Amtrak MOXI et al

Kind of a final farewell trip on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner to Santa Barbara. The whole clan made the trip one way or the other (not everyone rode the train), but we ALL went to the MOXI, had lunch (and ice cream!) on the pier, visited the aquarium on the pier, enjoyed a little wind-down time at Rebar Coffee (right across State Street from the Amtrak station; try their iced Irish coffee!), and then the diehards hopped on the return train about 6:15pm (it was a little late).

All the pics are here.

Six Test Kitchen

Six = number of seats, period
Test = experiment, play, push the envelope
Kitchen = where food is prepared and sometimes eaten

It's the Test in the middle that makes this place so amazing. None of us had ever experienced food put together like this before, surgically, with tweezers and all manner of delicate instruments. And the most delicious combinations of flavors and textures. Works of art. And entertaining!

If you're a foodie, think you're a foodie, want to know what it's like to be a foodie, or any combination thereof, you've got to try this place out. We're told summer is his slowest period, so jump in right away. Fall through spring your reservation could be several weeks or months out. Worth every penny and then some. And right here in Arroyo Grande.

Six Test Kitchen, from the website: "Our goal is an educational one, offering a singular and unique dining experience. By garnering relationships with local artisans, farmers and fisherman, we tell a story of the seasons through the ingredients available to us on the Central Coast of California." Ricky Odbert, Chef and Owner.

Go with some good friends. And plan to take everyone home or to a coffee shop right afterwards to chat about "what just happened" and re-live it a bit! When it's over, you're not ready for it to be over.

SixTestKitchen.com | SixTestKitchen@gmail.com

All the pics are here.

Child #5, The Musical

Closing weekend of Oliver! at SLORep and Fina got a notion to write a musical. Where there's a Child #5 in the cast (Fina's role for Oliver!). But that's the lead in this new show! Below are some cell phone snaps of vocal warmups for the last Oliver! show and then some rehearsal shots in the green room for Child #5, The Musical.  Great fun, and it kinda kept Fina distracted from the "last show blues," at least for a while - going out the door when all was said and done was a little tearful.

Christian was in the lead at this point.

Child #5, The Musical

This shot also caught our Stage Manager, Sammie, on the right and
SLORep's latest "find," Asst. Stage Manager, Neil (the blur).

The inevitable ramblings of a cast.

Fina made this pillow to leave in the green room.
(The smiley face was already there.)

1830s English Stagehand

Oliver! at SLOREP. The show closes today. It's the 3rd SLORep show Fina and Papa have done together since Sound of Music in 2013. And it'll be the last before moving to Colorado. One more time to see Fina, though, in Into the Woods Jr running July 21 through August 6, also at SLORep. She's playing Little Red. If you want to follow our Theatrical adventures, check at this page once in a while.

The 4th

We had a great evening at the Gibs' for the 4th, including horseshoes and fireworks! All the pics are here.

Andy found a 2005 McKeon-Phillips at a garage sale.
Dry cork, it didn't survive. McKeon was our favorite wine up
until they closed in 2012. Would still be today, too, even
with all the great competition.