Strolling down First Street
With Sarah Beserra
September 1. 2021
It was a dark and stormy night. As if! It was a hot and smokey day on Saturday when I went out to get some provisions. There were just a smattering of people on First Street, a sea change from the past two Saturdays when peddlers, their buyers, and wine lovers gathered in our waterfront town. Had talked to one woman who came up from San Jose to sample wines from some 27 venues. Asked her if she swallowed all the wine and she said that if she had she wouldn’t have been able to walk. Based on the numerous smiling faces, and nicely dressed couples, the wine walk appeared to be a big success.
Decided I needed hydration, so ordered an Earl Grey iced tea at One House and walked next door to enjoy the music in St. Paul’s courtyard. Three musicians were singing and playing the blues — a guitarist, a singer/tambourinist, and a fiddler — as people enjoyed their lunches. During July and August, the City of Benicia and Benicia Main Street teamed up to present the Saturday Music Stroll. Walking further down First, stopped at the Capitol lawn to listen to Ron Ton Soup. Ron Gilcreast on the keyboard was performing some old Billy Joel — “I Love You Just the Way You Are.” Funny how a song can bring up old memories. He partners with his wife Tonya – thus Ron Ton Soup. She covers songs from Etta James, Prince, Stevie wonder and others.
Ran into the father of the new owners of the spa who will take over the former Vintage Owl space near G Street. It will be called Aura Spa, or Aura Design and will specialize in facials and eyelashes. Eyelashes are huge right now, both literally and figuratively. Got me to thinking about eyebrows and what to do if you’ve over-plucked (my cross to bear) and the eyebrow tattoos look like so many polka dots. Recently read that there is such a thing as an eyebrow transplant — a new procedure to give the brow challenged help. Dr. Phil’s wife had it done according to the cognoscenti on Yahoo. Hair is taken from the back of your head and transplanted into your brow area. A few months later the follicles grow back like your hair is on fire. Only problem is you have to constantly trim and wax them. Heaven forbid you get sick or injured and you can’t groom. The Sasquatch look is so last year. On the other hand, if you were balding you could sweep them over your forehead and do a modified comb over. The possibilities are endless.
Where was I? Oh, decided to grab a sandwich at Dianna’s on Monday. The town seemed deserted. Was sitting at an outdoor table feeling that end of summer letdown. As I was unwrapping my veggie sandwich, a friend walked up with her large dog in tow. Before I knew it the dog had charged up to me and tried to grab my sandwich. Quel surpris! My friend apologized several times when I explained my severe dog allergies and walked on leaving me with a cortisol high. A few minutes later, a young woman approached the next table and tied her dog to a chair while she went in to order. “Is the leash short enough,” I wondered, shielding my sandwich. The dog stared at me, or rather the sandwich, with exquisite concentration as I self-consciously finished my lunch. More alert than I had been all day, I proceeded up First and heard what sounded like a serious dog fight — hair-raising, loud barking echoing down the street. When I realized the barker was safely locked in a car, I hung around to make sure he had enough air as only one window was cracked. Just then a man walked up with his own dog, and I asked him if he’d check on the dog in the car As he approached the car, the dog went bananas, running up to the window and barking at him in his best junkyard dog fashion. “Sounds to me like he’s okay,” the man said hurrying away. The “dog days of summer,” Benicia style.
Walked by Plein Air Gallery which was closed and noticed a painting by Michael Dadasovich hanging outside by the front door. Somebody had forgotten to take it in. It had a tag with a $300 price on it. Lifting it off of the wall, I walked it next door to Sweetness and Light garden courtyard. Amanda, who works with owner Wendi, graciously took it and said she’d put a note on it for Mike for when the gallery opens. Benicians look out for each other.
Later in the week, the air still smokey, wandered up to the Farmer’s Market which appeared to be slowing down, as well. Was surprised to spot a tall and handsome bloke —Batman —dressed in his usual black lycra bat suit, hood and mask. He was followed by a camerawoman taking pictures of him with the vendors. I complimented him on his six pack — not the beer — and he modestly said he works out a lot when he’s not solving crimes. Meanwhile, Smokey the Bear is working 24/7. Be careful out there!
Sarah Beserra is an artist, writer, collector, Dharma practitioner, and former lobbyist.
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