Greg’s Happenings by Greg Kristapovich
It can get very weird at Halloween time!! Gene Simmons of KISS (or at least someone who looked like him) was spotted in Twain Harte. But then, it might have just been a lookalike. They say everybody’s got a “double”. It sure looked like him, though! Bobby and Natalia, those cool cats, were scheduled to perform at Confidence Inn, but what I saw was Howard Stern blowing on Bobby’s saxophone – and Marilyn Monroe singing!! Then, at Big Daddy’s Smokin’ BBQ, “Mr. Bud”, the walking, talking human Budweiser bottle appeared to be getting “carded” at the door! Yes, Halloween can be strange, indeed. Now please excuse me while I sit down and enjoy my candy. Mmmm, gummy boogers: my favorite!
What’s going on? Every night I drive through Angels Camp, I notice more red lights strung up in store windows! Everywhere I look, red lights! Is someone trying to make Main Street a “red light district”?? Hopefully, they’ll mix in some green lights soon; after all, the Christmas season is coming.
Speaking of Angels Camp: I stopped into the World Mercantile on Oct., 31st. Heard they were giving away ice cream and root beer! Indeed they did, and it was for a special reason. Explained Carol Hogan, “My partner, Ed McJunkin died July 20th, at age 80. He loved to dance, tap dance; and he loved root beer and ice cream! So this is his dance celebration! We’re doing the things he loved to do and getting people together! We wanted it to be a happy occasion! I’m really glad to have the Mercantile host it, because this is a wonderful spot, a wonderful venue with the best ice cream in the county!”
Driving around, delivering the SMT…heard something on the radio that was dismaying. Justin Flores, on his morning show (on Star 92.7 FM, weekdays from 5:30 to 9 a.m.) revealed that people haven’t been volunteering as much, lately. In fact, 72 percent of Americans are volunteering less, during this recession. Bemoaned Justin, “You’d think if you’re not working, and can’t find a job; maybe you’d help out and volunteer. It’s weird!” Indeed, volunteers are ALWAYS needed! Ya know, without the efforts of volunteers, many shows couldn’t be pulled off. The Sonora Blues Festival, The Celtic Faire, Ironstone’s Summer Concert Series, the recent West Fest–and many more productions rely on volunteers. The World Mercantile has an all volunteer staff! The proofreaders at the Sierra Mountain Times are all volunteers! A lot gets donewhen people volunteer! And remember: the work you do as a volunteer also looks good on a resume!!
Well, I scooped Rolling Stone (RS) Magazine with my story about West Fest, the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock, (Oct., 25th, in Golden Gate Park) – but I still rely on that mag to keep tabs on all my favorite classic rockers! Was perusing the Madonna issue, (#1090, October 29th) while I chowed down a hearty breakfast at Big Daddy’s Smoking BBQ (in beautiful downtown Sugar Pine). I’m checkin’ the back pages of RS and I’m stoked ‘cause some of my favorite rockers are back on the charts! Foreigner’s new album, “Can’t Slow Down” debuted on Billboard’s Top 40 chart at position #29! It deserves to go to #1, and may in the next few weeks. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s new CD, “God and Guns” is a solid effort that should also rise in the charts. It debuted at #18! Alice in Chains has released their first album in fourteen years. It’s called, “Black Gives Way to Blue”, and it debuted at #5! And, are you ready for this? Barbara Streisand debuted at #1 with “Love is the Answer”, an album composed of standards. You gotta love Barbara. She’s the one who proclaimed that, “people who need people are the luckiest people in the world!” Some pretty heavy philosophy, huh?! To Barbara’s artistic credit, she’s had Number One albums in five straight decades!! So, I’m digging into my hot breakfast at Big Daddy’s, and man, its good!! The eggs, cooked just right; the country potatoes, mouth-watering; the big sausage links, nice and juicy; and the biscuits and gravy, very delectable! Lonnie “Big Daddy” Taylor boasts that, “We hand roll our biscuits, and they’re made fresh – daily!” They’ve got great food, indeed. They’ve also got Karaoke on Friday nights, and usually a hot band on Saturdays! It’s definitely one of Tuolumne County’s hot spots!
Hey, check out that photo! That dude kinda looks like Gene Simmons of KISS, huh?! A papparazzi caught the dude devouring some Cover’s Apple Ranch pastries at Nature’s Nook in Twain Harte, (at the famous Twain Harte arch)! Fortunately, someone reminded “Gene” that he had to hurry and get to his next “gig”. So he left a few pastries behind. Nature’s Nook is now an exclusive outlet for Cover’s pastries after 10 a.m. on Saturdays!!
GRRROOVY HAPPENINGS: Tommy Warren, back by popular demand, will entertain at the Twain Harte Golf Club on Friday, November 6th from 6 to 8 p.m.! Also back by popular demand is the Lava Cats who will perform Saturday night from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Golf Course. No cover charge for either show! Dossi on the Rocks treks to San Andreas to shake, rattle and roll at The Red Brick Saloon, starting at 9 pm! No cover/21+/ID Req’d. Ian Anderson, lead singer/flute player for Jethro Tull should amaze the crowd at the Gallo Center for the Arts (in downtown Modesto), Sunday, Nov., 8th, at 7 p.m.! You remember Jethro Tull, with LP’s like “Aqualung”, “Thick as a Brick”, “A Passion Play”, etc. Ian, became known as the mad flautist of rock and roll. He’d hop up and down on one leg and blow frantically on his flute! There was nothing quite like it! I would also rank Jethro Tull (and Ian Anderson) in the Top 20 of “all-time innovators” in rock! His Gallo concert, Nov. 8th might be a bit more laid back. It’s advertised as “the acoustic Jethro Tull”, but it should be a totally awesome show! He (and his ensemble) will play classic Tull songs – and some new material! Log on to galloarts.org! Wednesday night Karaoke remains extremely popular at the Nugget in Murphys, and they’ve got some incredible singers in Murphys! (While others are so atrocious that you just GOTTA love ‘em!) BREAKING NEWS: The Calaveras Wine Alliance is introducing the “Holiday Festival of Wines”, on November 14th, “located at your favorite tasting room” in Murphys! From 11a.m. to 5 p.m., you can enjoy new releases, gift ideas, hors d’oeuvres and special pricing! But the night before, on Friday the 13th, Milliaire Winery will host a wine dinner at nearby Noto’s Sicilian Restaurant! If you’re a connoisseur of fine wines and Sicilian food, you might want to make reservations! Call Noto’s @ 209-728-9077! Danny’s Fun Bus will head to Golden Gate Fields for some exciting Thoroughbred horse racing on November 18th! The bus will depart from Sonora’s Old Mervyn’s Building, Murphy’s Nugget Bar and Claussen’s Corner in Angels Camp! For more info/reservations, call Danny Zezzo @ (209)753-7561 or 890-7450! The world famous Sonora Christmas Festival is November 27-29 (weekend after Thanksgiving)! There’ll be live entertainment performed by a half-dozen headline entertainers!! There’ll be over 150 artisans!! This admission price is very low – and they have several types of discounts available! For more info, log on to www.fireonthemountain.com–or call (209) 533-3473! If YOU know of any groovy happenings, please call my hippy dippy hotline at (209) 559-8368!
Hey, dig this: A Kaiser Permanente radio commercial maintains that laughter boosts your immune system!! Therefore, if anything in the SMT makes you laugh, (eg., SMT 911, the comics, our individual quotes on page 2, etc.) it’s boosting your immune system!! So then, one might say that reading the SMT boosts your immune system! Tell your friends!
