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T hese days, the abundance of happy people is seen in greater numbers everywhere I go. Finally we've overcome the nasty recession and spirits are high as we can relax a little more, take comfort in the fact that the economy is continuing to improve and people are trav- eling more, spending more and smiling more. I never thought I would see gas prices in the low $2 a gal- lon range again, yet here we are filling up our tanks for about half of what it cost us a couple years ago. Hopefully this trend will continue, allowing us to have a little more money in our pockets and feel better about life. Sure there are things that affect most of us that are less than pleasant, such as horrifying world events, personal tragedies, the brutal flu that recently made the rounds, and superficial things like the San Francisco 49ers' 2014 season, but overall things are on the upswing. Speaking of the 49ers, I have to tell you about a recent experience at Levi Stadium which is the highlight for me of the past football season. First off, I've been a long time Niner fan, and started attending the games at Kezar Stadium with my dad back in the 1960s. Going to those games at Kezar Stadium and later Candlestick Park makes you really appreciate the new stadium, as it is tremendous. The environmentally friendly stadium is a major upgrade. Levi Stadium is being utilized in the off-season for other sporting events and major concerts and will serve as the host of Super Bowl 50 in 2016. There are plenty of other things to do there, including a museum, an amazing art collec- tion and the restaurant Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak & Pub. My wife and I were invited to attend Chef Mina's Tailgate party, which happens every 49er home game and is a mem- bers-only club available to season ticket holders. Having never been to a tailgate party and wanting to check out the stadium, this seemed like a great opportunity to have some fun on 49er game day. To say this experience was incredible is an under- statement. First off, the talented Mina and his celebrity guest chef, José Andrés, put on a feast that I will never forget. This is an all-you-can-eat-and-drink affair that would make a gourmet food and wine festival pale in comparison, as the fun factor was off the charts. It's no Vegas buffet mind you. There's world-class cuisine at the three-story restaurant combined with a pre- game energy that is unlike anything I have ever witnessed. I spotted lots of celebrities in the crowd, including Joe Montana enjoying a little pre-game lunch Mina style. (See the article on page 170 for more information.) Congratulations to the iconic filmmaker, actor and local res- ident Clint Eastwood and the extraordinary actor Bradley Cooper for their six Academy Award nominations for the amazing film "American Sniper." Eastwood, at the top of his game, continues to be prolific and there seems to be no slow- ing down, even at age 84. (Check out the interview with Cooper on page 110.) For the golf enthusiasts who descend upon our community every February, thank you. You have contributed to our region in so many ways, including supporting the Monterey Peninsula Foundation's amazing work here. Over the years, the Foundation has generated more than $120 million for charity with the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. A sincere thanks to the foundation is in order for the tremendous work they do in our community. (For more information about the 2015 tournament, see the story on page 120.) Stay healthy and keep on smiling. Everyone looks better when they smile. 36 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 PUBLISHER'S NOTE S T E V E S N I D E R Smiles All Around Steve Snider, José Andrés, Michael Mina