Another cool new exhibit is opening at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The magical world of jellies—”graceful, dancing drifters that pulse and glow, flash colorful lights and often pack a powerful sting”—will come alive in a blaze of psychedelic glory when “The Jellies Experience” opens March 31.
The exhibit promises to envelop visitors in a sensory extravaganza: from a room that immerses you in a living moon jelly swarm to exhibits of jellies that pulse like living rainbows.
This 7,000 square foot, $3.5 million exhibit focuses on animals that have “no heads, hearts, brains, bones or true eyes”— yet have survived for hundreds of millions of years (and are considered among the ocean’s major predators).
“The Jellies Experience” is included with aquarium admission: $34.95 adult; $29.95 senior (over 65) and student (full-time college, with I.D.); $19.95 children and the disabled; under 3 free.
The Aquarium is open every day except Christmas, and it’s located on historic Cannery Row in Monterey, right behind our office. Stop by and say hi!
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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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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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Local improv actors and visiting players from the Central Coast and the Bay Area will get together for some family friendly fun on Saturday night, Nov. 5, for a “Mix’n’Match iMPRoV Show” at the Christian Church of Pacific Grove.
Located at 442 Central Ave., the sanctuary of this historic church is both a beautiful and intimate setting for theater and musical performances.
The show starts at 7:30pm, and general admission is $10. For more info call 831-372-0363.
Here’s a Place to Have Even More Fun (for $999/week)
This two bedroom/one bath Pacific Grove apartment is a hop and a skip to the coastal recreational trail, where you can enjoy the improv antics of local sea otters.
And it’s just around the corner from the Monarch Grove Butterfly Sanctuary, where thousands of fluttering beauties are spending their winter in a lovely, protected eucalyptus grove.
Contact debra@montereyrentals.com
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Ready for some mutton bustin’, bronco riding, trick roping, dancing horses, and bull riding?
Join us at the Monterey County Fair Aug. 31 -Sept. 5, a celebration of our county’s bountiful aquaculture and agriculture.
Besides cotton candy, corn dogs and carnival rides, there will be livestock, gardening, arts and crafts and cooking exhibitions, “cowboy bootcamps” for the kids, clowns, magicians, rodeos… and even a cake and ice cream eating contest.
Enjoy live music, from country star Lee Brice to rock ‘n roll by Blue Oyster Cult and fantastic funk from WAR. And if you’re over 21, The Turf Club Patio features microbrews, wine tastings and “After Parties” nightly at the Dive Bar.
Tickets are available online at http://www.montereycountyfair.com.
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Monterey County Fairgrounds will rock June 24-26 as the 26th annual Monterey Bay Blues Festival kicks off with continuous music on three stages.
Don’t miss this eclectic line up of “blues anyone can use.” From Friday evening to Sunday night, the festival promises food and fun for everyone – and families are welcome.
Here’s just a taste:
Uplifting soul and gospel by the unstoppable Mavis Staples… the irrepressible funk of the Barkays and the Dazz Band… crowd-igniting blues/rock/jazz/funk by Blues at Eleven… Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band’s third generation Zydeco… soul stirring classics by R&B legends Peabo Bryson, Freddie Jackson and Jeffrey Osborne.
Tickets are on sale now, and this event always sells out.
Need a place to stay while you get your groove on?
This 3 bdrm/3 bath coastal beauty is still available. It’s oceanfront, with all the blue you could ask for.
Contact:
Reservations@MontereyRentals.com
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Looking for some good, clean, cold fun?
Then lace up at Monterey on Ice, a seasonal skating rink in the Custom House Plaza. Located behind the Portola Hotel & Spa, the ice rink is open from 11 am to 10 pm daily through January 9th, Saturdays 10 am to 10 pm, and Sundays 12 pm to 8 pm – including Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 (so you can skate your way into the New Year).
General admission is $12, children under 12 are $10 and skates are $3. Custom House Plaza is near Old Fisherman’s Wharf, and parking is available in the Waterfront parking lot (enter at the intersection of Del Monte and Washington), with additional parking at the East and West parking garages (exit on Del Monte Ave, stay in the left lane, do not go through the tunnel, turn left on Tyler St., garages are on either side of the street).
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