table to say hello. “What’s his name,” I asked? “Lucky,” she responded. “My first dog while growing up in New Jersey was named Lucky,” I said. She told us her dog was 6 years old. She took him in and helped nurse him back to health after he got hit by a motor scooter and was thrown to the curb and given up of for dead. He was a 1 month old puppy at the time. Lucky has been her faithful companion in ever since.

I have been journaling and archiving coincidences off and on for over 25 years. We have all experienced them in our lives that cause us to scratch our heads and say, ‘Hmmm, what a small world.” Or, “What are the chances?" For example, you think about an old friend you haven’t seen in years, and few moment later they call. Or, you are drawn to visit a place you haven’t been before, and wind up meeting the love of your life. 

While getting ready for bed, I noticed I left my bag with books and special reports from the conference on the concierge floor where we had appetizers and drinks. I hopped in the elevator and encountered a chef. I told him what had happened. “No problem, we will find it for you,” he said. As we entered the lounge, he checked with his staff. It turned out the items I left behind were turned in to “Lost and Found.” He escorted me down to the basement to retrieve them. On the way back to my room, he recommended the service elevator. I asked him what was his name and where he was from. "Paolo. I'm from Italy,” he said. “What part,” I asked? “Milano,” he answered. Cecile and I had been there. We spoke about my mother’s good friend who was a pastry chef in Sorrento. “Ah, the Amalfi Coast is the best," he said. He escorted me to my door, we shook hands and I said, Molte Grazie, and Buona Notte (Thank you very much and good night!). “Prego and Buona Notte,” he said. The lines of connection and this curious encounter didn’t escape me.

Sometimes coincidences can be a cause of joyful amusement, and other times have significant meaning to the observer. One thing that is certain, the phenomenon of meaningful coincidences will continue to fascinate believers and skeptics alike. I’m grateful to count myself among the believers.

Rain Pryor, daughter of the late Richard Pryor Delivers a Stellar Heartfelt Solo Performance

“Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”—Friedrich Nietzsche 

Cecile and I saw Rain Pryor in “Fried Chicken & Latkes” at the Levy Family Circle in Los Gatos, California last evening with friends, Nelson and Susan Bye. It was a sold out performance with over 300 people in attendance.

Rain Pryor, was raised in Beverly Hills in a biracial home. Her father, the legendary, Richard Pryor, was undeniably one of the greatest comic geniuses of our time. Her mother Shelley Bonus, was a Jewish go-go dancer, and is an award winning film performer and photographer. As an actress, Rain’s most notable role was as a regular character on the ABC hit series “Head of the Class.”

Her impersonations of her late father were hauntingly spot on. Her overall performance was spell-binding, hilarious, and heartbreaking—a true piece de resistance. Her portrait of her difficult mother whom she refers to as, “Joan Crawford in the ‘hood’ was edgy and provocative. Yet, she acknowledged the burden her mom had of raising Rain alone in her early years while her father was out womanizing, and engaged in a dangerous love affair with cocaine (sniffing the white stuff). She contrasted this by his paternal concern towards her, and his brutal honesty about the way things were. She also spoke tenderly about his eventual decline due to multiple sclerosis that brought about his death in 2005. 

Back in 2016, she told the Daily News before her performance at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park City, “I didn’t know there were poor black people.” After all, her dad was rich and had a limousine driver. It wasn’t until she learned about history that reality set in.

In responding to an after show chat by a member of the audience who asked how she came about deciding to do this show and what would her late father think? She said that this was not a show she had to be casted for. “Fried Chicken and Latkes,” was purely her own.
“I am living my life, truth, story and destiny, and that’s what he wanted me to do, she added.”

Scientists have found that while victims of traumatic childhood experiences can be psychologically damaging, they give us a chance to develop how to cope with difficult situations in the future. Just because something terrible happens to us in life, doesn’t necessarily mean we can't learn from it and move on and even carve ourselves a bit of joy for life. 

By the time the show ends, the audience felt compassion for Rain Pryor and what she and her family went through. However, we were also respectful and proud of how she was able to cultivate personal strength and resilience, and rise above the adversity, fear, and pain, while making peace with what had happened. After all, Rain was just as much a product of her upbringing as her father was of his.

Holocaust survivor, psychologist and author of Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankel once wrote: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Rain reminds us all how it’s done by reframing her experience. She moves beyond all the craziness and teaches us we need to move beyond racial prejudice and begin talking about the human condition.

Postscript: Cecile and I had a chance to briefly chat with Rain after her performance. She was warm, loving and seemingly unaffected by her past. We wish her continued success.

Note: The event was co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation, Tabia African-American Theater and the San Jose Multi-Cultural Artists Guild. Kudos to Diane Fisher and volunteers at the Jewish Federation and to Director of the show, Eva Brandstein.

Photos: Taken with Rain Pryor; of and with friends Nelson and Susan Bye, the Brenners, Bencuyas, and the Weinzimmers; and Finally, one of me with the joyous Jeff Jones, an African American Singer, actor, and entertainer who lived in Italy for 30 years and had a special fondness for Sicily, the place of my ancestors. Arriverderchi Jeff, and Buona Fortuna.

A Special Dinner Party at Rinconada Hills—The Best Kept Secret in Silicon Valley

“Heaven is a little closer living in a home by a lake in the heart of a natural setting.”

As my wife Cecile and I walked down the winding path from our town home, alongside one of the three cascading ponds and tennis courts leading to the “Clubhouse” for dinner, we felt a deep sense of gratitude for choosing to downsize over two years ago from our large estate home in Saratoga to this natural refuge of easy-living known as Rinconada Hills.

Several times throughout the year, the Rinconada Hills Homeowner’s Association (RHA), organizes theme dinner events for it’s residents. This time it was BBQ Bonanza Tri-Tip dinner with fresh salads, awesome side dishes, fresh fruit and ice cream for the first 100 residents who RSVP. Board member Russ Gillum, who marinated the steak in a cup of soy sauce, minced garlic and beer clearly knew what he was doing. Russ and assistant manager, Ray Ramirez, seen here skillfully cutting the tender meat. All the food was graciously prepared and provided by volunteers.

There was an open wine bar tended by Stewart Ives, a former president of the RHA and the evening's entertainment was provided by Gary Carnes, the Singing DJ. Many guests danced to their hearts content, including board member Connie Palladino and her husband John, who we bump into on the trails from time to time while walking the dogs.

The ambiance evoked a welcoming atmosphere. Everyone was in good cheer. Seating was not only available in the brightly lit main room of the “Clubhouse,” but on the side and back patios overlooking a stately grove of palm trees. The tables were decorated with Italian checkerboard type tablecloths. We were joined by friends, Nelson and Susan Bye who have lived here for over 20 years. Susan saw us walking near the lake one day, got out of her car and said, “Oh my God, you guys are living here now?” That fated day rekindled the friendship.

This peaceful gated community, offers its residents several walking trails, natural landscapes, a wide variety of trees including plum and cherry fruit trees, and spectacular views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley. There’s also ten neighborhood pools, a two-acre pristine lake inhabited by black turtles, and large koi fish, and frequently visited by geese, ducks, and large orange koi fish, and egrets and cormorants.

This unique planned development sits on over 100 acres of land and includes 394 town homes, 40 single family homes and the “Clubhouse" with room enough to throw dinner parties such as the evening’s event. If a developer were to build a community like this today—and have it be profitable—it would require double the density of housing structures. The spaciousness of the grounds is one of many reasons we love it here.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people we meet on the walking trails like Susan and Nelson mentioned above, that we actually knew during an earlier phase in our life when our kids were in school. Then there's Dee Blumenthal and Kathy Ramos whom we took yoga classes with for many years at Bay Club Courtside. We didn’t know they were long time residents of Rinconada until we were contemplating making the move.

Life has a way of making things interesting and fun by bringing people together in very whimsical ways. Like, Barry Gotlieb seen in the photo with me. Barry and I used to engage in spirited conversations in the poolside Jacuzzi at Courtside. One day, we bumped into him and Sue, his significant other on the walking trails. 

We feel a deep sense of community here, and are more connected with nature than ever before. As far as I’m concerned, Rinconada Hills (often confused with La Rinconada Country Club) is the best kept secret in Silicon Valley. So please, shhhhh!!! Don’t tell anybody! 

Celebrated my Birthday at Rangoon Ruby’s Upscale Burmese Restaurant

“On my birthday, I count my blessings for what I have today, rather than pass it off as just another day…and I count my blessings for what I have today before I lose it.” 
—Sandy Kannan

Our daughter Michelle, husband Kyle, Jason and Alix joined us at the bustling Palo Alto eatery owned by John Lee, who is originally from Burma. I just loved the large artfully designed photo collages of familiar and charming scenes that adorn the walls on both sides of the dining room. I had spent a lot of time in Burma from 2005-2010 while on meditation retreats at Kyaswa Monastery outside Mandalay I had many opportunities to sample Burmse food including the famous Mohinga, a rich, hearty soup with rice noodles, ginger, garlic, cilantro, lemongrass, hard boiled eggs and fish stock that is eaten at the start of the day and is referred to as the “Myanmar’s Breakfast of Champions.”

Burmese cuisine in general, is influence by Indian, Thai and Chinese cooking and is all the rage among foodies. Every single dish we ordered was without exception outstanding.
and was accompanied by delicious condiments, sauces and chutneys 

We began by sharing Vegetarian Samosas and Lettuce Wraps with radish carrots, water chestnuts tofu, green pepper and Tofu and Palata, a multi-layer flat bread served with Coconut Chicken. We also had their famous and traditional Tea Leaf Salad with fried garlic, yellow beans, sesame seeds, lettuce, tomato, jalapeño. It is a good way to tease out the taste buds. For our entrees we shared a Pumpkin Tofu Stew, Garlic Noodles, Rangoon Lemongrass Chicken, Mango Chicken, Salmon Lemongrass Fusion, etc.

We all shared Fried Banana with ice cream and Coconut Pudding deep fried with a side of mango ice cream. I was surprised by a dessert ice cream treat with a fireworks display that my loving son Jason captured perfectly on video as everyone sung Happy Birthday. It was a magical evening.

After dessert I was invited to open my presents as the fun evening began to come to a close. As the old saying goes, “Time flies when you are having a good time.” I realized once again that on our birthdays we pay tribute to time because it is depleting asset and we must seize the precious moment while its here.

Postscript: I am so excited for Michelle and Kyle who will visit Burma in the fall where my friend Maybelle who also has a daughter named Michelle, will take them to visit the monastery grounds where I studied mindfulness meditation. I’m also thrilled to finally share the richness of this wonderful culture with my wonderful wife Cecile early next year. it has been 8 years since my last pilgrimage there. One of the photos shown here from that time is me with one of the resident monks.

A Farm to Table Feast at Michelle and Kyle's Place in San Mateo

“Everything you see I owe to spaghetti.” —Sophia Loren

Cecile and I, Al and Kim, and Jason and Alex were invited to Michelle and Kyle’s place in San Ramon for dinner last evening. We started with an assortment of gourmet cheeses, and then Michelle brought out Buratta Mozzarella and slice heirloom tomatoes that melted in you mouth.
Wine and drinks were flowing and Kyle made me my usual Moscow Mule. Talk about farm to table. Michelle made oven baked Salmon that Kyle caught while fishing with his friends the day before. And, as if that weren’t enough, he made homemade spaghetti from scratch. 
He was rolling in dough—so to speak, laying it out flat several times over, until it was perfect enough to place it in the pasta machine to cut into strips. Al pitched in to help as the rest of us watched as if we were viewing the popular cooking show, “Chopped." Seeing Kyle in action
would make my Italian ancestors proud. There is nothing in the world better than freshly made pasta. When I was a kid visiting my family in Sicily for the summer, I used to watch my nonna Peppina make long fresh tubes of pasta, and hang them to dry in preparation for lunch. My late aunt Cettina, the finest cook there ever was—originally from Catania, made fresh pasta. The physical contact with the dough seemed to breed a sense of intimacy. She knew intutitively when the dough was the right consistency, the right thickness, when more flour and the eggs were needed. “Its all in the feel,” she used to say. 

We gathered around the dinner table, We enjoyed the pasta “al dente” with red sauce and meatballs, and foccacia. The mixed green salad was fresh, salmon was perfectly cooked and we had ourselves a feast. For dessert we had multi-colored French macaroons. Before we knew it, 4 1/2 hours had gone by. We were full, we were satisfied, we were happy:-)

Joined Senator Jim Beall’s Annual Los Gatos Creek Cleanup Event

“Not all of us can do great things. But each of us can collectively do small things to make a big difference.” 

The invitation was straight-forward enough: “Be part of the solution to pollution! A creek runs through our neighborhoods, please help us take care of this precious resource. Join your neighbors, get some exercise, and give back to the environment.”

It sounded compelling enough. It would mean giving up my early morning yoga class, but performing an act of selfless service and giving back to the community seemed worth it. 

I met up with Senator Beall (D) and a group of other volunteers at a registration booth at Campbell Park. I checked in, signed a waiver of form, and was issued a yellow volunteer vest, green trash bag, gloves and a litter pickup device with an extended arm by volunteer staff members. Coffee, water, snacks and sunscreen/lip balm was provided by the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

We took a group photo and I had the opportunity for a photo op with Senator Beall who represents the 15th Senate district that includes the South Bay and Silicon Valley. He introduced us to some local political aides, his press secretary, Rodney Foo, and the Campbell Chief of Police, David Carmichael. He told us he believed in the internship programs. He began his political career as an intern and youth commissioner for Norm Mineta, who was mayor of San Jose at the time, and later went on to become the US Secretary of Transportation under George W. Bush.

I didn’t know volunteering to pick up trash from the creek trails could be so much fun. I got the chance to meet like-minded people. I walked along side the rustic, scenic trails from Campbell Park to Los Gatos. A few of the runners and walkers on the trail stopped to thank me for helping to clean up the environment and wanted to know how they could get involved. It gave me a real sense of community. In fact, everyone walked away from the experience feeling good about how they spent their morning. It was especially nice to see parents take their young children to participate. About an hour and half hours and seven miles later, I returned back to Campbell Park, adding my filled trash bag to the pile. I then thanked Senator Beall for the chance to serve and for his leadership in organizing this Annual Creek Cleanup event. After saying goodbye, he had his staff give us a signed Certificate of Recognition from the California State Senate for our service.

Poscript: Thanks to my civic minded friend Elizabeth Sharkey, a teacher at Fisher Elementary & Middle School who asked me to sign a petition for SB 492 sponsored by Senator Beall that: Enables the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to acquire 6,500 acres in the Upper Guadalupe, Los Gatos Creek, and Saratoga Watersheds to protect ecological sensitive lands, safeguard 1,000 acres for redwood forest from logging, and link several trail systems to allow the public access to spectacular scenery from Santa Clara County to the sea.

Dim Sum Luncheon at Dynasty Seafood that Draws upon a 2500 year old Ancient Tradition

According to Wikipedia, The Cantonese phrase Dim Sum literally means “Touch the Heart,” or “Order to Your Heart’s Content,” and that we did.🙂

We were invited to join the Chiens for Dim Sum at the Dynasty Seafood restaurant in Cupertino, CA. Our daughter Michelle and husband Kyle met us there. When we first entered the restaurant I was amazed by the size of the main dining room. I felt like we were on a luxury cruise ship. It had a vaulted a ceiling with bright lights, and there was excitement in the air. Everybody seemed to be having fun. We were escorted to a smaller, quieter room off the main dining area.

I was first introduced to Dim Sum many years ago by Yusan, a friend from yoga who used to host a talk show in Hong Kong. It is a style of Cantonese food that that has grown very popular among Westerners over the years. It is best eaten with a group which allows the opportunity to sample a lot more food. More importantly it doesn’t hurt to have people with you who know a thing or two about ordering. Personally, I found myself intimidated by the many choices of dumplings, meats, noodles, rice, tofu, veggies, chicken, pork, seafood and other exotic dishes to choose from. But, between Al, his mom Dana, and his dad Jack, we had it covered. Instead of ordering from a traditional menu—which is available, our hosts chose an assortment of flavorful, sweet and savory dishes from push carts rolled to the table by our food servers. They were then placed on a large "Lazy Susan," at the center of a the white table-colthed table. One of our favorites recommended by Kyle’s mom, Kim were the authentic Sesame seed balls that were stuffed with sweet red bean filling. Very tasty.

The origin of Dim Sum began over 2500 years ago as charming little teahouses to accommodate weary travelers along the Silk Road, an ancient shipping route that Cecile and I had the opportunity to tour during our three week trip to China some years back. As it became known that tea was a digestive aid that also cleanses the palette, tea house owners began adding small snacks. This was the birth of dim sum. 

Though dim sum has changed over thousands of years from a roadside tea stop to a full-on culinary culinary event, the spirit remains the same: Enjoying food surrounded by the people you love and care about.

Jason & I Bonding with a Burmese Python: Now Being Bounty-Hunted in the Florida Everglades

“Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the poor snake and the snake didn’t have a leg to stand On.”

Here is a photo of Jason and I bonding with a 200 pound tame reticulated Burmese Python in Caron, Thailand that accompanied a feature story in the Saratoga News in April 2004 entitled A Quest for Life: "Father and Son Find Adventures and Enlightenment.” The thrill of interacting with such a beautiful bigger-than-life reptile is hard to describe. It’s constricting body felt like a living garland around our necks and shoulders that was tighter than the tuxedo I wore at my daughter Michelle’s and Kyle’s wedding. We were told it had recently ended it’s three week fast, and we prayed he wasn’t hungry.🙂 Who knew that 20 years later the Florida authorities would be placing a bounty on the corpses of these exotic reptiles.

It’s not uncommon for Burmese pythons to attain lengths up to 23 feet and exceeding 175 pounds and to live up to 40 years. They inhabit the jungles and lush grassy marshes of Southeast Asia. They have sharp teeth and strong constricting muscles they use to kill their prey. They have become popular pets over the years due to their painted skin and generally docile disposition. They can be obtained at pet shops or breeder expos. Unfortunately, they often wind up in the hands of negligent and incompetent owners. Due to the abhorent illicit trafficking trade, they have established themselves in warm states like Florida, far from their native land.

Though giant pythons have been involved in less than 10 fatal deaths in the past decade, (rate is higher for human deaths involving horses and dogs), these deaths are preventable. When handling or feeding a python, it must be contained in a safe enclosure. Some years back, a 19 year old man from the Bronx was found dead in his apartment. Apparently, his 11-foot Burmese python entwined around his body. The police believed that the pet python mistook the pet owner for food when he was getting ready to feed his python a chicken. Once a python gets around the upper body, a person can become unconcious in minutes, as the carotid artery gets cut off if a person panics.

Through no fault of there own, these pythons have been smuggled into the South Florida by traffickers over the years and in the process have created a reptilian nightmare for the ecosystem. Pythons have taken up residence in the Everglades National Park. Their prey: rabbits, foxes, deer, bobcats, opossums and raccoons, which are close to being wiped out. Pythons are great swimmers and can stay submerged under water for 30 minutes before coming up for air.

Trafficking of exotic Burmese pythons has been going on since the 1970s. Naive pet owners, no longer able to deal with these creatures as they grew to full size, began dumping them in the Everglades. The National Park Service estimates that over 100,000 pythons are in the swamps of South Florida due to their breeding and multiplying. It has become a public menace. According to Michale E. Dorcas, a herpetologist at Davidson College in North Carolina, “there hasn’t been a snake big enough to eat a raccoon in Florida for about 18 million years."

It’s become such a problem that Florida authorities have resorted to hiring bounty hunters in a program called “Python Challenge," but it has barely made a dent in decreasing the python population. According to Wikipedia, the problem is so serious that Florida has placed restrictions on keeping them as pets. Violators face imprisonment for more than 7 years or fined $500,000.

*Quote Source: Michael E. Dorcas, a herpetologist at Davidson College in North Carolina, said in a 2012 interview with Yale Environment 360, an online publication of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies

*Photo Credit: of bounty hunters, Nicholas Banos/Facebook

Saratoga Farmer's Market and the Rive Gauche Trio: Undeniably a Feast for the Senses

Saratoga Farmer's Market and the Rive Gauche Trio: Undeniably a Feast for the Senses

“Let Food Be Thy Medicine.”
Hippocrates

Cecile and I love to weave through the Saratoga Farmers Market every Saturday morning, rubbing shoulders with members of our community, soaking in the great atmosphere of food gatherers, witnessing nature’s color palette on display, and being seduced by the aroma from the plethora of cooked food being prepared by vendors from diverse cultures and ethnicities. 

The offerings are many: Rotisserie Chicken, Indian, Thai, Vegetable Crepes and Quiche pies, Mexican, and Afghani food to eat there or take home. We ordered Bon Mi Vietnamese Salad and Bon MI Sandwich to go from the Flambe’ Asian American Grill. We also picked up Vegetable Crepes from our Ukranian friend who happens to practice yoga at one of the local yoga studios we attend.

The bounty of fruits and vegetables is fresh, abundant, and unmatched from what you get from our local supermarkets.
We love supporting the local growers and producers.
There is so much variety. Take tomatoes: They go beyond the usual red and green. it is not unusual to see orange, yellow, pink, purple and even striped. We love knowing the fruits and vegetables are fresh. Maybe not fresh off the vine, stalk, bush, tree or ground that very morning—but certainly a few days fresh.
The Farmer’s market may not always be certified organic, but small scale growers do employ organic practices. Unfortunately, the expense and time it takes to get USDA certification makes it difficult to compete with the big boys. 

The band that performed this past Saturday was Left Bank Rive/Gauche Band. The "Left Bank," is the southern bank of the river Seine in Paris.
Their specialty is French cafe-style music of the 1920s-1940s, Spanish and Gypsy songs and other period piece favorites from America and Latin countries. The instruments the trio played were violin, bass, guitar and accordion.

“RIve Gauche” or “Left Bank,” generally refers to the Paris of an earlier era: The Paris of artists, writers, and philosophers like ike Henry Miller, Anais Sin, Pablo Picasso, Gertrude Stein, Henri Matisse, Jean-Paul Sartre, Ernest Hemmingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and James Baldwin. The phrase “Rive Gauche,” implies a sense of bohemianism, counterculture and creativity.

If I had to write a poem about my experience at the Saratoga Farmer’s Market, it would go like this:

“The friendly hum of conversation and music fill the air.
Colorful fruits and veggies compete to draw my eye,
The sensuous feel of gem-like cherry tomatoes,
The Aromatic smells of fresh-cut flowers, 
Toot-picked samples of sweet melons and sugar plums
caused me to become completely undone.”

enjoyyourlifenow.net

Invited to see the Epic Movie Dunkirk at the Hackworth IMAX Dome at The Tech Museum

“In order for war to be just, four things are necessary: authority of the sovereign, a just cause, a rightful intention and a last resort.”
—St. Augustine

Our host, Mark Brodsky, an engineer, owner-operator of Laser Marks, former mayor of Monte Sereno and self-described “war history buff,” invited four friends to join him to see this amazing period piece that is receiving “Oscar Buzz.” They were Larry, Brett, TJ and myself, shown here having drinks and critquing the movie at Scott’s Seafood in downtown San Jose. 

Film Director, Christopher Nolan took great pangs to depict the agony and the ecstasy of a major iconic WWII battle that for all practical purposes saved the Western World. The opening scene: 300,000 British troops from the shores of Europe trapped in the north of France. They must cross the channel before the Nazi’s obliterated them. As the troops scurried about, paper propaganda flyers are dropping from the sky letting them know they are “screwed.” Left out of the film were the 120,000 French soldiers that were also evacuated from Dunkirk, and 30,000 French troops that held back Nazi divisions near the city of Lille to protect the allies.

For most avid moviegoers, there is only one way to see this 106-minute feature film: on the biggest screen possible. The film was projected on IMAX 70mm high resolution format of celluloid film, twice the size of the usual 35mm film used in the ordinary cinemas. What is the end result? Higher quality, clearer picture and stronger colors and black and whites. But for many this new technology comes at a cost. See Spoiler Alert at the end of this post for details.

Most of the communication between the actors is done through eye contact as Nolan uses minimal diaglogue to tackle complicated issues.
Perhaps Nolan aimed to educate the modern audience on the Battle of Dunkirk, but he also demonstrated the perserverance, courage, patriotism, pain, sacrifice and heroism that it took to survive the near apocalypse. The real heroes in my book were ordinary men and women that helped rescue the troops during a harrowing week in May 1940. In Operation Dynamo, soldiers were ferried to waiting ships by the estimated 800 smaller civilian craft that had sailed over the channel from England to help in the war effort.

Nolan further distinguishes himself as the visionary filmmaker, master storyteller and artist who manages to place the moviegoer in the middle of this experience. I felt like I was wearing a Virtual Reality helmet, especially when witnessing the British Spitfire plans patrol the English Channel.

I am basically a very peaceful guy, so I asked myself why I like a good war movie. I realized I like the drama of it, the human instinct for survival. Then there's unexpected heroism, the kindness and compassion of lay people who play their part in the war effort, knowing that at any turn they can become a casualty of war. More than any other genre of film, the human life is depicted here. I want to know how I would cope. Would I react bravely or cowardly, be a leader or a team player.

In Dunkirk, like all war movies, one witnesses the honor of battle but the futility and fruitlessness of it as well. I was reminded of the song “War.” In 1968, Edwin Starr, a Motown artist who recorded his version of WAR in 1970 that resonated with the antiwar movement during the Vietnam War: “War, what is it good for…absolutely nothing, say it again…War means tears to thousands of mothers eyes when their sons go to fight and lose their lives.” 

On the other hand, sometimes there are so called “Just Wars." My namesake, St. Augustine, laid out the basis for a “Just War" which included: “Just Authority; Just Cause, RIght Intension and Last Resort.” Certainly this would apply here as Hitler was on a rampage to exterminate Jews, gays, gypsies, Christians, the intellectual elite and was intent on invading all of Europe.

Spoiler Alert: While seeing this movie on an IMAX Dome screen was awesome, technology does have it’s limititations. Walking down the aisle in the upper rows to get to our seat felt like I was at the edge of a cliff. Also, the film image is extended to the ceiling, and you are forced to crane your neck upwards. Think staring up at the Sistine Chapel ceiling painting by Michelangelo at the Vatican for over and hour and a half. Most of us had to move to the upper rows. Yet we still experienced stiff necks during the movie, and for some of us, headaches the next day. If you are one of the 65 million people in this country who have neck pain and suffer motion sickness (i.e. vertigo), stay away from IMAX Dome theaters. See the movie in plain digital format or the regular, smaller IMAX screens at your local cinema.

Photo credit of troops and planes: Warner Bros
Check out my blog at: enjoyyourlifenow.net

Dinner at Oren's Hummus Shop & Amazing Bluegrass Music by The Talented Goodbye Girls

"I find ecstasy in living—the mere sense of living is joy enough." —Emily Dickinson

Cecile and I joined our friends Susan and Nelson Bye for dinner at Oren’s Hummus Shop in Mountain View followed by a houseconcert at Casa Amaranta in Palo Alto. 

We were familiar with the Oren’s brand from the Farmers Market in Saratoga where we buy their hummus and eggplant products. Oren Dobronsky, is a high tech maven originally from Tel Aviv who missed the creamy Hummus from his homeland. Together with his wife Nancy, an experienced restauranteur, they opened Oren’s Hummus, an authentic Israeli restaurant. 

For starters we shared the yummy Quick Fried Cauliflower florets with pesto labane; Romanian Eggplant, Greek-Style Eggplant, and fresh Pita bread. For our entrees, we enjoyed a satisfying Rice Bowl: Basmati rice simmered with garlic, mint, parsley topped with chicken kabob and tahini. Nelson and I had an Allagash Triple Ale that was the perfect complement. The food is not only authentic, it is fresh, healthy and extremely tasty in an exotic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean sort of way.

After dinner we headed to Casa Amaranta, for what was billed as a neighborhood music gathering organized by Ray Sliter, a marine geologist who is one of the owners of Travieso Winery in Campbell. He enjoys sharing fine wines with friends, promoting local music groups in a home owned by his mother whose artwork is displayed in a room that by my count held over 120 people. 

The evening event featured The Goodbye Girls, a new quartet out of Boston comprised of four musicians from the US, Canada, and Sweden: Their common love for old-time, bluegrass and Swedish traditional music is what brought them together. They are known to be some of the best acoustic musicians around, playing the fiddle, base, banjo and guitar. They have appeared at the Newport Folk Festival and Stockhom Folk Festival and have recently completed an International tour.

Lead guitarist and vocalist, Molly Tuttle has two million views on YouTube, is an award winning songwriter and has appeared on the iconic “A Prairie Home Companion,” on public radio. These ladies were awesome and very entertaining, especially the quirky, blonde Swedish fiddler, vocalist and storyteller Lena Jonsson who was a real hoot. The other two fine musician-vocalists were Allison de Groot—Banjo, and bass player, Brittany Karlson. I love to support up and coming musicians and purchased their CD: Snowy Side of the Mountain.

Hugs and bows to Nelson and Susan for coming up with this great plan for a fun evening.

https://www.thegoodbyegirlsmusic.com

http://traviesowinery.com/bios.html

For free access to my other blog posts: enjoyyourlifenow.net

Good Food, Good Wine, Good Friends, Good Times at Dio Deka Greek-Inspired Restaurant

Cecile and I had a relaxing Dinner with friends Mohssen (Mo) and Simin at Dio Deka Restaurant at the Los Gatos Hotel, on Main Street. The origin of the name Dio Deka comes from the address which in Greek is 210. Coincidentally, 210 also happens to be the area code for Athens.
Dio Deka is known for its warm and relaxing setting with old-world hospitality and great Greek inspired Mediteranean food. The Michelin-rated eatery has a casual yet elegant ambiance with a San Francisco charm and presentation. There is plenty a space between the tables with a Kitchen view from wherever you’re seated.

We began our meal with a Greek Sampler Dip comprise of dollops of: tzaziki, taramas, htipiiti and tirokafteri served with
fresh warm Pita wedges that were rubbed with oil, rosemary, salt. We also enjoyed baked lamb meatballs with ouzo-tomato sauce and fresh melted myzithra cheese,
carmelzed mushrooms with herbs, and Greek salads with a variety of fresh vegetables and feta cheese.

For our entree’s we had Branzino, a European sea bass, with green vegetables and reoated potatoes

I took as much pleasure eating watching Mo eat his mesquite grilled Dorad as eating my Branzino. Dorad is definitely for the patient and adept eater. It is served whole with lemon and herb stuffing. The bones keep you from rushing through your entree. It reminded me of eating with my Sicilian grandfather who was a fisherman and skilled at deboning his fish.

Did Deka has a 58 page wine list with over 1,200 choices that will make you dizzy. Think expensive at three times retail. Don’t even think about bringing your own wine unless you are willing to part with a $35 corkage Fee. I chose a moderately priced Pinot Gris.
For dessert, we shared traditional Greek Beignets, tossed with Thyme-Honey Syrup with Cinnamon and nuts.

Dio Deka offers intimate outdoor seating and complentary valet, though some street parking available.

Postscript: Mo and Simin, who are both hard working real esate agents for Coldwell Banker will always hold a special place in our hearts. They helped us downsize two years ago from our estate home in Saratoga to wonderful, easily maintained townhome in our gated-community at Rinconada Hills. We share the same family values and enjoy a good night out. They gifted us two bottles of their private label wine, Mosimona Cabernet, the grapes of which are harvested from their estate vineyard.

enjoyyourlifenow.net