North Fork News

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Squirrel Cage Theatre Fall Show ~ Nov 14 & 15

"Showdown at the Rainbow Ranch"

From the Squirrel Cage Theatre website:

2008 FALL SHOW: Showdown at the Rainbow Ranch
An original musical melodrama by local author/composer Joan LeGro Bushnell and her partner Charles H. Randall.

Showdown at the Rainbow Ranch, set in the old west of 1898, combines action with romance when dashing young Matthew Merriweather, Wild West Show hero falls head over spurs in love with spirited young Rainbow Heatherton, heir to the Rainbow Ranch. Woven throughout a series of mysterious disappearances and hidden identities are Bushnell’s toe tapping tunes and haunting countermelodies.

If you enjoyed last year’s Shake Up at Sugarpine, you’ll want to hop on board for Showdown at the Rainbow Ranch!

Friday/Saturday, November 7/8,14/15 - Showdown at the Rainbow Ranch, North Fork Town Hall , Doors open 5:30pm, Dinner 6-7pm, Show 7pm. Adults $10, Children under 12 $5, Family $25

Please call to reserve seats for parties of 10 or more, Info: 877-2129
~~~~~~~~~~~~

We attended the show this past Saturday night, November 8th and sat with family and friends at a reserved "table for 10" right up front. The view was wonderful. The food that night was a spicy (but not too spicy) homemade chili with beans, cornbread & salad. Desserts were available for $1. Wonderful pies, cakes and cheesecakes (my favorite!). A full bar was ready to serve you the spirit or soft drink of your choice. The usual coffee and tea were included with the price of dinner.

The music and acting were superb. The melodrama was interesting and funny. The audience was encouraged to boo, hiss, cheer and applaud in all the right places.

The play included some creative special effects such as the romantic heart-shaped red spotlight during a love song between the play's two young lovers.

"Rainbow" & "Matt" sing their love to each other

In addition to the play, we were treated to several other creative performances.

To warm up the audience, the show's emcee, Dave, and his singing partner for the evening, Cassidy, a young woman with a beautiful & clear voice, lead us in song.

Dave and Cassidy sing

Frank, a local masterful story teller, kept us hanging on every word as he told a suspenseful "tall tale" about a guy who just wanted to go fishing, but instead ended up having a great adventure that day.

A returning local favorite was the performance by The Whistlers as shown below:

The Dancing Whistlers ~ a sight to behold!

If you haven't yet seen this year's Fall Show you still have a chance to attend. It is playing next Friday and Saturday evenings, November 14th & 15th at Town Hall. Doors open at 5:30.

See the Squirrel Cage Website for more info or call 877-2129. Don't miss it!

© Copyright 2008 North Fork News

Friday, October 17, 2008

North Fork Fall Festival ~ October 4, 2008

Rainy Day Festival Booths

The North Fork Fall Festival happens yearly on the first Saturday in October. It occurs on the same day as the Grizzly Century Bike Ride here in our mountain community. Fall Festival activities include the Women's Club Crafts Fair & Yard Sale, the Fine Arts Show, the Forest Service Employees Association Dinner, the Sierra Mono Museum open house, the History Group display and the Antique Engine display.

This year the weather did not cooperate with us, as it poured down rain most of the day, so many of these usual events did not take place. However, due to the hearty spirit of the Women's Club and a few of the planned vendors, the Crafts Fair & Yard Sale did go on as scheduled.

Attendence was very low. Only 4 of the 32 signed up booth vendors decided to brave the rain and mud to set up their tents. The customer crowds were also thin this year compared to years past.

I myself decided not to set up my booth in the rain, but I did stay awhile to shop and take a few photos to share with you on this NF News Blog.

Here are a few scenes from the 2008 North Fork Fall Festival Crafts Fair:

Women's Club Booth

Handmade hats, gloves, potholders etc

Other useful handmade items for sale

Women's Club Nut Breads ~ looked delicious

More delicous baked goods for sale ~ popcorn too!

Daffodil Bulb Gift Packs ~ offered by the Women's Club

The Indian Taco booth was more popular than this photo shows

Three yard sale vendors braved the rain, cold and mud to set up and sell their wares:

Largest Yard Sale tent ~ nice selection of household goods

The vendor shown in the above photo had two big trucks and a trailer to haul in all of their items.

A smaller selection of items, but still just as hearty!

Some unique items could be found at this yard sale booth. See photo below:

Beautiful gourd art, antique iron and useful apple peeler

It was a smaller turnout than usual due to the rainy cold day, but still some bargains could be found. Everyone had fun shopping and visiting. A nice way to spend a rainy day in a quaint setting.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Remember

About this Photo

Today is the 7th anniversary of 9/11.

Remember.....and work for peace.

© Copyright 2008 North Fork News

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Fresno Greek Festival ~ August 22, 2008

Pleasant Patio Dining

Here a few photos from the annual Greek Festival held on the grounds of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in the nearby city of Fresno.

There were drinks available in the form of beer, mixed drinks and soft drinks. Also Greek and regular coffee to have with your dessert.

Beer & Wine Booth

Fancy Bar Booth featuring Greek Ouzo

View of the crowd and booths from the fancy bar area

In the photo below you can see where you can visit when you drink too much and nature calls. The festival organizers went all out for their guest's comfort. This is the first time I have seen actual "his" and "hers" porta potties at a local event. The blue ones were for men to use, the tan colored ones were for women.

Potter's Potties ~ both men's and women's

Along with the drinks there was delicious food available. You could buy the complete dinner plate for $15 or you could purchase items a la carte. Here's a photo of the dinner line inside the multi purpose room of the church.

Traditional Greek dishes attracted a crowd of hungry people

Outside you could buy smaller plates of food or single items at the many food booths on the grounds. A new item this year was Greek Feta Fries.

Food Booths

Food Booth Signs

There were many places to sit and dine in comfort. They had chairs and tables available both in the front of the festival as shown below on the patio, and also in the back by the musicians and the dancers.

Front Patio Dining Area

There were many Greek desserts to indulge in after our dinner. Below you see the traditional Greek cookies called Koulourakia, but we also sampled some Baklava and Loukomades, both dripping with honey sweetness.

There was shopping! Lots of goods from Greece and also things made here in the US by Greeks who live here.

Vendor Booths

Beautiful & Functional Ceramic Art

Greek Religious Icons & Monastery Honey for sale

Carefully working the register

Fancy Jewelry and Baubles

Greek Fisherman's Cap & World's Greatest "Grandpa" Cap

The Greek Nuns had many wonderful handmade products for sale. Wonderful multi grain fresh breads and jams. They had hand dipped beeswax candles, lovely soaps, oils and lotions. Visiting with the nuns was very pleasant and informative.

Handmade Products

Greek music both traditional and modern blared from the large speakers in the dancing area in back of the festival. Dressed in traditional Greek garb, Kopi Sotiropulos, weatherman for channel 26 in Fresno was m/c and general entertainer. Here he is instructing the crowd in Greek dancing. He's the one in the white skirt.

Go Kopi!

Dancers in fancy costumes entertained us with their intricate footwork.

Costumed Dancers in a circle

We had a wonderful time and will be back next year!

The Fresno Greek Festival is held in August of each year. For more information about it please visit the Fresno GreekFest Website.

Monday, August 18, 2008

North Fork Mountain Classic Car Show ~ August 9th

A Real Beauty!

Some scenes from the 2008 North Fork Mountain Classic Car Show and pancake breakfast held at the North Fork Recreation Center.

First the outdoor breakfast on a nice sunny Saturday morning:

Expert Pancake Cooks

More Delicious Pancakes

Organized Breakfast Crew

Breakfast Seating

Then the classic vehicles of many types:

Classic Motorcycles

More Classic Bikes

Flashy Boats

With Original Names, or not...

Many, many cars & trucks:

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Curtis Kirk Memorial Gathering

Above graphic borrowed from The Buckhorn Saloon website

Our friend, fellow business owner and active community member, Curtis Kirk, passed away 2 weeks ago on August 1st. His life and business partner of 25 years, Alice, is a strong and capable woman and she is holding up well as far as we have heard, but I am sure she could use, and would greatly appreciate the support of our small town community at this difficult time in her life.

Alice & Curtis in happier times ~
photo adapted from the Buckhorn Saloon website

Curtis’s heart was bigger than the sky, and we will miss being welcomed at the Buckhorn by the tall lanky man with the cowboy hat. Always a smile on his face. Curtis was a generous and caring citizen of our little town of North Fork. We will miss him. He will always be a part of North Fork and the Buckhorn.

Our hearts are with you Alice. Your community is here for you.

Alice is holding a memorial potluck for Curtis on Saturday August 23rd starting at Noon. For more information about this or The Buckhorn Saloon in general, please visit The Buckhorn Saloon Website.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Bass Lake Farmers Market ~ Wednesday Evenings

Booths at Bass Lake Farmers Market

This summer on Wednesday evenings through mid-September, there will be a farmers market happening at the Pines Village in Bass Lake. The booths are located in front of Good Ol' Daze. Admission is free for visitors.

We went to check it out one Wednesday evening in June and found just a handful of booths, but many visitors and a lot of fresh produce and flowers for sale. Everyone looked like they were having a great time.

Here are some scenes from the Bass Lake Farmers Market: