This year, Omar Gonzales, of Omar’s Exotic Birds, hosted the party at Omar’s Petting Zoo. The Zoo is located just across the tracks in the Rio District, and if you haven’t been there before, it’s worth the trip.
Acres of pet-able animals — including hamsters, rabbits, sheep, and horses — make the outing a fun one.
Olamendis catered the party, and the food was fabulous. The menu included taquitos, a beef or chicken taco bar, rice, guacamole and salsa, and for dessert, flan.
Per the request of John Campbell, tequila shots were available for those so inclined. I know it was a good party, because several artists including Lu Campbell, Tom Lamb, and Dave Cler’s wife, Linda Grossman, took time off from their festival duties to join the crowd.
Sunday night was the annual luau sponsored by YogaWorks. The festivities began with an introductory yoga class with Cathy Cox on the lawn at the Montage. A crowd of about 30 yoginis gathered on towels and mats to stretch their limbs in down-dog, up-dog and warrior poses.
After stretching and twisting, we walked back across the highway to the YogaWorks building for a fabulous luau feast. Vegetarian spring rolls and a tasty green salad were followed by cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies. Refreshments in the form of virgin piña coladas and mai tais poured from icy machines.
Filled to the brim, the attendees gathered in Studio One where the staff had laid blankets on the floor to sit and watch the entertainment.
Chief’s Tropic Sound filled the room with Hawaiian guitar and drums, while two beautiful hula girls danced to the sounds of remote island nations.
Weekend festivities — not done yet!
Sunday, Merri and I lunched at Surf and Sand’s Splashes Restaurant to celebrate the day of her big 60. As always, the food was sumptuous and the ocean-side table divine. We lingered, watching the waves and sharing stories of our own summers growing up in Laguna.
