Our beautiful California coast with its yellow blooms - we saw this all the way down to Santa Cruz
When I got the news that my beloved Sony Holland and her equally talented songwriter,
guitar virtuoso husband, Jerry Holland, were headed north for a two night gig, first in
Santa Cruz, 60 miles south of Daly City, then at the Rrazz Room in San Francisco, I
contacted two friends and we decided to make a weekend of it. We knew Sony's local
fans would head to Santa Cruz and it would be a family reunion for all of us. A weekend
of beautiful music, Holland style, with dear friends, was just the medicine I needed
right now.
My nurse practitioner friend, Kris, drove to my house from San Francisco and we
picked up Edith on the way. Our trip started with a delightful surprise when we spotted
this little deer in a yard as we head out to the highway. I was amazed since we were
in a residential neighborhood! She was so cute, posing very nicely for us!
Just as we got into Santa Cruz, we stopped for lunch at Vasili's, as I have every time
for about the last twenty years. Vasili's is a wonderful Greek restaurant and it was
packed - as always!
Edith, who is part Greek, had to be photographed, of course, with the Greek flag!
We had about a five minute wait for a table. That gave us enough time to carefully
look at what everyone else was eating and we already had our orders decided by the
time we sat down. All of us chose the same thing - the lamb shish kebab. I also had
taramasalata, a dip made from fish roe. I love it although I'm sure my primary care
physician would tell me I should avoid it because of my hypertension.
Edith and Kris
Edith says she's going to drive down to eat here once a week!
Outstanding lamb kebab
Award winning red Greek wine for $18!
Kris and me, too full for dessert!
It was delicious, though, and I've never had better lamb shish kebab. We washed it all
down with a nice award winning bottle of non-retsina ( never could get attached
to the taste ) of Greek red wine that cost only $18!
After lunch, we checked in to our hotel for a little nap. It was so cold but the predicted
snow didn't materialize the whole weekend. It was wonderfully bright and sunny.
Puffy Santa Cruz clouds
I did try to get online from the Hampton Inn but they had to have the absolute worst wi-fi
connection I've ever encountered. I finally gave up and packed away my computer.
We headed out early to get to the Kumbawah Jazz Club in plenty of time. It was a good
thing because it was hidden away in a remote alley and we had difficulty finding it. A
kind college student guided us so we were able to see our Sony Holland buddies and
catch up on gossip long before the show started.
I can't begin to say enough about Sony and Jerry's performance. They are absolutely
fabulous on a bad day ( on the rare occasion they might have one ) but they were super
stars on Saturday. Jerry has a new guitar - Sony joked that he still has time to return it
but, if the tunes he played on it are any indication, that guitar is definitely a keeper.
When he accompanies his beautiful wife, there is no other musical instrument needed.
Sony sings all kinds of music, songs from the Great America songbook, country, blues,
the whole gamut - but where she makes chills run down your spine are when she
sings the incredible lyrics her husband has penned for her. This man, in my humble
opinion, rivals - and even surpasses, the greats like Cole Porter. He is a genius with
his lyrics.
Sony Holland
Jerry Holland
Edith and Sony
Sony and Carmen
Sony and Jo
Before I left for San Francisco, I had dowloaded a list of all the bars in Santa
Cruz, figuring we would go out and celebrate after Sony's show. Well, the first
two reinforced what we already suspected. We were not up to the UC Santa Cruz
college scene. A block away, we could hear the music blaring and, once the
door opened at the club, we were blasted out into the street, I looked at the
young man sternly and said, "I know you are someone's son so where would you
send your mother for a drink and some nice music?" Within five minutes, we
were settled at a lovely spot, 515 Kitchen and Cocktails, where I had a fabulous
blend of tequilas and Parma Liquor, Edith drank only a ginger ale, and Kris had
a champage cocktail with Elderflower Liquor ( that is the yummiest stuff ). We
shared some appetizers and were in bed by 2AM.
We had a beautiful coastal drive back to San Francisco, had another geat Sony
and Jerry Holland performance at the Rrazz Room, dinner at American Sushi House,
and now it's back to reality, packing and facing the future.
Sony at the Rrazz Room
Sony Holland fans
I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday - check out the site and join in the fun!
