Finally the Historic Fox Theater in Paso Robles Will See Action Again

Historic Fox Theater - New Home for the RE:Find Distillery Downtown

I moved to the Paso Robles area in 1993. I've never seen the historic Fox Theater occupied. I've seen it boarded up. I've seen what pranksters have done to the marquee. I've just never seen anyone do anything to bring the building back to life. Now the Re:Find Distillery plans to move in and make it a gathering place for the community again.

Future Home of Re:Find Distillery,© B. Radisavljevic

Will It Really Happen?

I had hoped the building would come back to life when John Turano purchased the property in 2001. He had planned to turn the space into a special events center, but it never happened. It didn't go back on the market until 2015.  By then it was necessary to bring it up to current building code requirements. Alex Villicana is working on a renovation plan that will bring the building up to current codes. The Villicanas hope to have the building ready for use in two to three years. 

I wish Re:Find success in making this building into a thriving enterprise that will bring this section of Spring Street new life. I hope we won't be disappointed once again. 

Facts for this post came from an article in The Tribune.

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Read more here: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article78111942.html#storylink=cpy

Side Trip to Harmony, California

Harmony: A Small Art Colony on the Central Coast of California

 I had lived on the Central Coast for over twenty years before I finally got around to investigating the tiny town of Harmony. It was started by Swiss Dairy Farmers in 1869, but it is no longer a dairy town. It's now more like a colony of people who make art objects. The only open businesses I saw the day I was there were the glass blower and the pottery shop. If you click the photo to enlarge it, you should be able to read the history. The Harmony Cellars Winery was at the top of the hill, but since I was there late in the afternoon, I didn't bother going up to see it. I'll do it on another day.

The Pottery Shop and the Well

The only shop I entered during my visit to Harmony was the Pottery Shop. The proprietor didn't want me to take pictures inside, so I didn't. I did think the outside was lovely. It appears that the raised beds and and other elements of the decor were made from materials recycled from previous structures.

Here is a closer look at that exterior wall of the pottery shop. I especially like the weeping willow tree.

Here is the well  at Harmony. It adds to the mood of the small town and may have historical value. It did not appear to be in use anymore and may be purely decorative. I can't find out much about it.

Frame Yourself in a Photo in Harmony!

Want to prove you've been to Harmony? Use the picture window to get your picture taken. Then go to Zazzle and make yourself some postcards to send to friends. Just follow the link and upload a photo you've edited to 1120 x 850 pixels with a resolution of 200 ppi and follow the simple instructions. A larger resolution is even better. You can actually play with the size on the Zazzle page to show your photo  to best advantage.

Of course, if you don't want to put yourself in the way of the scenery, you could just  shoot through the window yourself as I did here.

I also saw a number of interesting succulent plants in Harmony. You can see those succulent gardens here. 

Harmony is on the way to making a comeback and developers have plans. We will have to see if these plans will actually make Harmony a busy and thriving community again. Part of me hopes it stays a quiet oasis.

The Granary in Paso Robles

Today is Humpday, and I'm taking a break from writing about my garden and taking you back to downtown Paso Robles. Today I will show you  The Granary, a three-story historic building that now houses several businesses and the Cool Hand Luke's Steak House.

In the middle of the last century, instead of being known for wine, Paso Robles was known as the Almond Capital of the World. Almond crops were stored here in the granary and then loaded onto the trains on the nearby railroad to be shipped across the country. Before that, it stored grain. Now Paso Robles does not grow much grain or many almonds, so the historic granary has become a great place to locate a business.

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Contrasting Views of Froom Ranch in San Luis Obispo

I first discovered the historic Froom Ranch buildings in November, 2011, when I happened to go to Costco in San Luis Obispo alone (as opposed to with my husband.) It had been raining, and after I had shopped I followed the lot around to the Home Depot side and parked at the far end. I decided I wanted to photograph the buildings during a lull between rains. That turned out not to be a great decision.

I tend to be spontaneous. It wasn't good enough to take the photos from the parking lot of Home Depot as I did here. I wanted to get closer and find the Froom Ranch Trail itself. Never mind that the trail was wet or that it would be dark soon. Up I went until I was even with the old barn.

I had searched for the trail because I had wanted a photo of the hills after visiting the Mac Superstore as I was wandering around behind the buildings on that side of Los Osos Valley Road,  someone in the Target shopping center told me the best place to photograph those hills was from the trail that started behind Home Depot. I did get several photos of the hills that night, but they all included Home Depot, as this one did, because the place I was standing was only as high as the old barn.

It was very muddy, and dark was coming on fast, and I knew I had no business trying to go high that night. I promised myself I would come back during daylight someday and hit the trail. Meanwhile, I barely made it down because the mud I had accumulated on the bottom of my shoes was about two inches thick. It took some ingenuity to get them cleaned up so I could get back in the car to drive home.

I had never known much about Froom Ranch, so I decided to do a bit of research online. There wasn't much information but I  did find this much. John R. Froom first came to San Luis Obispo in 1886. He worked on this 5,000-acre ranch, which was then owned by a Mr. L. Nelson. Later Mr. Froom leased it and started a dairy farm which did well. Mrs. Froom somehow received the ranch in 1904. Mr. Froom was a great supporter of his adopted city of San Luis Obispo.

Later on the ranch was purchased by Alex and Phyllis Madonna, who built the Madonna Inn San Luis Obispo is famous for. The Madonnas have also done much for their city, and as I write this, Phyllis, who survived Alex after his death in 2004, is still active in civic service. In 2013 she was named San Luis Obispo County by the Chamber of Commerce in addition to the many other awards she had already received.  She is still very active in supporting the Women's Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo County. You can read more about the Madonnas here. 

As far as I know, the ranch is now under the management or ownership of the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo. It appears the historic buildings themselves remain on private property, since there are signs posted to that effect around them.

When I took this photo yesterday, it was also near sundown, but it was at least dry. You will notice that the hills are already starting to turn brown because there has been no  rain recently.

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The First Churches In Templeton

I'm writing this on Good Friday, so I did not get out for a walk today. I thought, instead, I would show you my photo of the oldest Lutheran church in California still worshiping in its original building,  Bethel Lutheran Church, here in Templeton. This building was completed in 1891. It was the second church in Templeton to be organized and was born on August 27, 1887.

The first church to be organized in Templeton was the First Presbyterian Church. An article on the website of the Templeton Historical Society has photos of the original buildings of both churches as they looked in their early days. Take a look at the difference in the trees around Bethel Lutheran.


What historic churches do you have in your town?

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Photos from A Short Visit to Steinbeck Vineyards and Winery

Steinbeck Winery Exterior Photos

I normally only visit westside Paso Robles wineries, but tonight I went to the east side to attend a meeting at the Steinbeck tasting room which you see pictured here. This is the side view.

Side View of Steinbeck Tasting Room, © B. Radisavljevic

Since we arrived late to the meeting, I couldn't take any pictures until after the meeting ended, and by then the sun was beginning to go down. I took the photo below after the meeting was over and people were talking outside near the entrance afterward.

Entrance View  of Steinbeck Tasting Room, © B. Radisavljevic

Historical Artifacts Inside the Steinbeck Winery Tasting Room

I was surprised at how different this tasting room was from most others I've visited. The Steinbeck tasting room is almost like a historical museum inside. The walls are full of artifacts, old photos, musical instruments, paintings, and other items that are related to the history of the winery. Since the tasting room was officially closed, there was not enough time to linger and learn more about what I was seeing. I know I will go back as soon as I have time.

I do want to show you some of that interior in the photos below. First is the old wine press used by the Ernst Family from 1884-1950.

Old Wine Press in Steinbeck Tasting Room, © B. Radisavljevic

The next view of the interior was taken from the middle of the room with my back to the entrance. You will see Cindy Steinbeck on the right in the pink shirt, talking to someone who attended the meeting. The chairs were put up just for the meeting.  I thought I should let you see some of the wine on the far wall. There are cases of it for sale on the front left by the window.

Interior of Steinbeck Tasting Room, © B. Radisavljevic

This corner of the tasting room near the door had a display on the walls that almost reached the ceiling. I loved seeing all those old instruments hanging there. There are also historical plaques and photos that help explain them and the other things you see on the wall. If you are interested in the history of the wine industry in Paso Robles and in the pioneering families, a visit to Steinbeck Vineyards and  Winery is a must.

Historical Artifacts on Walls of Steinbeck Tasting Room, © B. Radisavljevic

The Vineyard

I did want to get some photos of the vineyard before I left, but it was dusk and there wasn't a lot of light left. I was, however, able to capture this shot.  I hope it reflects the peace I felt  when I stood looking at it as the sun went down.

Dusk at Steinbeck Vineyard. © B. Radisavljevic

The Vine Speaks, by Cindy Steinbeck

 The Vine Speaks
Before leaving, I bought a copy of Cindy Steinbeck's book, The Vine Speaks. I'm eager to see her insights into John 15 as one who truly understands both the life of grape vines, as well Christian life. Read more about Cindy's faith and ministry.  I will review this book as soon as I've had a chance to read it. If you'd also like to read it, just click on the book cover to get a copy. It comes in both a paperback and Kindle edition.

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Exploring Venteux Vineyards in Templeton

© Barbara Radisavljevic

On the way home from a doctor appointment Tuesday, I decided it was time to stop and explore the vineyards at the Venteux Winery and tasting room in Templeton. Usually I never get beyond the front, building, the estate house (pictured here), but this time I discovered the windmill in back by the tasting room and there was a basketball court next to it where a team was being coached. (See below.)

Windmill at Venteux Winery and Vineyards, © Barbara Radisavljevic

I took this photo of the windmill from the ground level, but the other photos were taken when I was on the hill near the water tower above one of the vineyards. You can click any of these photos to enlarge them.

From the hill I had a great view of the sky, and the turkey vultures were circling overhead. Unfortunately there is not room to show you all the photos I took here. But I do want to show you two more. When I was at the very top of the hill, I could look down on one of the Templeton neighborhoods and the hills beyond it. It was those hills I had been trying to find a clear view of all day. They are south of where I'm standing.

Hills Above Venteux Winery and Vineyards, © Barbara Radisavljevic

I came down the hill through the vineyard and from there I took this last photo of the winery itself -- the place where the magic happens.

 Venteux Winery and Vineyards, © Barbara Radisavljevic

You can see even more beautiful photos and learn more about Venteux wines at the Venteux website.

San Luis Obispo's Iconic Fremont Theater

I mentioned yesterday that I'd be attending a meeting of the Board of Supervisors in our county seat, San Luis Obispo, today. It was a long meeting, and after listening to almost four hours of presentations and public comment, it was finally over.

As we walked down Monterey Street to go back to the car at dusk, we passed this historic theater which has served San Luis Obispo for over fifty years. Generations of Cal Poly students are reminded of their college days when they see the Fremont Theater. It probably says "San Luis Obispo" as loudly as the mission itself.

I was blessed to walk by just early enough not to need a tripod and just late enough in the day to see the Fremont lit. The sidewalks were also uncrowded, allowing a clear shot. The cars I can't help. They are always there. You can click the photo to enlarge it.

One of my other shots of the theater is available as a print at Zazzle, as well as on other products such as phone covers, post and greeting cards, jigsaw puzzles, and more.

Fremont Theater, 2011, San Luis Obispo Poster
by barbsbooks

Do you remember theaters like this from your childhood or college days?