West Coast Swing is the California State dance and is growing in popularity, thanks to Lacey Schwimmer of “Dancing With The Stars” and Benji Schwimmer of “So You Think You Can Dance”.
West Coast Swing is a 6-count slot dance that can be danced to the blues, contemporary, pop, club, and country music, and the main age range of West Coast Swing dancers is between 30 – 70 years old.
If you’re interested in finding places to dance West Coast Swing, here are some of the places where local “Westies” hang out:
Tuesday nights–Carmel Woman’s Club at the corner of San Carlos and 9th, across from Sunset Center in Carmel. Call Jennifer at 831-324-0816 for class details.
Wednesday nights–Sly McFly’s at the corner of Cannery Row and Prescott in Monterey. It’s a small dance floor, but Westies are friendly about sharing slot space. Don’t be shy about asking a Westie to dance with you. We’ve all been beginners at some point and love bringing new people into the dance.
Thursday nights–On the 3rd Thursday of each month, join the Westie community at Clint Eastwood’s Carmel Mission Ranch off of Rio Road, right by the Carmel Mission. Dancing is located in the Barn, and the place gets packed.
Friday nights–Embassy Suites in Seaside has a lounge area where Lee Durley and Joe Indence sing oldies but goodies. If you’re in the mood for East Coast Swing, there’s music that will satisfy both dances.
Saturday nights–On the 4th Saturday of each month, the Santa Cruz Swing Club hosts a West Coast Swing dance at the Senior Center (behind 831 Bay Avenue and Woodworm Party Store) at the Bay/Porter Exit in Capitola. Class with a WCS dance pro start at 7:00 and the dancing goes until 11:00 PM.
If you’re uncertain about scheduling, contact Jennifer at 831-324-0816 and she’ll point you in the right direction, or consult the Monterey County Weekly newspaper or the Go! Calendar in the Monterey Herald.
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Surprisingly, some of the area’s best burgers are not found in traditional burger joints!
This, by no means, disrespects the great burgers found at Phat Burger on Del Monte Blvd. in Seaside, R.G. Burgers in Monterey (by Trader Joe’s) and Carmel (in the Crossroads Shopping Center), or American Burger on Lighthouse Ave. in Monterey.
Side note: American Burger on Lighthouse Ave. in Monterey gets separate bonus points because they offer Argentine Tango lessons there on Monday nights.
Honestly, I was surprised myself when I discovered these three restaurants had the most amazing, mouthwatering burgers:
1. Mauricio’s on Lighthouse Avenue in Pacific Grove (by Juice ‘n’ Java). This is a family-run establishment and we love their Avocado/Bacon/Cheeseburger. Don’t forget to order Mauricio’s special spinach salad, too!
2. Fresh Cream Restaurant at the NW Corner of Dolores and 8th in Carmel (by Adobe Inn). The burger will be found on Fresh Cream’s Lounge Menu, and if you go there between 4:30 and 6:30, they offer Happy Hour price breaks. Awesome!
3. And for the all-time most expensive burger you have ever eaten, try the Ambrosia Burger at Nepenthe’s down Hwy. 1 to Big Sur. Yes, it’s a great burger, and it is served up with the view of a lifetime! Sit on the patio, overlooking the most awe-inspiring view of the Pacific Ocean to be found anywhere, so you are paying for both the burger and the view. But once in a lifetime – why not?
Who knew?
Go try the burgers and see if you agree with us locals.
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THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES OF PACIFIC GROVE
Every fall, thousands of monarch butterflies appear at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary. They look like brown leaves on the trees in the grove, until they begin to spread their wings and flutter in and out of the tree branches when the sun comes out. The Monarch Grove Sanctuary is studded with Monterey pines and eucalyptus trees, and the temperature remains moderate all winter, giving the butterflies reason to return year after year. We look forward to their return, as we look forward to the return of many of our loyal customers to Monterey Bay Property Management, who elect to, like the butterflies, spend the winter in a temperate climate. If you are thinking that the Monterey Peninsula would be a great place to spend the winter, you would be thinking correctly! And just as we are honored each year to host the Monarch butterflies as our guests, we are honored to have you. Bring nothing but your clothes and your groceries to a fully-furnished and equipped vacation rental home where you can not only enjoy the return of the Monarchs, but all the beauty of “the most felicitous meeting of land and sea in creation (Robert Louis Stevenson).”
WHERE TO SEE THE BUTTERFLIES
From mid-October to mid-February, you can see clusters of monarch butterflies at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary at 1073 Lighthouse Avenue. The entrance is just off Lighthouse Avenue, and the park is open from sunrise to sundown. Best of all, it is free! The best time to see the butterflies is between noon to 3:00 p.m., as that is the time when the sun is shining brightly on the trees. You should find that a docent is always on duty when the park is open.
Should you arrive on the Monterey Peninsula in early October, you can be a part of Pacific Grove’s celebration of the monarchs’ arrival. The Butterfly Parade, featuring local school children dressed in butterfly wings.
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We have lots of rocks. Rocky coast…pebbled beaches…granite hillsides…etc. All this stone has lent itself to a crafty use of stonework on houses. If you’re a fan of looking at houses, take a walk around Carmel and notice all of the stonework.
There are also stone paths, stone walls, stone steps, stone sidewalks all throughout Carmel. The main local stones quarried around Monterey County are limestone and sandstone, and they are mostly quarried within 150 miles of the county.
If you’re interested in seeing some of the fine masonry work, take a walk down any of the following Carmel streets: Dolores, 10th, the red brick house near 2nd and Carpenter, and the beach step path near the intersection of Scenic Road and 8th.
However, the crown jewel of stonework is the Tor House, where you can arrange for a tour. The Tor House is the home of lauded poet, Robinson Jeffers, and it is a “can’t miss” if you’re visiting Carmel. The Tor House is situated on Carmel Point at 26304 Ocean View Avenue, just to the south of Carmel Village. Here is a link to the Tor House Foundation if you’d like to arrange for a tour.
If you decide to do some stonework yourself on your home, there is a local masonry consultant who sells his own “how-to” videos that are remarkably helpful. If you’re interested, check out Steven Kelley’s videos at Bricks And Mortar USA.
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The Monterey County Fair is going on now between Wednesday, Sept. 1 and Monday, Sept. 6, which is Labor Day.
A few of us staff members at Monterey Bay Property Management attended the Fair on opening day, and here were some points to ponder from a local perspective:
Parking–Parking around the Faire is extremely limited, so your best bet is to park your car over at Monterey Peninsula College and take a free shuttle. By parking at MPC and taking the shuttle, you’ll be able to spend your money on more rides and cotton candy rather than spend $25.00 for parking in a lot across the street.
Rides–Rides are what makes Fairs so cool. All the rides are safe and little-kid friendly, but the Ferris Wheel wins our hearts every time. The view is great!
Live Entertainment–We counted at least 3 stages with live entertainment that included a hypnotist (Mark Yusick, the Las Vegas-based hypnotist, is a cool guy), a KWAVE Kids Talent Show Contest, Karaoke machine, and a kid-friendly act that involved a gal with a guitar and a guy running around on stage. Ahhh, entertainment at its Fair finest!
Food–Fair food can be so wonderfully decadent! Try the funnel cakes, cotton candy, gelato, and BBQ booths to start. Don’t forget to check out the fudge booth near the Arena!
Surprise Food–If you’re into baked goods made by mom or your favorite auntie, go into the “Home Arts” building and have yourself a slice of German Chocolate Cake, Red-Velvet Cake, or Blackberry Pie made by a local. The bakers who entered the Fair’s contest are wonderful and many made extra of their award-winning desserts for the public. The German Chocolate Cake was a hit, but so was the Key Lime Pie.
Slow Walking–You know how it is…when you’re pushing a baby cart, holding hands with a 5-year-old, and strolling alongside Grandma, you tend to walk more slowly. If you’re in a hurry, remember to take a deep breath if you get stuck on the path behind a slowly ambling family. It’s the Fair, after all, and there’s plenty of time to get to the next ride or food booth.
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There are many treasures that locals know about that many tourists overlook. If you’re lucky enough to stay awhile and see more than the “must sees”, here are a few places to check out or things to do:
1. Kayak the Elkhorn Slough during the full moon.
2. Visit Tassajara in Carmel Valley.
3. Rent a kayak or bike down the rec trail right by the Monterey Plaza Hotel.
4. Visit Big Sur Bakery, grab a few pastries and drive 1/4 mile North up Hwy. 1 and turn left to go to Pfeiffer State Beach.
5. Visit Esalen south of Big Sur…but make sure you have a reservation!
Obviously there are more off-the-beaten-path places, but these should get you started for now. If you have a cool place to share, let us know and we’ll add it.
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