Sierra Mountain Times

When you’re a distribution driver/”concert poster” hanger/roving reporter, every day is a groovy adventure! Truckin’ westward down Hwy 108 (Mono Way), past Papa’s New Roost, Purrrfect Bargains Thrift Shop, Sierra Repertory Theatre and Hava Java, I come to the intersection near the Junction Shopping Center. The sign wavers are out! On the northeast corner, a young dude is flipping, twirling and juggling a sign that advertises Little Ceasar’s pizza special. On the southwest corner across the street, another dude flips, twirls and juggles his placard that announces Kentucky Fried Chicken’s special of the day. I call them the dueling sign-wavers, and the only thing missing is the banjo and acoustic guitar interplay! (By the way, I’d like to thank KFC for their recent “all day chicken giveaway”! Anyone who came in got a FREE piece of grilled chicken!!) Tooling down Mono, past Perko’s, with their myriad “specials” signs (I assume it’s all in an effort to compete with the recently opened Jeb’s Waffles and Ribs across the street), I put a couple Sonora Christmas Festival posters up along the way; and eventually get down to Washington Street. It’s a groovy feeling rolling down Washington. Everybody’s creeping at about 2 mph, and smiling, staring, glaring, winking or scowling at the driver in the oncoming lane. It’s almost like a “cruise” night (or day)! Every time I drive this “downtown cruise” route, I always look into the oncoming cars’ windows to see if I recognize anyone – and I do! Many times! It’s a convenient – albeit brief way of catching up with a friend to say “Hi!” But I must get to Murphys! Gotta put some more posters up! Boogieing up Hwy 4, I pass Keith’s Signs. You know, the place that changes its roadside slogans every few days. He could just say “Yes, we do signs”. But not Keith. Today his sign says, “Yes, we do…political correctness rehabilitation” Last week, he posted a sign that said, “Yes, we do…national healthcare, while you wait…and wait…and wait.” Gotta admit it: his signs DO get your attention, and that’s what a sign’s supposed to do!  

Murphys is a cool town! It’s a charming little hamlet kinda like Carmel or Sausalito – but without the salt water air to rust your vehicle out. Recently, the Sunday San Francisco Chronicle presented a color photo essay of Murphys in their travel section. It was pretty good. But it didn’t even mention the legendary Nugget Bar, or the incredible Noto’s Sicilian Restaurant! Those were like, major oversights! The article did list The Alchemy Market & Café as a point of interest. Indeed, that is a pretty cool place, too! Recently, they’ve done some nice remodeling, and installed a huge flat screen TV in the main dining/bar area. I’ll be dispatching my crew of food critic gurus to sample the cuisine there! My gurus will also be checking out various eateries and gift shops in the Mother Lode, and reporting back with their findings. Recently, Mahat, (my personal guru) discovered that he could drink coffee for FREE – ALL DAY – at Jamestown’s Mother Lode Coffee Shop, on Wednesdays!!! (in-house consumption.) He left there a few hours later, higher than a kite, on caffeine!

Well, in a sincere effort to become a more cultured, sophisticated hippy, I attended another play! Actually, my fellow proofreader, Patt Koral told me that I “simply MUST see Little Women: The Broadway Musical!” (She even bought me a ticket! She, too, probably thinks I need a little more sophistication. Anyway, thank you, Patt!!) Let me tell you, that play is totally, totally awesome! I had never been to the Sierra Repertory Theatre before, but I felt real positive vibes as I approached the place! I entered, found my seat and started reading the SRT literature. The program was jammed with interesting info, eg.,“Sierra Repertory Theatre, an award-winning nonprofit theatre, was launched in 1980 when five young artists converted a tin warehouse into a 99-seat theatre” the booklet says. (A very comfy theatre, at that!) The play follows the four remarkable March Sisters-Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy-as they each blossom into womanhood, learning lessons along the way,” the synopsis revealed. During this time, their father is off serving as a Union army chaplain; and “holding the family together is (their mother), Marmee, a strong woman raising the four girls alone.” The play is “based on Louisa May Alcott’s enduring 1869 novel,” says play Director Scott Viets. “Alcott’s book has endured for almost two centuries. The messages are timeless,” he points out. “No matter whether it’s 1869 or 2009, every person is on some kind of personal path trying to find their way and figure out how they fit into the world.” Listen readers: even if you fancy yourself a manly man/macho man – go see this play, anyway! It’ll have you teary-eyed! The acting is of a caliber worthy of the New York Broadway stage, no less; and the singing by all the actors/actresses is superb! I, myself, grew up with two older sisters, and I could almost see some parallels in THEIR development, and that of the actresses in the play. Little Women is simply an incredible play, and I give it my highest, hippy dippy rating of 5 out of 5 incense sticks! For info/reservations, call (209) 532-3120, or log on to www.sierrarep.org! The play is rated G (but recommended for ages 6 and up). 

Ron Mein, the “Demo/Food Sample Guy” from Twain Harte Market reports that the Twain Harte daffodils have successfully been planted! All 1,500 bulbs – and Ron has received a “certificate” from friend, Sheri Barnett, declaring him “The Director of Daffodils”! Bulbs were planted at both the east and west entrance of Twain Harte! “I’m thinking about holding a daffodil “viewing party” next spring,” Ron revealed. “…with wine and cheese, for all those who participated in the planting! Those Twain Harters! They sure love their daffodils! Actually, many of us do; as we drive up and down Hwy 108 in the spring!

Time for a thrift shopping break! I’m actually in Angels Camp now. And I’ve been delivering SMTs in Arnold, Murphys and Angles for about seven hours – so I think I deserve a break at this point! I boogie into Good Stuff (in Angels) and head back to the “record section”. I start flipping thought the vinyl, and I make a startling discovery: The VERY FIRST two LPs recorded (in 1956) by that legendary group, The Platters!!! I’m a strong person, but I nearly fainted! I know each LP is worth more than their 25 cents asking price. But hey, I do ? a bargain! Later that night, I looked up the albums’ values. Each one is worth $75 to $100, (if in near perfect to mint condition!) These copies, I’d say were in rather “excellent” condition! This find really blew my mind, and I was on a vinyl “high” the rest of the night! 

Groovy Happenings: If you’ve got kids and live in south-west Calaveras County, don’t let them tell you there’s nothing to do. Drag ‘em to the World Mercantile (S. Main Street, Angels Camp), and let them sing at Family Karaoke Night (Fridays)! The show at the Mercantile is for “all ages”, and is something to see! And, after your kids have practiced there, a few times, who knows; maybe then they can audition for American Idol, or America’s Got Talent!!! Saturday, Nov. 21, Diamond Jim’s in Mi-Wuk Village will rock and roll with the Tail Lights (8:30 pm, 21 plus)! Big Daddys Smokin’ BBQ in Sugar Pine (Hwy 108) will have a pool tournament “Calling All Pool Players!” shouts Carrie Taylor, of Big Daddy’s! Hey bartenders: have any groovy happenings coming up?? Let me know! Call my hippy dippy hotline at (209) 559-8368!

Drive carefully over the next few days. There’ll be VERY ICY conditions after this rain and snow stops falling. I don’t want to lose any of my readers – even the ones who say my column sucks. Hey, I ? you ALL! So please, slow down; and in this particular case, I agree with the man, (CHP): “Arrive alive”! I’ll see you at the 35th Annual Sonora Christmas Festival!! Peace!