Did you catch the story in the NYT September 13, in the California Today section about First Street? An excerpt: “I loved how walkable downtown Benicia was with easy parking to boot — not something that can be said for every city in the Bay Area.” Local eateries and shops were mentioned. “It had a small-town feel that was inviting and set the tone for a weekend of exploring. I truly felt like I was on a trip despite being just 45 minutes from home in the San Francisco Peninsula!” writer Edwina Duenas said. We couldn’t agree more! Start spreading the news.
Sunday, the second day of autumn, First Street was jumpin’. The cognoscenti, the hoi polloi, the bourgeoisie, and the not so silent majority jammed sidewalk restaurant tables from Sailor Jack’s to One House Bakery. There wasn’t one vacant space on the street to park. People were dressed for the change in season – men in straw Panamas and felt fedoras, women in jackets and boots sat at Luccas, Mare Island Brewery, Dianna’s, and Ventricellos enjoying their calamari, hamburgers, and pasta. The area around the Pink Arrow —The Drift and The Chill — were packed with locals and day trippers. A gorgeous creamy pale mint 1949 Chevy was parked along the curb. Mannequins in the windows of Pink Arrow boutique sported the latest fall wear – all plaid jackets, long camel great coats, and cowboy boots. I grabbed a turkey sandwich at Dianna’s and sat outside watching the State Park employees at the Capitol refinishing the front steps and listened to some off-key piano playing coming from the art piano up the street.
“People aren’t reading anymore,” I have heard said. “Au contraire,” I say. Reading and writing outside of the school room is taking off in our town. I can’t help but make the comparison between what is happening in Benicia now and London in the early 20th Century with the Bloomsbury Group, or maybe cafe society in Paris between the Wars, or perhaps, the impact of the Algonquin Round Table in New York City. Post Covid, or at least post shutdown, it seems like there is a convergence of writers, and readers, book clubs, writing courses, and readings, resulting in a flowering of Benicia’s literary scene. For readers there are an unlimited number of choices: Our outstanding Public Library which has been hailed in the Benicia Herald recently as the bedrock of learning and community. They will even put a book on-hold for you before it even comes out. Bookshop Benicia, our priceless independent bookstore, hosts author lectures, book recommendations, and thousands of titles through their internet store, and has a shelf — bigger than you might think — devoted to the work of local authors. Benicia Literary Arts works with authors on unfinished manuscripts, sponsors workshops and lectures, while educating, encouraging, and publishing local authors.
Seems like every month there is a new book out by a local author — Lois Requist, Debbie Weiss, Nikki Basch Davis, Carolyn Plath, memoirs and poetry — Going the Distance: Not There Yet edited by Mary Sue Gast. Our own hometown newspaper, The Benicia Herald, plays an important role in this literary renaissance by publishing and encouraging columnists, poets, writers, letters to the Editor, and publicizing cultural events.
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I listened to Anne Patchett interviewed on KQED last week talk about her latest novel — “Tom Day”— a great read, by the way. She wrote the whole thing while walking on a treadmill. Maybe we can convince Joy at Benicia Fitness to add writing stations to the equipment. Like many of us, Patchett is concerned about the banning of books. “If you want to keep kids safe, ban guns, not books,” she said. Do I hear an AMEN?
Exciting news! The Inn at Benicia Bay is aiming to have a new restaurant by the end of the year — eventually all three meals! Farm fresh and local is the theme with the same great coffee. Paula Contreras at the Inn gave me the scoop. Evidently, Inn owner Tracy Varni has held pop-ups there during the last few weekends which were quite successful and will offer another one soon. Go to their website -theinnatbeniciabay.com to sign up for their email list or Instagram @beniciabayinn. Look for the sandwich boards — sans sandwiches — on nearby corners.
The sellers at the Thursday Farmer’s market are packing up earlier each week as the days shorten. Was able to score some still delicious white nectarines, zucchini, and ancient grains bread. Wandered up to Avant Garden where volunteers had set up a table to encourage Benicia voters to sign the “Save Our Streets” petition, which I promptly did. They need to get 2000 votes by the end of September to qualify this initiative for the 2024 ballot. It reads: “Shall the citizens of Benicia enact a measure raising local funds for the specific purpose of repairing, maintaining, and improving Benicia’s streets, roads, potholes and related sidewalks and storm drains, never to be used for other municipal services, by adopting a 1⁄2 cent sales tax, providing approximately $4,000,000 annually, with a citizen oversight committee and annual audits, until ended by voters?” Yes, yes, and yes! Sign a petition. beniciasaveourstreets.com
Scott The Teak Man near First and D St. has his furniture, lamps, and garden ware for sale in the tented space on E. Kuhland Alley next to Avant Garden. Word is that he will be closing down the shop. Wonder what his plans are? Film at eleven.
I see that the parking lot on the corner of E. H St. and First is fenced in for some sort of construction. It’s next door to the former headquarters of Benicia Home Improvement which has temporarily moved down the St. with Benicia Floor as they await completion of their new showroom in the industrial area. Let’s hope that whatever is done with that corner doesn’t interfere with our historical mural “Yesteryears” painted by muralist Vincent Concepcion and funded by several native Benicia families.
Walked by Judie Donaldson’s bench on the corner of 2nd and B, just steps from her last home at Pointe Benicia and imagined her sitting on the bench comforting a friend, or interviewing a new member for Carquinez Village, or planning a daylong meditation retreat with me at St. Paul’s for the Benicia Insight Meditation group. The brass plate on the lovely wrought iron bench which was recently dedicated says: “In memory of Judie Donaldson who in her lovingkindness was a founder of our Carquinez Village for Seniors.” Judie was a great reader having read over 100 memoirs of women from mostly developing countries. Wish that she had written a memoir or a biography. It would have been an inspiration.
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Letters From Benicia 