An end or a new beginning? Shakespeare Santa Cruz

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I promise mostly to make this blog about my adventures living in Bordeaux and about my experiences with wine. But on occasion I will vent my opinions or promote other things. Or even ask for help. This is once such occasion.

I will confess Shakespeare has long been my favorite playwright and writer. I have seen countless performance, read all of the sonnets & poems and 22 of the plays (yes I know my geek flag is flying high), took a Shakespeare class in college because I could (yup it raised itself a little higher) and own several copies of the complete works.

Not too long ago I posted about Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Sack wine and a wonderful performance of Henry V. I encouraged the San Francisco Bay Area folks to go see a show and enjoy the majesty of Shakespeare’s work performed outside by an awesome team. But abruptly – before the festival was completed and without speaking to the festival staff and board of directors – the University of California Santa Cruz pulled funding and support for the program effectively ending the 32 year tradition of excellent theater. Much of the reasoning behind the statement doesn’t add up and the community of fans is hugely disappointed. You can read the university’s statement here.

I write today to spread the word that an exploratory committee has been formed to explore additional options for creating an independent, non-profit professional theater organization in Santa Cruz to continue this tradition of excellent theater. But Shakespeare Santa Cruz is more than just a theater company – they are a link to the community and an invaluable arts education asset.

If you are a fan of Shakespeare Santa Cruz, would like to know more or would like to help please email:  shakespeareplayon@yahoo.com. Despite my pending departure I will be doing all I can to continue to support Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Please join me. 

How NOT To Woo Potential Customers

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This past weekend my parents and I decided to do a little local wine tasting. After scrapping our initial plan of spending two plus hours in the car to head to Sonoma we decided to visit some local Santa Cruz Mountain wineries. Obviously we are a family that enjoys wine and we like to support local businesses so this was the perfect opportunity to indulge in both.

Our first planned stop was Ridge Vineyards. One of the largest and most well know Santa Cruz Mountain wineries Ridge is know for big bold red wine. Again, for those who know us, an obvious choice in our household. And one we have often enjoyed. In fact at a family birthday fete on Saturday my parents opened two different large format bottles of Ridge Zinfandel. With a tasting room buried in the picturesque Santa Cruz Mountains we decided to make this our first stop. And we (ie the parents) had plans to buy.

After a windy, twisty, stomach-churning long drive to reach the Montebello location we were informed by a rather snotty attendant that the tasting room was closed for a wine club event and that we should have checked the website before making the drive. ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND.  Yes they chose to close their tasting room on a holiday weekend. Since then I have investigated the website and see no mention of upcoming events or even tasting room closures. Anywhere. And more importantly why was a sign not placed at the bottom of the hill before we waisted our time driving to the top.

I understand that club members are always a winery’s priority. They are typically your best customers and your best advertising. And wine club events are a great way to keep people engaged, interested and up-to-date. Ridge should absolutely be celebrating their club membership and providing them with unique opportunities. However, not at the expense of other potential customers. Hold events after hours. Or at least have the courtesy to give people a little more advanced notice (ie the sign at the bottom of the road).

All in all that day Ridge was ultimately the one who suffered. We went on to visit two other local wineries – Cooper-Garrod and Savanah-Chanelle – where we bought not only lots wine but craft products sold in the tasting room.

So my advice to Ridge Vineyards: you might want to work on your customer service skills.

T-1 Week

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Today marks one week until departure and an ever growing task list. I spent the majority of the holiday weekend marking my imminent cross-continental move. My last day at Sones Cellars, a last day of wine tasting and a pre-birthday dinner with my parents and the massive closet clean-out. I have also had my hair cut, have gone to the dry cleaners and have run other essential last minute errands. And yet the week ahead doesn’t seem enough to accomplish everything.

I will confess – partly out a strong desire not to stress out the dog and partly out of pure avoidance – I haven’t actually started putting things in suitcases. But I have started collecting items and planing what will get packed. Although I’m not entirely sure that the pup-dog is comfortable with the mass movement of items in my bedroom. So my not-so-altruistic delay tactics aren’t necessarily working. 😛

~

But despite my procrastination, important things are actually getting done and this adventure seems ever more real. Today I confirmed an interview for September 17 with a potential employer. For those of you who aren’t in the know: I have to intern a significant portion of the year as part of my degree program. About a month ago I was contacted by un caviste (a wine shop) with locations in both Bordeaux and New York City that is looking for a digital marketing intern. Somehow this opportunity seems too good to be true. But none-the-less I have an interview scheduled shortly after my arrival.

In addition, I exchanged an email thread with my soon-to-be housemate. She seems to be a lovely 2nd year masters student at the same university. In the course of our emails I had asked a few questions about cell phone providers and banks. Her very detailed response included a lovely, generous offer to visit a local mobile shop and do a little reconnaissance.

I also today had a lovely email exchange with my soon-to-be landlady. Who it turns out is a genuinely awesome human being. She is letting me move in a couple days early and even offered to pick me up at the airport upon my arrival. My overabundance of supposed luggage is actually a deterrent to said airport pick-up as she drives a typical European mini-car. But the thought was enough to make her my new hero.

Clearly the women in France are delightful human beings and are willing to go the extra mile for the student coming in from the United States to make her feel welcome. This gives me hope that the next two years will be filled with good friends and even better company. And that my first few hectic weeks – trying to get settled in – won’t be too overwhelming.

On that note – I’m off to bed so that I can wake up tomorrow morning ready to face the next round of departure tasks. Bonne nuit!