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
Archives: Events
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.
Join 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 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 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
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 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 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 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.
Photographer 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 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.
Artists in Love
Artists In Love
Romantic influences flourished among famous artist couples throughout the 20th century and played a fascinating role in furthering new modes of expression. Whether partnering briefly or for extended periods of time, these lovers exchanged ideas and imagery that triggered some of the most important avant-garde art of the modern era. Join us as we examine the connections between such artist pairs as Pablo Picasso and Fernande Olivier, Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O’Keeffe, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock, and Christo and Jeanne-Claude who drew inspiration from one another, and whose art took paths unimaginable without the impact of their companions.
Giants of 20th Century Mexican Mural Art
Mexico has long been a magnet for an international community of avant-garde intellectuals, writers, poets, and artists, but it is Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros who would shape an artistic revolution and an imaginative new vision, bringing both fame and notoriety as they went on to influence generations of Mexican artists, while also profoundly impacting American art at mid-century. Join Diane Arkin to explore, discover, and discuss this extraordinary cultural and artistic legacy of Mexico.
Spanish and Mexican Surrealism: The Magic of Miro, Dilemma of Dali, and Fantasies of Frida
The dream imagery, personal sign languages, auras of fantasy, and subconscious feelings that surrealist artists explored are all evidenced in the paintings of Miro and Dali, two of the best-known 20th-century Spanish surrealist painters. But we also find these elements in the extraordinary art of Frida Kahlo, a truly iconic Mexican surrealist painter who forged a unique and original type of art filled with personal symbolism. These artists took separate paths to express their shared interests, with Miro creating child-like, carefree, abstract, and poetic images, with flamboyant Dali pursuing painting with hallucinatory impact and power to shock, and with Kahlo virtually re-inventing self-portraiture as autobiography. Join Diane Arkin as we unravel the mysteries in the surrealist art of these three giants of modernism.
Enjoying Modern Art
Modern art can baffle, challenge, irritate, and delight us. By throwing away past traditions, artists like Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne, Picasso, Miro, Rauschenberg, Warhol, Wiley, and Kim experimented with new ideas and materials to revolutionize the art experience. With an emphasis on 19th, 20th, and 21st century art, we will track the hand of the artist, the growing emphasis on the psychological, and the movement toward abstraction. Join Diane Arkin for a session of careful looking and lively discussion aimed at discovering, exploring, and enjoying modern art.
For VIP’s, dignitaries, superstars, and celebrities, Diane Arkin, retired Senior Lecturer at the National Gallery of Art, was the scholar routinely called on to provide engaging, entertaining, and thought-provoking presentations on subjects spanning treasures from the medieval period through the most challenging art of today. She also lectured nationally on museum education, trends in theory and practice, active learning strategies, and museums as unique learning environments. Prior to coming to the National Gallery of Art, Diane served as Curator of Education at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art and Design in Washington, DC, and as Director of Education at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Diane’s work as a Program Coordinator in both the Resident Associate Program and the International Study Tours Division of the Smithsonian Institution included years of lecturing both domestically and internationally on a broad range of art historical subjects.
Hands-On Cooking Classes and Harvesting Mindfulness: A Culinary Journey with Gyll Turteltaub and Reyna Venegas
Gyll will collaborate with La Cocina Que Canta’s Executive Chef Reyna and her team to create a special hands-on culinary experience. During the 3.5-hour experiences you will learn about the benefits and techniques of mindful eating and cooking. You will then mindfully harvest veggies from the garden, prepare and enjoy your own farm-to-table meal along with fellow chefs. Classes take place at La Cocina Que Canta, our culinary center on Tuesday and Wednesday, at 4pm. The Thursday class begins at 4:45pm and includes a wine paring!
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.
Mindful Matters 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.
Gyll Turteltaub, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist in San Anselmo, California. Gyll is the Senior Director of People & Culture for The Permanente Federation. The Permanente Federation LLC is the national leadership and consulting organization for the eight Permanente Medical Groups (PMGs). Gyll is responsible for developing and providing strategic leadership for PMG People and Culture initiatives including equity, inclusion, and diversity, leadership development, engagement and training, and Physician Health and Wellness. Additionally, Gyll maintains a private practice, providing psychotherapy for individuals and couples. Her areas of specialty include compassion fatigue, burnout, improving mindful living, and treating anxiety and depression. Gyll has presented workshops internationally on a variety of topics including mindful eating, resiliency, communication effectiveness, burnout, and emotional intelligence.
Executive Chef Reyna Venegas’ classes are about fresh and delicious food that will energize, inspire, and nourish our Tween guests!! She fuses the culinary and cultural heritages of her own Northern Baja roots with the nutritious “spa cuisine” pioneered 80 years ago by Rancho La Puerta co-founder Deborah Szekely. At La Cocina Que Canta, “The Kitchen That Sings,” Chef Reyna teaches healthy eating as a celebration of life in farm-to-table cooking classes.
As a lifelong learner, Chef Reyna graduated from University of California, San Diego’s Integrative Nutrition program, which focuses on how food promotes wellness. She is also a graduate of the Culinary Art School in Tijuana, and holds a Pastry Degree from the Lycée Technique et Hôtelier de Monte-Carlo and Fondation Turquois.
She and her husband Chef Marcelo Hisaki own Restaurante Amores, a hidden culinary jewel in the heart of Baja and currently collaborates as manager of Team Mexico on their way to the Bocuse d’Or Americas 2024.
8th Annual Chamber Music Festival
Our 8th Annual Chamber Music Festival features some of the world’s finest musicians who will inspire you with extraordinary performances set in the relaxed atmosphere of The Ranch. In addition to daily concerts, you can enjoy talks by the musicians, watch rehearsals, and perhaps even encounter “random acts of music” in unexpected places throughout your day.
Immersion Swim Program with Dr. Steven Katz
Offered two times a day Sunday – Thursday, 11 am & 3pm, Activity Pool
Dive into a five-day progressive swim class that will have you swimming smarter, better, and faster. Designed for swimmers of all levels, Total Immersion taught by swim coach and Chiropractor, Dr. Steven Katz.
Coach Steve will begin by analyzing your stroke and then will apply small incremental corrections for skill improvement. Over the course of 5 days, you will discover an ease, confidence, and enjoyment in swimming that you never could have imagined. Spaces are limited so please be sure to register as early as possible. Offered twice a day so max 12 people. (Sign up in lounge).
Dr. Steve Katz has been a lifelong athlete (including professional baseball) and yoga/chiropractic practitioner. His passion for mindful swimming was ignited after experiencing a Total Immersion workshop in 2015. He experienced such immediate improvement in the ease, efficiency, and pleasure of swimming freestyle that he dedicated himself to certifying as a Total Immersion coach and achieved coach certification in 2021. He believes swimming is ideal for safe and mindful fitness at any age.
Nurturing Your Emotional Health
A Mindful Approach to Stress
During this time of unprecedented change and uncertainty, we have come to accept that stress is a part of daily life, yet many people struggle to understand that stress can be both a positive and motivating force as well as a detriment to physical health and emotional wellbeing. This presentation offers a mindful approach to navigating change and challenges — participants will learn about signs of stress related to four dimensions of personal energy: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Research in the field of positive psychology will be highlighted and participants will be introduced to several natural antidotes to stress as well as pathways to cultivating joy and meaning.
Natural Pathways to Well-Being
The pursuit of happiness is a fundamental right mentioned in the Declaration of Independence; however, it is left to individuals to determine the meaning of happiness. Researchers have provided varying definitions of what it means to be happy, but many people struggle to feel a sustained sense of overall well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic added a new appreciation for the importance of engaging in self-care – feelings of anxiety, depression, isolation, and loss became more common than ever. This presentation will focus on providing strategies to not only cultivate meaning and purpose, but to mindfully navigate change and improve your physical health and emotional wellbeing. Evidenced based benefits of expressing gratitude, engaging in acts of kindness, and the importance of connection will be illuminated. Participants will learn ways to develop a growth mindset – leaving the session with a sense of empowerment to approach the challenges of life with emotional fortitude.
Boosting Resilience
Resilience is the ability to successfully bounce back from adversity or misfortune – the past few years have certainly been a time to tap into one’s capacity to persevere. How successful have you been in navigating the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic, the social and political unrest, personal losses…? When people face adversity whether big or small, they need to apply their mental, physical, and emotional energy to adjust to new circumstances. A set of five characteristics have been associated with people who adapt well to stressful situations and life-altering events. These five attributes will be reviewed, and participants will have an opportunity to assess their current level of resilience and evidenced-based strategies for boosting resilience will be presented.
How Emotionally Intelligent Are You?
What is emotional intelligence? How does it impact your relationships with family and friends, partners, and colleagues? During this session, you will learn about the components of emotional intelligence (EQ) and participants will complete an EQ assessment to determine their areas of strength as well as areas for skill building. The benefits of increasing your EQ will be highlighted and strategies for strengthening your EQ will be provided.
Gyll Turteltaub, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist in San Anselmo, California. She works for Kaiser Permanente as the Senior Director of People & Culture for The Permanente Federation. The Permanente Federation LLC is the national leadership and consulting organization for the eight Permanente Medical Groups (PMGs). Gyll is responsible for developing and providing strategic leadership for PMG People and Culture initiatives including equity, inclusion, and diversity, leadership development, engagement and training, and Physician Health and Wellness. Additionally, Gyll maintains a private practice, providing psychotherapy for individuals and couples. Her areas of specialty include compassion fatigue, burnout, improving mindful living and work/life balance, and treating anxiety and depression. Gyll has presented workshops internationally on a variety of topics including mindfulness, resiliency, communication effectiveness, burnout, and emotional intelligence.
A Path for Personalized Wellness
Lifestyle Approaches to Reduce Chronic Medical Conditions
The Mediterranean diet can lower the risk of chronic diseases. We’ll explore tips about not only nutrition but also about lifestyle approaches. Discover how the Mediterranean lifestyle improves health and how you can include this into your daily habits.
Hot Topics in Wellness: Wellbeing, Joy and Weight Loss Drugs
How we take care of ourselves has a significant influence on our health. We’ll have a holistic discussion about the various dimensions of wellbeing, pros and cons of weight loss drugs as well as the often-overlooked elements of fun and joy. Learn how you can incorporate unique strategies for wellness into your everyday life.
What’s Spirituality Got to Do with It?
Did you know that people with a higher sense of spirituality live longer? Spirituality in wellness embraces a sense of purpose as well as a connection to self and others. This is important at all stages of life. Find out about the research behind the significance of spirituality in wellness and discover ways you can augment your own sense of spirituality.
Pillow Talk: A Sleep Conversation
You may know that sleep impacts wellness. Do you know why sleep is important? It’s not just the amount of sleep but it’s the quality of sleep too. What can you do to get better sleep? We’ll take a deep dive into sleep for everyone and also for specific groups like women. Come hear about strategies for improving sleep.
Nicola Finley, MD, is a clinician and an innovative educator in integrative medicine with over 20 years of experience working with clients of a luxury wellness resort environment, as well as underserved communities in Arizona. She is an international speaker known for her evidence-based, engaging seminars. Dr. Finley is a board-certified internal medicine physician, fellowship trained in integrative medicine, and an adjunct faculty member at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. Currently, she runs a boutique consulting business which focuses on a holistic view of wellness – mind, body and spirit.
A Path for Personalized Wellness
Lifestyle Approaches to Reduce Chronic Medical Conditions
The Mediterranean diet can lower the risk of chronic diseases. We’ll explore tips about not only nutrition but also about lifestyle approaches. Discover how the Mediterranean lifestyle improves health and how you can include this into your daily habits.
Hot Topics in Wellness: Wellbeing, Joy and Weight Loss Drugs
How we take care of ourselves has a significant influence on our health. We’ll have a holistic discussion about the various dimensions of wellbeing, pros and cons of weight loss drugs as well as the often-overlooked elements of fun and joy. Learn how you can incorporate unique strategies for wellness into your everyday life.
What’s Spirituality Got to Do with It?
Did you know that people with a higher sense of spirituality live longer? Spirituality in wellness embraces a sense of purpose as well as a connection to self and others. This is important at all stages of life. Find out about the research behind the significance of spirituality in wellness and discover ways you can augment your own sense of spirituality.
Pillow Talk: A Sleep Conversation
You may know that sleep impacts wellness. Do you know why sleep is important? It’s not just the amount of sleep but it’s the quality of sleep too. What can you do to get better sleep? We’ll take a deep dive into sleep for everyone and also for specific groups like women. Come hear about strategies for improving sleep.
Nicola Finley, MD, is a clinician and an innovative educator in integrative medicine with over 20 years of experience working with clients of a luxury wellness resort environment, as well as underserved communities in Arizona. She is an international speaker known for her evidence-based, engaging seminars. Dr. Finley is a board-certified internal medicine physician, fellowship trained in integrative medicine, and an adjunct faculty member at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona. Currently, she runs a boutique consulting business which focuses on a holistic view of wellness – mind, body and spirit.
Awaken The Artist Within, a Creativity Immersion
Jumpstart your creativity and boost your confidence, intuitive decision making, and skills in writing, painting, drawing, and design. Strengthen your creative practices and explore the connection between the mind and body. An immersion in art-making and creativity experiences within the time-honored structure of Rancho La Puerta’s wellness programs.
Tom Birmingham – I Can’t Draw and You Can Too!
Erin Lee Gafill – Awaken The Artist Within, a laboratory for artistic exploration
Emily Birmingham – Group Quilting: Hand-Stitching and Intuitive Design
Karina Evans – The Write Stuff: The Basics of Writing and Publishing a Book
Jennifer Brandt – Classes with the Resident Artist
Tim Hinchliff – Prayer Arrows and Yarn Painting
The Future of You: How to Survive and Thrive in Changing Times
This program will provide you with the information and tools to adapt to the upcoming dramatic changes in technology and environment while staying healthy, safe, and happy.
The Future of You: How to Survive and Thrive in Changing Times
Jill will introduce the concepts of change and adaptation with an entertaining slide show of the rise and fall of civilizations around the world, talk about lessons learned, and forecast what happens next for humanity. Examples will come from fiction, film, and real life. What have we learned? What can we improve? And what should we be looking forward to?
The Body in the Future: Wearables, Sensors, Ingestibles?!
Learn about what’s current and what’s next in biohacking and health technology for your body.
Art and the Future: Is it all just cat videos now?
We’ll learn about the future of fine art (painting, sculpture, video, and more) as well as the performing arts. What we’ve learned about the future of art in these last few years of online adventures is only the beginning!
(Re-) Writing Your Future: There’s job crafting, life crafting, and relationship crafting in your future.
We’ll learn how to take what we know about what’s coming with technology and apply it to your individual future.
Jill Bronfman is a tech lawyer and media professor who has done extensive research on the future of humanity. She was named to The Recorder’s list of the 50 Women Leaders in Tech Law. She has presented on the future of tech at conferences in Geneva, Auckland, London, Brno, Kerala, Beijing, and Washington, DC, among other cities. Jill’s publications include academic papers, tech books, media articles, flash fiction, and ecopoetry. She holds graduate degrees in law and communications from USC, and in history and communications from UC Berkeley.
Professional Social Media: LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-b-63a4b75/
Creative Writing Website:
https://www.jillbronfman.com/
Art Classes with Resident Artist Jennifer Brandt
Drawing
An introduction to basic perceptual tools for representational drawing—how our eyes and brain shape the reality we believe we see.
Watercolor
Demonstration of abstract and figurative watercolor techniques, followed by plenty of time to experiment and practice.
Landscape Sketching
Drawing, continued: putting the tools together to draw the world.
Collage Card Making
Scissors, glue sticks, painted watercolor paper: collage is a relaxing, friendly medium, no expertise required.
Painting Day
Open studio — still life or landscape, weather dependent — paint with our resident artist, or watch a painting in process.
Ancestor Altars
Create a small sacred space to honor those who came before you, whether connected by blood or spirit.
Mandala
Meditation with ink and paper — a deceptively simple, deeply calming practice of mindful doodling.
Jennifer Brandt paints, exhibits and teaches in Baja California, Mexico, as Resident Artist of Rancho La Puerta. jenbrandt.com
Hand-Stitching and Group Quilting
The act of Group Quilting opens the door to designing in community. Over the course of our week together you will have a chance to connect with friends and residents from the Ranch through hand-stitching on a communal quilt.
When we work with each other, using a simple hand stitching method to design and piece together a massive textile, the world falls away and the stakes are lowered. Keeping our hands moving towards a shared goal allows us to play and connect with each other in a traditional medium that is given new life.
At the end of this project we will have new friends, new skills and a colorful cloth that we can all be proud of.
Emily Birmingham is an artist living Big Sur, California. She works in a range of mediums, from fabric manipulation and assemblage to observational sketch and acrylic painting. Currently she is exploring group quilting and gathering together through this traditional practice. Born into a family of artists, she sees the world through a creative lens and is quick to incorporate and adapt new disciplines. Her aim is to share her expressions, through work that feels like play and interactive installation with a focus on connecting people through their creativity.