Posts from — October 2009

Whether you’re looking for something to do with the kids for Halloween, a traditional Day of the Dead celebration or trying to escape from trick or treaters, there’s an event for you this weekend.

Friday

Take the kids on a flashlight tour to meet the animals at Wild Things in Salinas. The tour includes spooky stories about the animals, treats for kids and refreshments for everyone, and a chance for a photo with a spooky animal! 7-8:30pm. $15/adults $13/children 13 and under. Call to reserve at 831-455-1901 x3.

You’ve seen them on PBS – now see them in person. 3 Mo’ Divas comes to the Sunset Center in Carmel, showing off the extraordinary voices of Laurice Lanier, Nova Y. Payton and Jamet Pittman. 8pm. Tickets are $52, $67 and $77.

Jose’s on Wave Street has a rock and roll warm-up to Halloween with the Alice-in-Chains-meets-Led-Zep-esque Tumbleweeds, the driving heavy rock of Santa Cruz’s 4Fits, and (for a complete change of atmosphere) local reggae act Calijuana. 9pm, $5.

Saturday

Spend Halloween morning checking out Monterey Bay with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District’s Hallo-WEE-n Paddle, a kayaking trip designed especially for the family. We’re not sure what the Halloween connection is (besides the date), but we’re sure they’ll explain it to you. 9:30am-12:30pm, $28 for children ages 3-6, $50 for those over 6, and $150 for a family of 4. Discounts for MPRPD residents. Register online.

Oldtown Salinas’ Día de los Muertos celebration starts off with an educational event at the National Steinbeck Center’s Kids can learn Día de los Muertos traditions at a mask-making workshop with Jose Ortiz. Make sure to view the Day of the Dead exhibit while you’re there. 10am-noon, $5/child, $2.50 for Kids Club members.

MY Museum teams up with Montrio Bistro for the “MY Spooktacular Day” Halloween party. Send the kids to explore a creepy feel room, create spooky crafts, listen to spooky stories and more while Mom and Dad enjoy a lovely lunch. Recommended for ages 2 to 8. 10:30am-1pm, $35/children, $25/adults. Register at 831-649-6444.

It’s Carmel-by-the-Sea’s 93rd birthday party! Celebrate with the city’s doggie parade at 11am, which runs from the Sunset Center down Ocean Avenue and back again, and Hot Dog Lunch from noon to 1pm at the Sunset Center. The parade is free; the lunch is $5, and dogs are invited to both.

It’s Science Saturday at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History. Kids can learn all about Halloween-y creatures like bats and spiders with hands-on activities like building bat roosting houses, building spider webs and more. 11am-3pm, free.

Bring your kids to the Del Monte Shopping Center in Monterey for Pumpkin Pandemonium! Costumed kids can pose with the giant 700-pound pumpkin that Farmer Mike will carve. and then go trick-or-treating at the mall. Get a free 4X6 photo from Scott Campbell Photography with your donation to the Monterey County Food Bank. The pumpkin carving happens from 1-5pm; trick or treating goes from 4:30 to 6pm. Free.

Big Sur’s Nepenthe holds a Halloween party for kids and grownups with their annual Bal Masque. Compete in the Adult Costume Contest and gorge yourself on Ambrosia and Veggie Burgers while you get down to the music of the Chicano All-Stars. Proceeds benefit the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade. 6pm-midnight, $36/adults, $8/children under 12. Reserve in advance at the Nepenthe website.

Have a spooky Halloween evening with a flashlight tour of Wild Things, where you’ll find out what all those animals get up to at night. Wear a costume and bring your children for tasty treats, great stories, and a chance for a photo with a spooky animal! 7-8:30pm. $15/adults $13/children 13 and under. Call to reserve at 831-455-1901 x3.

Local metal act Counter Clockwise holds their CD release party at Jose’s tonight. Santa Cruz metal legends 20 Grit, psych metallers Granted Earth and techno-metal act Spacehooker help them celebrate. 9pm, $8 at the door.

Santa Cruz jam band Our Satori bring their laid-back vibe to Fernwood in Big Sur tonight. 9pm, no cover.

Sunday

The Oldtown Salinas Day of the Dead celebration continues with an artists’ reception, the Dí de los Muertos procession and Frida Kahlo lookalike contest. The artists’ reception takes place from 1 to 5:30pm at Hartnell College, and features traditional refreshments, music and dancing. The procession runs from Hartnell College to the Steinbeck Center at 4pm. There will be folk dancing at the Steinbeck Center, where the winner of the Frida Kahlo lookalike contest will be announced. Free.

Still looking for something to do this weekend? Check out the Monterey County Weekly’s calendar listings for more info.

For foodies, the top weekend event is absolutely Monterey Bay Restaurant Week, which started Thursday and continues until October 29. Over 30 area restaurants are offering fixed-price three-course menus at a rate of $25, $35, and $45. It’s the perfect way to explore some of the best restaurants in Monterey County!

Friday

Pre-1973 classic cars take over the streets around the intersection of Broadway and Fremont at Seaside’s “Hot Cars and Cool Nites.” 4pm-8pm, free to look, $5 to register a car.

Take a class in “Wine and Cheese 101″ at Scheid Vineyards Wine Lounge on Monterey’s Cannery Row with local chef Dorothy McNett. She’ll tell you how to seek out fine cheeses, and which wines to pair them with. 6:30-8pm, $40 for the general public, $32 for wine club members.

Peep at the Milky Way through some fantastic telescopes at Garland Ranch Regional Park’s Star Party. (They have cookies, too.) Careful pulling into the parking lot -- that’s where the telescopes will be set up. Starts at sunset, free.

The Emerson String Quartet plays at the Sunset Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The program includes works by Schubert, Shostakovich and Dvorak. 8pm. Tickets range from $39 to $62. Here’s the Emerson String Quartet performing a different Shostakovich work:

Big Sur’s Fernwood Resort is a major music destination this weekend. The lineup tonight includes Inner Beauty, indie synthy act Beach House, The Fresh and Onlys (who sound a little like Iggy Pop doing a Monkees-influenced, no-synths take on Joy Division), and The Ganglians, described by Pitchfork as “like the Mamas & the Papas getting knee deep into some serious backwoods voodoo.” 8pm, $15.50, see website for advanced ticket purchase.

Jose’s on Wave Street in Monterey gets loud and thrashy tonight with local acts Asyst, Gorphyriac and Last to Die. 9pm, $5.

Saturday

The Pacific Repertory Theater holds its fall fundraising Arts and Crafts Faire at Custom House Plaza in Monterey. Eat great food, buy great crafts, and know that the money you spend goes to a good cause. 9am-5pm, free to attend.

The Big Sur River Run is back! It takes place at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and it’s one of the most beautiful 5K and 10K courses in the world. 10am. Click to register online; registration is $15 for 12 and under, $28 for the rest of us.

Get an introduction to organic farming and some vegetables to take home with the Earthbound Farm Harvest Walk. 11am-noon, $20 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Call 831-625-6219 x3 to reserve.

Nepenthe throws a book launch party for Romney Steele’s “My Nepenthe.” The book signing runs from 1-3pm, and the fiesta, reception and belly dancing happen starting at 4pm. Free to attend.

Learn more about the history of the area with Hidden History: Untold Stories of the Naval Postgraduate School at the Monterey Public Library. What is now the Naval Postgraduate School was once the Hotel Del Monte, forerunner of the Pebble Beach Resorts. Speaker John Sanders will share all kinds of fascinating stories of the antics of the old-school glitterati who frequented the resort. 2-3:30pm, free.

Take a Ghost Tour of Point Sur Lightstation! First, watch the sun set during your walking tour, then hear Point Sur’s ghost stories in the barn over dessert and drinks. Your $55 benefits Point Sur Lightstation. 5:15pm, call 831-649-7139 to reserve.

Fernwood’s weekend of rock continues with an acoustic set by the hard-to-describe Oakland based Persephone’s Bees, indie folksters Birds Fled From Me, psych rock acts Sam Flax and the Higher Color and Kurt Vile, and folk rockers Sparrows Gate. 7pm, $15, see website for advanced ticket purchase.

Who’d think that a German band would name themselves Dos Hermanos and play pitch-perfect old-school country? Their tour lands tonight at Jose’s on Wave Street. Local country-indie acts Good Sam’s Music and An Anchor of Silver open. 9pm, $5.

Sunday

The PacRep Arts and Crafts Faire continues at Custom House Plaza in Monterey. 9am-5pm, free to attend.

Why should humans have all the dress-up fun? Dress up your dog for the Quail Lodge Howl-O-Ween Dog Paw-ty in Carmel Valley. There will be costume contests for kids and dogs, a dog fashion show, a human and a doggie buffet, musical entertainment, pet-friendly vendors, demonstrations, and more. Proceeds benefit Animal Friends Rescue Project. 11:30am-3pm. $35 adult, $10 children 12 and under, free for children under 4.

It’s the last day to take a ghost tour of Point Sur Lighthouse! 5:15pm, $55, call 831-649-7139 to reserve.

Still looking for something to do? Take a look at the Monterey County Weekly’s calendar for even more great ideas.

Photo by Melissa Acedera, from our Flickr pool

On October 20, 1984, the Monterey Bay Aquarium first opened. Over 10,000 visitors came to the Aquarium the first day it opened, and after five months, it had seen its first million visitors. And it all started with a brainstorming session by four marine biologists on a scuba trip! Dr. Steven Webster told us all about the Aquarium’s legendary first 25 years, and how everything they’d planned in that first brainstorming session eventually came to be.

Photo by Lassi Kurkijarvi, from our Flickr pool

The Los Angeles Times marked the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s 25th anniversary with an article on a day in the life of the Aquarium. The article features behind-the-scenes looks at the work that employees do to keep the Aquarium running, as well as a beautiful slide show and some great video.

Shark by Mycranium1, from our Flickr pool

As part of their work with sustainable seafood, the Monterey Bay Aquarium today released its Super Green List. This list consists of fish that are on the Seafood Watch “Best Choice” list, provide the daily minimum of Omega-3s, and have low levels of environmental contaminants.

Friday

Pacific Grove holds its final Wine, Art and Music Walk for 2009. Businesses on Forest, Grand, Lighthouse and 17th will offer (as the name of the event suggests) wine, art and music. Pick up a map at the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce at 584 Central Avenue. 6-9pm, free.

Saturday

Happy 25th anniversary, Monterey Bay Aquarium! Celebrate the Aquarium’s silver anniversary today and tomorrow. Events for the whole family include crafts, a scavenger hunt, live music and sustainable seafood cooking demonstrations and tastings. Make sure to check out the exhibit on the history of the Aquarium. 9:30am-6pm, included in the price of admission.

Tour some of Pacific Grove’s architectural high points at the Architecture and Design Home Tour, highlighting the work of architects Jeanne Byrne, Ed Bredthauer and Eddie Hurt. 10am-3pm, $35. Call 831-373-3304 for locations and to reserve.

Earthbound Farms is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Their Harvest Festival features produce tastings, music, farm tours, pumpkin carving demos, games and more. 11am-3pm, free.

The Scheid Vineyards tasting room on Cannery Row gets into the live music scene with a concert by Pacific Northwest act Gypsy Soul, who sound like an acoustic fusion of Sarah McLachlan and Loreena McKennitt. 8pm $40.

It’s a very metal evening at Jose’s on Wave Street as Praetorian, Soul Merchant and Mnemonic Device blow the roof off. 9pm, $5.

Jonah and the Whalewatchers bring the reggae world music party to Fernwood Resort in Big Sur tonight. 9pm, no cover.

Sunday

The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s 25th anniversary party continues today with live music, family activities and a scavenger hunt. 9:30am-6pm, included in admission fee.

The Monterey House Tour is a once-a-year chance to tour some of Monterey’s most impressive homes. Other tours include guided tours of the Royal Presidio Chapel, the El Estero cemetery, and a Mexican-era adobe. Proceeds benefit the Monterey Public Library. 10am-4pm, $20 in advance $25 on the day of. Purchase tickets at the Monterey Public Library check-out desk.

Watch ninjas, samurai, and other martial artists while Taiko drums pound at “Kannabi: The Mountain Where Spirits Dwell” at the CSUMB World Theater. 2pm, $16 for children 12 and under, $18 for over 55 and students with ID, $20 for the rest of us.

Take the whole family for a trail ride with Pebble Beach Equestrian Center. The Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District has organized this ride especially for beginners. 2pm, $55, register via the MPRPD official website.

Still looking for something to keep you busy? Head on over to the Monterey County Weekly’s calendar for even more ideas.

Back in March, Sheryl Cornelisen won the Big Smiles, No Miles staycation sweepstakes. She finally took her vacation a few weeks ago, and sent us this email!

Aisha, Nicole and everyone else at MCCVB-
I just wanted to thank you all SOOOOO much for everything you did to put together my Staycation prize package. My husband and I had a FANTASTIC time, the weather was perfect and I felt like a queen for my birthday celebration! Our room at the Monterey Plaza was beautiful, our massages heavenly and the food exquisite. We had a great time on our limo ride, with our driver Tony (we ended up taking it from the Sanctuary Beach resort to Big Sur and Nepenthe so I included everyplace I mentioned in my itinerary (except for Monterey Live of course) All the food and all the service was AMAZING….Casanova, Phil’s, the Ol’factory (our first time there, and what a fun place it is!), Montrio, Latitudes, and our room service from the Duck Club….must have gained 20 pounds, but oh well!!! Got a great deal on wine at Taste of Monterey (8 bottles with my gift certificate….woo hoo!!!) I couldn’t have asked for a better time! So thanks to all of you for making it happen! And please have another contest I can try and win next year!! I am sending you some photos of our incredible Staycation for you to use if you like.
Thank you again!
Sincerely,
Sheryl Cornelisen

The staycation she designed included a stay for two at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, a ride in a limo, an array of wines delivered to her room, lunch at Casanova, and many other activities. Click here to see her full itinerary – or just look at the photos below to see what a great time she had!

In front of the dolphin fountain at the Monterey Plaza Hotel

Enjoying wine from A Taste of Monterey

Making the most of the spa

Brunch at Casanova

Enjoying wine in the limo

Saturday October 10, an amazing new exhibition from artist Mark Licari opens at the Monterey Museum of Art’s La Mirada location. The exhibition will showcase Licari’s paintings and sculptures, but the centerpiece is a site-specific work he created especially for this exhibition. The time-lapse video below shows Licari creating the piece, from blank wall to great art.

Get a sneak preview tonight from 6-8pm! The sneak preview, with wine by Joullian, is free for members and $10 for non-members. Visit again on Saturday at 11:30am as Mark Licari divulges some of the secrets of his artistic process during a lecture and catalogue signing. The cost is $5 for members and $10 for non-members.

The Pacific Street location isn’t being left out! This Sunday, as part of Monterey History Fest, admission at the Monterey Museum of Art location on Pacific Street will be free to the public. The Monterey Museum of Art Pacific Street is located on the Path of History and directly across from Colton Hall. Make a visit to the Monterey Museum of Art part of your celebration of History Fest! Download our free Path of History audio walking tour here. Then listen to it as you walk the Path of History. Just press pause when you detour into the Monterey Museum of Art! And don’t miss the re-enactment of the California Constitutional Convention at Colton Hall at 2pm.

Stop by the Monterey Museum of Art again Thursday from 5pm to 7pm for Art After Hours, your once-a-month evening opportunity to enjoy fine art, fine wine, and fine food. Both free events will give you the chance to view the Made in Monterey exhibit, which chronicles the artistic history of the Monterey area, and MontereyNow: Kevin Miller which showcases Miller’s quirky work with paper cutouts.

Fall is supposedly when things wind down in Monterey County, but this October weekend looks just as busy as mid-summer.

Friday

Check out practice and qualifying runs during the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Three day passes at the gate are $70; Friday-only passes are $35. Besides the races, there’s a neat event at which cyclists can ride the track alongside American LeMans drivers. (It’s not entirely clear if those drivers will be on bikes on in cars.) The cycling event is from 6:30 to 7:30 and costs $10 per cyclist.

Lake San Antonio hosts south Monterey County’s biggest music festival with The Bandecky Bash, an all-weekend outdoor-music camp-out affair that will probably be wilder than the Spirit Music Festival but a bit tamer than Woodstock. The live music ranges from country to hip-hop to indie to rock. Bands include Motograter, Powerman 5000, and a number of local Central Coast acts. It’s free for 12 and under. For everyone else, it’s $35 for one day, $50 for the weekend.

Take a free behind-the-scenes tour of the California History Room at the Monterey Public Library at 11:30am as part of History Fest, or get a free in-depth tour of the Monterey Maritime and History Museum archives and learn about Monterey’s seafaring history.

The Big Sur Jade Festival returns for its 18th year. The festival includes live music, great food and, naturally, tons of jade art. It’s at the Pacific School, 65 miles south of Monterey. Noon-6pm, free.

The impressive slate of films at the Carmel Art and Film Festival begins today at the Sunset Center at 2:30pm. Films screening today include The Queen and I, (Untitled), His Good Will, The Prankster, and Precious. See the official schedule for more information.

Tonight at Jose’s on Wave Street, it’s Irish/metal band Bog Iron, who sound like what you’d get if Ozzy Ozzbourne joined Flogging Molly, and Blood and Love, who have a Megadeth-meets-Bad-Religion vibe. 9pm, $5.

Saturday

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has more qualifying runs in the morning for the Monterey Sports Car Championships; in the afternoon, there will be IMSA and Star Mazda races as a warm-up for the endurance-heavy American Le Mans Series race. 2-day passes are $60; Saturday-only passes are $50.

KidFest at the Monterey County Fairgrounds features food, carnival games, arts, crafts, photography, a science fair, BMX exhibitions, live music, an ice-cream eating contest and the requisite bounce houses. Note to parents: don’t toss your kids into the bounce house immediately after they win the ice-cream eating contest. 10am-5pm, free.

The Marina Air Faire adds “classic car show” to its menu this year. Ogle vintage machinery of the air and land, compete in a horseshoe tournament, or sample the entries in the chili cook-off. Food booths ensure you won’t go hungry. 10am-3pm, free.

The Bandecky Bash continues at Lake San Antonio with live music and camp-out craziness. $35 for the day (free for 12 and under); performances begin at 11am.

The Carmel Art and Film Festival continues with an art show in Devendorf Park from 10am-6pm, an art & wine crawl from 5:30 to 7:30pm, art lectures at the Sunset Center from 11:30am to 3pm, and screenings of the films Wat Misaka Story, Art & Copy, and September Issue. See their online schedule for more details.

When you go to Monterey’s Custom House Plaza and Lower Presidio this weekend, you may feel like you’ve been transported back in time 150 years. Military re-enactors camped behind the Custom House will demonstrate what army life was like in 1847, while reenactors at Lower Presidio Historic Park will portray life from the Civil War era. Meanwhile, from 11am to 3pm, kids will get a hands-on education at the Custom House about what it was like to live on a Mexican-era rancho. From 10am to 4pm they’ll also have the chance to learn where calamari comes from with Squid Day at the Monterey Maritime & History Museum, where scientists will dissect a Humboldt squid. As if that weren’t enough, the Defense Language Institute is offering van tours of the historic Upper Presidio (10am to 1pm, starting at the Lower Presidio), the only chance most civilians will have to see this area. Most events are free; the rancho education activities at the Custom House are $2 for adults and $1 for children.

The Big Sur Jade Festival continues from 10am-6pm. Proceeds benefit the South Coast Community Land Trust and the Pacific Valley School PTO.

The Saurus says he’s “The Best Rapper on the Planet.” We suspect Lil Wayne might take issue with that. You can make your own decision tonight at Jose’s. 9pm, $5.

If you only see one gospel/surf/old-school country/Portuguese/garage/indie band this weekend, make it Mark Matos and Os Beaches. They play Fernwood in Big Sur tonight at 9pm. No cover.

Sunday

The Monterey Sports Car Championship wraps up with four more races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Sunday-only passes are $40.

It’s another day of contests, competition, live music, bounce houses and more at KidFest at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. 10am-6pm, free.

Take a beautiful drive down the Big Sur coast and visit the Big Sur Jade Festival. 10am-5pm, free.

Catch up with some of the events you missed yesterday at the Carmel Art and Film Festival. The art show continues in Devendorf Park from 10am to 6pm, and September Issue screens at the Sunset Center at 3pm. Additional events include a Music & Movies program with Alan Silvestri, and a short film screening at 7pm. See the Carmel Art and Film Festival schedule for more information.

As part of History Fest, the Monterey Museum of Art is offering free admission today at its Pacific Street location, directly across from historic Colton Hall.

If you’ve ever wondered what California’s Constitutional Convention was like, visit Colton Hall at 2pm. The reenactors recreating the Constitutional Convention do an excellent job of making the audience feel like they’re really viewing the event, and they’re unflinching in confronting some of the more controversial aspects of the decision-making process. There’s invariably more people who want to watch than space; call 831-646-5640 to reserve your spot.

Imagine if the Byrds played an all-acoustic set about meditation, and you’ve got a solid idea of what Australians The T.M. Band’s set at Jose’s tonight will be like. Locals “F*** I’m a Ghost” open to provide a louder, non-family-friendly counterpoint. 9pm, no cover.

One of Monterey’s most educational traditions is History Fest, held every October. This year’s events include behind-the-scenes tours of some of Monterey’s museums and archives; “An Evening with the Three Historians,” a free lecture on Monterey’s rich history at the Monterey Maritime and History Museum; Mexican War and Civil War reenactors at Custom House Plaza and the Presidio; kids’ activities at the Custom House on Saturday and Sunday; blacksmithing demonstrations; and, on Saturday, the first annual Squid Day. The Defense Language Institute will even open its doors for a day for free guided tours of the historic buildings of the Upper Presidio to compliment the walking tours of the Lower Presidio Historic Park.

We’re commemorating History Fest this year with a special Monterey County History and Heritage Itinerary. Use the itinerary as a jumping-off point for a three-day whirlwind tour of Monterey County’s many historic sites. The itinerary takes you to many of the area’s well-known historic and cultural destinations. You’ll also go on a historic hike, possibly spot some whales, and even dine at a restaurant that’s rumored to be haunted!

No Monterey County history itinerary would be complete without a walk on the Path of History, the walking path that links together over 50 historic sites in Monterey. If you’ve been mystified by the history of all those old buildings as you wander, wonder no more! Download the free SeeMonterey Path of History Audio Tour. This audio tour allows you to walk the Path of History at your own pace. It’s loaded with fascinating facts about Monterey’s history. See the house that a woman sold all of Pebble Beach to buy, hear about one of Monterey’s founding fathers’ scandalous history, and learn the creative methods Walter Colton used to get the funds to build Colton Hall. Just press pause if you want to take a break or spend more time exploring a certain historic site.

What do you think is the biggest must-see historic spot in Monterey County?

Over the past several years, the Restaurant Week concept has become popular in cities from Boston to LA and from Denver to Detroit. Local foodies have whispered, “But we have so many great restaurants right here! When will there be a restaurant week on the Central Coast?”

Wonder no more! From October 22 to 28, restaurants throughout the area will be offering fabulous, modestly priced three-course prix-fixe menus during the inaugural Monterey Bay Restaurant Week. It’s a low-risk way to test drive Monterey County’s fantastic restaurants.

Here’s a list of just some of the restaurants participating in Monterey Bay Restaurant Week. For the full list – and a preview of the prix-fixe menu each restaurant will offer during Monterey Bay Restaurant Week – check out the official Monterey Bay Restaurant Week site. (We’ll tell you right now, “Grilled Castroville Artichoke” seems to be the most popular starter.)

Carmel

• Andre’s Bouchée Bistro
• Anton & Michel
• Basil Seasonal Dining
• Bistro 211
• Bistro Beaujolais
• Edgar’s at Quail Lodge
• Flaherty’s Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill
• The Forge in the Forest
• The Grill on Ocean Avenue
• Il Fornaio
• L’Escargot
• Pacific’s Edge Restaurant at the Highlands Inn
• Rio Grill

Carmel Valley

• Baja Cantina
• Cafe Rustica
• Volcano Grill
• Wickets Bistro at Bernardus Lodge
• Will’s Fargo Dining House & Saloon

Monterey

• The C Restaurant + Bar at the Intercontinental
• The Fish Hopper
• Fresh Cream Restaurant
• Jacks at Portola Hotel and Spa
• Montrio Bistro
• Old Fisherman’s Grotto
• Tarpy’s Roadhouse
• TusCA Ristorante

Pacific Grove

• An Choi Contemporary Asian Cuisine
• Fandango Restaurant
• Lattitudes

Have you made your reservation yet? Which restaurant is your top pick?

A few days ago, the folks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium were kind enough to let us in to photograph their new white shark. While we were there, it seemed to be staying toward the bottom of the tank; it was much more easy to spot while on the lower level of the Outer Bay exhibit than the upper level.

During our visit, we discovered that many visitors were confusing the Galapagos shark with the white shark. So you don’t make the same mistake, here’s some photos showing the difference.

This is a white shark.

This is not a white shark.

If you look closely, you’ll see the Galapagos shark has a flatter head, and its jaw and nose have a gentle roundness. Also, its mouth is shut. The white shark practices something called ram ventilation, in which she ventilates her gills by holding her mouth open while swimming. It may take a few glances to differentiate them, but once you’ve gotten a good look at the white shark, you’ll never again confuse it with the Galapagos shark.

Here’s a few more shots of the white shark in action.

Have you taken any photos of the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s white shark yet? Share them with us!