In which a group of graying eternal amateurs discuss their passions, interests and obsessions, among them: movies, art, politics, evolutionary biology, taxes, writing, computers, these kids these days, and lousy educations.

E-Mail Donald
Demographer, recovering sociologist, and arts buff

E-Mail Fenster
College administrator and arts buff

E-Mail Francis
Architectural historian and arts buff

E-Mail Friedrich
Entrepreneur and arts buff
E-Mail Michael
Media flunky and arts buff


We assume it's OK to quote emailers by name.







Try Advanced Search


  1. Time Passes
  2. Elsewhere
  3. Alberto Cavalcanti
  4. Murder in NYC
  5. Apologies
  6. Speedy Writing
  7. Mistaken Identity
  8. End of Evolution: Passenger Cars
  9. Early Rock at YouTube
  10. Bagatelles


CultureBlogs
Sasha Castel
AC Douglas
Out of Lascaux
The Ambler
PhilosoBlog
Modern Art Notes
Cranky Professor
Mike Snider on Poetry
Silliman on Poetry
Felix Salmon
Gregdotorg
BookSlut
Polly Frost
Polly and Ray's Forum
Cronaca
Plep
Stumbling Tongue
Brian's Culture Blog
Banana Oil
Scourge of Modernism
Visible Darkness
Seablogger
Thomas Hobbs
Blog Lodge
Leibman Theory
Goliard Dream
Third Level Digression
Here Inside
My Stupid Dog
W.J. Duquette


Politics, Education, and Economics Blogs
Andrew Sullivan
The Corner at National Review
Steve Sailer
Samizdata
Junius
Joanne Jacobs
CalPundit
Natalie Solent
A Libertarian Parent in the Countryside
Rational Parenting
Public Interest.co.uk
Colby Cosh
View from the Right
Pejman Pundit
Spleenville
God of the Machine
One Good Turn
CinderellaBloggerfella
Liberty Log
Daily Pundit
InstaPundit
MindFloss
Catallaxy Files
Greatest Jeneration
Glenn Frazier
Jane Galt
Jim Miller
Limbic Nutrition
Innocents Abroad
Chicago Boyz
James Lileks
Cybrarian at Large
Hello Bloggy!
Setting the World to Rights
Travelling Shoes


Miscellaneous
Redwood Dragon
IMAO
The Invisible Hand
ScrappleFace
Daze Reader
Lynn Sislo
The Fat Guy
Jon Walz

Links


Our Last 50 Referrers







« Only One Bumper Sticker | Main | Elsewhere »

May 08, 2006

Carmel Has Gone to the Dogs

Donald Pittenger writes:

Dear Blowhards --

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California went to the dogs years ago, though I haven't yet discovered exactly when it happened or why.

What most folks call "Carmel" is officially "Carmel-by-the-Sea" and is distinct from Carmel Highlands, Carmel Valley and other nearby Carmel-ish places named after the mission established in 1771. Carmel-by-the-Sea was an artist colony as long ago as 1913 when poet Robinson Jeffers settled there.

Carmel is at the southern edge of the Monterey Peninsula and adjoins ritzy, golf course strewn Pebble Beach, home of the famous Lone Cypress tree and the annual Concours d'Élégance classic automobile show.

Perhaps its best-known resident is actor Clint Eastwood, who served for a time as mayor. He owns the Mission Ranch resort which includes a nice restaurant where I sometimes dine.

Other Carmel area residents you might have heard of are Reggie Jackson the baseball player ("Mr. October") and actress-singer Doris Day.

Doris Day is a big-time animal lover. She is part-owner of Carmel's Cypress Inn hotel, which is big-time pet-friendly.

I visited the Cypress Inn once a couple of years ago. As you can see on its Web site, it's a charming-looking place. There are plenty of framed Doris Day movie posters and you probably won't have to wait long before spying an animal -- a dog, most likely.

Actually, when walking the art gallery infested streets of Carmel, you're seldom out of sight of a pooch. Or two. Or three or more. Many with the same owner; multiple leashes might well be a status symbol hereabouts. Dogs range from twitchy, tiny things to shaggy, white ones resembling small polar bears.

Here are some pictures I snapped on a recent visit. (Pardon the quality; it's my first digital camera and I'm still learning how to get pictures from the camera to the blog.)

Carmel-by-the-Sea Dog Gallery

Carmel pet goods store -cropped.jpg
The central sign is for a pet goods store.

Carmel - dog water bowl - blog - rot.jpg
Many stores offer water bowls for passing pooches.

Carmel - Tiffany dog water bowl -crop 2.jpg
Tiffany too!

Carmel - petting dogs -crop.jpg
Petting other folks' pets is a favorite sidewalk activity.

Carmel - dogs - crop.jpg
No comment.


Carmel has too many dogs for my taste and for the taste of The Fiancée as well: we often find ourselves making snide remarks about them and (especially) their owners.

No doubt this is because I'm not much of a dog fan. I like dogs in theory, mind you. They can be useful for tending sheep and calling out warnings when strangers approach. But I don't like them sticking their slobbery snouts on me. Nor do I have enough time to devote to their psychological needs to be a good owner. Cats are much less trouble, but I prefer being pet-free. (Yes, my family once had a pet dog when I was young: cats too.)

All-in-all, I think Carmel needs fewer dogs and more children.

I'm certain that all of you agree.

Later,

Donald

posted by Donald at May 8, 2006




Comments

I guess you could say they do it doggy style in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Posted by: Charlton Griffin on May 9, 2006 07:51 PM



Having brought up 5 kids, I'd cast a tender vote for pooches.

Posted by: citrus on May 9, 2006 08:53 PM



Speaking as a cynical old former animal control officer, I'd say Carmel's high dog density and communal water bowls are a good setup for a dog plague. Distemper. Parvo-virus.

Prairie Mary

Posted by: Mary Scriver on May 9, 2006 11:24 PM



My aunt, Dorothy Kingsley, lived in Pebble Beach. She was a Hollywood screenwriter--things like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Kiss Me Kate, Pal Joey, a lot of Esther Williams movies. She seemed to enjoy it a lot, although she's been gone for a few years now. I dunno if she had any critters.

Posted by: winifer skattebol on May 10, 2006 12:09 AM



If you don't adore dogs, you are a sick bastard. I consider it a profound character flaw and a sign of low IQ.

Posted by: annette on May 10, 2006 09:40 AM



For Carmel to have fewer dogs would be a doggone shame.

Posted by: Rick Darby on May 10, 2006 09:53 AM



Charlton -- [Snigger]

Citrus -- I only had 2 kids.

Mary -- Hmm. The "Pinecone" (the local news rag) ought to get wind of this and do an expose. They could use a Pulitzer.

Winnifer -- Carmel is indeed very enjoyable, aside from having way too many dogs.

Annette -- Okay, I'll concede the low IQ and bastard bits. But I'm a real, unflawed character.

Posted by: Donald Pittenger on May 10, 2006 10:29 AM



We like all the dogs here in Carmel. It keeps our costs low.

Signed,
Shanghai Gardens Restaurant

Posted by: Peter on May 10, 2006 11:18 AM



Having just passed through Carmel the other day, on my way to my honeymoon at Big Sur, I have to say that I didn't notice any dogs at all. We ate at Clint's other place (Hogsbreath Inn), which is very nice, and strolled around for a bit. Dogs or no, nobody does its particular type of charm/cuteness better than Carmel. For me, it's good in relatively small doses.

Posted by: missgrundy on May 11, 2006 11:22 AM



Honeymoon? Congrats!

Posted by: Michael Blowhard on May 11, 2006 11:39 AM



6eo0unwy6u92 cllo7wmyymfp8hw7 [URL=http://www.735578.com/493429.html] jnbd0ovpfe7 [/URL] 49q84hnpb2k

Posted by: d6x0x0qoil on May 17, 2006 07:58 PM



6eo0unwy6u92 [URL=http://www.735578.com/493429.html] jnbd0ovpfe7 [/URL] 49q84hnpb2k

Posted by: d6x0x0qoil on May 17, 2006 07:59 PM



6eo0unwy6u92 http://www.988112.com/984196.html 49q84hnpb2k

Posted by: d6x0x0qoil on May 17, 2006 07:59 PM



6eo0unwy6u92 bkuabhv7fxu6a 49q84hnpb2k

Posted by: d6x0x0qoil on May 17, 2006 07:59 PM



fx9f5haq rdwwllbe1sglpl7ag [URL=http://www.561389.com/957134.html] l3fj8s49aflag2ei [/URL] h8fkqii3kkk

Posted by: 3qp6yfavqd on May 17, 2006 08:05 PM



fx9f5haq [URL=http://www.561389.com/957134.html] l3fj8s49aflag2ei [/URL] h8fkqii3kkk

Posted by: 3qp6yfavqd on May 17, 2006 08:05 PM



fx9f5haq http://www.262531.com/567824.html h8fkqii3kkk

Posted by: 3qp6yfavqd on May 17, 2006 08:05 PM



fx9f5haq uuoz9uja51nek4 h8fkqii3kkk

Posted by: 3qp6yfavqd on May 17, 2006 08:05 PM






Post a comment
Name:


Email Address:


URL:


Comments:



Remember your info?