For everything Pacifica, including the “history of trains, castles and dusty roads,” please check out our friends, on the north side of Devil’s Slide…. at the Pacifica Riptide, click here
Famous “Kingston,” The Cat Calls Kibbles & Clips His Home in HMB
“Kingston” has become a famous cat at the Strawflower Shopping Center where he calls the Kibbles & Clips shop his headquarters–but look out, he loves Bay Book and Hallmark, too.
“Kingston,” was an orphan found at Miramar, and his finders were determined to get him a place to stay which turned out to be Kibbles & Clips.
The stores at Bay Book all know “Kingston,” and keep an eye out for the cat’s welfare, calling each other when they see him heading too far in the wrong direction.
Not Just a Painting on the Wall…………………………
One of the most evocative paintings I’ve enjoyed recently can be seen on the walls of Bix, a San Francisco restaurant with a 1930s spirit–for a special occasion.
New Book by County Museum Director Mitch Postel
I’ve known Mitch Postel, executive director of the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City since “we were kids.” Initially I met Mitch when he was the fundraiser for the museum when it was located at the College of San Mateo.
I was doing two things: researching the history of the Coastside via the museum’s extensive files and working as a part-time clerk, helping people choose books to buy, etc.
Mitch, who is very smart and a scholarly historian, quickly caught the eye of the board of directors who hired him to head up the museum, including the complex move from CSM to the organization’s gorgeous new home in the old Redwood City Courthouse–a must see architectural gem.
Mitch Postel has authored many books and papers on the history of San Mateo County–and his new one is available in the museum’s bookstore.
RIP: Mary Florey, Founder of Florey’s Books in Pacifica & Special Friend to Authors
Written by Mary’s son, Jon
Mary Florey, Founder of Florey’s Book Co.
On Valentines Day Pacifica lost a sympathetic ear and a big heart. Mary Florey died after a prolonged illness at 81 years old. Mary, who founded Florey’s Book Co. over thirty years ago, will be remembered by many of Pacifica’s readers because she would always take the time to listen to everyone. Sometimes she’d offer advice but mostly she just listened to people expressing all of life’s joys and sorrows as they looked for the right book. She might sell them a book or send them to the library.
Mary is survived by her lifetime partner, George Carpenter. She was the loving mother of Barbara Schlieve as well as James, Jon and Roy Florey and aunt to John and Mona Dean as well as Ralph Raymond Black and the late Lee Black. She is also survived by her brother Matt Black and his wife Nancy and their children Nancy, Caroline, and Janet. Her grandchildren include Aaron Schlieve who continues as the proprietor of Florey’s. Other grandchildren are Juliet Schlieve as well as Jessica, Michelle, Robert, Glen, Owen and David Florey. She was proud of each one.
She was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1926 and moved to San Francisco just before WWII started. She worked all her life, first as a waitress, bank teller, and sales clerk before deciding to open her own business and moving to Pacifica in 1977. Mary always supported local writers and her store was used for many, many lectures, events and meetings over the years.
A memorial service will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church at 1165 Seville Drive in Pacifica on Thursday, February 21st at 6 PM followed by a reception. Those who wish to bring food to the reception are invited to do so. People who loved Mary can also make a contribution to Florey’s Book Co. at 2120 Palmetto Avenue, Pacifica, CA 94044
… 1970s Window Dressing for New Harvey Milk Film..
I’m told there’s a Gus Van Sant movie being made about openly gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk (played by “tough guy” actor Sean Penn. Supervisor Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in City Hall in 1978 by Dan White, a crazed former supervisor.
The film is being shot in the City’s far- from- shy Castro District, and to sync the scenes with the era, store owners were asked [paid!] to dress up their windows a la 197os. Here’s a sampling of fun photos from my friend Leon Kunke.
….You want fresh crab? We got crab….
from Richard who was working aboard the Maurauder at Pillar Point Harbor in Princeton-by-the-Sea.
…Postcard from Seattle…The Lady has a Broken Back…
I was in Seattle for Valentine’s Day and while waiting in the reception area of a small hotel-chain, athletes and cheerleaders from a local high school arrived.
Here are the cheerleaders from Deer Park, Washington.
Why was I in Seattle for one day/night only?
I was there to visit a orthopedist-nutritionist for my “broken back.” Yes, I fell on my butt outside my home in El Granada and broke L-1, L-2. It’s very painful.
Because this was an overnight trip, we stayed in a motel-hotel near the doctor’s office. After getting up at 5 a.m. to catch the flight……. etc. etc…… and my exam, I was anxious to get some rest. Looked like the place was booked solid and we ended up in a room with a running toilet, and a very good view of the building’s giant air conditioner, that was also making a persistent, loud noise.
It didn’t take more than a couple of minutes for us to grab our stuff and say goodbye.
In the lobby, the athletes I mentioned earlier started to arrive, healthy high school wrestlers and gymnists, as well as the cheerleaders in the photo above. What an irony, me, with the broken back surrounded by– these at-the-peak of their athletic careers– young, agile, talented kids.
Our problem seemed to matter less and less as we were outnumbered at the crowded reservation desk. Getting a taxi was not easy, either–but the taxi driver, when he arrived an hour later, was a young guy who was a lot of fun. He told us he usually takes passengers to the airport so driving into Seattle was a treat for him. He especially enjoyed people-watching and laughing about the crazy city drivers.
Heading for downtown Seattle turned out to be a great idea on the night of Valentine’s Day. We checked into the newly remodeled Alexis Hotel, a delightful place to stay with big pieces of art, paintings on the walls everywhere– and a comfortable bed for a lady with a broken back to sleep in. Very quiet, too. The Alexis has a cool restaurant/bar called the Library Bistro & Bookstore but we had dinner was down the street at the partly- unfortunately- named “McCormick & Schmick’s” Seafood Restaurant.
Nice close to a difficult (you have no idea) day.
At the airport, on the way home, I picked up a copy of the “New Yorker.” There’s a great story I highly recommend for you murder mystery fans. This one is a true crime piece called “Poland’s Postmodern Murder” by David Grann. It’ll keep you reading–but the story isn’t available online–you’ll have to buy a copy of the “New Yorker” in town at the Moon News Bookstore and enjoy local Jan Tiura’s photographs at the same time.
Sure helped reading the story while I tried to find a comfortable way to sit in the tiny seat on the fully-loaded flight back to Oakland.
It’s great to be back home in El Granada.
P.S. Maybe someday, when we’re in pain, we’ll be able to bring our broken bodies into a repair until while we’re given a healthy “loaner,” so we can keep on going.
P.P.S. I thank the excellent ER staff at Seton-Coastside in Moss Beach for taking care of me when I appeared in extreme pain on a Tuesday at dawn a few weeks ago. Doctor, nurse, X-ray technician, everybody, thank you.
…..Outstanding in the Field……
One of my dreams is to one day be able to schedule an event with “Outstanding in the Field.”***
When I saw the crisp, white-cloth covered table that seemed to stretch forever near an isolated beach, in the quiet redwoods, on a rustic Coastside farm–and on the table, locally gathered vegetables, fruits, locally produced “everything good,” I wanted to be part of it.
I imagined all my friends sitting at the table that stretched forever, laughing and talking, and having the time of their lives…outside, in a natural setting with no other homes or big buildings nearby.
Very cool. This is what I want for my next birthday.
Check it out, click here
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***
“Jim Denevan is an accomplished chef and founder of Outstanding in the Field, a world-wide moveable feast, a seasonal open-air investigation into the quality and meaning of place.
“Outstanding in the Field grew out of Jim’s “farmer dinners” which took place during the mid 1990s at tiny Gabriella Café in Santa Cruz where he invited local farmers to preside over special meals featuring their just-picked harvest. The first Outstanding in the Field “farm dinner” took place at Mariquita farm in Corralitos, California in September of 1999.
“Outstanding in the Field has hosted 75 events since 1999. In 2008, Outstanding in the Field goes even farther afield and ventures beyond North America — bringing our long table to selected sites around the world.”
