MARCH 6 & 7

MENDOCINO, Calif. — Wine tasting and whale watching will be the featured attractions of the 28th Annual Mendocino Whale Festival March 6th and 7th in Mendocino.

Many wineries will set up tasting stations in inns, galleries and shops throughout Mendocino Village and Little River, while the area’s top chefs produce their favorite seafood chowders in a tasting event. A marine mammal art exhibit, plein-air (live outdoor painting demonstrations) and docent-led walks are all part of the two-day festival.

With some 20,000 gray whales migrating north from birthing grounds in Mexico to their winter home in Alaska, there will be plenty of whales to view from the Mendocino Headlands State Park, which surrounds Mendocino Village.

Major events include:

• Wine Tasting in Mendocino’s shops-Saturday only 12-4pm, $30. Register at Welcome Centers: Crown Hall-Main St, the Ford House-Main St. Event brochures, t-shirts and totes available. 21 & over only.
  Participating Wineries
  Barra of Mendocino, Claudia Springs, Esterlina Vineyards, Frey Vineyards, Goldeneye Winery, Graziano Family of Wines, Handley Cellars, Husch Vineyards, Jeriko Estates, McNab Ridge Winery, Meyer Family Cellars, Navarro Vineyards, Neese Vineyards, Philo Ridge Vineyard, Simaine Cellars, Terra Salvia, Weibel Winery, Zina Hyde Cunningham.
   

• Chowder Tasting in Crown Hall, Saturday from 11am-till the chowder runs out, $10 allows you to taste each participant. Crown Hall located at 45285 Ukiah St., Mendocino. T-shirts and totes available during event.
   

• Whale Watching walks on the headlands and Gray Whale Exhibit at the Ford House Visitor’s Center, Saturday and Sunday. Call 937-5397 for more information and hours Ford House Visitor Center located on ocean side of Main Street, Mendocino.
   

• Jughandle Creek Nature Center on-site naturalist will set up guided whale watching walks by reservations and will provide spotting scopes and educational materials. Contact: Helene Chalfin, 964-4630 or email: jughandle@creek.org
   

• Lighthouse Activities, Pt. Cabrillo Lighthouse exhibits and children’s activities on Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm Includes tide pool exhibit, lighthouse history, bird walks from Audubon Society, whale watching, and a Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito rescue demonstration. Docents & naturalists on hand. Weather permitting, Docents will also lead walks to nearby Frolic Cove and relate the story of the Boston Owned Clipper Brig “Frolic”, wrecked off the cove in July 1850, bound from China to San Francisco with a valuable cargo of Chinese merchandise for the Gold Rush miners and their families. Parking $3
   

• Plein-air Artists in the Village Weather permitting! See local artists painting on the Mendocino Headlands, Saturday
   

• 6th Annual Marine Wildlife Exhibit at the Mendocino Art Center, 10-4pm, Little Lake St., Mendocino. Call 937-5818 features nationally and locally honored marine wildlife artists including the late JD Mayhew, designer of Whale Festival logo
   

• Whale Watching Cruises from Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg all day both Saturday and Sunday, call Chamber of Commerce for charter boat referrals, 707-961-6300 between 9-5 on weekdays, 9-3 on Saturday
   

• Whale Watching by Horseback, call Chamber of Commerce for referrals, 707-961-6300 between 9-5 on weekdays, 9-3 on Saturday.

MARCH 12, 13, 14

LITTLE RIVER, Calif. — Food and wine tastings and whale watching will be the featured attractions at the first ever Little River Whale Festival March 12, 13, and 14 in Little River.

Six Little River gourmet chefs pair up with local wineries to bring you a Taste of Little River. From artist studio tours and our history museum grand opening, to docent-led walks and photo workshops, the first annual Little River Whale Festival has something for everyone. Don’t forget to turn in your passport for a chance to win exciting Little River travel prizes. (Passport details here)

With some 20,000 gray whales migrating north from birthing grounds in Mexico to their winter home in Alaska, there will be plenty of whales to view from the Spring Ranch Headlands and Van Damme State Park and Beach. You can also sight whales from many of the ocean view rooms and restaurants throughout Little River

Major events include:

• A WHALE OF A SALE!!! - Stay two nights during the festival and get the third night free! Call your favorite Little River lodging establishment for details.
   

• Taste of Little River
  Saturday, March 13, 1- 4pm
  Discover the flavors of Little River as six local gourmet chefs show off
  their cuisine paired with Mendocino County wines from Breggo, Handley and
  Philo Ridge. Start at Dennen’s Victorian Farmhouse then taste your way to La Petite Rive, Little River Market (at La Petite Rive), Little River Inn, Glendeven Inn & Wine Bar and Stevenswood. $25 ticket includes a Whale Festival Commemorative wine glass. Advance tickets available at Little River Inn and day of the event at Dennen’s Victorian Farmhouse. Must be 21 years of age. This event is a fundraiser for Van Damme and Spring Ranch State Park and Beach. 937-5942 for tickets.
   

• Digital Photo Workshop
  Friday, March 12 - Meet on the front steps of Little River Inn, 7901 North Highway One, 1pm – 5 pm. Learn from one of the best nature photographers on the coast. Join professional photographer John Birchard for an afternoon coastal walk and two hour photo shoot in the Little River Headlands followed by two hours reviewing and talking about the photos in his studio workshop. $100 per person. Call 707-937-4809 for reservations. www.BirchardPhoto.com/
   

• Fireside Chats
  Friday, March 12 - Andiron Seaside Inn and Cabins’ Lobby, 6051 N. Highway One (at the corner of Andiron Road), 7 pm. Marine scientist (and Point Cabrillo Lighthouse docent), Angelica Rosa, will reveal the secrets of our local marine life and the annual grey whale migration. Free Admission. 707-937-1543 www.TheAndiron.com/
  
  Saturday, March 13 - Dennen’s Victorian Farmhouse Parlor, 7001 North Highway One, 4 pm
  Get the inside scoop on Ocean Sanctuary history and politics from local activist and small town hero Rachel Binah. Rachel will relate the community involvement in protecting the area from offshore drilling in 1988. Rachel is a former innkeeper, Chair Emeritus, California Democratic Party Democratic National Committeewoman, and Artist. Free Admission.  707-937-0697 www.VictorianFarmhouse.com/
   

• Gene Parsons and David Hayes Concert
  Friday, March 12 -  Little River Inn’s Abalone Room, 7901 North Highway One, 8 pm.
  Local talent doesn’t get any better than this! Gene Parsons is a drummer, banjo player, guitarist, singer-songwriter, and innovative engineer, best known for his work with The Byrds. David Hayes is a bass guitar player who has worked with Van Morrison, The Rowans, Terry & The Pirates, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Country Joe McDonald among others. Tickets available at Little River Inn, Harvest Market and the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce. $15 advance, $20 day of the show. The concert is a fundraiser for the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund. 707-937-5942 www.LittleRiverInn.com
   

• Whale Watch Walk - Saturday, March 13
  Spring Ranch, Gordon Lane entrance, 11am
  A two hour guided walk with State Parks Interpreter Fred Andrews, searching for pelagic cormorants, seaside daisies, and, of course, whales! Spring Ranch Headlands is also a seal rookery, so keep your eyes peeled for baby seals. Binoculars will be available. No pets, heavy rain cancels. Park and meet on the west side of Highway One, across from Gordon Lane. Free Admission.
   

• Museum Grand Opening and Open House with High Tea - March 13 & 14
  Little River Improvement Club, 8185 North Highway One, 1- 4 pm . The Little River Improvement Club first opened to the public with a grand party on April 25th, 1885. Our building’s restoration is now complete. Community and visitors are invited to learn the fascinating history of our town and celebrate the Club’s 125th birthday! Be our guest for a circa 1885 high tea, hosted by the museum’s docent in 1850 period costume. Free Admission.
   

• Open Art Studios - March 13 & 14
  Cynthia Myers, Etched glass, 43000 Little River Airport Road, 10am – 5 pm
  Award-winning Glass Etch Artist invites you to visit her showroom of blown glass vases, bowls, wine goblets, and bud vases. Look for sign on left about two miles up Little River Airport Road. 707-937-2355 www.cynthiamyersglass.com/
   

• Richard Yaski, Sculpture and Fountains
  March 13 & 14 -  Jacobs Ranch Road, noon to 2 pm. Sculpture and fountains, created with fire, water, metal, light and space, flowing with understated elegance. Up Little River Airport Road 2.5 miles, turn right on Albion Little River Road, turn right on Jacobs Ranch. Go .5 miles, look for YASKI sign on left. Watch for balloons. The driveway/studio/parking lot is on the left. 707-937-0075 www.yaski.com/
   

• Todd Elkins, Woodcarver - March 13 & 14
  Horsefeathers at Little River Inn, 10 am – 2 pm. See Todd in action as he works on his current large scale wood carving. 962-2293 www.LittleRiverInn.com
   

• Kayak Mendocino Sea Cave Nature Tours - March 13 & 14 - Van Damme State Park, Beach Parking Lot, 11:30 am and 2 pm. Your life will take on that of a Marine Mammal, joining the harbor seals, sea stars, algae and shorebirds in this incredibly rich and diverse habitat. All tours are easily paddled by beginners and require no prior experience. All ages welcome, reservations suggested. $50 per person, includes all gear. 10% of all proceeds will be donated to Surfers for Cetaceans, a non profit organization working to protect whales and dolphins. 707-964-7480 www.kayakmendocino.com/
   

• Van Damme Visitors Center
  March 13 & 14 - Van Damme State Park, Open 10 am – 3 pm. Learn more about the flora and fauna of our unique coastal environs and the history of the Pomo Indians that visited this land every year to collect abalone. Van Damme was acquired by the State Park System in 1934, and the addition of peripheral lands has preserved some of California's most interesting natural resources. The park features the coastal Spring Ranch trails, the lush Fern Canyon scenic trail system; the Pygmy Forest where mature, cone-bearing cypress and pine trees stand six inches to eight feet tall; and the bog, or the Cabbage Patch, where skunk cabbage grows in abundance. Free Admission.
  http://mendoparks.org download map
   

• Mendocino Coast Audubon Society Bird Walk - Sunday, March 13 - Van Damme State Park, Beach Parking Lot, 9 am.
  The Mendocino Coast Audubon Society hosts this field trip to view the birds of Van Damme State Park. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour the night before! The day begins with a survey of gulls, loons, cormorants, and other pelagic birds that might be present on the bay. An easy walk into the forested park may reveal resident and wintering birds, including, hopefully, the resident group of Gray Jays. Usually found at higher elevations, Mendocino visitors can view this delightful bird and still be home in time for dinner. Binoculars will be available. Heavy rain cancels, but the trip will proceed in showers, drizzle, or sunshine! Interested persons with all levels of experience are invited to participate. www.mendocinocoastaudubon.org  Free Admission
   

• Morning Coffee Chat - Sunday, March 13
  The Woods, Clubhouse, 43300 Little River Airport Road, 9:30 am. Enjoy pastries and coffee from local bed and breakfasts as Toastmaster Terry Kemp limns the lore, life and people of Little River. Free Admission. 707-937-6132 www.ncphs.org/

MARCH 20 & 21

FORT BRAGG, Calif. –— Microbrew tasting and whale watching will be the featured attractions of the 28th Annual Fort Bragg Whale Festival March 20th and 21st.

Along with dozens of microbrews provided by the Fort Bragg Rotary Club, the area’s top chefs will produce their favorite chowders. A marine mammal art exhibit and crafts fair are also part of the two-day festival.

With some 20,000 gray whales migrating north from birthing grounds in Mexico to their winter home in Alaska, there will be plenty of whales to view from the Pomo Bluffs Park in Fort Bragg and miles of beaches in MacKerricher State Park just north of the city.

Major events include:
 

• 14th Annual Fort Bragg Beer Festival on March 20th, 2010 at the historic Eagles Hall 210 N.Corry St. Microbrews come to Fort Bragg proudly serving award winning Belgians, Porters, Stouts, IPA'S, Ales and more. Beer novice or beer expert come experience beer like you never thought possible. Saturday only. $30 per person
   

• Jughandle Creek Nature Center on-site naturalist will set up guided whale watching walks by reservations and will provide spotting scopes and educational materials. Contact: Helene Chalfin, 964-4630 or email: jughandle@creek.org
   

• Chowder Tasting at Town Hall, Saturday from 11am till the chowder runs out, $10 allows you to taste all participants. Corner of Main (Hwy 1) & Laurel St. in Fort Bragg. T-shirts and tote bags available during this event. Get there early to avoid long lines for chowder!
   

• Fish Dinner at Portuguese Hall.
  Bar opens at 4:00 p.m.
  Dinner Servings at 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 p.m.
  Tickets in advance $17
  Tickets at the door $20
  Contact Dolly Guisti (707)-964-4971 or Jose Ornelas (707) 964-0485 for more information
   

• Whale Cruises from Noyo Harbor. Call Chamber for referrals, (707) 961-6300
   

• Lighthouse Activities and exhibits, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm. See tide pool exhibits, lighthouse history, The Frolic shipwreck artifacts, learn from the Audubon Society and Marine Mammal Center of Sausalito, fun for the whole family! And don’t forget the whale watching. Weather permitting, Docents will also lead walks to nearby Frolic Cove and relate the story of the Boston Owned Clipper Brig “Frolic”, wrecked off the cove in July 1850, bound from China to San Francisco with a valuable cargo of Chinese merchandise for the Gold Rush miners and their families.
  
   

• Whale Walks at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Sat and Sun at 1pm, Hwy 1, Fort Bragg
   

• Guided Whale Walks at MacKerricher State Park Saturday and Sunday, call 964-8898 for more information
   

• 6th Annual Marine Art Exhibit at the Mendocino Art Center, featuring the original work of late, honored marine artist JD Mayhew and others, Saturday and Sunday from 10-4pm, located on Little Lake St., Mendocino
   

• Whale Watching by Horseback, call Chamber of Commerce for referrals, 707-961-6300 between 9-5 on weekdays, 9-3 on Saturday
   

• 26th Annual Whale Run & Walk
  Saturday, March 20, 2010 - 8:30 am Start Time (In front of the Skunk Train Depot)
  W Laurel St - Pudding Crk Trestle - Haul Rd. Fort Bragg
  
  10k & 5k Run
  5k Competitive Walk
  5k Fun Walk
  
  Register:
  on-line at theschedule.com 
  mail form from SIFB website or brochure to PO Box 131, FB, 95437
  contact sifb@mcn.org or call 707 964-9551 (Register before 3/8/2010 to guarantee a t-shirt)
  on Fri 3/19, 5-8pm, FB Depot or 7-8:15am, Sat 3/20 at the race (W. Laurel St)
  
  Whale Run Raffle
  Win a night’s stay with an ocean view & dinner w/ wine for two at Little River Inn or a two nights stay at The Andiron
  Each a $300+ Value! • Need not be present to win
  Raffle tickets are: $5 each • $10/3 tickets • $20/7 tickets
  Raffle tickets available by contacting 964-4913 or sifb@mcn.org
  DRAWING at the 26th Annual Whale Run and Walk 3/20/2010