STAX and Sax! A Little Wine, Ocean Breeze and a Bit of Bossa Nova..Reasons Visit to Morro Bay

July 05, 2011

STAX and Sax! A Little Wine, Ocean Breeze and a Bit of Bossa Nova..Reasons Visit to Morro Bay

Ahhh yes...nothing like getting away from the hustle and bustle, to sipping a glass of red zin, entertained by music from around the world...and that! my friends is what you get at the coolest little wine bar on the Embarcadero in Morro Bay! At STAX you can choose from over 100 local and international wines, do a little cheese tasting or eat some amazing food! All to the sounds of local saxophone artist David Baron Stevens and guitarist Gary Drysdale. But where you may ask in the world is Morro Bay?!

Map of Morro Bay

I love maps! See the red dot?? Morro Bay is located on the Central Coast of California...complete opposite coast from my last article on East Coast Tybee Island, Georgia! Anyways...this quaint little historic fishing villiage is full of activity for everyone...from waterfront hotels to quaint bed and breakfasts to just unwind...to walks on the beach, kayaking, kite flying, seaside golfing, whale watching, bird watching, sailing, fishing, hiking, and of course EATING at some of the finest! and the list goes on! But to really get the feel of where you are and how this enchanting place came to be... you must pay a visit to the Museum of Natural History in the park. But now you may wonder...why the famous Morro Rock??

Morro Rock....pix taken by local sax artist David Baron Stevens

Morro Rock was named in 1542 by Portuguese navigator Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo, who explored the Pacific Coast for Spain. Cabrillo called the rock El Moro because it resembled the head of a Moor, the people from North Africa known for the turbans they wore. However, the dictionary definition for the Spanish word "morro" ("pebble") is also consistent with the shape of the rock. Morro Rock is one of the "The Nine Sisters" representing a very rare alignment of hills, formed from the plugs of long-extinct volcanoes. They are prominent landmarks forming a unique skyline in San Luis Obispo County located between the cities of San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. Its a gorgeous site...on a clear day surrounded by the crystal water with sea otters playing about. Definitely a sight to be seen...last night it was gorgeous with a fingernail crescent moon rising above it....

David Baron Stevens and Gary Drysdale jazzin' it up!

So, if all this isn't reason enough to plan your next vacation here....here is a glimpse into our random evening in Morro Bay last night...I decided to take mom out for a relaxing evening...a little getaway from well....life! :) just a short hop skip and jump from where we live...it was like entering into another little world....We had never been to STAX but our friend David's amazing playing was calling us...and what a gorgeous day on the coast! David and Gary played some of the best jazz to be heard! Mom and I are in love with Bossa Nova so from the opening song, Antonio Carlos Jobim's The Girl from Ipanema" ("Garota de Ipanema") to "Desafinado", we were in heaven! David Baron Stevens has captured the essence of it with his amazing voice and well without the magic fingers of Gary Drysdale it would not have been Bossa Nova at all!

Stacy and Tay enjoying some champagne...

Just to show the inviting comfortable atmosphere of STAX...we ended up meeting some amazing visitors...such as the Fresno couple Stacy and Tay...just trying to get away from the stresses of life they traveled to Morro Bay...and according to Tay...the sounds of the saxophone put her right at ease! So much, that when David was nearing the end of his performance she begged him to, as she put it , "please just keep doing what you are doing!!!"

David and Gary

So of course that was encore enough and the show went on....

Poet Joanna Martin and Lalo celebrating their 4th!

Then we met another lovely couple celebrating their 4th anniversary, Joanna and Lalo. Visiting from a little further down the coast, from Santa Cruz, CA. Joanna is a poet and author of The Meaning of Wings. And wow, what amazing dancers they are! They entertained us with their grace...wonderful people...

Mom dancing to her favorite DBS original....

Everyone was chatting and enjoying wine and champagne and well as you can see...a bit of dancing?? That's what David's music does, it stirs you and you just can't help yourself from the feet tapping under your chair! They had to just get up and dance!

Gourmet Cheese Platter

Of course, you can not just sit there and not savor the amazing tastes coming from the kitchen! We had this wonderful gourmet cheese platter, perfect compliment to the red zin I was savoring :) the buttery caramel notes of the Midnight Moon to the tangy Irish cheddar marbled Porter's Cohiel. Oh and I can't forget the delicious savory Marcona almonds fried in olive oil and dusted with sea salt. Our server Linden made sure we were well taken care of....

So how about it...you itching to go??? I say "Do it"!!! "Go for it"! you will not be dissapointed and I guarantee you , you will want to return year after year....or who knows you may even decide to relocate!!! How amazing would that be!! To have STAX and Sunday SAX a part of your weekly routine :) Thank you for reading and remember to always take the time to enjoy life, smile and relax and as David Baron Stevens says....come and "Hear some wine and drink some jazz!"