Peter Rasi, who owns Paso Robes’ Sooty Goose Fireplace Shop, specializes in replacing inefficient fireplaces with superheating efficient ones.

Rasi learned the fireplace business from the inside out. A former General Telephone utility lineman, he quit his job in 1988, relocated to Cambria from Southern California, and bought a chimney sweep business that he now co-owns with daughter Peri Rasi. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/908975.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/908975.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:15 PST Q: What suggestions might be offered for growing allium on the Central Coast?

— Leroy Davis, SLO

A: Among the many wonderful things about life on the Central Coast are our mild winters, which allow gardening all year long. As gardeners pick the last of our summer produce we ponder the many choices of crops to plant in our newly vacant beds. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/908971.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/908971.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:15 PST L ike many locals, Ann Reeves came to San Luis Obispo

to attend Cal Poly, and stayed.

A home economics major interested in clothing design, she followed the Poly mantra “learn by doing,” and opened a clothing store near campus as her junior year project. After graduation, she established ANN’S clothing store, now on Morro Street, its third San Luis Obispo location. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/906061.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/906061.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:01 PST “In that tradition, there are all these expressions of artistic energy,” said Santa Maria painter John E. Garcia y Robertson, such as sugar skulls, skeletons and papel pic-ado — brightly colored tissue paper cut in delicate patterns.

The Latin American holiday is the subject of a new show sponsored by ARTS Obispo, also known as the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council. It runs today through Nov. 13 at ARTS Space Obispo in San Luis Obispo. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/906054.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/906054.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:52 PST According to San Luis Obispo Poet Laureate James Cushing, live readings highlight the performative aspects of literature— transforming the poets into dramatists, teachers, preachers or even conversation partners for the audience.

And while the “poetry community everywhere is small, because it’s a really unusual art form that makes some demands on people,” Cushing said, size doesn’t indicate depth of accomplishment. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/906069.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/906069.html Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:02 PST Photographers, painters and assemblage artists are showing and selling their work, along with many sculptors.

Gail Lapins of Cambria is offering bronze pieces from her narrative series “Journey,” which consists of androgynous figures, often interacting with a circle to represent the wholeness of life. The point of Lapins’ series is to examine life’s purpose. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/900931.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/900931.html Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:18 PDT To set the mood, they transformed their contemporary Spanish-style Templeton home into a macabre mansion. Each year since, the decorations have grown more elaborate and the guest list has swelled to more than 60.

Dave is owner of San Luis Obispo’s Integrity Systems, a company that customizes security, entertainment and communications systems for homes and businesses. Cindy has worked for 24 years at the San Luis Obispo AAA office. Both work long hours, so eking out the 80-plus hours to decorate for Halloween is always a challenge. They spread the shopping, crafting and decorating out over about a month, working nearly every evening and weekend.]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/901904.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/901904.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:38 PDT “Because of the name, we were kind of stereotyped in the beginning with having just Italian things,” said Marisa Fortini, who owns the store jointly with husband Ryan Fortini, who handles landscape design, and Ryan’s mother Anne Fortini, who heads up the interior design staff.

Since then, the store has developed its own distinct style that the Fortinis like to call “California contemporary with a nod to the old country.”]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/901892.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/901892.html Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:16 PDT Q: How do I get ready for a winter vegetable garden, and what do I grow?

— Amy Breschini, San Luis Obispo

A: While East Coast gardeners hunker down by the fireplace with a stack of seed catalogs to entertain them through the snowy winter, Central Coast gardeners gear up for the next planting session, ready to rip out tired tomatoes, cucumbers and squashes that cheerfully supplied us all summer long. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/899332.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/899332.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:57 PDT A trainer named John Hackleman had just moved to Arroyo Grande. And after sparring with him for 19 minutes straight, Liddell’s entire body was burning — and hurting.

“He just kept coming at me, kept coming at me, kept coming at me,” Liddell said. “He was beating the living (expletive) out of me.” ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/899337.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/899337.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:03 PDT Cal Poly’s Art and Design Department offers an eclectic array for the current exhibit at the University Art Gallery — works ranging from video to published works to blown glass.

Social and cultural issues are a theme in much of the 26 faculty members’ work, including pieces by Michael B. Miller and Mary LaPorte, who both came upon their topics serendipitously.

Miller found his subject of “shaming” while Googling the topic of shame as it pertained to the war in Iraq. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/899348.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/899348.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:03 PDT Her answer unfolds in mouthwatering fashion in the new book “Cookie Swap: Creative Treats to Share Throughout the Year” (Gibbs Smith, 160 pages, $19.99)

Whether it’s Valentine treats, back-to-school cookies or Halloween temptations, cookie exchanges are about more than shared calories, says Usher, a former California Bay Area engineer turned bakery diva. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/899345.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/899345.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:03 PDT The spotlight is on Rio de Janeiro now that it’s been chosen as the host city for the 2016 Summer Games. If you are researching a trip to Brazil, don’t miss Hiddenpousadasbrazil.com, an accommodations eye-opener that will inspire you to trade your hotel for an eco-trip, farm stay or hideaway in a colonial mansion overlooking the ocean.

WHAT’S HOT: If you know nothing about Brazil, HiddenPousadasBrazil will at the very least tell you what a pousada is (a place to stay), and within a few minutes of surfing the site, give you an idea about the wide-ranging scope of landscapes, from the Amazon rain forest to the rural countryside of Minas Gerais. I enjoyed the “Dream Trips” section, but had even more fun using the advanced search tool in the right navigation bar of the “About Hidden Pousadas” page. I tested farm visits, kite surfing, swimming with dolphins and ceramic workshops to discover what regions I might like to visit beyond Rio.

WHAT’S NOT: There’s nothing yet on the blog about the Olympics, but there are practical travel tips for first timers, including, “Twenty-five tips for traveling safely in Brazil.” Other Brazil travel blogs — www.braziltravelblog.com, Adventures of a Gringa ( www.riogringa.typepad.com) and www.ipanema.com ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/899343.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/899343.html Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:03 PDT NEW YORK—Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, walking through a graveyard can be a little spooky—especially in autumn as the trees lose their leaves, flowers wither away and light fades in the late afternoon.

But cemeteries can make fascinating destinations. Sometimes a few words on a tombstone can suggest a whole life story; sometimes you can find a famous name, a beautiful work of art, or landscaping worthy of a botanical garden.

“Many people find great peace and solace in visiting cemeteries even if their own relatives are not buried there,” said Janet Heywood, trustee for the Association for Gravestone Studies. “Others come to cemeteries to enjoy the history and beauty of the monuments and gravestones and/or to experience the outdoors, the plantings, the landscapes of the garden cemeteries of the nation.” ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/892085.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/892085.html Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:18 PDT Temporary turned into 30 years, as the more they planted, the more they found joy in developing a beautiful natural wilderness on their own.

Chuck gathered up hundreds of rocks on the property, and Neva used them to create meandering paths all over the hillside. They researched California native plants, concentrating on those that would be drought-tolerant and animal-friendly. Along the creek on Santa Margarita Road, off of El Camino Real, they stuck “little poplar sticks” in the ground. Those poplars are now 60 feet tall and look as if they had been there forever. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/892089.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/892089.html Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:11 PDT Q: How do I produce viable seed in my vegetable garden? Which organizations offer seed exchange programs?

—Kelly Ferguson, Los Osos

A: Saving seed from your own garden is not only economical, but provides a challenge and a sense of satisfaction. With a little bit of knowledge you can increase your chances of producing viable seed. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/892096.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/892096.html Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:16 PDT The Kirks purchased the property in 2000.

Doing most of the work themselves, they transformed seven acres of uncultivated land into a working farm. Today, their farm store and nursery sells plants, pottery, produce, gourmet foods and gifts. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/880799.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/880799.html Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:16 PDT Finances are tight this fall, which means less money for freaky festivities and expensive store-bought costumes. Luckily, a spooky solution may be as close as your own closet.

Homemade Halloween costumes are cheap, easy and eco-friendly, since they often feature recycled clothes, props and accessories. Plus, most of the materials for the perfect costume can be found around the house or at your local thrift store. ]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/880776.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/880776.html Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:44 PDT His initial intent was to create compilations to reflect topical subjects, including those from the past, such as U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy’s assassination. But they morphed into something like self-portraits, the photographer said.

Along with his own photographs, Johnson uses various items that he has collected that resonate with him on some level, from keepsakes to miscellanea.]]> http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/874126.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/story/874126.html Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:09 PDT The loft would have a mini-bar, a good sound system and a bed.

“But right now I’m a garage person,” she said.]]>