From its earliest days our fair city of Benicia has been overlooked. One might think that the city, in its amorphasized state, might be angry, embarrassed, paranoid and/or at the least perplexed. Benicia was considered to be the city on the bay because of its great harbor. San Francisco, however, was chosen. Benicia was once the capital of California, and was set aside in favor of Sacramento. A history of attempts ensued as business owners flocked to First Street hoping to make a substantial difference in elevating our offerings to compete with none other than Sausalito with antique shops, boutiques like Christina S; gift shops like Studio 41; our own independent book shop, Bookshop Benicia and then the outstanding restaurants-heading the list with Sailor Jack’s, 907 Grill and Kimono to name a few.
However, Benicia never made it to the top ranks as a destination stop. The town should still get kudos for continuing to try. Nancy Gonsalves is remarkable as the leader of First Street events.
The latest of these events was the 3rd Annual Benicia Film Festival that took place over the Labor Day weekend. Also taking place was the Sausalito 64th Annual Art Festival. In Benicia a committee of nine reviewed 800 films and came up with 38 short films from documentaries and animated films to local student works.
There were about 40 people attending on Sunday when I attended. There might have been 10,000 who attended the Sausalito event on Saturday.
The films were indeed varied and several were memorable. As works without renown, they were often interesting, memorable, charming or instructive. They were much appreciated by the audience who knew some of the film committee members and students personally.
As for the Sausalito Art Festival, the entries are juried and the waterfront art event has become the oldest, most prestigious open air art festival in the county. What is wonderful about this event is that it is all volunteer and community sponsor generated and all proceeds go back to the town for grants, scholarships and community art programs.
As for the content, there are returning artists that I recognize every year, however, there is always something new and exciting. Beau Tudzarov uses 3-D and 2-D programs to create entirely original images. All of the resulting images are developed using a keyboard and stylus, as core creative tools. No photographs are used. Just type his name to see his fabulous work, especially the painting with the chess pieces and bottle of wine.
For me, it was very difficult because I found an artist’s work with which I fell in love and coveted.
The artist’s name is Theodore T. Gall. He mainly works in metal casting using the human form. Unusual pieces in which the head opens to reveal a scene hidden within, and has augmentation on the base that supports the theme. My personal favorite was a head with a dunce cap, within was a miniature of a boy sitting in a corner with his dunce caps while around the base were boys cavorting. Did I come home with a piece from the extensive Gall collection? No. Not at $2,800 a piece. I went on line to see if I could find something that fit my budget. The gallery that shows his heads asks $3,100 a head. I will enjoy my memory of the artist’s work.
So in conclusion, I too think that it would be lovely to be able to attract thousands to our town in the way Sausalito has. It would be wonderful to raise the money for art programs. However, when I attend the events Nancy puts together I get that warm, fuzzy feeling of being in a small town that knows how to support its families and make Benicia more than just another pretty, rich, sophisticated place where nobody knows your name.
Ellen Blaufarb is a Marriage Family Therapist.
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The city of Benicia is not overlooked all the time:
Peddler’s Fair Attracts thousands of people from all over the Bay Area and California. –First week of August for decades.
Main St. Production of July 4th Parade and Fireworks attracts thousands to our downtown area..
Main St. Production of Christmas Tree Lighting, again attracts hundreds if not thousands of local and Bay Ara residents.
The above three are classic productions and Benicia is well known throughout the Bay Area for these events.
The Film Festival is growing and will continue to grow. The State Theatre should be a great asset for Benicia, and hopefully someday it will be used for local theatre productions and open on weekends for first run movie’s, much like the Cameo movie house in St. Helena.
Very good article. Spot on. This city has wonderful eating/bar establishments. Also wonderful shops. The only problem is they do not attract the out of area folks on a regular bases for all business. Yes we would think that the wonderful events that go would start to build a base to make Benicia a destination. But it does not. Yes some do have a very strong base but have in many cases done it on their own via social media. This city is short on econ development. The folks ask this question all the time. Why Benicia does not have a Trader Joes or Whole Foods. Simple marketing studies say this town will not support it. I admire all the folks that are in business in town. Some help would do a lot of good. Yes there is some help but it does not seem to help all business. I walk down First S\treet many days and see almost know one. Sunny days we see outside dinning and folks enjoying the great day. Bit the main problem is Benicia has not been established as a destination. It will some day and all the merchants will enjoy the benefits. I do hope they all can hang in there. I also urge all locals to shop in Benicia. Benicia gives away far too much 2% sales tax to other cities. We must develop the Seeno property. The residents must see and understand the benefits to the city and services to the residents. It can be done. But if the residents want it as is that is their choice.
We’re new visitors to Benicia, and we loved it at first sight! Staying at the Shorelight Inn was a special treat, and watching the sunset over the bridge from our balcony was a joy! All that and the quaint downtown area kept us there instead of going to Napa and environs. Of course your businesses would profit from “Sausolito-like” prosesperity, but the way it is now is so inviting and not stuffy. That is the draw for us. We’re getting ready for our second visit this weekend and we have more exploring to do!
Glad you like it here . Bring more friends .None of what I am sayingt would change downtown. It would enhance it. Maybe just more great places to shop and eat. Very limited expansion downtown so you may not even notice it. Glad you enjoy Benicia.
Benicia is a refinery town. I can’t think of any other refinery towns that are “destinations”. First time Benicia bridge crosser don’t see a quaint and pleasant downtown waterfront from the bridge. They see an industrial park and refinery stacks. There is no beacon to draw in the curious traveler. When my wife and I bought our home in Benicia back in 2003, it was shortly after having first laid foot in town. Up to that point, I had probably driven past Benicia about 1,000 times.
I do understand the small concept. But it is very expensive to maintain. I am not talking about another Sausalito. My experience in crossing the bridge to Benicia is you see very little of Valero. Go toward Martinez and that is all you see are the two refineries. Big difference.