From Where I Sit December 2006

by Rich Medel

The best part of being the publisher for a lifestyle magazine on the Peninsula is the amazing number of extraordinary people that we’ve been “required” to meet during the course of putting out our first three issues. Even better, we don’t merely become acquainted with these people. The task of putting together these articles requires us to get to know them on a deeper level than we might have known them after years of being mere acquaintances or even friends.

While preparing for this December issue, for example, we got to meet Denise Swensen, the fashion designer featured in our “Designing My Life” story. People who have known Denise for years might never have discovered that she learned to sew when she was only five years old — and that she became both a print and a runway model that very same year.

Many people know that Denise has an awesome talent with a needle and thread, but until they read our article how many of these people know that she taught principles of fashion and makeup as a way of counseling troubled young women who were locked up in a prison? Or that she was able to make custom dresses without a pattern when she was still in high school?

Peninsula talk show host, Barbra Alexander, is another of the extraordinary people we’ve met. My affection for Peninsula society coupled with my growing respect for Barbra and my fascination with Denise landed me last month in the middle of a style show that Barbara hosted in her backyard in order to showcase Denise’s fashions.

It was a memorable experience! The gorgeous setting in that extraordinary yard with its lawns and gardens, the friendly spirit of sociability, the beautiful fashions, the excellent band, the perfect weather all combined to create an unforgettable experience.

The other part of the social payoff associated with my role as 65° Publisher is discovering and rediscovering the pleasures and delights of Peninsula living. I have a “business reason” every month, for example, not only to visit a fine restaurant and sample its fare, but to meet the extraordinary individual who runs the establishment. Billy Quon Lee at Bahama Billy’s, Tony Baker at Montrio Bistro, and Alan Shugart at Fandango were all as fascinating to get to know as their food was delicious to eat.

Our Associate Editor, Dan Shafer, once made the observation that the Peninsula shares with San Francisco the wonderful quality that there were no bad restaurants. “Any restaurant around here that wasn’t great,” he said, “would probably close in three months.”

We’ve even enjoyed getting to know Peninsula residents who are no longer alive. “Papa” Ernest Dolter was an entrepreneur and restaurateur back at the turn of the last century. We wouldn’t have known about him without talking with Tim Thomas who wrote the “Pop Ernest and the Rest” article in this current issue.

Dolter was a more fascinating character than John Steinbeck could ever have invented. By single-handedly discovering the uses of abalone and creating an entire industry around the food, Dolter exerted an impact that energized the local economy and reached around the world. Thomas reported that he has spent ten years researching Dolter’s life and times. I’m glad we learned his story, and that we can share it with other residents.

Joe Pennisi, the “old man” from our premier “The Old Man and the Sea” feature, has been fishing in Monterey Bay since before the sardines left. We discovered in him a mind that is rich with memories of fishermen, boats, and events that are gone with the wind.

Odis Cribbs and his amazing La Casa Bodega, Dan Koffman and his smiling art, Dave Stamm and his batting cages, Jackie Lambert and her amazing vision for Sand City…. All these stories have touched us and, I’m sure, have touched the hearts of many of our readers.

The best thing of all is that we’re just getting started! We’re working on the January issue now and are facing the problem of selecting stories and articles from among the great host of amazing people and topics that are simply begging for our attention.

It’s a big problem! It’s a wonderful problem!

We’re getting in the groove. We’re taking a wonderful ride!  I’ve got a great job and I can’t wait to see what happens next! °

Rich Medel
Publisher
rich@65mag.com