Lolly and Bill, Nepenthe founders

What a day, what an event, what a family! Nepenthe’s all star 60th birthday was an incredible feast of riches, an elixir for the heart and soul, and so true to the meaning of its name and my grandparent’s legacy–a vanishing of all things sad. “It was what they called in the old days–A Happening,” says my aunt Holly, who was raised at the log cabin above the restaurant and is Nepenthe’s manager, along with her son Kirk.

Holly

And a fantastic happening it was! 

And then there was bellydancing to live music by stunning, veteran dancers Sara Rowe (my youngest sister) and Holly Rose (my cousin), and a debut performance by my 15 year old daughter Nicoya that took my breath away–even my little niece Chama (Sara’s daughter) got in the act, twirling and flittering about like a delightful cloud, capturing the heart and attention of everyone there.

Chama and Sara

Nicoya

The scene as you can imagine was a bit of a mad-house, a 60s love fest of sorts, with hundreds and hundreds of people milling about all day long, old-timers and newcomers, locals, family and friends, long-ago employees, and one Big Surite that had been there on opening day (“I remember someone really famous was supposed to be there,” he said, before turning back to talk story) all gathering to share in Nepenthe’s 60 year legacy. Some found respite in a corner of the restaurant or on the back terrace, glasses of wine in hand, or at the bar downing a Moscow Mule–an old favorite of vodka and ginger beer, and of course with plenty of ambrosiaburgers and golden plumes (french fries) to go around. 

Above photos by Doug McKechnie and Dee Fay.

For more images, see Nic Coury’s blog: http://photographnic.blogspot.com/