CM #35: Retro Diner, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Sequoia’s, and Anchor Steam Bar
Hi Friends!
Another Saturday, another newsletter. Thanks for coming back and reading the newsletter. We are trying out some new ideas, sort of an experiment. Lets us know if you like these new features.
Stuff You Missed and Stuff You Won’t Miss at the bottom of this newsletter.
By The Way.
Be Well! Stay Safe! See You Next Saturday!
Mark & Patti
In a previous newsletter, I mentioned Anchor Brewing shutting down and the fight by former employees to try and purchase the brewing company to keep it alive.
1. Well, here’s a story about the only Anchor Brewing bar left.
But there is one remaining Anchor-affiliated bar that will still sell Steam beer for the next two months: The Anchor Bar in Scoreboard Plaza at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants.
“It is our understanding from our distributor that they will keep us stocked for the remainder of the season,” Shana Daum, Senior Vice President of communications and community relations for the Giants, told SFGATE via email. “Both kegs and bottled product.”
2. Looking for some peace and quiet among sequoia trees without the Yosemite crowds?
It’s a reality at Calaveras Big Trees State Park near Arnold, California. The mountain adventure is a mere three-hour drive from the Bay Area, even closer for those in the outer East Bay and Central Valley.
3. California is home to some fantastic mountain ranges and view here’s 10 of the most scenic according to the Travel.com
Of course, bustling metropolises like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego offer it all; world-class dining, entertainment, and cultural experiences. But it's perhaps California's most beautiful and remote mountain towns and their surrounding peaks that inspire visitors to get off the beaten track and venture to discover the state's underrated and highly scenic spots, many of which are found within the most scenic mountains in California.
4. SF Gate reporter AndrewPridgenn went on the hunt for a theme park with the most rollercoasters in the world.
Magic Mountain is known for many things, but the Dole Whip is not one of them. Dig a little bit into the park’s history and you’ll find that it’s got a 111-year-old carousel, it’s hosted concerts by some all-time faves, including Kiss, Modest Mouse, R.E.M. and INXS. And even though it has a relatively small 209-acre footprint (Disneyland, by comparison, is about 500 acres) Magic Mountain holds the world record for most roller coasters in an amusement park (20).
Here’s more
5. Concrete slides in a neighborhood park from Atlas Obscura
Built in the 1960s and designed by a local teenager, the slides are actually a triumph of neighborhood activism. In 1963, the land that the Corwin Community Garden and Seward Mini-Park sits on was a vacant lot slated for development. Local residents and growing families from nearby streets organized and protested the disappearance of open space, and fought development for a decade, including staging a desperate bulldozer-defying sit-in in 1966.
6. Do you enjoy exploring? Then how about the Crowley Lake Columns? A trip by californiathroughmylens.com
The Crowley Lake Columns are a mysterious site that many people pass by along Highway 395. These natural columns are not easy to get to, but they are rewarding for any adventurer who makes their way out there to see them. Here is the information if you want to check it out. Note that the water level can be very high and that access like what is mentioned in this post is not always possible due to the water levels. Also, you CANNOT do this without four wheel drive.
Links To Other Things
SF’s Celeb-Endorsed Retro Diner
Stuff You Missed, But You Can Catch It Next Time
CatCon 2023: SoCal welcomed CatCon to the Pasadena Convention Center for two days of furry friend celebrations.
Mammoth Mountain Finally Closes: The lifts at Mammoth Mountain in California will stop spinning Sunday 8/6 after an incredible season spanning 275 days.
Jerry Day in San Francisco: On Saturday 8/5, Deadheads descended on McLaren Park for the 21st annual Jerry Day festival, a free, all-day celebration of Jerry Garcia’s 81st birthday.
Stuff You Won’t Miss
Splash House, Book Fair, & More in L.A.