Events Archive - Rancho La Puerta
Events Calendar
Types of Events:
Spa Services

The Mediterranean Diet +Travel Photography

The Mediterranean Diet: A Way of Life
Paulette’s talk is a slideshow featuring photos that she has taken in Mediterranean countries, many shot in colorful and lively food markets where freshness is of utmost importance.

You will learn how residents in the Mediterranean region enhance well-being and increase longevity with prudent eating and wise living.

The Mediterranean diet recommendations do not eliminate many natural foods but instead offer suggestions for the best items to eat in various categories. In general, the foundation of the diet is plant-based, natural, and unprocessed foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices. Olive oil is the main source of added fat. Fish, seafood, dairy, and poultry are included in moderation.  Red meat and sweets are eaten only occasionally. The Mediterranean diet principles can also be easily be adapted for vegetarians thanks to the wide variety of recommended natural, nutrient-rich foods.

The Mediterranean lifestyle is also part of the plan, including daily physical activity, as well as placing a priority on taking time to gather around the table to savor and share healthy meals.

Perhaps this diet and way of life is why people who live around the Mediterranean are noted as being some of the healthiest people in the world.

Photography Classes:
Cookbook author, photographer, and international traveler Paulette Mitchell will explain how to transform your travel photos from simple snapshots to artistically crafted images. Paulette’s Tips are illustrated with her photos from around the world, so you will also be entertained as you view the images of both sophisticated cities and humble locations, and the people who dwell in them.

It’s not necessary to have a complicated or expensive camera. With the right techniques it’s always possible to capture a mood. Know when to press the shutter to show emotion in your shots of people. Make a personal statement through a picture. Reveal the beauty of the grandest or simplest subjects. And become aware of the elements of composition to artfully represent your travel memories.

Travel Photography: Tips for Pleasing Composition
Paulette will discuss photography basics, as well as tips for engaging your five senses, not just the visual. Learn how to develop a personal strategy and become aware of simple methods to turn snapshots into artful photos using the camera of your choice, cell phone, iPad, or SLR.

Travel Photography: Capture Ambience in Cities & Emotions in People
Create more than simple images with photos that express distinctive qualities of places and people by seeing the world through a photographer’s eye. Paulette will discuss how to engage locals on a personal level. Paulette will also talk about Becoming a Traveler, Not a Tourist, and how that approach will be reflected in your photos.

Paulette MitchellPaulette Mitchell is an internationally-known author of 14 cookbooks, several of which received Gourmand World Media Awards. Her most well-known cookbook series is The 15-Minute Gourmet, and she is recognized for other cookbooks addressing vegetarian soups, appetizers, homemade salad dressings, vegetarian sandwiches, and cooking with the various forms of soy.

Paulette has also produced several series of travel and culinary videos, which received Telly Awards. These videos feature the food markets and customs of Italy, Spain, France, and China, as well as the techniques and ingredients for many international cuisines.

Paulette is a freelance food and travel writer, culinary speaker, and photographer, with images from around-the-world travel to 128 countries. For 25 years, Paulette has been a frequent lecturer and guest chef on luxury cruise ships, where she speaks about destination-related topics and demonstrates the cuisines. She has also been a guest and speaker at Rancho La Puerta since 1987.

Hands-On Cooking Classes and Chef’s Table Dinner with Nina Curtis

Nina offers hands-on culinary experiences, 3.5 hours each, during which you will enjoy preparing your own meal along with fellow cooks. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta, our culinary center on Tuesday and Wednesday, at 4pm. In addition, Chef Nina will collaborate with La Cocina Que Canta’s Executive Chef Reyna Venegas and her team to create a special feast (with wine pairing!) on Thursday at 4:45pm.

Tuesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $145 (tax included). Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Wednesday Hands-On Cooking Class 4:00 PM Sign Up
Each class $145 (tax included). Class subject to change, check your weekly planner and schedule for updates. The maximum number of guests per class is 14.

Thursday Farm-to-Table Dining Experience 4:45 PM Sign Up
Celebrate the abundance of our organic farm and the connection to community with a Farm-to-Table dining experience – a perfect blend of health, tradition, flavor, and fun! Cost is $150 per person, tax and wine pairing included. The maximum number of guests is 30. Sign Up at the Appointments Desk or through the link above.

 

Nina CurtisChef Nina Curtis, a renowned figure in plant-based cuisine, stands among the 25 Top Women in Foodservice and Hospitality for 2024. Honored as America’s Top Hospital Chef in 2020, her culinary journey spans over two decades, showcasing the vast potential of plant-based cuisine on a global scale. Her influence as a trendsetter and award-winning chef resonates not only in her culinary prowess but also in her leadership within the culinary world.

With a passion for crafting delectable whole plant-based cuisine, Chef Curtis has redefined the culinary landscape, earning accolades and admiration from both vegans and non-vegans alike. Her cuisine isn’t just plant-based; it’s an exquisite symphony of flavors, textures, and tastes that leave a lasting impression.

One of her crowning achievements was being invited as the first guest chef by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to curate a historic plant-based menu for a White House State Dinner honoring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a strict vegetarian. With over 400 guests in attendance, this groundbreaking event marked a turning point in culinary history, proving that plant-based cuisine could be both luxurious and satisfying.

Chef Curtis’s passion for plant-based cuisine extends beyond her kitchen. She is a dedicated advocate, sharing her profound knowledge and enthusiasm through captivating dining experiences and enlightening lectures. Her expertise in whole plant cuisine has positioned her as a respected authority, inspiring culinary enthusiasts worldwide.

Her remarkable career journey has seen her in pivotal roles such as Director of Culinary and Executive Chef positions, underpinned by rigorous training from esteemed culinary and nutrition institutions. Her pursuit of excellence also led her to earn an MBA from Pepperdine University, a testament to her commitment to both her craft and business acumen.

Chef Curtis’s involvement in the American Culinary Corps, a collaborative initiative of the James Beard Foundation and the State Department, underscores her dedication to culinary diplomacy and cultural exchange. She embodies the notion that food transcends boundaries and fosters cross-cultural understanding through its universal language.

In a realm where taste, innovation, and nourishment converge, Chef Nina Curtis stands as a true trailblazer. Her unparalleled culinary expertise and imaginative creations continue to captivate palates and inspire culinary enthusiasts worldwide.

 

Five Paths to Wellbeing and Change

Some of the keys to Inner Fitness are: Radical Acceptance, Mindful Presence, Self-Compassion, Gratitude, and Embodiment.  Once we unlock these keys, we can open the gateway towards deeper focus, intimacy, and joy, and lessen the grip of anxiety, tension and worry. In each lesson, we will explore the keys through lecture, reflections, experiential exercises and Q+A.

Radical Acceptance: Tapping into Life
D.H. Lawrence says “we are like a great tree with our roots in the air. We need to replant ourselves—in our bodies, hearts and spirit.”
Learning to quiet a restless mind and embrace the peace of the present moment is one of the most useful and effective things we can do for our well-being. We are often unaware of how much tension and pain are created by being caught in the story of our lives, as well as how much of the inherent goodness we miss when we are caught in the story.   In this lesson, we learn the art of embracing the moment with acceptance, which helps us to change our story and experience our lives with profound newness.
Lesson 1 Keys:

  • Peaceful Presence Practice: Learning the Artform
  • Observing Your Own Thoughts: Changing the Narrative
  • Mindfully Feeling your Feelings: Dropping the Story

Paying Attention: Using Mindfulness to come to Presence
Our habit of paying attention totally shapes our moods each day, and they are very repetitive. It’s said that we have upwards of 86,000 thoughts today, and we had many of the same thoughts yesterday. The Buddha said “whatever we think about regularly, that becomes the habit of our mind”. In this lesson we look at how we pay attention, and we will learn the art of paying attention in a more wholehearted way.
Lesson 2 Keys:

  • Loving Kindness Metta Meditation: The Gateway to Presence
  • Mindful Awe: Learning Powerful Exercises
  • Curiosity: The Antidote to fear

 Self Compassion: Being Awake For Your Life
Dr. Kristin Neff advocates for treating oneself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer to a dear friend. This shift in self-perspective transforms us from inner critics into inner allies, leading to greater emotional well-being. Embracing these elements helps us not only cultivate self-compassion, but in turn, leads to vastly improved mental and emotional health, core qualities of inner fitness.
Lesson 3 Keys:

  • Learning: Self Kindness vs Self Judgment
  • Practicing: Common Humanity vs Isolation
  • Experiencing: Mindfulness vs Over-Identification

On Purpose Gratitude: Happy For No Reason
There is the saying “whatever we practice grows stronger.” When a negative experience happens it immediately goes down into our implicit memory and takes root and it gets recalled over and over. And when a positive experience happens, it takes far longer to install the positive trait. But, If you practice a lot of gratitude, true On Purpose Gratitude, the gratitude grows. Gratitude will change your biology.
Lesson 4 Keys:

  • Understanding Gratitude
  • Breaking through the Barriers to Gratitude
  • Gladdening the Mind; A new Happiness

Embodiment: The Goal
James Joyce, in his short story A Painful Case, tells us: “Mr. Duffy lived a short distance from his body”.  How many of us are living this way? And what are the ramifications?|
We live in a mental world, with so much of our life happening in our minds. It’s virtual and we’re disembodied. It can be rare that we we really are awake in our bodies
Learn a powerful technique to help you come home to your innate aliveness.
Lesson 5  Keys:

  • Relax the body
  • Raise Your EQ: Embodiment Quotient
  • Micro Shifts: Daily Moves for the body
  • A New World: Mind-Body Integration

 

Rachel FleischmanRachel Fleischman is a licensed social worker, psychotherapist, registered expressive arts therapist, workshop facilitator and speaker who over the last two and a half decades has supported thousands of humans to deepen their creativity, feel understood, and love themselves fiercely. Through her private practice, Bliss Counseling, and a unique movement system and workshop curriculum called Dance Your Bliss, Rachel works with individuals and couples and has expertise in solution-focused therapy, body image, relationship and sex therapy, depression, anxiety, life transition, and panic disorder, to name a few.

Fleischman is currently developing new e-books and coursework surrounding; Sleep Health, Body-Centered Psychotherapy and Mindfulness Workshops. She has developed the Relaxed and Real model for psychotherapists. She can regularly be found leading international workshops and programs at conferences, corporate retreats, and wellness centers such as the Esalen Institute, the Omega Institute’s Women and Courage Conference, Canyon Ranch, the Naropa Institute’s Hakomi Conference, the Hollyhock Retreat Center, UCSF Women’s Health, Rancho La Puerta Spa, and the International Dance Therapy Conference.

Her sought-after mental health expertise has been featured on numerous podcasts and in magazines such as Verywell Mind, Best Life, Psychology Today, Martha Stewart, and Parade, to name a few.

Media Contact:
Lena Rose PR // Charlotte Silverstein
charlotte@lenarosepr.com
1.415.516.7352

Change Your Genes, Change Your Life: Living to 100 & Beyond

We are not victims of our genetics. We now know that only 5% of our health and life expectancy is governed by our genes. According to Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier, there is a new science of “Epigenetics” which demonstrates that our day-to-day, year-by-year choices govern which of our genes will be expressed and which will be suppressed. Influences include stress management, meditation/visualization, diet and nutrition, environmental toxins, social connections, and a sense of purpose to determine optimal health and extended longevity.

Kenneth PelletierKenneth R. Pelletier, PhD, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California School of Medicine. He is also Chairman of the American Health Association and is a vice president with American Specialty Health. At the UCSF School of Medicine, he is the Director of the Corporate Health Improvement Program (CHIP), a research program between CHIP and 15 Fortune 500 corporations, including Ford, Oracle, IBM, Apple, and NASA. Dr. Pelletier has served as a member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the California Wellness Foundation, Foundation Health Systems (FHS), Health Systems International (HSI), the Social Venture Network, and the NOVA Institute. He was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, studied at the CG Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland, and has published over 300 professional journal articles in behavioral medicine, disease management, worksite interventions, alternative/integrative medicine, and epigenetics. His research, clinical practice, and publications have been the subject of numerous national television programs, including numerous appearances on ABC World News, Today, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, Dr Oz, 48 Hours, McNeil-Lehrer Newshour, the award-winning BBC series The Long Search, and the 5-part PBS series Healthy People, Healthy Business. Dr. Pelletier is a peer reviewer for several medical journals, including the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and serves on a number of corporate boards. He has published over 300 professional articles and has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and the BBC to discuss his research. He is the author of 15 books, including the international bestseller Mind as Healer, Mind as Slayer and Change Your Genes, Change Your Life.

From Scott Joplin & George Gershwin to Billy Joel

Immigration and Opportunity
An extravaganza of four-hand piano music celebrating composers from around the world and the places and experiences that inspired them, with DUO MUNDI GEORGE & GULI.

Duo Mundi George & Guli thrills audiences around the world with their exciting, innovative, diverse, and intimate programming style. They explore music for both one piano four hands and two piano four hands in the standard and contemporary repertoire as well as commissioned new works by national and international composers. Lauded as “…breathing the same artistic air…” with an adrenaline of communication that captivates audiences of every generation, Duo Mundi George & Guli creates beautifully synchronized performances that engage both the eye and ear in a dance of emotions. Since their inception in 2018, Duo Mundi G&G have given standing room only performances of Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story for the centenary celebration of the composer’s birth and their two-piano program “Immigration and Opportunity” with works by composers inspired by or writing in foreign lands. They have been invited to perform and give master classes throughout the US including venues in New York City, Kansas, Colorado, California, Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma. In their 2022-2023 concert season, they performed in Mexico and premiered their four-hand arrangement of Chinese composer Shi Fu’s Tajik Drum Dance at the 44th International European Piano Teachers’ Association Conference in Portugal. Their upcoming recording projects include Music of the Americas, music written for and/or inspired by children, and a series of newly commissioned and rarely performed works. Duo Mundi G&G have an exciting 2023-2024 concert season with upcoming performances and tours in New England, the Northwest, Florida, North Carolina, the Bay Area, Colorado, Texas, and Mexico. They gave their New York City recital debut at Steinway Hall on April 1, 2023 and hope to complete their 2020 tour of China which was interrupted by the pandemic in 2024.

From Scott Joplin & George Gershwin to Billy Joel, with George Lopez
If you love piano music then come out for a fun and exciting program of solo piano music from the last 150 years to the present. George Lopez has wowed audiences throughout New England and the world with his entertaining and easy performance style, where he brings each piece to life with a dynamic narrative that totally draws in the listener. Some piano favorites will include the great American ragtime composer Scott Joplin, the iconic George Gershwin and the classical stylings of none other than William Martin “Billy” Joel. Not to be missed!

The Robert Beckwith Artist-in-Residence at Bowdoin College, George Lopez, has been a dynamic performer, sought-after pedagogue, and engaging lecturer for over 30 years. Known for his “…kaleidoscopic colors and clarity of conception…” (LA Times) in the standard repertoire as well as being a champion of newly written works, his debut at the renowned Concertgebouw in Amsterdam was lauded as “… authentic and memorable …” by the Nederlands Dagblad for his interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations along with all Twenty-Four Preludes of Chopin. He performed worldwide as a soloist in major cities throughout Europe, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Central and South America.  George’s extensive performances covers most major U.S. cities, including New York’s Lincoln Center, Merkin Hall, and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie, Paul Hall at the Juilliard School, Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Ambassador Hall in Los Angeles, the Shao Lin Arts Center in Rockport (Massachusetts), The Cleveland Art Museum, Harvard University, and Tanglewood.  After his performance at Lincoln Center, the composer Lowell Liebermann described the performance of his work as “…exciting and decisive!”  A featured soloist at many international music festivals throughout Europe and abroad, Mr. Lopez performed at the renowned Salle Pleyel in Paris, the Girona Internacional Festival de Música in Spain, the Kowmung Festival just outside Sydney, Festivale d’Internazionale Solisti e Musica da Camera in Umbria (Italy), and the renowned Latin-American music festival Cubadisco in Havana (Cuba). He also performed as guest soloist with the National Symphony in São Paolo (Brazil), Rose Hall in Osaka, at Asahi Hall in Tokyo.

Gulimina Mahamuti is the first Uyghur from China to receive a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the U.S.  She made her Carnegie debut in New York City at Weill Recital Hall and has performed internationally in Montreal, Copenhagen, Istanbul, Budapest (at the invitation of the Turkish Ambassador), and across the U.S. and China, broadcasting on these nations’ radio and TV programs. She has performed piano concerti with the Southeast Kansas Symphony Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony Orchestra, and Harbin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, and was featured on the radio in San Francisco, Queens College/CUNY podcast, China Touch Radio, and Istanbul Technical University Radio.

The Surprising Secrets of Happy Couples

The Surprising Secrets of Happy Couples: Tips on how to keep your relationship at peak performance

Sexuality and Health- and live longer and better!
Sex not only feels good, but research also indicates it may actually make you mentally and physically healthier. This talk explores why we may be inhibited and offers some suggestions about how to have a more confident and pleasurable sexual self.

Behind the scenes of Reality TV What Married at First Sight has taught me about love and marriage

 

Pepper Schwartz, PhD, is a renowned social psychologist and television personality. Well known for her 26 books on relationships, sexuality and family issues, she is also one of the three experts on the extremely popular Lifetime television show Married at First Sight, now in its 17th season. Two of her books, American Couples: Money, Work and Sex and The Normal Bar: The surprising secrets of happily married couples have been on the New York Times Best Seller lists. Among her many accomplishments she received awards from the American Sociological Association for Public Understanding of Sociology and was elected President of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexualities. There is the Pepper Schwartz Professorship on sexuality and aging in the medical school of the University of Minnesota and the Pepper Schwartz Graduate Fellowship on Sexuality and Intimate Relationships at the University of Washington where she has been a professor since 1972. While she has published many academic articles and books, she is also known for writing well researched books and articles for popular consumption. She has also reached out to the public over the years as a columnist for Glamour and as the AARP Ambassador of love, sex, and relationships. Besides her tv appearances, she conducts workshops on marriage, intimate relationships and sexuality and writes a column for Seattle magazine. Her newest book, Relationship Rx was published February 13, 2023 with co-author Psychologist Dr. Jessica Griffin, who heads the Trauma Institute at the medical school at the University of Massachusetts in Wooster, Massachusetts. Pepper, a long-time contributor at the Ranch, is married and has two children, and four grandchildren. Pepper also has a four-legged family- three dogs and two horses and lives on a horse ranch in Snoqualmie, Washington.

Color Journals: Learning to See Color with Fresh Eyes

This workshop will focus our attention on the color environment in and around Rancho La Puerta with the aim of increasing our observational acuity and color perception while examining the emotional, cultural and personal foundations of our chromatic preferences.  The workshop will be modular, with daily activities. The workshop will utilize simple materials and will be designed for non-experts to have success while stretching their understanding of the way we see color and how it can be used.  Participants who attend multiple sessions will accumulate pages within a color journal that will be a visual record of their color experiences at Rancho La Puerta.

Hand Binding a Sketchbook
Participants will make an Italian-style hand sewn sketchbook/notebook that we will fill with the color exercises over the course of the week.  (Anyone who doesn’t attend the first session can still participate in any of the later sessions!) 90 mins

Color Perception:  New Eyes
We will discuss and observe the ways that our eyes and our minds collaborate to create the perception of color.  We will experiment with color combinations using paper collage to examine the ways that color can change dramatically based on context. 75 mins

Color Preferences:  Learning to Love All Colors
We will discuss our emotional reactions to colors and the reasons for those feelings.  We will practice recontextualizing colors to turn even the most disliked colors into combinations that we can appreciate. 75 mins

Complicated Color:  Looking Closer
We will experiment with optical mixing to color match the myriad complex color combinations that make up the colors of natural objects.  We will test our ability to remember colors accurately, then expand our color perception through extremely close observation of plants, rocks, etc., from the grounds. 75 mins

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Color:  Color Truths & Color Lies
We will discuss the differences between natural and artificial colors.  We will make watercolor paints out of locally found materials and natural pigments, discuss the various visual, physical and tactile qualities of “real” colors versus “fake” colors, and make a visual record of some of the colors found at Ranch La Puerta. 75 mins

 

Clayton Merrell grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. He holds an MFA from the Yale School of Art and received a Fulbright Grant for research and creative work in Oaxaca, Mexico in 1996-97.  His work is exhibited widely, with recent exhibitions at: the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum; Penn State University; Concept Gallery, Pittsburgh PA; the A+D Gallery, Chicago; the Westmoreland Museum of Art, and the Strohl Art Center, Chautauqua, NY.  His work is in the collections of the American Embassy in Belmopan, Belize, the Smithsonian Museum, the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and numerous private and corporate collections.  He was the 2005 Artist of the Year at The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, and in 2016 was named Creator-of-the-Year by the Pittsburgh Technology Council. He has received awards and grants from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Skowhegan, The Millay Colony, Blue Mountain Center, Vermont Studio Center, and the Roswell Artist-In-Residence Foundation.  In 2015, the Pittsburgh International Airport completed a 69,000 sq. ft. terrazzo floor based on his design.  He is currently the Dorothy L. Stubnitz Professor of Art at Carnegie Mellon University, where he teaches Color, Painting, Drawing and Concept Studios.

Brilliantly Navigating Life’s Transitions

Life is filled with powerful transitions, constant change, and growth. How to navigate them with flow and wisdom is the test for each person. Understanding the natural stages of transition and how to move through them with grace and clarity leads directly to a sense of empowerment, joy, and fulfillment. Behavioral research has revealed many of the tools for steering through these powerful periods of change. Learn clear practices to help you with the transitions and the changes happening in your life.

Dr. David Surrenda will offer four classes:

  1. Understanding the dynamics of transition – reviews what we have learned about how to successfully make a transition.
  2. Letting go with grace – provides exercises and models for releasing those things that are really now part of one’s past and not part of one’s future.
  3. Navigating the space between – identifies the challenges and processes for navigating the unknow space between releasing the old and starting something new.
  4. Setting my new direction – practices and tools for successfully taking a new direction so that your life unfolds as you intend.

 

David SurrendaDavid Surrenda, Ph.D.,  is a pioneer in the study of human consciousness. As founder and Dean for the Graduate School of Consciousness Studies at John F. Kennedy, the first accredited graduate school of its kind, he developed nine separate Master’s programs as well as spearheaded the development of research and counseling centers. These programs have graduated over 10,000 students and were the forerunner to the current efforts in Integrative Health. As the CEO of the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, the largest retreat center in the US, he led the development of their innovative blended learning programs to reach a global audience. He is the co-author of four books.

A Celebration of the Great American Songbook

You’ve Got a Friend! A tribute to the Singer/Songwriters of the 70’s! Music from Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hart and Duke Ellington

 

For over 34 years, two-time EMMY® Award winning composer and performer Dave Powers has been a vital part of the Columbus, Ohio music scene as a pianist, keyboardist, vocalist, entertainer and educator. Dave has traveled and performed nationally and internationally. Dave is a consultant and a frequent guest of the Public Television Show “The Piano Guy” and has taught a series of master classes with “Piano Guy” host Scott Houston. Dave is also an adjunct faculty member of The Ohio State University School of Music. Considered one of the most successful musicians in the Midwest, Dave manages to win over the hearts of all who hear him perform. From concerts to clubs and restaurants to corporate events and private parties, his vast repertoire is as diverse as the audience that he entertains. Dave has performed with noted performers such as Steve Allen, George Benson, Rusty Bryant, Buddy DeFranco, Mark Farner (of Grand Funk Railroad), Eric Gale, Terry Gibbs, Ernie Krivda, Wilbert Longmire, Johnny Lytle, ‘Blue’ Lou Marini (of the Blues Brothers), Joan Rivers, Arturo Sandoval, Grover Washington, Jr. and many others. In addition, Dave is associated with the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus, and performs with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Dave has been hosting a jazz concert series from his home, and has re-located at the Clintonville Woman’s Club called “The House Jazz Concert Series.” davepowers.com.

Louis Tsamous grew up in Cambridge, Ohio and began playing the drums at age 10. He has since become one of the most versatile and active musicians in America. He has toured Europe, Asia and the Caribbean and has recorded and performed with jazz artists Stanley Turrentine, Etta Jones, Jimmy McGriff, Dr. Lonnie Smith, David “Fathead” Newman, Joey DeFrancesco and Kevin Mahogany among others. He played in the Ohio State University Jazz Ensemble while a student at OSU and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982. In addition to performing with various groups in the Midwest, Louis has done clinics at many high schools and universities across the country. Louis has been touring and recording with jazz organ sensation Tony Monaco since 1999 and is featured on six national releases on The Summit record label.

S’Wonderful!

The Swinging 60’s…a bit of all things musically from the Peace and Love Decade! Music of George Gershwin and Cole Porter.

 

For over 34 years, two-time EMMY® Award winning composer and performer Dave Powers has been a vital part of the Columbus, Ohio music scene as a pianist, keyboardist, vocalist, entertainer and educator. Dave has traveled and performed nationally and internationally. Dave is a consultant and a frequent guest of the Public Television Show “The Piano Guy” and has taught a series of master classes with “Piano Guy” host Scott Houston. Dave is also an adjunct faculty member of The Ohio State University School of Music. Considered one of the most successful musicians in the Midwest, Dave manages to win over the hearts of all who hear him perform. From concerts to clubs and restaurants to corporate events and private parties, his vast repertoire is as diverse as the audience that he entertains. Dave has performed with noted performers such as Steve Allen, George Benson, Rusty Bryant, Buddy DeFranco, Mark Farner (of Grand Funk Railroad), Eric Gale, Terry Gibbs, Ernie Krivda, Wilbert Longmire, Johnny Lytle, ‘Blue’ Lou Marini (of the Blues Brothers), Joan Rivers, Arturo Sandoval, Grover Washington, Jr. and many others. In addition, Dave is associated with the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus, and performs with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. Dave has been hosting a jazz concert series from his home, and has re-located at the Clintonville Woman’s Club called “The House Jazz Concert Series.” davepowers.com.

Louis Tsamous grew up in Cambridge, Ohio and began playing the drums at age 10. He has since become one of the most versatile and active musicians in America. He has toured Europe, Asia and the Caribbean and has recorded and performed with jazz artists Stanley Turrentine, Etta Jones, Jimmy McGriff, Dr. Lonnie Smith, David “Fathead” Newman, Joey DeFrancesco and Kevin Mahogany among others. He played in the Ohio State University Jazz Ensemble while a student at OSU and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982. In addition to performing with various groups in the Midwest, Louis has done clinics at many high schools and universities across the country. Louis has been touring and recording with jazz organ sensation Tony Monaco since 1999 and is featured on six national releases on The Summit record label.

Music, Magic and Mayhem

Marshall ChapmanMarshall Chapman is a multi-hyphenated American treasure. The singer-songwriter-author-actress was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on January 7, 1949. To date, she has released fourteen critically acclaimed albums. Her 2013 release, Blaze of Glory, was hailed a masterpiece. And the Associated Press proclaimed her most recent Songs I Can’t Live Without (2020) “perhaps her best.” Chapman’s songs have been recorded by everyone from Emmylou Harris and Joe Cocker to Irma Thomas and Jimmy Buffett. In 2010, Chapman landed her first movie role, playing Gwyneth Paltrow’s Road manager in Country Strong. During filming, her musical Good Ol’ Girls (adapted from the fiction of Lee Smith and Jill McCorkle, featuring songs by Matraca Berg and Marshall) opened off-Broadway. That fall, Chapman simultaneously released a book (They Came to Nashville) and CD (Big Lonesome). They Came to Nashville was nominated for the 2011 SIBA Book Award for nonfiction, and the Philadelphia Inquirer named Big Lonesome “Best Country/Roots Album of 2010.” Of her three rockin’ albums for Epic, the Al Kooper-produced Jaded Virgin was voted Record of the Year (1978) by Stereo Review. Her album, It’s About Time… (Island, 1995), recorded live at the Tennessee State Prison for Women, drew rave reviews from Time, USA Today and the Village Voice. Chapman’s first book, Goodbye, Little Rock and Roller (St. Martin’s Press) was a SIBA bestseller, 2004 SIBA Book Award finalist, and one of three finalists for the Southern Book Critics Circle Award. Chapman continues to land film roles:  Mississippi Grind (2015); Lovesong, which garnered glowing reviews at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival; Novitiate, which opened to rave reviews at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Marshall is a contributing editor to Garden & Gun. She’s also written for The Oxford American, Nashville Arts Magazine, Southern Living, W, Performing Songwriter, and The Bob Edwards Show (Sirius/XM). “But music,” she says, “is my first and last love.” Marshall was featured in “Outlaws & Armadillos: Country’s Roaring ’70s” at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville, through February 2022. Since Covid, Marshall has been livestreaming every Saturday at 1pm PT (4pm ET). Called “Perfect Imperfection,” these livestreams are free on Facebook at ‘Marshall Chapman Music’.

An Eclectic Night of Blues, Jazz, Folk, and Funk

Internationally renowned guitarist/composer/recording artist Mimi Fox has been recognized in numerous Downbeat Magazine International Critics Polls and has been hailed by writers and colleagues alike as one of the most eloquent guitarists on today’s scene. In one of many feature stories, Jazz Timeshailed Mimi as “a blazing fret master who combines be-bop infused lines with an abundance of soul…spinning solos that unfurl with surprise twists like expertly tailored short stories.”  In a further nod to Mimi’s guitar artistry, and in conjunction with Heritage Guitars’ 30th anniversary, the historic Kalamazoo guitar company has rolled out the Mimi Fox Artist Signature model. Mimi Fox has performed and recorded with many jazz greats, including fellow guitarists Charlie Byrd and Charlie Hunter; Grammy-nominated saxophonists Branford Marsalis and Houston Person; vocalists Abbey Lincoln and Diana Krall; and powerhouse drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. She has also shared the stage with music legend Stevie Wonder. Mimi has toured the world, playing such major festivals as the Montreal, Guinness Cork, Perth International, and Jamaica Spice Jazz Festivals. Stateside, she has headlined at elite venues such as Monterey/Newport Festivals, The Blue Note, The Kennedy Center, Yoshi’s and the Great American Music Hall among countless others.
“Beyond her passion and technical virtuosity, Fox plays with a profundity that only results from a lifetime of commitment and total immersion in one’s art”. – Guitar Player Magazine

Candlelight Gentle Yoga, Meditation & Cello

Gentle Therapeutic Yoga and Cello is a collaboration between Nancy Wang Gaeden and Joanna Morrison to bring forth a soulful and deep exploration of body, mind, heart, and spirit. As a certified yoga therapist and instinctive meditation teacher, Nancy guides this gentle practice with full presence and heart, through movement inquiry and yoga’s inherent invitation towards transformation. Joanna skillfully brings the full embrace of sound – the cello being the only instrument that encompasses the entire range of the human voice – to help us move through the body and uplift consciousness. This collaboration is a special experience designed to let us drop in and be carried.

 

Nancy Wang GaedenJoin Nancy Wang Gaeden for a gentle and meditative yoga practice to stretch, release, and rejuvenate. Nancy is an ex-Buddhist nun, a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), and a faculty member of the school for Instinctive Meditation. She has served countless chronic pain and cancer patients in northern California over her last 10 years of teaching. She holds therapeutic yoga certifications from Duke Integrative Medicine and Oregon Health and Science University, and is a graduate of the Kripalu School of Yoga & Ayurveda.

 

 

Cellist Joanna Morrison completed her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Degrees at Boston University.  In 2007 Ms. Morrison won a position in the Honolulu Symphony and served as principal cello of the Hawaii Symphony from 2012 to 2015.  Concert tours have taken Ms. Morrison to Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea as well as much of Europe and the United States performing under conductors including Zubin Mehta, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman and Manfred Honeck.  Joanna was an acting member of the San Diego Symphony from 2016-2020.  An avid chamber player, Ms. Morrison has collaborated with various artists and has studied under members of the Guarneri and Juilliard Quartets. She has received fellowships to summer festivals around the world including Verbier Festival where she served as principal cellist for the world tour with Charles Dutoit and Martha Argerich.

Passport to Travel and Food Journaling

When we write about travel or a great meal, we revisit the experience for a second time. When we read what we’ve written, we’re transported again. A well-kept journal is an everlasting free return ticket to places and dishes we’ve savored.  Antonia Allegra and Alison DaRosa will offer tips, exercises and prompts designed to instill your journal with the flavors, vibrancy, and soul-enriching essence of your unique travel/food experiences. You’ll have the option to share your writing with peers in exchange for constructive, supportive comments. Each session will begin with a somatic exercise to center and inspire you. Join any or all three workshops.

 

Antonia AllegraAntonia Allegra, Toni, is a professional coach dedicated to working with writers. Her background is as a writer, editor, and teacher. Honored by the San Francisco Professional Food Society with a Lifetime Achievement award, she founded the Symposium for Professional Food Writers (1989-2011), and in 2005 founded the still-active Symposium for Professional Wine Writers. She was on the launch team for the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in the Napa Valley, near her home. She was instrumental in the origins of La Cocina que Canta culinary center here at Rancho La Puerta, an experience she treasures. Toni is also a celebrated poet and memoirist who has strong convictions about the value of writing one’s own story. 

 

Alison DaRosaAlison DaRosa is a six-time winner of the Lowell Thomas Gold Award, the most prestigious national prize for travel journalism.   Her career includes  30 years at the San Diego Union-Tribune – with her final 15 years as Travel Editor. She accepted a buyout in 2008 – but continued as a freelance contributor, writing travel features and a monthly Travel Deals column for the newspaper. Alison taught Travel Writing for several years at UC-San Diego’s Extension. With Sutro Media, she produced the San Diego Essential Guide, a highly rated travel app for mobile devices.  Ten years ago, she joined the staff at Wine Dine & Travel, an online magazine, where her travel stories and photography are featured quarterly.

The Healing Power Of Music

Chris’ personal journey throughout the years as a singer and songwriter has helped him explore the miraculous ways that we can use our voices as a source of motivation, change, dissent and healing even when even the faintest of notes ring through. The human voice and the art of songwriting constantly reminds us of the indomitable power of our spirits and our capacity for renewal. Sound is a form of energy, and our voices are our wisdom, courage, fragility, and influence.

At a young age, Chris developed a rare hearing disorder called Otosclerosis that led to the loss of hearing in one ear and partial deafness in the other, a setback that would deter many young musicians forever. The reality, however, fueled his passion and determination even more, forcing him to re-learn almost everything he had known prior. To Chris music was, and still is, an unconditional companion.

For the Rancho La Puerta workshop presentation, Chris will guide the attendees emotionally and theoretically through his songwriting process, and the search for his own authentic voice through music. He’ll share with the attendees the processes of conceptualizing, listening, crafting, recording, and performing original songs that motivate togetherness, civil discourse, and action. He will discuss the inspiration behind my music and perform examples during the workshop of my own original songs. At the end of each concert, we will seek emotional venerability, share ideas, and work on a song together to sing together as a unified chorus of humanity.

 

In 2023, Chris Pierce was handpicked to be the special guest opener for the NEIL YOUNG Coastal Tour. Recently, he gained additional worldwide prominence with “We Can Always Come Back to This”. His hit co/write aired on 3 episodes of the NBC primetime series ‘THIS IS US,’ then went on to #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart.  Pierce has also done worldwide headlining tours and has supported: Neil Young, B.B. King, Seal, Al Green, Steve Earle, Allison Russell, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Keb’Mo, Blind Boys of Alabama, Aaron Neville & others.

Other recent highlights include: a solo concert at The Kennedy Center, a ‘Playing for Change’ duet with Sara Bareilles, a sold-out Troubadour concert with Allison Russell, and performance/interviews on NPR’s WORLD CAFÉ, MOUNTAIN STAGE, AMERICAN FOLK SHOW, SoCAL SOUND, and more. Stellar performances at Newport Folk, AmericanaFest, Folk Alliance, Rancho La Puerta Folk Fest, Four Corners Folk, MerleFest & NC Folk Festival led to further acclaim.

His album, ‘AMERICAN SILENCE’ garnered critical acclaim from NPR, Rolling Stone, NoDepression, SiriusXM, The Bluegrass Situation, AmericanaUK, Acoustic Guitar and others. PopMatters named ‘AMERICAN SILENCE ’THE #1 Best Folk Album of 2021 and FolkAlley named “Residential School” from AMERICAN SILENCE one of the 100 Essential Folk Songs.

His newest album ‘LET ALL WHO WILL’ was released on September 1, 2023, with critical acclaim from NPR, NoDepression, American Songwriter, Hi Times and more.  In addition to his solo career, Chris Pierce performs/records with both Americana/Folk/Soul sensation WAR & PIERCE with Sunny War, & the Americana/Roots band LEON CREEK.

“One of America’s most talented, gifted, and affecting artists.” – AMERICAN SONGWRITER
“I haven’t been so deeply, deeply moved by just a person and their guitar like this in a long time.” – NPR MUSIC

chrispierce.com

History of James Hubbell’s Artwork

Guided Tour of Hubbell Artwork & Las Piedras Environmental Center
A walking tour across the Ranch indoor & outdoor property discussing James Hubbell’s works and the stories behind them.

Hubbell & Hubbell Architects Presentation on Green Building Design and Alternate Building Materials
A discussion of the use of green building design around Rancho La Puerta as well as H&H’s works throughout San Diego County

Drew Hubbell Presentation on the Pacific Rim Parks & World Design Capital 2024 Activities in San Diego & Tijuana
A discussion about the Pacific Rim Parks around the world as well as Kuchumaa Passage and the collaboratve design process.

Drew Hubbell is the son and business partner with Jame Hubbell. His diverse background ranges from historic restoration and adaptive reuse of existing structures, to custom residences and remodels. He especially enjoys working on cultural and nature centers for non-profits and municipalities. He collaborates with his father—renowned artist James T. Hubbell—merging art and architecture in ecologically and aesthetically mindful ways. His firm specializes in sustainable architecture, green building materials and the use of alternative building materials such as straw bales, insulated concrete forms, adobe, and sprayed concrete construction. Drew worked on a number of the art installations at the Ranch as a young man and was the architect for Las Piedras in collaboration with Sarah Livia Brightwood.

Instagram: @hubbellandhubbellarchitects
Facebook: Hubbell and Hubbell Architects
Youtube: @HubbellandHubbell
Pinterest: hubbellandhubbellarchitects

Blood, Biotechnology and Well-Being

Blood, Biotechnology and Well-Being – Overviews of Genetics, Cellular Therapies and Aging
Over the past 20 years, biological discoveries and healthcare technologies have evolved at breakneck speed.  It is now possible to read your entire genetic blueprint in a few hours, reprogram your immune cells to kill cancer, and mine amounts of data never before imagined, all to more effectively treat us more precisely as individuals.  Individuals and communities will live longer and healthier lives, and it all starts with our blood!

Blood, Biotechnology and Well-Being – DNA and Genetics
The discovery of the molecular structure of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1952 has cracked wide open the understanding of our genetic blueprint, how single molecular changes in our DNA can cause disease, how our DNA directs how we respond to therapies, and how we can now edit our DNA to eradicate disease, with technologies such as CRISPR.  DNA sequencing and editing technologies applied to agriculture and microorganisms, bacteria and viruses, will enable us to realize both precision medicine and more importantly precision health.

Blood, Biotechnology and Well-Being – Cellular Therapies
Pharmaceutical development is at an amazing inflection point, using cells to replace damaged and diseased tissues.  Cellular therapies are just now being applied clinically, after the earlier waves of chemical drugs, such as aspirin, and biologics, such as antibodies (i.e., Humira).  The treatment of cancer has followed drug development and now it is possible to leverage and even reprogram your own immune system to fight cancer.

Blood, Biotechnology and Well-Being – Aging
While cancer involves the aberrant growth of cells, cell senescence, or aging, occurs through similar genetic changes.  Scientists now believe our bodies were designed to live longer than we actually do, and it’s the inhibition of disease that will enhance longevity.  Will genetically manipulating individual cells allow us to live both disease-free and longer?  In this program we will also briefly review the biology of skincare and wound repair.

 

David Wellis, PhD, is a nationally-known cell biologist, innovator and entrepreneur with over 30 years of engagement in the life science industry.  David currently serves as the CEO of Excellos, a company focused on supplying cellular products and services, together with process development and manufacturing expertise to scientists and clinicians working with cell and gene therapies.  Prior to Excellos, he served as the CEO of the San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) for nearly nine years.  At SDBB, David’s vision was to connect altruistic blood donors with basic research and clinical study opportunities, furthering SDBB’s mission of ensuring the health of the community.  David joined SDBB following his tenure at a variety of companies that developed antibody therapeutics and tools for biomedical research, diagnostic and applied markets. David received his B.S. from UC Irvine, an M.S. and Ph.D. from Emory University, postdoctoral training at Tufts University and UC Berkeley, and business training at Santa Clara University and UC Berkeley.  David serves on the Executive Committee of the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute at UC San Diego, and has held board and committee roles in several national blood bank organizations, the National Institutes of Health and biotechnology companies.  He has presented to local and national audiences, Young Presidents Organization and has been invited to the White House twice.  For the past two years, he was named to the SD500 list of Most Influential People in San Diego.

 

Illuminate Your Life

The Interior Journey: Listening to Your Life
How can you live from the center of who you have been born to be, not who you have been told to be? We’ll explore this question through images, humor, spiritual wisdom, and personal reflection — all as pathways to discovering how you might live your life with expanded authenticity, meaning and joy.

Loving Midlife and Beyond
While we live in a society which extols youth, we are also living in an era where people in the second half of life have more possibilities than ever before.  We will explore the losses and opportunities which surface as we age and consider strategies and practices for how to make this phase of our lives the most generative and satisfying yet.

Portals in Wonder and Awe
What are your portals into feeling a sense of wonder and awe?  What are the conditions that invite you to unclench and be present to your “one wild and precious life”? We will explore these concepts both playfully and reverentially, buttressed by research, music, images and individual reflection.

The Inner Pilgrimage to Beauty
It can be easy to confuse beauty with glamour.   But true beauty is about living from your sacred center.  With the complement of images and music, you will be invited to consider your longing, encounters, and thresholds to beauty; not mirror-image beauty, but the beauty of becoming who you are.

 

Jeannie DuBose is the author and illustrator of the award-winning Tending the Fire: The Story of a Marriage and The Mother Daughter Dance.  An experienced speaker, facilitator, and retreat leader, Jeannie works with organizations focused on health and spirituality, a variety of faith communities, and groups in the North Carolina prison system.   A Vanderbilt University graduate, she  holds an M.S. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University and a Certificate in Spiritual Formation from Columbia Theological Seminary. Jeannie and her husband raised their three children in Atlanta and currently make their home in Montreat, NC. To learn more about Jeannie’e work, go to www.jeanniedubose.org.

Finding Your Balance Between What You Want to Eat and What You Should Eat

Macronutrients, Blood Sugar, and Energy Levels: Navigating Health and Breaking Free from Sugar “Addiction”

Have you ever experienced “hangry” mood swings or felt sluggish after a meal? Or wondered why you crave chocolate, ice cream, or potato chips at night? We’ll delve into the science behind these moments. Join Jodie for a dynamic exploration of how your food choices impact your energy levels, mood, and relationship with sugar. Experience a revelation as you discover practical strategies for maintaining steady moods and feeling confident in your dietary decisions. Break free from what feels like sugar addiction. Jodie strikes the perfect balance between education and enjoyment, helping you feel your best and confident while living your healthiest life.

Balancing What You Want and Should Eat: Dieting Versus Intuitive Eating
Explore how shortcuts and crash dieting can ruin your relationship with food. Learn where to begin with a few behavioral tweaks that will help sustain long-term results. Discover another way to eat that is sustainable and intuitive.

Let’s Talk Smoothies: And Other Natural Foods and How They Enhance Our Gut and Overall Health…Q/A
Bring your questions and thoughts, or simply join in the conversation as Jodie shares insights into understanding what a healthy gut microbiome means for you.
Did someone say bloat? Discover the benefits of incorporating more plants into your diet and learn practical tips for finding balance and promoting health with a plant-centric approach.

 

Jodie BlockJodie Goodman Block, MS, RDN, CDN, is the Golden Door Spa’s evidence-based Dietitian/Nutritionist with answers you can trust to optimize your health and promote longevity. She is the founder of The Health Institute of Nutrition — a private practice, an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and on staff at Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute in La Jolla, California. Jodie is recognized for her work in Women’s Health and Sustainable Weight Loss Nutrition. She has served as a weekly guest expert at various Wall Street Corporations and NYC Health Clubs and as a college adjunct professor. She has been featured on television and radio broadcasts including CBS News and Fox 5 Good Day New York.

Indigenous Wisdom Walk

Since ancient times, native Kumeyaay peoples have lived in and around the lands where Rancho La Puerta is located today. Local Kumeyaay Norma Meza grew up in the footsteps of her ancestors, learning from childhood how to interact with plants, animals and the unique spirit of the land. Join Norma and naturalist Mike Wilken for a fascinating walk to the Kumeyaay homesite, as she shares her deep knowledge of traditional native lifeways and the nature of our local region. The very special walk is interactive, questions are welcome.

This is an easy 1.5  mile walk with stops along the way to talk about traditional uses of native plants and ways of understanding the land. Sage or other herbs may be burned as part of a special blessing ritual. Norma speaks Kumeyaay and Spanish; Mike Wilken will interpret, translating to English for her along the way.

 

Norma Meza is from the traditional Kumeyaay lands of Ja’aa, also known as Alamo (Cottonwood) Creek in Baja California. She is a widely recognized cultural authority of the Mescuichs clan, having taught special workshops on Kumeyaay Ethnobotany, language and traditional culture.

Clips from a Hollywood Career

Clips from a Hollywood Career, starring Steve Martin, Johnny Cash, Gene Wilder, Harrison Ford, Dick Van Dyke, Forrest Whitaker, Jeff Goldblum, and Me.

How Movies Get Made: Stories about The Frisco Kid, The Jerk, and Lush Life
Michael Elias holds an informal chat about how films get to be made – and talk about three of his movies.

Is It Too Late to Be a Writer?  Of Course Not, But Then What?
Michael will talk about what to do with that completed manuscript – agents, publishers, and the new phenomenon of self-publishing.

 

Michael EliasMichael Elias is an award-winning writer, actor and director who has written film, television, theatre and fiction. His new novel, You Can Go Home Now, is a timely and addictive psychological thriller featuring a female cop on the hunt for a killer while battling violent secrets of her own.  The book was recently published by  HarperCollins in the U.S. and was released by Editions du Masque in France.  He is also the author of The Last Conquistador,published by Open Road Media.  Michael Elias was born and raised in upstate New York, moving to New York City   after graduating from St. John’s College in Annapolis to pursue a career in acting. He was a member of the Living Theatre (The Brig) and acted at The Judson Poets Theatre, La MaMa, and Caffé Chino. Elias transitioned to Hollywood and with Frank Shaw wrote the screenplay for The Frisco Kid starring Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford, then Envoyez les Violons with Eve Babitz and began a long partnership with Rich Eustis. Together, they wrote the screenplays for Serial, Young Doctors in Love and created Head of the Class a television series for ABC, partially based on Elias’ experience as a high school teacher in New York City. Elias also worked with Steve Martin, a collaboration that included material for Martin’s comedy albums, network TV specials, and the screenplay for The Jerk. Elias wrote and directed Showtime’s Lush Life with Forrest Whitaker and Jeff Goldblum. He was nominated for best Director at The Cable Ace Awards that year, and the TV movie has become a jazz film classic. His semi-autobiographical play about a small hotel in upstate New York was directed by Paul Mazursky, ran for four months in Los Angeles, with the LA Weekly naming The Catskill Sonata one of the best ten plays of the year.

Art in Its Moment

Art in Its Moment, Part 1
Using art, literature, and music as its vehicle, the first chapter of ART IN ITS MOMENT (AIIM) is a fun romp through five eras of history: The Classical, The Romantic, The Modern, Mid-20th Century, and the 21st Century. Weaving together literature, art and music, AIIM brings alive the different textures of each historical period to suggest how the art created in each epoch grows from the experience of being alive at that moment.

Art in Its Moment, Part 2
The second chapter of AIIM will focus on a 21st century composition—THE UNIMAGINED: PREPARATIONS FOR THE UNKNOWN– a composition which was inspired by walking the labyrinth at Rancho. Levick will relate how the labyrinth inspired him, and more specifically, how inspiration was translated into music. You will be encouraged to share how the music made you feel, what you liked and didn’t like, how you would describe in words what you just heard, etc.

 

Hugh LevickHugh Levick’s music has been described by LA Times critic, Mark Swed, as ‘outstanding’ and by critic Rodney Punt as “channeling Bach’s mental energies and Hindemith’s angularities.”  In 2013 Signature Records, the dynamic and eclectic label sponsored by Radio France Musique, released the Diotima String Quartet recording of Levick’s three string quartets. In June 2018 Signature Records/Radio France released Levick’s second CD, which once again features the Diotima. A third Signature CD of Levick’s music, featuring the Diotima and the French ensemble, TM+, is planned for 2023. In 2011 Levick created HEAR NOW, a festival of new music by contemporary LA composers. In its thirteenth season HEAR NOW 2024 will take place between April 24-28 in Los Angeles. Hugh Levick has performed in Los Angeles, Paris, NYC, Switzerland, Germany, and Spain, among other places.

Golden Hour Photo Walks

Are you interested in improving the quality of your portraits, landscapes, or family snapshots? Amateur or “aficionado,” digital or film, iPhone, “throw-away,” “point and shoot,” or pro camera, come join Melba Levick on two afternoon photo walks in the glorious Rancho La Puerta gardens for some tips on how to improve your photos.

 

Melba LevickPhotographer Melba Levick has published over 60 photography books on travel, design, architecture and gardens, in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Her work has been exhibited internationally and appears frequently in magazines worldwide.  Among her recent books are Ranches: Home on the Range in California, (2018, Rizzoli International, NYC), and The California Missions, 2019, which had its first signing at Rancho La Puerta! The Spanish Style House, from Andalusia to California, also Rizzoli, came out Spring 2021, along with Mission San Miguel Archangel from Nazraeli Press. Melba’s newest book is CASA SANTA FE, Design, Style, Arts and Tradition, published by Rizzoli in 2023.

An Evening with Linda Wertheimer

Linda WertheimerLinda Wertheimer began her career with NPR as the first director of news magazine All Things Considered, hosted by Robert Conley, from its debut on May 3, 1971. She was appointed political correspondent by 1974, and in 1976 became the first woman to anchor NPR’s coverage of a presidential nomination convention and of an election night.  She continued in her role as a political correspondent through 1989, at which point she became a host of All Things Considered, a role in which she would continue for thirteen years. With Wertheimer hosting, the program’s audience grew to record levels, from six million listeners in 1989 to nearly 10 million listeners by 2001, making it one of the top five shows in U.S. radio. In 2002, she left that role and became NPR’s first senior national correspondent.  As of 2008, Wertheimer has anchored ten presidential nomination conventions and twelve election nights. On February 6, 2024, she announced her retirement from NPR.