French Laundry Christmas

This past weekend on Dec. 13, the South Shores shopping center on 25th and Western Ave in San Pedro, was the site of a carnival complete with kid’s jumper, a petting zoo, food trucks and vendor booths with few people observing face masks or social distancing rules. It was also a demonstration protesting the current lock-down orders and Gov. Gavin Newsom for his authorization of them and his hypocrisy after attending a friend’s birthday party in Napa Valley that didn’t observe any of the COVID-19 protocols he ordered only days before.   

Santa Claus served as the event’s master of ceremonies with his megaphone, at least whenever children weren’t making Christmas present demands of him. In the first hour, more than two dozen people with their families trickled in attracted by the music playing through loudspeakers with more arriving throughout the afternoon. 

The event was organized by Dr. Van Volkenburgh, the owner of the Peninsula Pet Clinic who is opposed to the various business restrictions by both the state of California along with the city and county of Los Angeles since the beginning of the initial COVID-19 stay-at-home orders back in March. 

In response, the event was called the French Laundry Christmas after the Napa Valley restaurant where the incident occurred. “If the Governor is not abiding by his own guidelines, then why should we?” Diana Martinez, a veterinary nurse at the Peninsula Pet Clinic, rhetorically asked.  

Dr. Van Volkenburgh invited several small businesses to sell their products who have been, according to her, most affected by the restrictions. A tent was also raised with volunteers gathering signatures to recall Gov. Newsom from office.

Despite the current shutdown orders and the enforcement of social distancing practices statewide, the majority of those in attendance did not wear face masks but were not encouraged to wear them either. Amongst the attendees, the consensus was that COVID-19 was not a hoax, but should not impose any further restrictions on businesses and citizens either. 

Prior to this protest, citizens opposed to the new lock down orders have been staging silent protests at local restaurants. The most recent protest was staged at the Omelette Waffle shop at which patrons purchased to-go orders and at their meals outside the restaurant. 

Calling themselves the Lawn Chair Restaurant Supporters, seven restaurant patrons brought their own tables and chairs to the corner of 11th and Gaffey Street on Dec. 9 at 10 a.m.  

They set up their own tables 6-feet apart, pairing each other off. Then one by one they went inside to order their meals to go. Once they received their food, instead of leaving the area — they sat down and enjoyed it along the outside wall of the restaurant on the public sidewalk. 

Though they were defying the outdoor shutdown order without permission or consent from the restaurant owner, they all had their specific reasons for their demonstration.

“I am here supporting local businesses I think should be open because everyone needs to work and the job is essential,” said  restaurant supporter, George Matthews.

Scott Carter expressed a sentiment that suggested fatigue with the lockdown orders in general.

“I am here to have breakfast and I wanted to enjoy it with some friends…,” he said. 

Carter’s solution if he could not have a place to sit down to enjoy a meal he was going to bring his own chairs. 

As for the others present, they wanted to express the other human cost of the shutdown, “When the pandemic started we were given 15 days to slow the spread,” Tasha Montelongo said. “Fifteen days [is] now going [on] 9 months. A lot of good people are suffering — business owners and the workers that work with these businesses.” 

For their part, the owners of the Omelette & Waffle Shop, Leslie Jones and Mona Sutton, released the following statement: 

Although we respect the opinion of the portion of the community that came out this morning to protest the closure of all outside dining, Leslie and I firmly believe that it’s our responsibility to completely support the current mandatory closure as all sit down restaurants in all community should we stand firmly in our belief that the sooner we all unite to do everything in our power to stop the spread of COVID-19 the sooner we will be able to move on in a safe fashion for the future. We also believe this is not about choosing sides, it is about doing what is right.

As the lunch hour ended. The Lawn Chair Restaurant Supporters came as they went. Taking with them their signs, tables and chairs with fuller bellies. Satisfied in their civil disobedience over a sit down breakfast.