Don’t sleep in late on January 1, 2012!
Head down to the 22nd Annual Rio Grill’s Resolution Run instead. This New Year’s Day tradition benefits the Community Partnership for Youth – and it’s an excellent way to start your year (plus you get a cool t-shirt).
Two courses (5 and 10K) start at the Rio Grill in the Crossroads Shopping Village at Highway 1 and Rio Road in Carmel. This fun family event is open to runners, walkers, strollers and (this being Carmel), well-behaved dogs on leashes.
After crossing the finish line at the Carmel Mission Basilica, participants will hoof it back to the Crossroads for brunch, the awards ceremony, and a random prize drawing.
Registration online is $36 for adults and $23 for kids 12 & under through December 31.
 Registration on Race Day is $39 for adults, $26 for kids 12 & under.
The race starts at 9am sharp. (You can nap later.)
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It takes place on the “last” night of the year, but trust us: First Night Monterey is the place to be on December 31st.
This family-friendly, alcohol-free New Year’s celebration takes place at over 25 performance sites downtown (most venues are indoors). This year’s theme is “A Fantasea,” and Alvarado Street will be illuminated in colorful blue and green “aquarium” lights as more than 200 artists join to “dance, act, play, perform, create, and sing our way into 2012!”
After the opening ceremony on Colton Lawn and Pacific Street at 3 pm, Kids Night Out! kicks off with face painting, henna tattoo artists, puppet art theater, folk music and a magic show.
At 5:30 pm, all are welcome to join the Twilight Procession down Alvarado Street from Portola Plaza to Pearl Street with stilt walkers, dancers, marchers, giant puppets, and parade floats.
“First Night” will feature over nine hours of entertainment – from classical to jazz, blues to rock, hip-hop to folk:
- John “Broadway” Tucker (with an all-star cast of Bay Area musicians)
- Blues at Eleven (eclectic mix of blues, rock, funk and jazz)
- The Black Irish Band (Irish, Scottish, Italian and American folk music)
- First Night Rock Star (your chance to be a “virtual” rock star)
- Greek Village Dancers (audience participation welcome!)
- Grumbling Ginger (acoustic folk rock with a Celtic twist)
- I Cantori di Carmel (choral music: classical to Broadway)
- James Hurley (top-rated acoustic singer/songwriter)
- Junkman Jam (infectious grooves performed on “junk” and recycled materials)
- Kuzanga Marimba (music from Africa)
- MC Lars (hip-hop artist)
- Monterey Bay Lion Dance Team (high energy dance)
- Park Avenue Studio of Belly Dance
- Shinsho Mugen Daiko (Taiko drummers)
- Sambahemians (Brazilian percussion)
- Smoking Gun (rock ‘n roll)
- Sophia Songhealer (uplifting vocals)
- Thom and his Cats (Big Band: 40s, 50s and 60s)
- Trio Amaha (Brazilian music)
- The Wharf Rats (smooth rock)
Warning: “Art Attacks!”—spontaneous celebrations with drummers, dancers and stilt walkers—can occur anywhere, anytime!
Advance purchase buttons are $12 (age 6-15) and $20 (16 and up). Children 5 and under are free.
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Well, maybe not exactly with Tom Cruise, but definitely starring Tom Cruise.
The former IMAX theater just re-opened two blocks from our office – and we can’t wait to head over to see “Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol,” starring you-know-who.
What could be better than dinner (or Happy Hour) and a movie on Cannery Row? Let’s see… Johnny Rockets for a burger? Outrageous clam chowder at the Fish Hopper? Prime rib sliders at the Chart House?
Mmmmm… this is a very good dilemma to have.
The Cinemark Monterey Cannery Row XD is at 640 Wave Street. The “XD” stands for extra large, extreme entertainment—ceiling-to-floor and wall-to-wall screen, custom sound, and premium seating which promises to deliver “an intense sensory experience” to every seat.
See you there!
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Holy Smokes, who knew that Cheech Marin (of Cheech and Chong fame) was also an art aficionado?
An avid collector of Chicano art, Marin will exhibit “Chicanitas”—small paintings from his collection—at the Museum of Monterey (MOM) through April 1, with an opening reception December 10.
Subtitled “size doesn’t matter,” the collection includes 65 works (all under 16″x16″) from established and emerging Chicano artists in a variety of media: abstracts, portraits, landscapes, and photo-realism.
The actor/comedian will treat members of MOM to a private reception and walk through from 4-5 pm, with a public reception following from 5-7 pm.
Admission is $10 general and $5 for children under 12. The Museum is located at 5 Custom House Plaza and is open Tues.-Sat. 10am-5pm and Sundays from noon to 5pm.
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Looking for some holiday family fun? Take the kids to Caledonia Park in Pacific Grove on December 3rd. From 10am – 4pm this charming neighborhood park will be transformed into a mini winter wonderland with a blanket of snow and twinkly lights. Santa will arrive in a shiny red fire truck—and the Snow Queen and Frosty the Snowman won’t be far behind.
Then grab some hot cocoa and head downtown to the outdoor ice rink in Custom House Plaza, where you can skate the day (or night) away through January 8 (Mon.-Sat. from 11am till 10pm and Sundays from noon till 8pm).
And on December 8th and 10th from 5-9 pm downtown Monterey will be all aglow for “Christmas in the Adobes.” Dozens of the city’s historic structures (illuminated by candlelight and festooned with holiday decorations) open their doors and serve up music and refreshments (like bagpipes at the Robert Louis Stevenson house and Spanish fandango at the Custom House, California’s oldest public building).
Volunteers in period dress will welcome you on this walking tour of 19th century adobes, and docents will be on hand to tell the stories behind the buildings (many of which are open to the public only during this event). Tickets are $20 adults, $2 for ages 6-17, and children under five are free. Call (831) 649-7120 for tickets—the proceeds support youth educational programs at the Monterey State Historic Park.
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