Greg’s Happenings by Greg Kristapovich
ACTUAL elves found it Sonora!!!!!*
Whoa, man! My hippy dippy rain dance worked…too well! I was just trying to get a little snow up there at the ski resorts; and a little rain in Sonora. Next thing ya know it’s snowing down to Jamestown (Tuolumne Co.) and Angels Camp (Calaveras Co.)!!! Today, my personal guru, Mahat, told me he was not very happy with the results of my hippy dippy rain dance; as he got caught in the LOW-snow storm on Tuolumne Road and skidded off the road. So Mahat asked me, “Besides switching on your lava lamp, donning a tie dye tee shirt, lighting “Rain Forest” incense, playing Supertramp’s (their #11 hit in 1982) “It’s Raining Again” on the record player over and over again, and chanting “Ommm”; was there anything else you did, son, either during, or right before you started your rain dance?” “Yes, master, I partook of some tasty frosted pretzel balls that I bought at Secrets of the Forest, in Twain Harte. At that point, Mahat admonished me not to do that again; as ingesting frosted pretzel balls, (as delectable as they are), while invoking the rituals of the hippy dippy rain dance, could indeed bring on LOW snow! So I told Mahat, “Oh well, live and learn.” I’m still gonna munch frosted pretzel balls, but not during my rain dances.
Re: Secrets of the Forest: I had mentioned that the store was operated by the Carons; neglecting to mention that the store is co-owned by them – and another couple: Duane and Yvonne Hilton. Mea culpa. It was my oversight. Sorry. Secrets of the Forest is an awesome gift shop that has everything from charming novelty gifts, to French soaps, to beautiful western-style décor for the home! There’s also another popular gift shop, just around the corner, on Meadow Lane, called The Harte Collection, where you’ll find an impressive assortment of gifts and clothing, within the store’s several rooms! And, a lot of the time, owners Becky and Doug Halvorsen will put out tasty little treats for her customers. Becky also has bragging rights; as their store won this year’s trophy for best-decorated business in Twain Harte! (See the full color photo essay on the back page!)
Backtracking, just a bit; back onto Joaquin Gulley, (Main Street), there is a unique and cozy little eatery called the Little Cottage Café (owner’s name is Marci Little.) Anyway, I was delivering my SMTs and Marci tells me about some of her specialties. “My soup today is Lentil Spinach!” Marci announces. “It’s a vegetarian soup. And my sandwich today is a Monte Cristo; ham/turkey/Swiss cheese and mustard – and, I’m grilling it, not deep-frying it!” I’ve personally eaten at the Little Cottage Café, and I can tell you: it has GREAT food!
About a block away, is a place called All That Matters, a charming art and framing shop, and gift boutique. You’ll probably be met at the door by their lovable dog, “Tuolumne.” Inside, you’ll find some groovy gift ideas for Christmas: beautiful hand-made journals, stunning dream catchers, tie dye apparel, original B&W and color photography…and, beginning in January, the shop will begin featuring the famous artwork of Leslie Rolfe! And, oh yeah, Babs and Andie, the proprietors, are experts at picture framing!
One establishment that defines this town is the legendary Twain Harte Market! Full of delectable deli delights and specialty foods, the market is a Mecca for lovers of good food, (locals and visitors, alike). A couple of market employees have made some astute observations: Says Rohn Mein, their “demo guy,” “(owners) Bob and Linda Parriott have really put the ‘special’ in ‘specialty store!’ Customers from the Bay Area and beyond are finding things here that they can’t at home; and they stock up then they visit Twain Harte! One customer is sending our Sciabicca garlic olive oil to her son in Osaka, Japan!!” Then, Executive caterer, Kevin Rodriquez reveals that he recently “demo’d some imported pasta from Italy, with our own pasta sauce – a blend of two in our organic line – and one of our customers liked it so much, she bought several boxes and sent it to her daughter who lives in Wellington, New Zealand!” That should tell you something about the Twain Harte Market There is a whole lot to see in Twain Harte! And a wise guru once said, “If you have never seen Twain Harte, you have not REALLY seen the Mother Lode!”
Want to see a good Christmas movie? Nicole Hogg of Video Scene of Twain Harte recommends “Fred Claus”, starring Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti. Liner notes say, “This is a story you’ve never heard before! A hilarious and heartwarming comedy about Fred Claus, Santa’s brother – and complete opposite. After growing up in Saint Nick’s shadow, Fred becomes a grouch, who’s lost his belief in Christmas. Then, one magical December, Fred flies North, 1st class, via reindeer, to find brother Nick in trouble: a scheming efficiency expert is out to shut down Christmas forever!” Neither Nicole, nor I will give away the ending, but Nicole will attest that it is “a good movie for the holiday season, for the whole family!” Her father, Bob, gives the movie four (out of five) reindeer antlers! (It’s rated PG).
In the spirit of Christmas, a couple special places will be offering complimentary cookies, hot chocolate and smiles through the holidays! (Actually, they’ll offer smiles all year long). But do stop by either the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau at 542 W. Stockton Road (HWY 49) in Sonora, or The Gunn House Hotel at 286 S. Washington, in Sonora, for all the above-mentioned “comps”! And log on to www.smalltowncheer.com for more info!!
Check out the picture of two elves I spotted recently in Sonora!! You know, I’ve always wanted to know what an elf would want for Christmas; so I asked them. Says Elf Rebekah O’Kelley (on the left below) “I would like a digital camera so I can record events with all my friends and family; that way I can remember them for years to come. And I can treasure all the times I had!” Elf #2 is Kathryn O’Shea. “I’d like a digital camera, like for videos and stuff; ‘cause my sister and I, we don’t really get to spend too much time together; and we’re going to have a trip to Nashville pretty soon. So we’re going to record some videos there, have a lot of fun, and look back on the videos. She’s going to college, like probably down in Nashville, so we’re just going to have fun down there, and stuff.” she revealed! So now you know what two typical Irish elves would like for Christmas! *Actually, each girl is a 9th-grader at Summerville High School in Tuolumne City. They were ticket-takers at the front gate at the Sonora Christmas Festival. And YOU thought they were real elves!
I was hoping to find AC/DC’s new CD, “Black Ice” somewhere in a thrift shop. I’ve searched for a few weeks now, with no luck. And I could not wait to have a copy of it in my hot little hippy hands. So, I broke down, and violating all my hippy sensibilities, went to that big box store, and bought a copy. Considering the CD’s title, I was hoping Angus Young and company could fully educate me about black ice so that I would then know how to either safely drive on black ice or avoid it altogether. Couldn’t find any such information on the CD, but the disc does have some pretty solid, rockin’ music on it! Get it!
You want to know what’s rockin’? Open mic night is rockin’! Get up on stage! Tell a joke! Do a magic trick! Sing a song! Play an instrument! Recite a poem! Who knows, you just might get discovered by a talent scout that night! Anyway, there is an open mic night at the Frog and Fiddle (177 S. Washington Street, in Sonora), on Thursday nights. Call 536-9598 for more info! There is also an open mic at the World Mercantile (1267 S. Main Street, in Angels Camp) on Fridays, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.! Also, at the Mercantile, Christmas carols will be sung on Sunday, December 21st from 1 to 3 p.m.! (With popcorn balls and wassail!) Hey, I just found out, by watching Good Day Sacramento, (5:30 to 10 a.m., weekdays on CW31) that people are supposed to tip their paperboy (and I’m kind of a paperboy) about $15 to $25, for Christmas! Whoa, man! I can dig that! Since I’ve got 250 SMT stops, if I get $25 from each place, I’ll end up with $6,250 in Christmas tips!!! Cool! That would be enough for a down payment on a brand new Range Rover, AND the first few monthly payments!!! Get the feeling the “tipping policy” is kinda outta whack? Actually, I don’t expect tips. Just doin’ my job, trying to get the news out (and trying to get a good story – or a good paparazzi shot for SMT) In fact, I get “tips” or “perks” all year long: a free slice of pizza here; a free bottle of green tea there; a free tee shirt (with a company logo) here; free cookies there. The people on my route are good to me all year long! That’s probably why I love my job! Be assured, though: I CAN NOT be bought, bribed or influenced. And a place has to be top-notch before I ever recommend it to my readers. I’ll never steer you wrong. I would like to steer you to the Kutches’ family farm in Jamestown. They’ve got a Christmas walk-through light display on their acre that would blow you away!! See photos on back page! And remember: Peace, Love and Mistletoe! Merry Christmas!
