Posts from — February 2009

The following events occurred in 2009. For a list of 2012 Valentine’s Day events click here.

If you can’t find something to do in Monterey County this weekend, you’re just not trying!

First off, there’s that little event called the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Read our Insider’s Guide if you plan to head over this weekend.

Looking for somewhere to take your sweetie on Valentine’s Day? Check out our handy guide.

Boycotting both the AT&T and Valentine’s Day? We’ve got a list of fun times just for you!

Friday
It’s like the last week of high school as High School Musical 2 spends its final weekend at the Golden Bough Theatre. (No word on whether the cast will hold a Senior Cut Day.)

Looking for something more grown-up? The Vagina Monologues plays Friday and Saturday night at 7:30pm at CSUMB World Theater. Tickets are $7 for students with IDs, and $15 for the rest of us.

Hip-hop artist Pep Love plays with Rise of the Revolution at Wave Street Studios at 8pm on Friday. Tickets are $15.

Rebel against the wine-and-flowers paradigm with a special multi-course beer dinner at the Trailside Cafe as part of Beer Week. Every item on the menu is paired (and made) with a unique, hand-crafted beer (no appearances by Meister Brau, Milwaukee’s Best or Schlitz on the list). 6pm, $55, cash or check only, call 831-649-8600 for reservations.

Saturday

Help restore Palo Corona Regional Park from 9:30am to noon! This park is normally restricted to 13 visitors per day, so doing some good also gets you a peek at a spot most people don’t get to see. Head down Route 1 about a mile south of Rio Road, and turn left at the park entrance. Wear layered clothing and bring work gloves. Register online to let them know you’re coming.

It’s a Whale of an Art Show at Custom House Plaza! (No, really. That’s what it’s called.) Enjoy outdoor art and music at Custom House Plaza from 10am to 5pm. Free.

Carlos Miguel Prieto conducts the Monterey Symphony as Carlos Prieto plays the cello at Sherwood Hall in Salinas at 3 and 8pm. They’ll play selections from the Redes film score by Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas, Federico Ibarra’s Concerto for Cello, and (for the traditionalists) Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 4.

High School Musical 2‘s penultimate performance takes place at the Golden Bough Theatre.

It’s closing night for The Vagina Monologues at 7:30pm at CSUMB World Theater. Tickets are $7 for students with IDs, and $15 for the general public.

Sunday

Always wanted to pick your own mushrooms, but worried you’ll be fatally mistaken when identifying them? The Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society has a Mushroom Foray and Salute at Fort Ord from 2:30 to 5:30pm, showing you how to differentiate the tasty from the toxic.

The Monterey Symphony brings Carlos Miguel Prieto and Carlos Prieto to the Sunset Theater in Carmel at 3pm.

They gotta go their own way! High School Musical 2holds its grand finale at the Golden Bough Theatre.

Trust us, there’s lots more going on this weekend. Check out the Monterey County Weekly Calendar section for a thorough listing.

The gossip from the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am seems to center on singer/actor/heartthrob Justin Timberlake. The Socialite Life calls him the ringleader of celebrity yuppiedom, while Gossip Girls admires his outfit and his pairing with Ray Romano while noting that girlfriend Jessica Biel is left at home minding the store. Justin, Justin, Justin…if you want to hear about the other celebrities, head on over to comedy blog Are You Breathing, which has celebrity candids of Huey Louis, Ray Romano, George Lopez, Kevin James, Michael Bolton, Bill Murray, Greg Kinnear, Chris O’Donnell… and, oh yeah, that Justin guy.

Marine scientists and whale watch captains alike note that gray whales are leaving Monterey Bay later. They say it’s climate change; we like to think it’s just because we’re so friendly here in Monterey County.

There are two tribute blimp flights today in honor of the dirigible USS Macon, which went down off Point Sur on this day in 1935.

According to the Cranky Flyer blog, Allegiant will soon be jetting from Monterey to LAX. Allegiant is still holding a contest to guess where that next destination is, so if you use this leak to enter, don’t say we told you.

SFGate has an interview with singer Huey Louis about the AT&T Pro-Am. Meanwhile, the San Jose Mercury News says the weather is the big star. Want to know how your favorite players are doing? Check out the PGA’s Shot Tracker.

In our “news of the weird” department, a few people think Bigfoot is hiding out in Big Sur. Perhaps, like recently eloping couple Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter from Dexter, he’s just trying to escape the paparazzi.

Our friends at the Monterey County Film Commission just emailed us an urgent call for extras for “Carmel the Movie” this Friday and Saturday. How many extras? 800! When the movie hits the big screen, you might be able to tell your friends, “See Hayden Panettiere? That’s me, standing right behind her!”

Here’s the word from the Monterey County Film Commission:

“Carmel The Movie” needs 800 extras on February 13th and 14th!
“Carmel the Movie”, starring Lauren Bacall, Alfred Molina, Hayden Panettiere Billy Boyd, Dina Eastwood, and Scott Eastwood focuses on a troubled 16-year-old boy, who wanders into Carmel, falls into the wrong crowd and becomes involved in art forgery.
If you would like to volunteer as a movie extra on Feb 13 and/or 14th:

• Be prepared to volunteer all day (8 to 14 hour day).
• Be at the Crossroads shopping center (corner of Rio Road and Highway 1 in Carmel) at 6am. Please carpool (parking is limited).
• Wear your nicest formal daywear or cocktail dress/suit and bring two additional formal outfits (if you have them).
• Eat breakfast beforehand; bring a water bottle and snacks (lunch will be provided).
• Bring a book, magazines, etc because there will be down time.

Please Note:

• We are at capacity for children under 16. Please do not bring children under 16.
• Your involvement on this film is highly appreciated, but it is on a volunteer basis and therefore does not include any form of monetary compensation.
• For more information, please visit: www.carmelthemovie.com
• Please email a confirmation to smithwalker@mac.com. Use email subject header: *MOVIE EXTRA 800*

*Include in the body of the email for each family member/friend volunteering:
1. Name
2. Age
3. Email
4. Phone
5. Address
6. Feb 13 (Y or N)
7. Feb 14 (Y or N)

NOTE: Please do not comment with your information on this site. We are posting this as a courtesy to Carmel the Movie, but have no connection with them. Email your information to the appropriate parties by following the instructions above.

As you may have heard, there’s a little tournament called the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am going on here this week. The Golf Observer has a nice preview, celebrities told KCBA about their playing strategies, pros debated which course is the toughest in the rain in the San Jose Mercury News and the PGA has AT&T tips for the fantasy golfer.

Tired of hearing about the AT&T? The Golf Channel has a great article covering all the golf options on the Monterey Peninsula, and Golf California has an enthusiastic review of Bayonet and Black Horse.

Valentine’s Day is traditionally a time for wine and chocolate. Break from the trend with some Beer Week events. San Francisco Beer Week has expanded like some blob in a ’50s horror movie (a delicious blob full of hops and malt), and extended its tendrils into Monterey County. Read a great review of last weekend’s Beer Week events from the Beer Geeks, and check out the SF Beer Week listing of Monterey County and nearby Beer Week events.

The Pink Diva Golf Blog did a great interview with Brandi Chastain. She’s playing the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am this week, and is only the second woman to play at the event.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has created adorable Valentine’s Day e-cards. Keep an eye out for their Shark Days event on February 21 and 22, and check out this Wired article about the camera on their new robotic submarine!

The Ventana Wilderness Society is helping an injured bald eagle that they released into the wild in 1993.

Our friends over at SuperEco reminded us that the Great Backyard Bird Count begins this Friday! It takes 15 minutes a day, and you’ll help scientists and conservationists across the nation. Go to the Great Backyard Birdcount website for information on how to participate.

Monterey State Historic Park volunteers have been honored with the Preserve America Stewards award, for their exemplary work in caring for the area’s cultural heritage. Congratulations!

Get the inside scoop on the movie Carmel from someone who visited the set.

San Francisco Beer Week starts today! You don’t have to go all the way up to the Bay Area for events. Check out this listing for Sand City, Carmel and Monterey events, including one at Trailside Cafe and Coffee House on February 13 (a perfect early Valentine’s Day celebration for the beer lover in your life!).

If, like the Wicked Witch of the West, you’re water-soluble, don’t worry about the rain – there’s plenty of indoor events this weekend. Prefer to get your kicks in the fresh air? Never mind today’s drizzle – the sun’s supposed to peep out again Saturday and Sunday.

Friday
Head over to the Monterey County Fairgrounds for Gem Faire. It takes place all weekend. Free admission.

That tween favorite, High School Musical 2, is in its next-to-last weekend at the Golden Bough Theater in Carmel. The show starts at 7:30pm.

Once again, it’s time for the Salinas First Fridays Art Walk. The party kicks off at 5pm and runs until 8. There’s over 45 participating venues, so if you plan to see everything, schedule yourself for three minutes at each spot. Head on down to the intersection of Gabilan and Main, and look for the balloons!

Don’t want to face the Route 68 traffic? Wave Street Studios is holding its monthly variety show, starting at 8:30pm. Tickets are $10.

Saturday
Gem Faire continues at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. Did we mention it’s free admission?

Gardeners can learn to prune roses at 11am at Bernardus Lodge, which has over 100 varieties in its rose garden. The $20 fee includes clippings, which according to Google will allow you to start your own rose plant.

Give the kids an old-fashioned big-screen movie experience at the Golden State Theatre. Toy Story 2 will show one time only, at 3pm, and your ticket fee funds the Forest Theater Guild.

If your kids prefer live teenagers to animated toys, High School Musical 2 plays at the Golden Bough Theater at 2pm and 7:30pm.

A multiple-artist show at the Carmel Art Association, on Dolores between 5th and 6th, opens from 6 to 8pm. Go for the oil paintings and lithographs by Michie Long, Helene Goldstein, Olof Dahlstrand, and Heidi Hybl; stay for the free refreshments.

Local arts groups are uniting at the Golden State Theatre for “Cannery Row: An Evening of Art, Literature and Music.” You’ll get a sampling of some of the best arts organizations in the Carmel area and a 7pm showing of cinema classic Cannery Row, plus your ticket money will fund youth outreach programs by the Forest Theater Guild. This fabulous buffet of entertainment starts at 6pm and is only $5. If you prefer lighter classics, the group is also showing The Princess Bride at 9:15pm.

Mike Beck and the Bohemian Saints play Wave Street Studios. The 8pm show sold out quickly, but they’ve just added a 10pm show. Tickets are $15.

Sunday

The Together with Love Run/Walk 10k and 5k starts at 9am at Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove. Beat the competition or just get some exercise while benefiting the Monterey Rape Crisis Center. Registration is $28, and all participants get a free T-shirt.

While you’re running through Lover’s Point Park, watch out for Surfrider Foundation volunteers, who will be cleaning up the beach at Lover’s Point from 10am to noon. If you’re not feeling the running vibe, help out with the beach cleanup – or if you’re one of those crazy multitaskers, do both!

Lend a hand to Mother Nature and the California Native Plant Society. Head over to Carmel River State Beach at 1pm and help them restore the area. Dress to garden and bring water; they have the rest of the supplies. Call 831-236-0095 for more information.

Sing one more chorus of “You Are The Music In Me” at the Golden Bough Theater, where High School Musical 2 plays at 2pm.

This list is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg! Check the Monterey County Weekly for more weekend events.

Forbes Magazine just named Big Sur one of the 10 most romantic places to visit in the United States.

Still stumped for what to do on Valentine’s Day? We’ve got a list of the top Valentine’s Day events in Monterey, Carmel Valley, Salinas, Pacific Grove, and everywhere else in Monterey County.

If your heart is more expansive than your wallet, take a look at our tips for romance on a shoestring. Yes, you can sweep your partner off his or her feet without emptying your bank account!