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Small Town Benicia Will Shine Friday Night

November 30th, 2009 categories: Benicia, Fun Stuff, Local Stuff

IMG_0027If you ever wanted to capture the essence of what small town living is like in Benicia, just wander downtown this Friday night.

That’s when the whole town will literally descend on First Street for the town’s annual Holiday Open House.

And if this year’s event is anything like those from years’ past, there will be holiday carolers, street musicians, wine tasting, an antique fire truck decked out in holiday lights and perhaps even horse and wagon rides. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Who Needs New England!

November 25th, 2009 categories: Benicia, Fun Stuff, Local Stuff

Colors 6So who says we don’t have seasons here in California?

Growing up on the west coast, we’ve always heard how wonderful Fall is in New England. But driving around Southampton in Benicia earlier today, I couldn’t help but notice our own fall colors.

And as the pictures below illustrate, I think our autumns can be pretty spectacular themselves!

Plus, we don’t have to worry about shoveling snow or salting the roads. (Okay, they have playoff football every year back in New England…I’ll give them that!)

Enjoy these colorful photos of Autumn Benicia-style — taken the afternoon before Thanksgiving ‘09 (click on each image to enlarge the photo).

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

2009 Benicia Scarecrows — Here They Are

October 26th, 2009 categories: Benicia, Fun Stuff, Local Stuff

Scarecrow Contest LogoFor the past week-plus, I’ve been introducing you to this year’s entries in Benicia’s Scarecrow Contest. I took one last stroll around town earlier today and was able to get a few more photos.

The Re/Max entry was out on First Street today, but I still wasn’t able to get anything more than an orange bucket and few wooden supports for the entries at Hissy Fits and The Honey Mill.

Below is a photo collage with every entry I was able to capture with my camera. For a complete list of this year’s entries, courtesy of the Benicia Main Street Program, which sponsors the contest each year, click here (not every businesses on this list has a scarecrow yet on display). Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Benicia Scarecrow Photos…Part 8

October 25th, 2009 categories: Benicia, Fun Stuff, Local Stuff

Scarecrow Collage #8 -- 32-23-29-3This is the eighth installment of my “photo essay” on this year’s Benicia Scarecrow entries. With Halloween now less than a week away, this series is almost complete.

Today’s photos are of the following Benicia businesses: Elisabeth’s Hair Design, Miguelina (clothing store), the Rellik Tavern and Be Chic Boutique.

So far, I’ve published all but one of  the photos I’ve taken. That last one (#19 — Romancing The Home at 617 First St.) isn’t outside, but rather inside the store window. I’ve made several attempts to photograph it, but each time, I ended up with way too much glare. So if you want to see that entry, I’m afraid you’ll have to wander down First St. and see it for yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Four More Benicia Scarecrows . . .Part 7

October 24th, 2009 categories: Benicia, Fun Stuff, Local Stuff

Scarecrow Collage #7 -- 4-40-36-18With Halloween just a week away, I’m stepping up the number of Scarecrow photos. Four more photos today…just a few more still to go after this post.

Today’s scarecrows are from Cooper’s Doll House, Choices Night Club, Captain Blyther’s Restaurant and Char’s Hot Dogs.

Click on the image to the right to see the photos in full size (depending on your browser, once the image appears, you may have to click on it a second time to enlarge it to its full size).

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite Scarecrow. Entry forms are available at most businesses that are participating in the contest. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Benicia Scarecrow Photos — Part 6 In A Series

October 22nd, 2009 categories: Benicia, Fun Stuff, Local Stuff

Scarecrow Collage #6 -- 15 & 25For the past 6 days, I’ve been posting several photos a day of some of the scarecrows in this year’s Benicia Scarecrow Contest. So far I’ve captured 11 of these frightful or whimsical creatures.

I’ll keep posting these photos until all 20+ scarecrows have made an appearance here. And to finish it all off, I’ll publish one final Scarecrow post with photos of every contestant.

If you haven’t yet had an opportunity to see them in person, be sure to take a stroll down First Street and marvel at the creativity that exists here in Benicia.

Here are today’s photos of two more contestants: Camellia Tea Room and Lindsay Art Glass. Click on the image to the right to see the photos in full size (depending on your browser, once the image appears, you may have to click on it a second time to enlarge it to its full size). Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Two More Benicia Scarecrows (Part 5)

October 21st, 2009 categories: Benicia, Fun Stuff, Local Stuff

Scarecrow Collage #5 -- 31 & 8Here are photos of two more entrants in the 2009 Benicia Scarecrow contest.This is Part 5 of a series of posts. For previous posts, click on the links at the bottom of this post.

Click the image to the right for today’s photos — The Chill and ME Salon’s Jack Skellington. Depending on your browser, once the image appears, you may have to click on it a second time to enlarge it to its full size.

Also be sure to vote for your favorite Scarecrow. Entry forms should be available at each business that’s participating in the contest.

I’ll continue to post several more photos each day until they’ve all appeared and then I’ll post one final collage of the entire bunch. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

Still More Benicia Scarecrows — Part 4

October 20th, 2009 categories: Benicia, Fun Stuff, Local Stuff

Scarecrow Collage #4 -- 27 & 5Here are the next two photos of entries in this year’s Benicia Scarecrow contest.This is Part 4 of a series of posts. For previous posts, click on the links at the bottom of this one.

Click the image to the right for today’s photos —the  2009 entries from North American Title and First Street Cafe (depending on your browser, once the image appears, you may have to click on it again to enlarge it to full size).

Be sure to vote for your favorite Scarecrow! I’ll continue to post several more photos each day until they’ve all appeared and then I’ll post one final collage of the entire bunch.

For a complete list of this year’s entries, Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

More Benicia Scarecrow Photos — Part 3

October 18th, 2009 categories: Benicia, Fun Stuff, Local Stuff

Scarecrow Collage #3 -- 22 & 17Another two photos of entries from this year’s Benicia Scarecrow Contest. Today is “Bunny Day” as both entries are distant relatives of Peter Cottontail.

Click the image to the right for today’s photos — this year’s entries from Piccolo and Studio 41 — both located in the 600 block of First St. (depending on your browser, once the image appears, you may have to click on it again to enlarge it to full size).

Be sure to vote for your favorite Scarecrow! I’ll post several more photos each day until they’ve all appeared and then I’ll post one final collage of the entire bunch. Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »

More Benicia Scarecrows…Part 2

October 17th, 2009 categories: Benicia, Fun Stuff, Local Stuff

Scarecrow Contest LogoYesterday I posted the first three photos of this year’s Benicia Scarecrow Contest contestants. I’ll continue to do so until all 20 or so that I have taken have been posted.

Click below for today’s photos — they’re of the entries from Aroma Indian Cuisune and Bombshell Hair & Ink.

And be sure to vote for your favorite Scarecrow! I’ll post several more photos each day until they’ve all appeared and then I’ll post one final collage of the entire bunch.

For a complete list of this year’s entries, courtesy of the Benicia Main Street Program, which sponsors the contest each year, click here (not every businesses on this list has a scarecrow yet on display). Read the rest of this entry »

Written by Rod Herman | Discussion: No Comments »