| |
 |
|
|
By Nancy Hoover
Last weekend some of my family was visiting from out of town, including five of my elderly grandparents. I decided to take them all to the 24th Annual Vine Street Victorian Showcase for a little celebration to put us all in the holiday spirit. While I was right about the holiday merriment, to our pleasant surprise, I was wrong on the size of the event.
 Vine Street is a wide two lane street that runs through the heart of downtown Paso Robles, just two blocks from the downtown square and the Paso Robles Inn. All along Vine Street, from 8th to 21st Streets, the homes, churches and office buildings were magically lit up like a holiday exhibit, similar to a Macy’s holiday storefront window—if it were 14 blocks long! Both sides of Vine Street are lined with beautifully ornate Victorian-style homes and office buildings, each with its own unique crown, spindle and panel details indicative of the Stick-Eastlake architectural era, during which, Paso Robles was incorporated. To my surprise and delight, thousands of visitors from all over California came to Paso Robles to stroll the holiday Victorian Showcase; some from even as far as the great state of Utah (as my grandpa would say!)
 We strolled past unforgettable Victorians adorned with traditional nativity scenes, some with live actors posing as wise men, and listened to lovely Christmas carolers and jingling bells. There were vendors serving yummy hot chocolate, cotton candy, and my favorite, homemade vanilla ice cream! The biggest hit of the evening, hands down, was Ebenezer Scrooge, a local Paso Robles resident who puts on a great show for people of all ages. Even my 70 year old grandma joined the festivities with a cheerful, “Merry Christmas Mr. Scrooge!” I was surprised to see the crowds surrounding Scrooge’s house, but after a few minutes of standing out front I understood why. There were grouchy, little murmurs of “there is no Santa Clause” and “leave me alone,” in a very low-key, Scrooge-like manner, coming from the loud speakers hanging in Mr. Scrooge’s trees – all in good holiday humor, of course. Also, Mr. Scrooge's house was decorated to a T, as evidenced in the photo above.
The Vine Street Victorian Showcase was a huge hit with my family – as with the many other cheerful spectators present. This leisurely, strolling affair was the perfect way for our family to get into the holiday spirit. We may have to make this a holiday tradition!!
To keep up on all Paso Robles events, holiday and otherwise, check out our events page. See you in Paso!
By Joel Peterson, Paderewski Festival Board President
November in Paso Robles is a special time. I view it as the end of the best time of the season. Harvest is wrapping up, the World Series has been decided (very nice outcome this season!) and the election nonsense is over. When I was younger, and lived in the northwest, my favorite time was the end of summer as we progressed into fall, school and the holidays. Everything in wine country, specifically Paso Robles, is just pushed a few months back. This time of year, it is absolutely beautiful in every direction you look. The vineyards are 12 different shades of yellow, orange, rust, green and brown, and the sunsets are astonishingly vibrant. It is truly a perfect time to be in Paso Robles. Moreover, we aren’t yet worrying about holiday gifts and travel plans. It is a time to reflect on the year and enjoy the place— in this case, Paso Robles.
I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Joel Peterson. I live, work and play in Paso Robles. My grandparents, Virginia and Allen Peterson, moved to Paso Robles in the early 1940’s and my family has had history here ever since. My grandmother helped to start the original Paderewski Festival in the early 1990’s. I moved here in 2003 from Los Angeles to work in the wine industry, raise a family and enjoy the small town charm of this idyllic community. The picture in my head of what life in Paso Robles would be like hasn’t really changed over the past seven years. It truly is a special place. Besides working as the director of communications for Hope Family Wines and serving on the Paso Robles Planning Commission, I am now the President of the Paderewski Festival, which takes place this week.
 Among other things, Paso Robles' history is what makes it special. Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the most famous musician of his time, is Paso Robles’ most famous resident. Paderewski went from musician to politician prior to the first World War, bought land in Paso Robles in 1914 and came to visit over the next 25 years. He planted vineyards and orchards, made wine, drilled for oil and healed his arthritic hands in the natural hot springs. Like most of us, he fell in love with Paso Robles. This year marks the 150th anniversary of his birth in 1860. To celebrate this historic occasion, we’ve planned a special Paderewski Festival in which all of the concerts are free. I like the energy of the unique festival – it is unlike many of the events here in Paso Robles. It is a combination of music, history, and culture but also simply celebrates Paso Robles. We honor local youth musicians, internationally renowned concert performers, our cultural link with Poland and what Paderewski loved about Paso – wine, hot springs and the people.
For more information on the Paderewski Festival, or for a complete schedule of events, please visit paderewskifest.com. For information on how to plan your visit to Paso Robles, please visit travelpaso.com.
By Nancy Hoover
 Having a Central California location, easily accessible from San Francisco, Los Angeles and the California Central Valley, it’s not hard to believe that many outlaws, movie stars, athletes and artists have graced Paso Robles at one time or another. Well-known American outlaw Jesse James lived in Paso Robles from 1868 to 1869. It is said that Jesse James took shelter with his Uncle, Drury James, a founder of Paso Robles, who hid the outlaw under the alias “Scotty” from sheriffs and bounty hunters at his Paso Robles ranch and hotel.
After a quick ceremony at San Francisco’s City Hall, New York Yankee Joe DiMaggio and his famous movie star wife Marilyn Monroe spent their wedding night in Paso Robles after fleeing reporters and onlookers. And, let’s not forget to mention James Dean’s tragic young end in a car accident just outside of town. The intersection between California Highways 41 and 46, just East of Paso Robles, is now known as the James Dean Memorial Junction.
 Paso’s Most Illustrious: Ignacy Paderewski
While all of these famous people have left their mark on Paso Robles, likely the most illustrious person to ever live in Paso Robles is the world renowned Polish statesman, concert pianist and composer, Ignacy Paderewski. Ignacy first visited Paso Robles in the early 1920’s after learning of the healing natural mineral hot springs, which soothed his ailing hands from arthritis. During his many therapeutic visits, Paderewski fell in love with the area and decided to make his stay permanent with the purchase of a 2,800 acre ranch in Paso Robles, where he eventually planted a vineyard and fruit orchards that still thrive today.
Paderewski Festival November 10 - 14
Each year, during the second week of November, Paso Robles celebrates the accomplishments of this world famous concert pianist and composer with the Annual Paderewski Festival. The Paderewski Festival Board of Directors, in collaboration with the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, compiled an outstanding schedule of events for the 2010 Paderewski Festival. The festival’s array of concerts and festivities are held over the course of five days at various venues throughout the Paso Robles region, including the Mission San Miguel Archangel and several wineries.
The festival’s Prelude concert at Vina Robles Winery, Wednesday, November 10th, will feature two young Polish pianists that are part of the Paderewski Festival’s Student Exchange Program, a program initiated last year between Paderewski’s native Polish town, Tarnow, and Paso Robles. Other events include several concerts by famous jazz composers, including Krzesimir Debski and Jonathan Plowright, as well as a vineyard and ranch tour of Paderewski’s original Paso Robles property, along with wine tastings, lunches and brunches.
Find out more about the Paderewski Festival, schedule of events, history and more at Paderewskifest.com.
By Nancy Hoover
 We alluded to it before in a previous post, but I have to say it again, the 2010 California Mid-State Fair is coming! In a span of 12 days, the California Mid-State Fair invites guests to be entertained by live music, public contests, yummy fair food and unique vendors selling anything from hot tubs to Justin boots. The California Mid-State Fair is the largest event held annually in Paso Robles and as a result, nearly 370,000 people travel to Paso Robles from across the state (and some even across state lines) to be a part of the Fair’s festivities. So, get your bags packed and come on down to what is known by many as “the biggest little fair anywhere!”
The California Mid-State Fair has something for all ages and interests to enjoy. For the summer fair traditionalist, enjoy the many agricultural exhibits and displays from quilting to pie baking and home landscaping. For the young and young at heart, the fair offers a fantastic carnival full of rides for people of all ages, the ususal fair games and the best cotton candy you can find! In addition, children can enter and win prizes in the public contests like sand castle building and shark roping held at Paso Pete’s Ponderosa Stage. For the foodie and wine lover, visit the Mission Square to taste daily featured Paso Robles wines and to watch our talented local Chefs conduct cooking demonstrations! And for the music and performance lover, attend one of our numerous concerts offered nightly on a number of different stages. The Headliner Stage features FREE local music and dance talent including Ashley Garland, Class Act Dance and the famed KJUG Barn Dance. Also FREE, the Fort Frontier Stage steps up the talent a bit with music from seasoned pros such as Coco Montoya, Blue Oyster Cult and Cross Canadian Ragweed. And for high profile concerts, purchase tickets to see our Main Grandstand headliners, like Justin Bieber, Aerosmith, Keith Urban, Weezer and many more!
  
The 2010 California Mid State Fair is open from July 21st thru August 1st, 2010. Fair admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children. Gates open at 12:00 noon and close at 12:00 midnight. We’ll see you there!!
All photos courtesy of the California Mid-State Fair. Clockwise from top: Justin Bieber, Weezer, Aerosmith.
|
|
|
| |  |
|
| |
|
|
| | |
YouTube
Delicious
Flickr
