The Saratoga Rotary Art Show will be back again April 30-May 1 after a COVID hiatus. It’s about celebrating “makers,” and fine art and handmade crafts will be up for sale.
One local maker of functional art is Christan Mercurio.
“I make sustainable luxury leather handbags that are cut, punched and sewn by hand with USA-sourced vegetable-tanned leather. I make my bags for people who prefer unique handcrafted bags over those mass-produced in a factory on an assembly line abroad.”
Mercurio adds that his handbags “are made for years of hard use, a lifetime if cared for, and every element can be repaired and replaced. Production is limited as everything is saddle stitched, no machines are used, and I have a day job in high tech in Silicon Valley.” www.christanmercurio.com
Spring seems to be springing earlier this year. A victim of the pandemic, the wildly popular Master Gardener’s Spring Garden Market will not be held. Santa Clara County Master Gardeners, organizers of the event, say they “hope to return with a full event in 2023.”
Love Apple Farms, on the other hand, has terrific vegetables for sale. “Our spring tomato plant sale—now with lots of other veggies and herbs—will be held from March 27 to June 27. The farm, which serves as the kitchen garden for Manresa restaurant in Los Gatos, is located at 5311 Scotts Valley Drive in Scotts Valley. If you need gardening know-how, classes are offered. www.growbetterveggies.com
It is sad to see once fertile soil being paved over and our beloved orchards disappearing. One holdout is Novakovich Orchards. They sell fresh produce and their famous chocolate-dipped apricots, which George Novakovich says make for good noshing.
“The chocolate-dipped apricots can go fast, in one sitting,” Novakovich says. “The turtles slow you down a little.”
15241 Fruitvale, novakovichorchards.blogspot.com
Marianne Hamilton, a longtime contributor to the Saratoga News, has been named Ms. Senior Universe 2022. No bathing suit competition here; this pageant celebrates women over 60 who are actively giving back to their communities.
“I’ll be 70 this year, and after a bout with breast cancer in 2020, I’m delighted by the notion of hitting that milestone,” says Hamilton, who joins others in “a refusal to accept that age dictates boundaries.”
To learn more about Hamilton and the Ms. Senior Universe Pageant, visit msseniorusa.org/ms-senior-universe-pageant-1.
Local author Kathleen Canrinus’s book, “The Lady with the Crown” is now available on Amazon and a perfect Book Club read. When Canrinus was 15, her mother barely survived a car accident. “The Lady with the Crown” explores how, in the blink of an eye, trauma can transform a normal family into a uniquely wounded one. It’s a story of resilience and courage, but also the reinvention of joy.
Having trouble sleeping? Dr. Anil Rama, M.D. may be able to help. His mission is to help you be the best version of yourself by healing your mind, body and sleep patterns. Like a fingerprint, no two people have the same brain anatomy. Dr. Rama customizes treatment for each patient. 14567 Big Basin Way, 650-575-8286, www.sleepandbrain.com
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, and two Saratoga spots are the perfect way to celebrate the blarney in your life: The Bank and Many Friends Brewery, both on Big Basin Way www.manyfriendsbrewingcompany.com.
For a more elegant wearing of the green, try the only hotel bar in Saratoga: The Heid at the Inn at Saratoga. www.theheid.com
If you have news about events or businesses in Saratoga, I’d like to know: debby@debbyrice.com.
