For the past 30 some years, there has been a tradition of friendship that I have been fortunate enough to be a part of. I am not sure how it began, but I believe it was an excuse for a bunch of CAL Berkeley students to throw a party – celebrating the Summer Solstice. The first one that I attended was a few years into the tradition and I later met my husband through this group of pagan party-ers. The parties began in a big house in the Oakland Hills, then moved to bigger, grander venues in a resort in Napa, a farm in Santa Rosa and then to San Louis Obispo. All totally beautiful California spots to celebrate the first day of summer. We had full blown weekends with live music, amazing meals prepped by invited chefs, and lots and lots of friends. Then, the inevitable happened – We all got married, had kids and life got in the way.
Over the years, Summer Solstice comfortably settled into the casual, laid back event that it is today, thanks to one dedicated friend that never let the tradition die.
Meet at Muir Beach, BYO grillables and something to share. It’s that simple.
Bring the kids, the dog and s’mores.
Someone usually has a jug of magaritas or mai tais. But to be honest, the view and the company is so great, that I usually hate to blur it with alcohol. Our kids all grew up with the tradition of celebrating the beginning of summer in this manner. Now they are at the age where I see that they will be keeping this tradition alive as they move into their adult lives. The past few years, there are more of the under 21 age, then my age that attend.
Traditon is a good thing. Friendship is a wonderful thing. Living in California is a great thing.
Thanks Greg, for keeping Solstice alive all these years.
