New Times Last-Minute Gift Guide 12.16.10

Now is the season for love and kindness, but it’s also the season for gift selection. Anyone who’s

agonized over selecting that perfect gift knows what a challenge it can be. For those of us who love a reader, the task is simpler. Lovers of literature, of any age, can never have enough books. Here are some suggestions for the dedicated (miniature) reader in your life this holiday:

for ages 0 to 5 The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee is the ultimate gift if you have a new parent

(or a new baby) in your life. This picture book explores all the joys of having a new pint-size boss baby who keeps parents on the run and exploits all the perks of the office (drinks on demand 24/7)! Marla Frazee’s hilarious illustrations will make even the most exhausted new parent roll with laughter. If you haven’t been introduced to the

Llama Llama books by Anna Dewdney, then Llama Llama Holiday Drama is your perfect excuse to try this tender-hearted series. Wee Llama Llama now must face

the daunting task of patiently waiting for his own place in the exhausting Christmas season. Llama Llama shops, bakes, hustles, wraps, and decorates, but soon learns that all of this takes second place to the true meaning of the season. This is a charmer for your own little loves who anxiously await their own part in the holiday season. Duck sets out to help Santa by gathering gift requests from the animals in the forest. But everything goes awry when his little brothers and

sisters decide to help. Suddenly Frog’s request for a box of flies becomes a request for a planet, due to the exuberant suggestions of Santa’s newest helpers. Duck tries to get the gift suggestions under control by suggesting his brothers and sisters learn the real meaning of Christmas. Instead, Duck learns an important lesson about sharing patience and love with the smallest members of his family. Santa Duck and His Merry Helpers by David Milgrim will give you and your pre-schooler belly laughs and food for thought, in the best way possible. We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems deserves a place on your shopping list, with the caveat that I believe that ALL “Elephant and Piggie” books by Willems are equally deserving. Elephant is timid and Piggie is bold, but they are both blissfully animated about everything from party going to looking for a friend. Each book is enjoyable and hilarious for child and adult alike—no small accomplishment, I assure you. This is a must for any kid with a great sense of humor. Do you need a book that explores the age-old question: Who would win if a shark and a train got in a fight? The

answer, of course, would depend on a number of factors. Are they in the water? Are they playing video games? Are they in a contest of

wills, burping, or playing piano? Your preschooler will love comparing the merits of a shark and a train in Shark Vs. Train by Chris Barton. You’ll have to read it yourself to find out who comes out on top.

for ages 6 to 9 Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same by Grace Lin: Ling and Ting are twins, but they are NOT exactly the same. Little stories in the everyday lives of identical twins show how different two identical sisters can be. This is a great book for a reader ready to step up into chapter books for the first time. Lego Star Wars: The Visual

Dictionary: If you know a kid who loves Lego or loves Star Wars, then this book is a no brainer for gift-giving time. You know the kid who would love this book:

the kid who can build Lego Death Stars in his or her sleep, who quotes Yoda at all occasions, or who yearns to be a “Lego Jedi Master.” OK, who are we kidding: Buy this for your husband. Has your child read every Wimpy Kid book, and now doesn’t know where to go next? Pick up a copy of Big Nate: In a Class By Himself by Lincoln Peirce. Big Nate’s life makes getting detention from every teacher in school look like a good day. The second in the Big Nate series, Big Nate Strikes Again, will be out by Christmas.

for ages 10 and older Two parts magic, one part history, Ninth Ward by Jewell Parker-Rhodes will haunt you long after you put it down. This deceptively simple story unfolds over a few days in the life of 12-year-old Lanesha, who lives with her adopted

grandmother in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Lanesha is gifted with seeing spirits, but struggles to understand their warnings as Hurricane Katrina bears down on her and her family. This beautiful story will resonate with older children and adults who thirst for well-drawn-out characters in riveting tales. If your child sped through the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series last year, then Lost Hero by Rick Riordan is their ideal gift this year. The new “Heroes of Olympus” series begins when three children who think they are sent away to camp for being “bad” are actually being introduced to their extended Greek family—ancient Greek god family, that is. Now these demi-gods must battle to save the goddess Hera from prison. This is a must for any action-adventure lover.

Don’t forget that the public library now offers free downloadable e-books! Check out the library website to find out which e-readers are compatible with the latest free downloads BEFORE you buy an e-reader for your loved one this holiday season. ∆

Margaret Kensinger-Klopfer is head of youth services for San Luis Obispo Library. Send comments to the executive editor at [email protected].

Read onGet great gifts for the (miniature) book lover

BY MARGARET KENSINGER-KLOPFER

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www.newtimesslo.com • December 16 - December 23, 2010 • New Times • 21

BIG THREE continued page 25

Tackle the big threeBooks, movies, and music top wish lists for fans of all things coolBY BRYCE WILSON

Whether you’re George Bailey or Mr. Potter, shopping for Christmas can be tough. That’s why New Times is offering a last-minute holiday gift

guide sure to lead you to the perfect gift, whether your budget is on the level of Mr. Burns or the little Match Girl.

For the bibliophiles in your life Reasonable (less than $25) The Passage: The best work of post-apocalyptic fiction since The Stand, The Passage is a good ol’ fashioned epic that belongs on the bedside table of any genre fiction fan. The novel looks at our death throes as a species and finds a good deal of hope. Set a few years down the line, where everything is the same but

worse, The Passage watches with slow-motion car-wreck clarity as a biological experiment decimates both our species and our world. With horrifyingly lucid prose, a deft skill with character, and a nightmarish imagination, coupled with a jaw-dropping plot twist a third of the way through the book, Cronin has started what could be the defining genre series of the era. It’s a rousing adventure story, a grim work of horror, and a startling meditation on death in the micro and macro, with a keen understanding of the human heart. Moonlight Mile: With Moonlight Mile, Dennis Lehane brings to end the Kenzie and Genarro saga, arguably the greatest detective series of the modern era. Coming 11 years after the last installment, Moonlight Mile finds the duo older, sadder, and with more to lose then ever before—but not yet beyond the reach of redemption, even if they protest they believe in no such thing. Moonlight Mile also finds Dennis Lehane in full possession of his considerable gifts: his effortless authenticity when it comes to reproducing his

Boston milieu, his sharp skills at crafting character and plot, and his unexpectedly wicked sense of humor. Moonlight Mile ends things about as well as it could. How good is it? When I started it I thought I’d be pissed if it took Lehane another 11 years to write another installment. Now I’ll be pissed if there ever is another one. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet: Coming from David Mitchell, heretofore best known for his twisty Nabokovian cathedrals of structure

and language, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet seems almost like a joke. Where is the meticulous origami structure? Where are the interlocking puzzles and games hidden in the text? Where is all the postmodern high-falutin’ philosophizing?

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Once one stops waiting for the other shoe to drop, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet becomes a wholly enjoyable experience. De Zoet is a Dutch clerk working in 17th century Japan in the one place foreigners were allowed on Japanese soil: a small, manmade island in Nagasaki Harbor. It’s an intricate, heartfelt story filled with meticulous period detail. And in the process Mitchell proves that the best one of his tricks was that he never for a moment needed a single one of them.

Expensive ($25 to $100) DC Comics Year By Year: It’s just what it sounds like: a meticulous, wide-ranging peek into the DC Archives. It may amount to little more then DC’s lovingly produced tribute to itself, but what a tribute. The book is just a blast to look at. Between the factoids and plot summaries of bygone eras, we see a 10,000-foot-tall robot towering

over the skyscrapers he’s busy blasting with his death ray; Superman,

Batman, and the rest in all their Golden Age glory; and the art of such singular artists as Darwyn Cooke, Neil Adams, Frank Miller, and Jim Lee. It’s perfect for both

the casual fan and the fanatic. 40: A Doonesbury

Retrospective: A massive book/retrospective that reexamines

the unprecedented 40 year run of Gary Trudeau’s Doonesbury, which has

managed to encapsulate virtually every political twist, turn, argument, and piece of dirty laundry, no matter how minute, all while crafting a strip that has been consistently moving and funny. Doonesbury isn’t just a comic strip, it’s a social document, and 40 stands as a fitting monument to it.

Mr. Burns level (price range: infinity) The Head of Thomas Pynchon: Thomas Pynchon is a genius postmodernist who has crafted some of the most daring works of 20th century literature. He’s also a little bit crazy. He conducts no interviews and hasn’t been photographed since he was 16. Odd, but we’re still in Salinger territory here. He

straight up disappeared for 20 years, after publishing Gravity’s Rainbow. Stranger. And the only recording of his voice comes courtesy of his guest spot on The Simpsons. A guest spot where he was drawn with a paper bag and question mark for a face. Satisfy your bibliophile’s presumed curiosity by sponsoring a team of commandos to hunt down and kill Pynchon, bringing you his severed head to stick under the Christmas tree. True, this will preclude future work, but you’ll


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BIG THREE from page 22


give the gift of getting to know just what the bastard looks like. Nothing comes without a tradeoff.

For the movie buffReasonable (less than $25) Metal Directors: Cinefile Video offers the greatest shirts for your fine movie geek friends: the names of famous directors written in the style of your favorite metal, new wave, and punk bands. There’s simply no better way to say, “I’m familiar with both the works of Werner Herzog and Samhain.”

Expensive ($25 to $100) Alamo Drafthouse Posters: Offered through Poster Cabaret, this series of movie posters, most produced for The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, don’t merely advertise the movie; they sum it up with a kind of concise perfection. They span all genres and eras, from the exuberance of their work on Big Trouble In Little China and Streets of Fire, to their melancholy art for The Royal Tenenbaums, to their abstract elegantly creepy work on The Shining. One thing’s for sure: A movie fan’s wall is a much happier place with a Drafthouse Poster on it.

Mr. Burns level (price range: infinity)

The missing print of The Magnificent Ambersons: After Citizen Kane flopped, Orson Welles got busy making his second film for RKO, The Magnificent Ambersons. Sent to

South America on a goodwill tour, Welles reportedly brought along

a work print of the film. However, RKO—taking advantage of Welles being out of the country—recut the film, and then had the cut footage melted down for the silver nitrate in the print, presumably laughing “MWAHAHAAAAA” as they did. When Welles heard he was being outmaneuvered, he immediately flew back

to America, but in the confusion, his work print—the only remaining completed print of the film—was lost. Your job is simple: Assemble a team of trackers to hunt down a case that’s 68 years cold. With a small army of very expensive detectives, we’re sure you could make some headway. After all, The Magnificent Ambersons has been a white whale/“God’s little taunt to cinephiles” for nearly 70 years. What greater gift could there be than bringing it to a close? And while you’re at it, have those guys find London After Midnight, too. You might need your time machine for that one.

For the audiophileReasonable (less than $25) Girl Talk: Here’s a gift from me to you. Girl Talk, the Pittsburgh-based DJ, has albums that are wildly popular and influential. His specialty, though, is taking music you’d have thought you never wanted to hear again and recontextualizing it so you feel as though you would never want to hear anything else. As his work is essentially nothing

but samples (627 reported ones in “All Day”) he can’t very well sell it, lest the RIAA make him its unholy bitch. Which means that you—yes you, you cheap bastard—have an opportunity to give one of the biggest albums of the year as a Christmas present at the cost of nothing. The Big To Do: The Drive By

Truckers: The eighth album from the hardest-working band in show business serves as a perfect jumping on point for those not yet exposed to the magic of The Truckers. It cuts a neat cross section between their many speeds, from hard-stomping honky-tonk rock, to thoughtful, pensive folk songs. As always, it doesn’t hurt that The Truckers count among their number three of the best songwriters and lyricists working in rock today, and The Big To Do is as varied, funny, and haunted as their best work. Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs: A mixture of Wish You Were Here and Born to Run, Arcade Fire’s third album proved to be as great a work as their previous two, a haunting and complete work of art in an increasingly fractured singles-



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driven era. The Suburbs is made of equal parts dread and exhilaration and is my pick for the best album of the year.

Expensive ($25 to $100) Darkness on the Edge of Town box set: Darkness on the Edge of Town is, along with Nebraska and Born to Run, one of the true masterpieces that Bruce Springsteen produced. Its re-mastering alone would be cause for celebration, but coupled with The Promise, the HBO-produced documentary on the making of Darkness on the Edge of Town, things get even better. It’s a candid look behind the Springsteen persona, and the workings of one of the greatest bands in rock’n’roll. But it gets even better. Packaged with these, along with an 80-page notebook from Springsteen, are not one but three live albums, a 2009 performance of Darkness by Springsteen and the full E Street Band, a collection of Bootleg Recordings from 1976-1978 called The Thrill Hill Vault and a full 1978 show. But the best part of the whole package is The Promise: A two-disc collection of recordings from The Darkness sessions that basically amounts to a classic

Springsteen album he recorded, then left in some jeans he didn’t wear

again and forgot about. It’s strangely easy to imagine Springsteen shaking his head with bemusement

upon relistening to the sessions: “Oh yeah, I forgot

about that complete masterwork I

recorded. Huh. Ain’t that the damndest? Well, do you want it?” Oh yes. Yes we do. Mr. Burns (price range: infinity) The murder of the Black Eyed Peas: Now, as a Christian, I find myself a little worried that calling for the murder of four human beings, on a day that celebrates the birth of Christ who preached Absolute

Forgiveness as well as universal love and peace, might be a tad hypocritical. Then I remember that these are the folks who rhymed “3008” with “2000 and late.” And suddenly I am very at peace with my actions.

For the person to whom ‘practicality’ is a dirty wordExpensive The Levitron: This nifty little device, which seems to have emerged from a Sharper Image Executive’s wet dream, will levitate and rotate anything up to 12 ounces. Maybe you didn’t hear me. IT’S A GODDAMN ANTI GRAVITY PAD. That’s pretty neat.

Exorbitant Superman vs. Muhammad Ali: Now I know what you’re asking yourself: Can I afford a $250 maquette of Superman and The Greatest doing battle? My friend, I think the real question is: Can you afford NOT to own such a wondrous work of art? Pure, concentrated evil: This is a picture of Skeletor reenacting Burt Reynold’s infamous centerfold. This costs $75. With that money, Unicef could damn near end world hunger. If you give or receive this, may God have mercy on your soul. ∆

Bryce Wilson writes the “Blast from the Past” column for New Times’ film section. Send comments to [email protected].


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If you must give a present this holiday season—and social obligation, guilt, or pure and unmitigated love for the

season and practice dictate that you probably will—why not select something sculptural? And aromatic, while you’re at it? Make it a boon that purifies the air and lends simple and elegant beauty to its surroundings. A companion, even. A conversation piece. Something interactive. This might sound like a riddle without solution, but the answer is, in fact, simple: a luxuriant life form that spans the globe, filling it with color, scent, and oxygen. “I think that plants can bring out the best in us,” said Sharon Lovejoy, a gardening expert with eight published books on the subject. “For people who live alone, having a plant under your care is a spark of life.” Choosing the right plant, however, is a tricky procedure that requires that environment, skill level with plants, and aesthetic tastes all be taken into account. Local horticultural experts affirm that there is, in fact, a plant for everybody—except, of course, the person who doesn’t like plants and who wants to be friends with them anyway. Nick Wilson, owner of Grow nursery in Cambria, echoed Lovejoy’s sentiments, referring to plants as a “forever gift.” His business focuses primarily on drought-resistant plants, mostly cacti, succulents, and native species. For the black thumb on your list, he recommends dudleya pulverulenta, a succulent more commonly called chalk lettuce, undoubtedly derived

from its pale, ethereal coloring; aeonium arboreum, a succulent with brown and white varieties; sanseveria patens, a green-tentacled creature; hoya obovata, which boasts exotic white flowers with vibrant purple centers; and trichodiadema

bulbosum, which

strangely and effectively marries the aesthetics of bonsai and

succulent. As a side note, the benefit to purchasing a succulent as a

present—besides the lushness of the word itself—is that it’s guaranteed to appeal to the environmentally conscientious consumer. Wilson is

such a fan of the

succulents-as-gifts tradition

that he and his wife used them as table settings at their wedding and

sent them home with guests at the

fete’s conclusion. Lovejoy offers gift suggestions for the gardener with tastes that run to the more exotic. “Who isn’t fascinated with orchids?” she asked. “We have orchid growers in Los Osos, and they have easier ones for people who are afraid to approach orchids. They can be indoor and outdoor.” Specifically, she recommends

cymbidiums, a genus with 52 different species of flowers, originally hailing from

subtropical Asia and

northern Australia.

Hopping aboard the ever-popular Central

Coast natives train, she recommends toyon,

which also goes by the name Christmas berry. And ceanothus, a genus of shrubs and small trees that grow wild throughout San Luis Obispo’s Irish Hills. For expert help, as well as a wide selection, she recommends the following nurseries: Grow in Cambria, Miner’s in San Luis Obispo, Baron’s Orchids in Morro Bay, and Las Pilitas in Santa Margarita. In terms of recommendations for black thumbs, Lovejoy had this to say: “Black thumb is a frame of mind. You just have to get to know your plants. Stick your finger in the soil, and if it’s dry, water it.” Heading south, Ingrid Kaper of Whispering Tree Nursery in Santa Maria has sweet, sweet words for black thumbs—or purchasers of presents for black thumbs. “Peace lilies and ficus, they are virtually bulletproof. We’ve got a plant called an arrowhead, which is really pretty for people who are challenged. Horticulturally challenged,” she said, pausing carefully on the last two words. For a creative twist on a holiday classic, there’s always the poinsettia—named for Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the Euphorbia pulcherrima into the United States in 1828. The plant derives its association with the holiday from a Mexican folktale about a girl who was too broke

to purchase a Christmas present.

At an angel’s recommendation,

she gathered weeds from the side of the road and

presented them at the altar of her church. The weeds suddenly

blossomed into crimson petals, and the 17th century Franciscan friars in Mexico

incorporated the plant into their Christmas celebrations. The creative twist

isn’t the poinsettia itself, but the variations

on the classic red or white color scheme. Whispering

Tree Nursery features a white poinsettia with spots of red color. Then there’s the Picasso, which looks like a poinsettia Martha Stewart decided to spackle. For a less obvious reference to the season, topiaried olive trees and citrus trees make popular presents, according to Kaper. Christine Story, coordinator of Growing Grounds in downtown San Luis Obispo, offered a practical suggestion: spider plants, also known as Chlorophytum comosum, a native of South Africa. She suggested the indoor plant, not for its beauty or limited water consumption, but because of its proven ability to purify the air. “When your house is closed up for the winter, it gets stuffy and it’s probably even more important then,” she observed from the vantage of the cozy half-outdoor, half-indoor shop. And if you’re still searching for a present

that tips its hat to the gardening pastime, but are reluctant to commit to a plant that might not be a good match, there’s always pottery. Sadly, the plant’s container will likely outlive its resident anyway, so a beautifully crafted pot might make a better long-term present, especially for the black thumb who, instead of feeling guilty for accidentally killing your thoughtfully purchased flora, will make use of your thoughtfully

purchased pottery as a container for a turnstile of doomed plantae. ∆

Managing Editor Ashley Schwellenbach is a black thumb with a green heart and purple toes. Send comments to [email protected].

Give the gift that keeps you breathingThis holiday season, dare to look beyond thumb color

BY ASHLEY SCHWELLENBACH

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Yeah, green! Growing Grounds is in San Luis Obispo, 956 Chorro St., 544-4967. Grow is in Cambria, 7432 Exotic Garden Drive, 924-1340. Whispering Tree Nursery is in Santa Maria, 110 Norris St., 937-3808. Las Pilitas is in Santa Margarita, 3232 Las Pilitas Road, 438-5992. Baron’s Orchids is in Morro Bay, 465 Harbor St., 772-1320. Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Society is at centralcoastcactus.org. California Native Plant Society is at cnps-slo.


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Sing along, everyone! Rum balls and fruitcake and spiced pumpkin lattes! Turkey and dressing and crisp,

yummy latkes! Cookies and cider with cinnamon zings—these are a few of my favorite things! December is a busy month at my house, especially in the kitchen. I’m baking and fudge-making for Christmas, as well as boiling pots of chicken soup for Hanukkah for my Britisher-Yiddisher husband and our grandson, Mini-Brit, who just celebrated his ninth birthday. Yes, nothing says lovin’ like somethin’ from the oven, especially this time of year. People forego diets and slip into blissful days of holiday food and cheer, like a comfy sofa, which is exactly where you’ll find me after a long day of holiday preparations. I have eight days of Hanukkah, 12 days of Christmas, and the aforementioned birthday for which to shop, cook, and bake, and, boy, my tootsies are aching! But people still gotta eat around here and I’m not one to rely on junk food. So allow me to offer some cost-effective ideas for local eats before, during, or after shopping, plus some gift ideas with a little flair and care. Start your shopping engines and get your jolly on with breakfast at Gilli’s Grill, on Broadway between Enos and Battles in Santa Maria. The service and coffee are terrific, and I love their chili verde omelet. Breakfasts portions are plentiful, and Mini-Brit gives a syrupy thumbs up to their huge, fluffy pancakes. Fancy some sushi? Sake Sushi, in the Town Center mall, has gotten into the holiday spirit by offering a festive Christmas roll (rice, nori, shrimp, avocado, and tuna) that will knock your stockings off. And their sashimi Christmas tree packs low-cal, high protein, holiday punch, topped with sparkling flakes of real gold! Stick to your diet at Natural Cafe, located at McCoy and Broadway, with stick-to-your-ribs vegetarian fare, as well as yummy chicken enchiladas, soups, and sandwiches. They also have a location in San Luis Obispo on Higuera Street. Do you prefer traditional American fare? Check out Francisco’s Country Kitchen for everything from home-made liver and onions (my Brit’s favorite—ah, the English), scrumptious omelets, and a heck of a good cup of coffee. The service is great, and there’s rarely a wait! (I should write jingles!) They have two locations, one in Santa Maria north of Donavon on Broadway, and in Arroyo Grande on El Camino Real just east of Halcyon Road. Still have a few gifts to ponder but too hungry to take another step? Panera, off Betteravia and College in the Santa Maria Plaza, may be the answer to your holiday hunger dilemma. Fresh soups and sandwiches will quiet the grumbling yeti in your belly, and their yummy cookies, breads, and muffins make fabulous gifts. Nipomo has some terrific eats. Check out the pulled pork sandwiches at Rancho Nipomo Deli and BBQ off the 166 exit, west of Highway 101. They pile succulent, tender, marinated pork high on a fresh role, with homemade slaw that is

slawesome! The Mayor’s Place on Tefft, just east of Highway 101, serves up yummy breakfasts, superb coffee, delicious sandwiches, cute atmosphere, and smiles. They’re closed on Mondays, though. Need something quick? On the west side of Tefft is Sunshine Donuts. In the words of the immortal Homer, “Mmmmmm, donuts!” These babies are huge, fresh, and fantastic, especially when washed down with their super, duper coffee! After a long day of tree-trimming and hall decking, head to Nipomo’s Healing Touch Day Spa for some TLC for your aching bod. (Their steam-shower is amazing!) There are even last-minute gifts available in their lobby, ranging from scents to jewelry to accessories, to cool keepsakes, girlfriend! The staff is wonderful and will brew you up a terrific cup of gourmet coffee, tea, or even pour you a soothing glass of wine while you wait for your service. Hair stylist Bruce Lee Ent is the bomb! If you’re heading to the Five Cities, especially for shopping at the Premium Outlets in Pismo Beach or in the charming Village of Arroyo Grande (where Santa holds court on Branch Street), there’s some great ways to start, pause, and end your shopping day. CJ’s Cafe, on Grand Avenue in Arroyo Grande, has some of the friendliest staff anywhere. Breakfasts are served up hot and fast, and regulars and visitors alike know how good the coffee is. My grandson rates their kids’ menu and burgers as the best anywhere. CJs also offers daily specials at great prices. Evening early bird specials are terrific blue plate dinners, including roasted turkey and all the fixings, plus soup or salad and dessert! The Quarterdeck, on Branch Street near Kmart, not only serves up some righteous seafood and fish and chips for lunch or dinner (I’m married to a Brit, remember?), but also has superb breakfasts. Their eggs Benedict, including a veggie version with huge Portobello mushrooms, or my favorite made with their delicious crab cakes, will make your sleigh bells jingle! Spice up a day of shopping at the outlets in Pismo Beach by dining at Maya Mexican Food Restaurant off of Oak Park and James Way. They serve a terrific breakfast, great coffee, yummy lunch and dinner specials, and the chips are fresh, hot, and come with super salsa. Their enchiladas suiza are my go-to, as is their chili verde, served with savory rice and creamy refried beans! Feliz Navidad! One of my favorite spots in Grover Beach has always been The Station Grill, on Grand Avenue, right by the train station (hence the name). This family-run

establishment serves up great grub for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The burgers are excellent, the salads are fresh and huge, and they have some dynamic dinner specials at prices that won’t derail your budget. On a final note, gifts of food are always lovely ways to show your appreciation and that you care. We enjoy bringing goodies to our doctors, veterinarian, friends, and neighbors. Whether you make it yourself, or make it to a local bakery or store, sharing gifts of food is a nurturing, caring gesture. For starters, a thoughtful and delightful treat is a gift certificate to a favorite dining establishment, especially when given to expectant mothers, elderly people, single parents, college students, or anyone who could use a night off from cooking or can’t cook for themselves. Such gifts also present an outing for those who may not be able to afford one. Local grocery stores, bakeries, and specialty shops also offer gift certificates that can be most meaningful this time of year, especially in this economy. Finally, the greatest gift of caring is sharing with the less fortunate. Find the time to make a donation to a food bank, volunteer to help feed the homeless, or toss that spare change into one of those little red Salvation Army kettles. Don’t forget the local animal shelters, either. They also struggle to feed homeless pets, and you can aid them by donating, volunteering, or adopting. As Charles Dickens once said, “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else.” Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all, and God bless us, every one! ∆

Ariel Waterman loves the Dickens out of a good Christmas goose. Send sauce for the gander via her editor, Ryan Miller, at [email protected].

Let us eat!Good feast, ye merry gentlemen (and ladies)

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New Times Last-Minute Gift Guide 12.16.10