The lifestyles of the rich and famous have been on my mind since I began watching “The Parisian Agency: Exclusive Properties” on Netflix. Talk about eye candy! A family of realtors living in Paris sell homes in France and other exclusive destinations to their billionaire clients. We may not be the one percent, but living in the town of Benicia makes you feel like one of them. Where else can you stroll down the main street without one stop light, where all of the shops and restaurants are Mom and Pops, with an off-Broadway playhouse, parks at each end, historic store fronts, a former State Capitol building, feel safe, view two bridges from the waterfront, experience no traffic jams except during major holiday events, and park right in front or close to your destination free of charge. There are music venues at Lucca’s, Relik, and Mare Island Brewing, two art pianos, some six 6 art galleries and smaller exhibits at many local businesses, flower shops, spas and beauty shops, a bank, clean streets, monthly themed celebrations, antiques, an independent bookstore, a boat marina, yacht club, literary society, first-class library, a nearby ferry to San Francisco, and a short drive to the Wine Country, mountains, and the coast.
On a recent walk I passed Elviaritas Canteen and Catering where three tables waiting to be bused, several of them with half plates of food that hadn’t been touched. I flashed back to a trip to Morocco where the guide led us to a local outdoor cafe and then when we were finished, called over hungry children who had been waiting eagerly to finish our lunches. It was the same in Mexico and I assume in most of the world. We have so much to be grateful for.
The first giant magnolia blooms are out, the jasmine is in high clover, and the Davis Merritt House on West D Street looks like a confection with a cascade of pale pink Cecil Bruner roses tumbling down the pistachio colored facade. Fun to watch the garden in front of the fisherman’s shack on West Kuhland Alley evolve. Those alien looking spiky plants continue to get bigger and scarier — rocket ships or inter- ballistic missiles. A column of red clay turtle planters form a line across the pea gravel hoping to get to the spacecrafts before they blast off.
After two years of serving the Benicia cognoscenti, Amore Bistrot is no more. Evidently they left suddenly without fanfare. It was a favorite place to greet friends under those orange umbrellas, or in the gazebo and to nosh on rich Italian cusina, cannolis, and cappuccinos. The Benicia Bay Inn promises to fill the space soon with “something delicious.” Yummi Mart will open this summer next to Pink Arrow boutique. It will feature Asian snacks, beverages, and condiments — “cultural snacking” is the theme. There’s a new boutique in the E. H St. space vacated by Gypsy Rose Boutique. Boho Rose Boutique opened only a month ago. The colorful and whimsical interior features one of a kind clothing made by local designers — Indian kantha quilt coats and dresses, recycled and up-cycled tops, skirts, jackets, and accessories.
The former Mai Tai restaurant continues to transform itself. Now knee deep in succulents and exotic planters, the windows are filled with vases and art from the Orient. A lovely 1940’s mannequin wears a fetching straw hat, yellow sandals, with matching purse and sits languidly in a rubber raft. A Victorian birdcage and a silver samovar placed on a vintage leather-strapped suitcase completes the vignette. Very film noir.
Working out a couple of days a week at Benicia Fitness under the excellent supervision of owner Joy Rund and her staff is an upper. Ever since I saw how Ruth Bader Ginsburg worked out well into her 80’s, I wanted to emulate her — without the pushups. Thursday was an especially delightful day pumping iron in the muraled courtyard in front of a wall of star jasmine. Went through my entire routine, yoga stretches, weights, curls, and the T-Rex Fitness Station while inhaling the perfumed air. Perfection.
Saturday afternoon I heard laughter and exuberant conversation on the green in front of the Harbormaster’s. There were a crew of some 20 adults crowded around a table, having a picnic and sipping wine as they pointed and stared at the sky. I wandered over and saw three kites shaped like bats buoyed aloft by a stiff afternoon breeze. Kathy, co-chair of the outing, said, “We’re members of the San Francisco Yacht Club, which is actually in Belvedere. We sailed over for the day.” “You were here last year,” I said. “Yes, we just LOVE Benicia, and after our sail we bring out our kites and compete for the highest altitude.” Back home, still under the spell of the Netflix show on properties of the 1%, I Googled housing costs in the Bay Area. Turns out the median home price in Benicia’s is around $830,000. Belvedere’s is $4.419,000 — over five times higher. And I wouldn’t trade places for anything.
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Letters From Benicia 