Marie Shannon Confections

27 S. Chestnut Street / Ventura CA 93001 / 805-667-8043 / www.marieshannonconfections.com

 I literally do not remember finding this bakery. The logical reason is likely because my visit to Marie Shannon came at the end of two days of chalking at the Ventura Arts Festival. But I like to think that as I was stumbling around Ventura’s downtown, I happened upon this bakery by Chance.

 Star baker/business owner Shannon Wright was not in her lair when I dropped by, but I talked to her lovely manager, named…drum roll…Chance. My eyes lit up as my beloved cat, found abandoned in a park while walking Hooligan, is also named Chance. And that’s how we find ourselves with a portrait of Chance sporting a tattoo of my cat:

  Chance – the person – talked me around the baked goods while I made the serious decisions. Pie was short in supply, but there were cookies to be had and a-HA! Teeny tiny blueberry tarts. I snatched up a tart and returned to my lodging, stumbling upon another Chance:

Yeah maybe Octopus Tart isn’t your thing, but I’d been chalking a ten foot cephalopod for days and here in my mini porch was this Octo-Deco who was, incredibly, the exact size for Marie Shannon Confection’s most wee blueberry tart. Note his look of bliss.

Shoutout to Chance and Marie Shannon’s for assuaging this chalker’s pastry craving and helping creating one darn cute cephalotart!

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Surfing and Strolling near Marie Shannon Confections

Surfing: Just about anywhere on this dang coast looks like a surf spot.  I scoped out one spot I’ll call Sleazy Street for seeming like a cross between a family friendly playground and a debauched beach party that went on years too long. In the end I paddled out at Happy Chalkies, so named because literally all I had to do was cross the street from my site at the Arts Festival. Happy Chalkies can also be called Truancies, because to get a wave – on a Monday mind you – I’d basically have to get into a knife fight with children. “DOESN’T ANYBODY GO TO SCHOOL ANYMORE?!” Bemoaned an older ( my age) local paddling by. We shared frustrated nods and I took off on a closeout.

Strolling: So sue me I did nothing.  The walking I did was up and down Main Street looking for pie, and up and down the harbor. Highly recommend both, by the way.

Sticky Fingers Baking Company

2016 E. Main St. * Ventura CA  93001 * 805-628-3444 * www.stickyfingersbaking.com

  A well-timed surgical strike was required for Sticky’s, as the days I was blowing through town for an arts festival coincided with their off hours. AND they also close when they run out of  goodies, which happens A LOT.

  Sticky Fingers is a small bakery, local hub, and life work of Katherine & Marty Glassman, who claim, ” True happiness can only be achieved by eating delicious, baked goods.” Hands-down no argument there.

In order to reach them while they were open and not depleted by the hungry happy hordes, I had to sneak over during Saturday lunch time while I was making a chalk mural at the Ventura Arts Festival. Cue a chalky filthy mess barging in the door, waving a camera around and babbling about pie. Katherine was fearless and friendly, posing for photos and hopefully not annoyed that I got bored with face-front smiley poses and instead chose her for my baker’s profile glamour shot:

  Okay she was not wearing earrings, but I had to add the chain of hand pies since I absconded with a larger, cherry version of the same. And a vegan breakfast muffin, while promising myself I’d return the next day. Absolutely scrumptious, and when I raced back during Sunday lunch, Sticky Fingers was closed because they’d sold out!

Was it all a dream? Hell no. Ventura’s baked goods fans know the score. I also announce/warn Sticky Fingers that once a year, mystically coinciding with the Ventura Art Festival, a chalk zombie will be bursting in and snorting pastries.  Ha Haaaa!

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Surfing and Strolling near Sticky Fingers Baking Company

Surfing: Just about anywhere on this dang coast looks like a surf spot.  I scoped out one spot I’ll call Sleazy Street for seeming like a cross between a family friendly playground and a debauched beach party that went on years too long. In the end I paddled out at Happy Chalkies, so named because literally all I had to do was cross the street from my site at the Arts Festival. Happy Chalkies can also be called Truancies, because to get a wave – on a Monday mind you – I’d basically have to get into a knife fight with children. “DOESN’T ANYBODY GO TO SCHOOL ANYMORE?!” Bemoaned an older ( my age) local paddling by. We shared frustrated nods and I took off on a closeout.

Strolling: So sue me I did nothing.  The walking I did was up and down Main Street looking for pie, and up and down the harbor. Highly recommend both, by the way.