Decided to check out First Street to get a sense of the calm before the storm. Starting at B Street and all the way up to Military were a sea of chairs, neatly lined up on both sides of the Street just waiting for Goldilocks to see which one was just right. Portable camping chairs seemed to be a favorite. Families has reserved their parade viewing areas by outlining them in duct tape, others with colored chalks, camp chairs still in their carrying cases placed inside the boundaries. Family names were printed and scrawled on the pavement identifying a who’s who of Benicia citizens. In front of Avant Garden, chartreuse and turquoise camp chairs were joined by four pink plastic chairs two mint green camp chairs with beverage holders. Benicia Fitness sported three red folding chairs, one black and a blue one turned away from the coming parade facing States Coffee, then a sad old yellow blanket taped to the sidewalk with silver duct tape. Buddhaful Salon displayed three colorful beach chairs —for mama bear, papa bear, and a tiny pink chair for baby. In a more professional vein, Coldwell Banker featured numerous upholstered chairs in two neat rows as if awaiting a presentation. The slopes of lawn at the State Capitol were a potpourri of seating arrangements, quilts, blankets, sleeping bags — a Rose Parade without the ladders.
Crossing East L St. spotted a block-long line of some 50 kids from grade school through junior high making their way up the hill toward the park. It was Benicia’s Adventures Day Camp — chattering happy campers. Little girls were wearing their summer dresses. I told one I liked her glasses. She said, “They are fake glasses.” Her friend chimed in that she had some fake glasses as well. How things have changed. Bumped around for years from Jr. High through high school blind as a bat. My friend Ricki had to tell me when a fellow I had a crush on was approaching so that I could smile. Now we have “eyeware.”
Ducked into the Library gallery to see the new show and was delighted to see large, expressive, and colorful self portraits by the Bay Area Studio Artists. Entitled “Holding Hands,” the grouping shows each artist clasping hands with another on separate panels below the portraits symbolizing independence and interdependence. “Women Who Dare” is the second series of paintings. Ketanji Brown Jackson and 101 year-old fashion icon Iris Apfel are among the women represented. An enormous ensemble piece features Ruth Bader Ginsberg, her judicial robes entwined with portraits of other notable women. Inspirational!
Crossed First Street to the flag draped gazebo and was greeted by Mandalarian of Star Wars fame dressed in his suit of armor. “Are you hot in there,” I asked. “No it’s pretty comfortable,” answered a teenage voice. A disc jockey was ensconced in the gazebo as the monthly Aquarian Artisan’s Market vendors showed their wares. Further down the street, popped into Bell and Brass, a brand new home goods store in the right half of the old Romancing the Home building. Owned by Daughter of Luna florist Michelle Rivera and husband Eric the boutique has a tasteful selection of mid-century modern-style glassware, textiles, and ceramics interspersed with vintage items. Welcome Bell and Brass!
At a table in front of Art Centric two women were crafting light fixtures out of a rainbow of sparkling glass chards. Stopped to talk to watercolorist Samantha McNally who was minding Plein Air Gallery. Evidently, Ace hardware owners from all over the country will show up for Pedrotti’s 100th anniversary celebration.Turning the corner on East B Street noticed a team of people dressed in black unloading equipment from huge vans, setting up the stage for two days of music to entertain picnickers on the Green.
July 3
Signs all around downtown say, “No parking from 4:30-11 pm.” Yikes! Will my sister and friend be able to get through for the parade and drone show and park in my extra space? Flagged down two of Benicia’s finest who said that they would make every effort to get her through. They did. Glancing over to the Green, I see that the a humongous stage looking like a giant erector set is ready for its closeup, the scale of which would make a Beyonce or J.Lo feel at home.
It appeared that the entire town of 28,000 were out for the parade. Benicians and out-of-towners three and four deep cheered the local swim team, a Model T contingent, classic cars, pet groomers and dogs, Carquinez Village seniors, dancers, marchers, and more. Honking and the low rumble from souped-up engines mingled with exhaust and the roars from the crowd. Later, we dragged some chairs out to the middle of B Street to see Ace Hardware’s drone show. It was jaw dropping – a brief history of Benicia told in lighted third dimensional sketches in the sky with the State Capitol building, a camel, and Robert Arneson glittering down from above. Some say drone shows will replace fireworks — safer, greener, and they don’t scare the horses, or cats and dogs for that matter. But somehow it wouldn’t be the same. To the City of Benicia, Pedrotti Ace Hardware, local businesses, paraders, and others, thanks for the memories. It was swell.
Sarah Beserra is an artist, collector, Dharma practitioner and former lobbyist.
Letters From Benicia 