Mini Performance of Dance Kids’ 'Nutcracker: A Monterey Peninsula Tradition,’ will be held Dec. 22 at Carmel Valley Ranch

Dance Kids of Monterey County, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, announced that it will perform a mini version of its popular “Nutcracker: A Monterey Peninsula Tradition,” Dec. 22, at Carmel Valley Ranch.

Carmel, CA, October 30, 2018 — Dance Kids of Monterey County, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, announced that it will perform a mini version of its popular “Nutcracker: A Monterey Peninsula Tradition,” Dec. 22, at Carmel Valley Ranch.

Due to renovations at the Ranch, the event will be held in the Golf Club House this year. The event will be held from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., with the show beginning at 2:30 p.m.

A full production of Dance Kids’ “Nutcracker” will be performed Dec. 7-9 at the Sunset Center in Carmel. The full production features the 39-member Monterey County Pops! symphony orchestra conducted by Dr. Carl Christensen. And, for the first time, the production will feature a children’s choir performing onstage during Act I’s “Dance of the Snowflakes.”

About Dance Kids
With over 24 years of production history, Dance Kids of Monterey County, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization founded by Richmond, is proud of its wide range of theatrical experience that support the youth of the Monterey Peninsula. In the early days, productions at the Carmel Ballet Academy included “Nutcracker” and original spring musicals written by Walt de Faria and a full-length spring ballet, produced at Sunset Center.

Dance Kids was known for fun-loving nostalgia surrounding the musical and drew from the community a range of young people and their families committed to theater. As it grew, its little venue could not handle the “Nutcracker” any longer, but continued at the venue for the spring musicals, until those too, outgrew the dance studio. “Nutcracker” moved to Sunset Center in 1995 and has remained there as its home venue except for the years the center was being remodeled.

Dance Kids “Nutcracker” has grown into a premier production eagerly awaited by cast and community. The original vision of Dance Kids of Monterey County has been honored as well as surpassed in the ensuing years. This year is one of pivotal change and growth.

Street Address:
Sunset Center, Cottage #17
San Carlos Street at 10th Ave.,
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 6225
Carmel, CA 93921
Phone: (831) 622-9008
Fax: (831) 218-1293
Email: info@dancekids.org
Website: dancekids.org

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.dancekids.org

Chamber Music Monterey Bay presents Music from Copland House

“They played with exhilarating confidence and verve…fluid, fluent, and lithely balletic.” – The Strad

Carmel, CA, October 29, 2018 - Returning to Chamber Music Monterey Bay after their last performance in April of 2007, MUSIC FROM COPLAND HOUSE is the internationally-acclaimed touring ensemble-in-residence at Aaron Copland’s National Historic Landmark home near New York City, an award-winning creative center for American music (http://www.coplandhouse.org/). Hailed by The New York Times for “all the richness of its offerings” and “illuminating essential truths about music,” MCH occupies a special place as perhaps this country’s only wide-ranging American repertory ensemble. Provocatively uniting past and present, American and non-American, it journeys across 150 years of our nation’s rich musical legacy, reaching back deep into the 19th century and forward to just-completed compositions.

MCH has been engaged by Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Yaleand the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer Gallery of Art, among many others. The ensemble records for Arabesque, Koch International, and Copland House Blend labels, and has just begun the 10th season of its popular main-stage concert series at the historic Merestead estate in New York’s lower Hudson Valley. Its live and recorded performances feature a stellar roster of award-winning founding, principal and guest artists. Inspired by Copland’s peerless, lifelong advocacy of American composers and their work, MCH commissions and premieres many new works andalso presents a wide variety of educational and community outreach activities across the U.S.

performing works by Shostakovich, Puts, Lam, and Fauré

7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 3, 2018

(6:45p.m. Pre-Concert Talk with musicologist Kai Christiansen)

Sunset Center, Carmel

Clarinetist ALEXANDER FITERSTEIN has performed in recital and with prestigious orchestras and chamber music ensembles throughout the world. As a soloist, he has appeared with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Lincoln Center, Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Tokyo and Belgrade Philharmonics and many others. A dedicated performer of chamber music, he frequently collaborates with distinguished musicians and ensembles, and performs at esteemed chamber music festivals and societies. He taught at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and is Professor of Clarinet at Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory.

Violinist CURTIS MACOMBER is a member of Da Capo Chamber Players, the Manhattan String Quartet, and Walden Chamber Players and a founder of the Apollo Trio. Previously, he was a member of the pioneering Speculum Musicae, and, as a member of the New World String Quartet, performed on nearly all of America’s leading concert series and toured widely abroad. He is on the chamber music faculty of The Juilliard School, his alma mater, and the violin faculties of both the Manhattan School of Music and Mannes College of Music, and has also taught at the Tanglewood, Taos, and Yellow Barn Music Festivals. Among one of today’s most versatile performers, his extensive discography includes core repertory and critically-praised recordings of hundreds of contemporary solo and chamber works.

Cellist ALEXIS PIA GERLACH has appeared extensively in recitals and as a soloist with orchestras around the U.S. and the world. As a sought-after chamber musician, she performs at the Marlboro, Aspen, Bridgehampton, La Musica di Asolo and Caramoor Festivals, and as a Guest Artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. She is a founder of Trio Solisti and the string sextet Concertante. She has also commissioned new works from Kevin Puts, Richard Danielpour, and Paul Moravec, among many others.

Pianist and Copland House Artistic and Executive Director MICHAEL BORISKIN has performed in over 30 countries, at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, BBC, London’s Wigmore Hall, among many others. He has appeared extensively as soloist with leading international orchestras and as guest artist with the Borromeo, Lark, St. Lawrence, and St. Petersburg String Quartets, Dorian and Sylvan Wind Quintets, and New York Philharmonic Ensembles, and served as Music Director of Mikhail Baryshnikov’s fabled White Oak Dance Project. He has recorded widely on Naxos, SONY, New World, Albany, and Bridge and is a frequent presence as a performer, host, and commentator on NPR and American Public Media.

Join Chamber Music Monterey Bay for a riveting program that includes:
Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, op. 8 (1923) by Dmitri Shostakovich
Living Frescoes(2012) by Kevin Puts
Fragrance of the Sea (2017)by Angel Lam
Piano Trio in D Minor, op. 120 (1923) by Gabriel Fauré

Living Frescoes was inspired Bill Viola’s 2002 video art installation Going Forth by Day, a series of five looped digital “frescoes” which explore themes of human existence: individuality, society, death, rebirth. The performance will feature a unique multi-media component.

Commissioned by Chamber Music Monterey Bay as part of a larger commissioning project entitled The Arc of Life, Living Frescoes was an idea conceived by CMMB Artistic Director Emerita Amy Anderson who commissioned composers Christopher Theofanidis, Joan Tower, George Tsontakis and Kevin Puts to create works related in some way to Mr. Viola’s Going Forth by Day. It was premiered on October 12, 2012 by Trio Solisti, (Maria Bachmann, violin; Alexis Pia Gerlach, cello; Jon Klibonoff, piano) joined by clarinetist Jon Manasse. Ms. Gerlach returns to Carmel for a second performance of Living Frescoes as a member of Music for Copland House.

Please contact Tammy Moore at tammy@dworkincompany.com for additional quotes or interview opportunities with the artists.

Music from Copland House will visit Monterey High School on Friday, November 2 for two interactive student outreach sessions with music teacher Bob Aguilar and his music students in advanced and beginningstring classes as part of Chamber Music Monterey Bay’s Visiting Artists Outreach program.

Learn more about the music on the program by attending Chamber Music Monterey Bay’s popular pre-concert lecture with musicologist Kai Christiansen at 6:45 p.m.

Kids up Front and Free! Students in grades 3-12 and music teachers receive FREE tickets. $15.00 discounted tickets are available for their adult companions through Chamber Music Monterey Bay’s education program. Experience the concert up close.

Ticket prices: $33.00 - $52.00; $15.00 for adult students under 30 years of age and active military.Tickets are available at ChamberMusicMontereyBay.org or (831) 625-2212. Box office opens at 5:45 p.m. on the day of the concert.

Chamber Music Monterey Bay is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the tradition of live classical chamber music performance and explore the evolution of this intimate art form through commissions of new compositions and local educational outreach.

Contact:
Andrew T. Sudol
Executive Director
asudol@chambermusicmontereybay.org
(831) 625-2212

For more information, visit the following links:
Music from Copland House
Michael Boriskin
Alexis Pia Gerlach
Curtis Macomber
Alexander Fiterstein
Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, op. 8 (1923) by Dmitri Shostakovich
Living Frescoes(2012) by Kevin Puts
Fragrance of the Sea (2017)by Angel Lam
Piano Trio in D Minor, op. 120 (1923) by Gabriel Fauré

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.chambermusicmontereybay.org

Monterey Symphony’s 2018-2019 Season, ‘Sound Waves,’ Concert #2 Nov. 17-18, Features Acclaimed Flutist Carol Wincenc

Monterey Symphony’s 2018-19 Season, “Sound Waves,” continues Nov. 17-18 with concert #2, at the Sunset Center in Carmel

Monterey, CA, October 26, 2018 — Monterey Symphony’s 2018-19 Season, “Sound Waves,” continues Nov. 17-18 with concert #2, at the Sunset Center in Carmel, and features acclaimed flutist Carol Wincenc performing with the Symphony and members of the Youth Music Monterey County Honors Orchestra.

Wincenc, professor of flute at Juilliard, joins the orchestra for Carl Nielsen's “Flute Concerto,” composed in 1926 for the legendary flautist M. Holger-Gilbert Jespersen. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, Op. 36 — often referred to as the "Fate" symphony because of the dark undertones — headlines the second concert of the season. Written in the shadow of Beethoven's masterful Symphony No. 5, Tchaikovsky echoes the great master's melancholy in this hallmark orchestral work.

This concert will also feature members of the Youth Music Monterey County Honors Orchestra playing side-by-side on Hector Berlioz's Overture, Le corsaire, Op. 21, which, like the Tchaikovsky symphony, was also composed during a period of great despair.

During the season, one hour prior to every performance there will be pre-concert lectures in the Hall of Sunset Center.

KAZU will be rebroadcasting the Saturday, November 17 concert on both Saturday, December 1 at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 2 at 4:00 p.m.

All concerts during Monterey Symphony’s 2018-19 season will be held at the Sunset Center in Carmel and conducted by Symphony Music Director Max Bragado-Darman, except for concert number four, March 16-17, 2019, which will be guest conducted by Jung-Ho Pak. All concerts in the season will be held at 8 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays at Sunset Center.

In addition, throughout each concert season, special events are held to benefit the nonprofit Monterey Symphony orchestra, and to provide educational and social opportunities for Symphony patrons. This season features a music course and a composer discussion, opening night party, luncheons with the Friends of the Monterey Symphony, Supper Clubs at the best local restaurants, and Gala by the Bay at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on May 3, 2019.

To purchase tickets for concert this concert go to www.montereysymphony.org

For a complete list of special events, go to https://www.montereysymphony.org/special-events.htm.

About the Monterey Symphony
The mission of the Monterey Symphony is to engage, educate and excite our community through the performance and continual discovery of symphonic music.

The Monterey Symphony, under the artistic leadership of Music Director & Conductor Max Bragado-Darman, is the only fully professional, full-season orchestra serving the communities of the Monterey Bay, Salinas, Salinas Valley, Big Sur, and San Benito County. It provides double performances of a six-concert subscription series at Carmel’s Sunset Theater, as well as youth education programs that include in-class visits and culminate in full-orchestra concerts for school children.

The Monterey Symphony is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation, supported through various generous individuals and through grants and corporate gifts from The Arts Council of Monterey County, The Berkshire Foundation, The Barnet Segal Charitable Trust, California Arts Council, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Harden Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Music Performance Trust Fund, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Pebble Beach Company Foundation, S.T.A.R. Foundation, The Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment, Taylor Farms, Union Bank, The Yellow Brick Road Foundation and many others.

For additional information, please call 831-646-8511 or visit the website: www.montereysymphony.org.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereysymphony.org

Monterey Symphony’s 2018-2019 Season, ‘Sound Waves,’ Features Number of Special Events, Including Luncheons, Dinners, Talks and Seasons-End Benefit Gala November Events Announced

In addition to its six concerts, the Monterey Symphony’s 2018-19 Season, Sound Waves, includes a number of special events, including luncheons, dinners, lectures and an end-of-season gala at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Monterey, CA, October 25, 2018 — In addition to its six concerts, the Monterey Symphony’s 2018-19 Season, Sound Waves, includes a number of special events, including luncheons, dinners, lectures and an end-of-season gala at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

This season features a music course and a composer discussion, an opening night party, luncheons with the Friends of the Monterey Symphony, Supper Clubs at the best local restaurants, and Gala by the Bay at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on May 3, 2019.

The Symphony’s six-concert season opens Oct. 20-21 and ends May 18-19, 2019, with all concerts at the Sunset Center in Carmel. All concerts in the season will be held at 8 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays at Sunset Center.

For a complete list of special events and to buy tickets, go to https://www.montereysymphony.org/special-events.htm.

The Symphony’s 73rd season special events:

November Luncheon

November 15, 2018 11:30 a.m.

Beach House at Lovers Point, Pacific Grove

Join the Friends of the Monterey Symphony for a preview luncheon. Support classical music, enjoy great food and company, and engage with guest artists from the upcoming concert. Cost: $50 per person.

11:30 a.m. – Check-in/No Host Cocktails

11:45 a.m. – Luncheon

1:00 p.m. – Guest Speaker Presentation

November Supper Club

November 18, 2018 5:30 p.m.

Il Fornaio, Carmel-by-the-Sea

Join the Monterey Symphony at a delightful Italian Supper Club for the beginning of the holiday season, ending each Symphony weekend with a sizzling and sumptuous supper for the senses.

The Supper Clubs are on sale now for $75 per person. Supper Clubs include appetizers and wine upon arrival followed by a gourmet three-course dinner with several entrees to chose from. The Supper Club price will be $75 after October 7, 2018.- delete

February Luncheon

February 14, 2019 11:30 a.m.

Schooner's Coastal Kitchen & Bar, Cannery Row, Monterey

Join the Friends of the Monterey Symphony for a preview luncheon. Support classical music, enjoy great food and company, and engage with guest artists from the upcoming concert. Cost: $50 per person

11:30 a.m. – No Host Cocktails

12:15 p.m. – Luncheon

1:15 p.m. – Guest Speaker Presentation

February Supper Club

February 17, 2019 5:30 p.m.

Location: Sunset Center, Carmel

Join the Monterey Symphony at the Sunday Supper Club, ending each Symphony weekend with a sizzling and sumptuous supper for the senses.

The Supper Clubs are on sale now for $75 per person. Supper Clubs include appetizers and wine upon arrival followed by a gourmet three-course dinner with several entrees to chose from. The Supper Club price will be $75 after October 7, 2018.- delete

March Luncheon

March 14, 2019 11:30 a.m.

Location: Beach and Tennis Club, Pebble Beach

Join the Friends of the Monterey Symphony for a preview luncheon. Support classical music, enjoy great food and company, and engage with guest artists from the upcoming concert. Cost: $50 per person

11:30 a.m. – No Host Cocktails

12:15 p.m. – Luncheon

1:15 p.m. – Guest Speaker Presentation

March Supper Club

March 17, 2019 5:30 p.m.

Anton & Michel, Carmel-by-the-Sea

Join the Monterey Symphony for a gourmet dinner overlooking the Court of the Fountains at Anton & Michel at Sunday Supper Club, ending each Symphony weekend with a sizzling and sumptuous supper for the senses.

The Supper Clubs are on sale now for $75 per person. Supper Clubs include appetizers and wine upon arrival followed by a gourmet three-course dinner with several entrees to chose from. The Supper Club price will be $75 after October 7, 2018.- delete

April Luncheon

April 11, 2019 11:30 a.m.

MPCC Ballroom

Join the Friends of the Monterey Symphony for a preview luncheon. Support classical music, enjoy great food and company, and engage with guest artists from the upcoming concert. Cost: $50 per person

11:30 a.m. – No Host Cocktails

12:15 p.m. – Luncheon

1:15 p.m. – Guest Speaker Presentation

April Supper Club

April 14, 2019 5:30 p.m.

PortaBella, Carmel-by-the-Sea

Join the Monterey Symphony for a spring party in the dining room of PortaBella, "The Quintessential Carmel Restaurant," at this Sunday Supper Club, ending each Symphony weekend with a sizzling and sumptuous supper for the senses.

The Supper Clubs are on sale now for $75 per person. Supper Clubs include appetizers and wine upon arrival followed by a gourmet three-course dinner with several entrees to chose from. The Supper Club price will be $75 after October 7, 2018.- delete

Gala By The Bay

May 3, 2019 6:00-10 p.m.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Monterey

Join the Monterey Symphony in a celebration of the stunning natural and artistic beauty of the Monterey Bay. Enjoy a gourmet seated dinner, delicious wines and private access to the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium and its Open Ocean exhibit. Live auction and musical moments with our own Symphony performers await you, with ocean-themed surprises and more. All proceeds benefit the Monterey Symphony and our Music for the Schools initiative. Tickets: $250.

May Luncheon

May 16, 2019 11:30 a.m.

MPCC Beach House, 3000 Club Road, Pebble Beach

Join the Friends of the Monterey Symphony for a preview luncheon. Support classical music, enjoy great food and company, and engage with guest artists from the upcoming concert. Cost: $50 per person.

11:30 a.m. – No Host Cocktails

12:15 p.m. – Luncheon

1:15 p.m. – Guest Speaker Presentation

About the Monterey Symphony
The mission of the Monterey Symphony is to engage, educate and excite our community through the performance and continual discovery of symphonic music.

The Monterey Symphony, under the artistic leadership of Music Director & Conductor Max Bragado-Darman, is the only fully professional, full-season orchestra serving the communities of the Monterey Bay, Salinas, Salinas Valley, Big Sur, and San Benito County. It provides double performances of a six-concert subscription series at Carmel’s Sunset Theater, as well as youth education programs that include in-class visits and culminate in full-orchestra concerts for school children.

The Monterey Symphony is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation, supported through various generous individuals and through grants and corporate gifts from The Arts Council of Monterey County, The Berkshire Foundation, The Barnet Segal Charitable Trust, California Arts Council, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Harden Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Music Performance Trust Fund, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Pebble Beach Company Foundation, S.T.A.R. Foundation, The Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment, Taylor Farms, Union Bank, The Yellow Brick Road Foundation and many others.

For additional information, please call 831-646-8511 or visit the website: www.montereysymphony.org.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereysymphony.org

Viv Storms Fine Jewelry Donating Percentage of First Month’s Sales to Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles

Following the successful launch of her fine art jewelry line, entrepreneur, fine art gallery owner, jewelry designer and devoted mother Viv Storms is giving back.

Los Angeles, California, October 25, 2018 — Following the successful launch of her fine art jewelry line, entrepreneur, fine art gallery owner, jewelry designer and devoted mother Viv Storms is giving back. Viv Storms Fine Jewelry is donating 5% of their first month’s sales to Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles, helping to grant more life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses.

Photographed: Viv Storms, Mike Kallhoff (CEO & President, Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles), Frances Mojica (VP, Development, Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles)

“I’ve always admired the extraordinary work being carried out by Make-A-Wish. Children bless us with joy and unconditional love and that’s why it’s such an honor to be contributing to the efforts of this great foundation,” said Viv Storms, CEO and designer of Viv Storms Fine Jewelry. “Giving back to children in need was something I promised myself I would do upon launching my jewelry line. I’m glad I was able to make a difference.”

“It’s only through the commitment of supporters like Viv Storms that Make-A-Wish is able to achieve our mission,” said Frances Mojica, VP, Development, Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles. “We greatly appreciate her generous gift and look forward to creating even more life-changing wishes for children throughout LA with her support.”

Viv Storms Fine Jewelry features sophisticated fine jewelry designs showcasing the unparalleled artwork of cold-glass artist Jack Storms. Having heard countless mentions of how Jack’s artwork improved and enlightened the hearts and lives of many, Vivian felt compelled to offer those who love the medium a chance to own a piece of Jack’s fine art.

Since Jack Storms’ sculptures are fairly large and out of reach for many of its admirers, Vivian’s vision was to allow greater accessibility to her ex-husband’s art through the creation of more affordable and wearable fine art jewelry.

Each of the Viv Storms Fine Jewelry pieces is unique and imbued with Jack Storms fine art crystal stones made of optical crystal and dichroic glass to create captivating kaleidoscopic cores that outshine even the brightest diamonds. Fifty times more intricate than one of Jack Storms’ cold-glass sculptures, these fine art crystal stones truly embody the beauty and complexity of his larger-scale artwork.

Thanks to Vivian’s love and unequalled passion and enthusiasm for designing, Viv Storms Fine Jewelry is finally available for pre-sale purchase at a 25% discount through November 30, 2018. For more information, please visit www.vivstorms.com.

About Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles
Founded in 1983, Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The LA chapter has granted nearly 10,000 wishes to children in Los Angeles County. The chapter grants over 300 wishes each year, and facilitates nearly as many wishes for children from all over the world whose wish is to come to Los Angeles.

Make-A-Wish Greater Los Angeles is an independent 501(c)(3) that is part of Make-A-Wish America, a national organization that oversees 62 chapters across the country. Make-A-Wish America is one of the world's leading children's charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories.

For more information, visit www.la.wish.org.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.la.wish.org

Hyatt Carmel Highlands Announces Forks. Corks. Action! 2019 Winemaker Dinners

Hyatt Carmel Highlands announces the first quarter schedule for its popular Forks.Corks.Action!

Carmel, CA, October 23, 2018 - Hyatt Carmel Highlands announces the first quarter schedule for its popular Forks.Corks.Action! Winemaker Series for 2019 in the legendary Wine Room.

Learn, swirl, sip and enjoy! Meet the winemakers and enjoy a four-course dinner with wine paired with each course. During the series, winemakers will discuss the history, culture and qualities of the featured wines from Monterey and Santa Cruz County that will accompany Executive Chef Chris Vacca’s seasonal, locally sourced menus.

The Winemakers Series brings guests closer to the producers and personalities that craft the wines we love.

Dates for Winemakers Dinners in the first four months of 2019 are:

January 24 — Dutton Estate Winery

February 28 — Ian Brand Wines

March 21 — Coquerel Wines

April 18 — Saxon Brown Wines

The Details:

The California Market at Pacific’s Edge legendary Wine Room located at 120 Highlands Drive, Carmel Highlands

Start time 6 p.m.

Sip featured wines

Meet the winemakers

$130 per person inclusive

Reservations required

To purchase tickets go to:

January 24 — Dutton Estate Winery https://forkscorksactionjanuaryduttonestatewinery.eventbrite.com
February 28 — Ian Brand Wines
https://forkscorksactionfebruaryianbrandwines.eventbrite.com

March 21 — Coquerel Wines
https://forkscorksactionmarchcoquerelwines.eventbrite.com

April 18 — Saxon Brown Wines
https://forkscorksactionsaxonbrownwines.eventbrite.com

About Hyatt Carmel Highlands
Perched on the hillside of the Carmel Highlands with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Hyatt Carmel Highlands combines true Carmel luxury with an approachable and sophisticated spirit. A haven for artists and discerning travelers since its opening in 1917, Hyatt Carmel Highlands features 48 luxuriously renovated guestrooms, including 11 suites, 32 ocean view rooms and five garden view rooms.

Situated only 4 miles from downtown Carmel, Hyatt Carmel Highlands’ idyllic setting and personalized service has attracted families, bridal couples, honeymooners, and privileged travelers for a century. Hyatt Carmel Highlands has been recognized among the world’s finest hotels as part of Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List and Travel + Leisure’s “T+L 500” World’s Best Hotels.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattcarmelhighlands.com

9th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival From Hollywood to Bollywood Award-Winning Movies, Speakers, Receptions March 2-17, 2019

The 9th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring eight films from six countries, noted speakers, and panel discussions, will be held March 2-17, 2019.

Los Angeles, CA, October 16, 2018 - The 9th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring eight films from six countries, noted speakers, and panel discussions, will be held March 2-17, 2019. Film information, dates, venues and times can be found on the website (www.carmeljff.org) starting on January 1. Tickets go on sale January 1 either through the CJFF website or by calling (800) 838-3006.

Festival highlights include:

-Opening Night (March 2) documentary Carl Laemmle about the man who began the Hollywood film studio industry followed by Q &A with Greg Laemmle, President of Laemmle Theaters in Los Angeles.

-The return to the CJFF of two notable award-winning film makers: Roberta Grossman and Dani Menkin.

Grossman (Hava Nagila: The Movie, Above & Beyond) will discuss her award-winning documentary Who Will Write Our History on Sunday afternoon, March 3. The film transports its viewers inside the Warsaw Ghetto, where a group of journalists, scholars, and community leaders secretly buried documents which are later discovered after the war.

Dani Menkin, (Dolphin Boy, On the Map) returns with his film A Picture of His Life, a documentary about world renowned underwater wildlife photographer and Pacific Grove resident Amos Nachoum. Both Menkin and Nachoum will participate in a Q & A following the film on Saturday evening, March 9.

-Partnering with The Village Project, Inc., there will be a screening on Sunday, March 10 of the Dutch film, An Act of Defiance, a nail-biting political thriller that explores the dark period in South Africa’s recent history, when 10 political activists, including Nelson Mandela, face a possible death sentence after being arrested by the apartheid government.

-Closing Night (March 17) reception with Indian food and dancing preceding Shalom Bollywood, a film about the role of Jewish women in the early Bollywood industry.

As the only Jewish film festival in Monterey County, we serve all residents in efforts to promote understanding, respect, and cooperation through education using the medium of film. While informed by a uniquely Jewish sensibility, our films communicate themes and messages with universal appeal to a wide audience drawn from the Monterey Peninsula and beyond. Our festival’s accompanying programs further engage mind and heart through discussion and social interaction. We hope that our festival will help bridge cultural and religious differences and contribute to solidarity and peace.

Contact: Susan Greenbaum
831-277-3211
greenbaumcarmel@sbcglobal.net

Additional information about all films and events, including ticket prices, can be found on the Carmel Jewish Film Festival website (www.carmeljff.org).

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.carmeljff.org

Las Vegas-Based Architecture and Design Firm Punch Architecture Completes Extensive Makeover of High-End Boston Hotel Lounge

When Boston’s award-winning hotel Kimpton Nine Zero embarked on its bold, top-to-bottom transformation last year, they also wanted to take its on-site bar/restaurant Highball Lounge and undergo an extensive makeover to better reflect the hotel’s traditional-meets-contemporary transformation.

Las Vegas, NV, October 09, 2018 — When Boston’s award-winning hotel Kimpton Nine Zero embarked on its bold, top-to-bottom transformation last year, they also wanted to take its on-site bar/restaurant Highball Lounge and undergo an extensive makeover to better reflect the hotel’s traditional-meets-contemporary transformation.

Enter up-and-coming Las Vegas-based (with offices in Denver, Los Angeles, and New York City) design and architecture firm Punch Architecture, which was tasked with the makeover of the Highball Lounge to become the Better Sorts Social Club, a glamorous cocktail-forward, elevated-food concept that better fit with Nine Zero’s concept of melding the city of Boston’s history and tradition with the luxurious contemporary design and social aesthetic of today’s finest luxury hotels.

Punch Architecture, better known as simply Punch, was tasked with all the interior design and fabricated a portion of the new lounge’s furniture. The project, from conception to construction, took about 18 months for the 3,200-square-foot space

“We wanted it to be a little quirky, fun and playful, but also classy,” says Zak Ostrowski, one of Punch’s three partners along with Drew Gregory and Clemente Cicoria. “We wanted it to appeal to the higher-end Boston Brahmins era and still relate to a younger crowd. It has high-end cocktails and food, but it’s also a place you could go to after a game at Fenway (Park) or after a Celtics game.”

Ostrowski said they wanted to strike a balance between the traditional social club and its low lighting, dark wood panels and stateliness and a more modern upscale cocktail lounge with its open, airy atmosphere, brighter lighting and contemporary furniture. They also wanted to dovetail with Nine Zero’s new aesthetic, which blends modern sophistication with a nod to Boston’s storied history.

He says Better Sorts’ design concept is “a throwback to the golden age of classic spirit bars with its elegant sexiness, cheeky sensibilities, and enigmatic sensuality.”

The interior materials consist of rich and warm American Black Walnut wood walls and flooring contrasted with moody burnished dark green plaster colors, Nero Marquina marble, weathered leathers, textural sea glaze green tiles, exotic yet subtle wallpapers, dark and mysterious antique mirrors, and sultry lighting throughout the space.

The custom furniture pieces are made of rich leathers, soft velvets, and jewel tone colors set off by hand-crafted walnut and ambrosia maple tables with metal and burl inlays (designed and made by Punch), gently resting on colorful vintage Persian rugs. Better Sorts décor is filled with whimsical photos, a mix of reclaimed decorative art deco and regency objects made of handblown glass, crystal and brass.

“It was a great project,” says Ostrowski. “We were able to use a rich, yet comfortable material palette, that works well with the hotel’s redesign. There were a lot of parties involved in the design, so it was a fun collaborative process. We also wanted to be open-minded and have the flexibility to incorporate the Boston environment.”

Punch is no stranger to high-end restaurant and lounge design, winning an AIA award for celebrity Chef Chris Cosentino's Jackrabbit at The Duniway Hotel in Portland, Oregon and designing such dazzling establishments as Maison Pickle in New York City, and Element Kitchen & Cocktail in Denver, Colorado. Punch has also been recognized for its commercial and residential designs. The Punch firm also includes Punch Fab, its fabrication, furniture, and R&D department and Punch & Pie, its business strategy and concept department.

Founded only three years ago, Ostrowski feels Punch’s work on Better Sorts Social Club is another feather in its cap.

“We’re stoked,” he says. “We are very satisfied with the results.”

About Punch Architecture
Punch creates spaces, environments, and objects that are site-specific to the client and their brand, while being conscientious of the impact the design makes on the surrounding environment and interaction between the end user.

Our firm's process starts with an idea that is ultimately layered with multiple elements; building up within the project context through transformative design, exploration, and storytelling. Each project’s success lies in the research, innovation, design strategy, and social context that is specific for each space and client. Our designs are original works that embody passion, integrity, quality, and beauty; yet maintain functionality and simplicity.

Punch Architecture is a licensed architecture and design firm in the United States with international project experience. Punch Fab is our fabrication, furniture, and R&D department. Punch & Pie is our business strategy and concept department that works with new and established brands through various forms of visual media such as film, motion graphics, and interactive site-specific installations.

Contact:
All new business inquiries should be directed to info@puncharc.com or by phone:
>Denver: 303-434-2423
>Las Vegas: 702-526-7887
>Los Angeles/New York: 702-510-7343

Main Office:
4425 Wagon Trail Ave.
Las Vegas, NV, 89118
United States

ABOUT KIMPTON HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is the original boutique hotel company, which pioneered the concept of unique, distinctive, design-forward hotels in the United States in 1981. Anchored in one-of-a-kind experiences, Kimpton now operates more than 60 hotels and 80 restaurants, bars and lounges across urban locations, resort destinations and up and coming markets in the United States, Europe, Caribbean and Greater China.

Kimpton spaces and experiences center on its guests, offering inspiring design that evokes curiosity to forward-thinking flavors that feed the soul. Every detail is thoughtfully curated and artfully delivered, so that guest experiences remain meaningful, unscripted and ridiculously personal. Kimpton’s employees, empowered to provide heartfelt service and experiences, have built a highly regarded workplace culture that appears consistently on Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. In January 2015, Kimpton became part of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) family of hotel brands. For more information, visitwww.KimptonHotels.com.

Kimpton and its ownership group, Brookfield Hotel Properties, engaged Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), the world’s leading hospitality interior design firm, along with Boston-based branding firm, Korn Design, to create a completely new aesthetic that blends history and contemporary design in Kimpton Nine Zero.

Located in Boston’s historic Ladder District, at the crossroads of Beacon Hill, the Theatre District, Downtown Crossing and the Financial District, Nine Zero has transformed its 190 guest rooms and suites, living room, and 2,400 square feet of private event and meeting space into a seductive and design-forward hotel that uniquely nods to Boston history.

Nine Zero is located at 90 Tremont Street Boston, MA 02108. For reservations please call 866-906-9090; for the hotel please call 617-772-5800. For more information and updates, please visit www.ninezero.com and follow @ninezerohotelboston on Instagram; @NineZeroHotel on Facebook and @Kimpton on Twitter; #ninezerohotel.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.ninezero.com

State of the Art: An Exhibition and Celebration

An Invitational Exhibition at the R. Blitzer Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA

Carmel, CA, October 07, 2018 - The Center for Photographic Art (CPA) expands its reach beyond Carmel, California, with an exhibition and related events in Santa Cruz, CA, at that city’s premier art space, the R. Blitzer Gallery, located in a renovated warehouse, once home to the historic Wrigley chewing gum factory. A broad-ranging invitational exhibition, State Of The Art (SOTA) features fifteen prominent and innovative Northern California photographers. The exhibition will run from November 2 through November 29, 2018, and will kick off with a festive opening reception during Santa Cruz’s First Friday, November 2, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. In addition, a variety of SOTA events will run throughout November, with all tickets available via Eventbrite. Please join us in exploring photography’s fascinating and inspiring State of the Art during the entire month of November.

Center for Photographic Art is thrilled to welcome an expanded audience to a groundbreaking exhibition of leading Northern California photographers who explore a range of contemporary issues. Exhibiting are Brigitte Carnochan, Linda Connor, Binh Danh, Janet Fine, Sara Friedlander, Shelby Graham, Chris Johnson, Karolina Karlic, Bob Kolbrener, Robin Lasser & Adrienne Pao, Kathryn Mayo, Ryuijie, Jerry Takigawa and Huntington Witherill. Their photography reflects a diverse array of current and historical mediums, including digital imaging, gelatin silver, platinum/palladium, wet plate collodion, daguerreotype, and mixed media.

In addition to the exhibition, on Saturday, November 3, CPA hosts Freestyle Photographic Supplies for an on-site digital printing workshop. Following the workshop, CPA presents a panel discussion, “Breaking Boundaries,” with participating photographers Binh Danh, Sara Friedlander, Karolina Karlic and Robin Lasser, moderated by CPA’s Executive Director, photographer and educator, Brian Taylor, and Wallace Baine, former Santa Cruz Sentinel Arts Editor and freelance art writer. Then on Wednesday, November 14, CPA hosts a special reception with former long-time Congressman, Honorable Sam Farr, in acknowledgement of his contributions and support of the photographic arts in the Monterey Bay area.

Finally, as a complement to the exciting SOTA exhibition, CPA hosts a thematic online photography competition titled, “The Human Spirit.” Our jurors are Ann Hazels, Director of the Radius Gallery, Santa Cruz, and photographer, educator and CPA Assistant Director, Rick Murai. All are welcome to enter and vie for five hundred dollars in prizes. All entries will be featured on CPA’s website and viewable by our global audience. A lively and informative jurors’ talk and awards presentation will take place on Saturday, November 17.

Join us in celebrating the Center for Photographic Art’s State of the Art exhibition and its first foray into the North Monterey Bay area, with a month of groundbreaking photography and events at the R. Blitzer Gallery in Santa Cruz! Don’t miss the festive First Friday Opening Reception on Friday, November 2, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. To learn more about SOTA and accompanying events go to:

https://photography.org/event/state-of-the-art

What:

STATE OF THE ART Exhibition
· Freestyle Photographic Supplies Digital Printing Workshop

· STATE OF THE ART “Breaking Boundaries” panel discussion and reception

· An Evening with former Congressman, Honorable Sam Farr

· STATE OF THE ART online competition awards presentation and Juror’s talk

When:

Exhibition: November 2 – 29, 2018, Opening reception November 2, 5:00 to 8:00 pm
Freestyle Photographic Supplies Digital Printing Workshop: Saturday, November 3, Noon to 4:00 pm
STATE OF THE ART “Breaking Boundaries” panel discussion, Saturday November 3, 6:00 to 7:30 pm; Reception: 7:30 to 8:30 pm
Reception and award presentation with former Congressman Sam Farr, November 14, 5:00 to 7:00 pm
STATE OF THE ART online competition entry period: September 26 – November 6. Juror’s event, Saturday, November 17, 4:00 to 7:00 pm
Where: R. Blitzer Gallery, Wrigley Building, 2801 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Gallery hours: Noon to 5:00 pm, Tuesday through Saturday

Tickets:

Exhibition: Free
· Freestyle Photographic Supplies Digital Printing Workshop and “Breaking Boundaries” panel discussion, General admission: $75 for both (includes CPA annual membership),
CPA Members: $35 for both. Purchase tickets via Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/2DnMoeY

· “Breaking Boundaries” panel discussion only, General admission: $10; free for CPA members. Purchase tickets via Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/2DnMoeY

· Sam Farr Reception: Free to the public, limited seating, RSVP via Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/202YwWJ

· “The Human Spirit,” State of the Art online competition. To enter: https://bit.ly/2znnHeC

· “The Human Spirit,” Online competition, juror’s discussion and awards announcement: Free to the public, limited seating, RSVP via Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/2xBTsiE

PR Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zunikclg0poe3j9/AACcLy3fBNehjq7Q3qgniNOIa?dl=0

Info: https://photography.org/event/state-of-the-art/

CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC ART
Sunset Center

San Carlos and 9th Avenue
P.O. Box 1100

Carmel, CA 93921
www.photography.org

Contact:
Brian Taylor, Executive Director
brian@photography.org
408-334-0040

November 2 – November 29, 2018

ABOUT CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC ART
Tracing our roots back to the Friends of Photography, founded in 1967, the Center for Photographic Art (CPA) remains the second oldest members’ photography gallery organization in the country. A short walk from Ocean Avenue in Carmel, CA brings you to the venerable gallery launched by iconic artists Ansel Adams, Cole Weston, and Wynn Bullock. Today, CPA continues to serve as a valuable cultural resource to its members, the community and the greater world of the photographic arts.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.photography.org

Professional Salinas Dog Trainer and Behaviorist Barbara De Groodt Named to IACP International Hall of Fame

Salinas-based professional dog trainer and animal behavior counselor Barbara De Groodt has been named to the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) International Hall of Fame. And she never saw it coming.

Salinas, CA, October 05, 2018 — Salinas-based professional dog trainer and animal behavior counselor Barbara De Groodt has been named to the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) International Hall of Fame. And she never saw it coming.

“I had absolutely no idea it was coming, none whatsoever,” she says, when she was presented the award at the IACP’s annual conference in St. Petersburg, Florida. “My staff sure knows how to keep a secret. When (at the conference) they started to talk about people (who were nominated) and it narrowed down to me, I said to myself, ‘oh my god, this isn’t good.’ I cried.”

Luckily for De Groodt, she didn’t have to give a speech, but accepted the award onstage and later took some good-natured ribbing from a friend for the rest of the night of “Crybaby! Crybaby!”

“It’s quite a privilege,” she says of the award, which is awarded to “heroes … within the dog industry who have made an impact on the world of dogs and provided the dog world with a legacy that will always be remembered.” “It’s one of those things, you go through life, work hard and hope to one day be recognized by your peers. This is why I do what I do. When John Rogerson, one of my mentors, say these things about you, that means a lot.”

Here’s what Rogerson, one of the world’s leading dog trainer and behaviorists and founder and lecturer of United Kingdom’s Northern Centre for Canine Behavior, wrote in his letter of nomination to the Hall of Fame:

“There are few characters in the dog world that not only inspire others but also can walk the walk where many sadly are just able to talk the talk,” he wrote. “I have known Barbara for more than 20 years and have seen first hand not only her ability to work with her own dogs but also her ability to work with owners and other canine professionals to improve their understanding of their canine companions. Barbara unselfishly gives much of her free time to helping and supporting many worthwhile canine projects and also, despite her huge wealth of knowledge, still travels extensively at home and abroad to further her own education. There is no other trainer from the U.S.A. that I have ever endorsed, Barbara is one in a million and deserves international recognition for her amazing life and lifetime achievements.”

“I was teary-eyed when I read those letters, especially the ones from my mentors,” she said. “My peers were the ones who nominated me, that made so much of an impact on me. You know somebody is watching.”

De Groodt founded From the Heart training and dog behavior counseling in the late ’80s, but she’s been working with dogs since she was a pre-teen.

“I’ve been training dogs since I was 8 or 9 years,” she says. “My dad trained German short-haired pointers.”

Along the way she’s won a number of awards, including the 2011 Westminster Dog Show Trainer of the Year, Purina Pro Plan's Show Dog 2010 Trainer of the Year and is a certified Pet Tech pet first aid instructor.

From the Heart’s training philosophy includes positive reinforcement, training to mold a dog's behavior into a desirable asset, and trust: “Trust is the key word in the methods used at From The Heart, however, trust must be earned by and from your dog.”

“Dogs are, by nature, social animals and look to us to provide leadership that is fair and non-judgmental. My commitment to you is to provide you with tools needed to change undesirable behavior into desirable behavior. A dog's friendship can be a wonderful one if you both have similar goals.”

De Groodt says that her training methods are rooted in tried and true methods, but that it’s a “constant growth.”

“I tell my students don’t ever think you know everything,” she says. “You should always be able to adjust. It’s a constant evolution.”

From the Heart Dog Training and

Paws at Play Doggie Daycare
Phone: 783-0818
Fax: 783-0657
P.O. Box 3734
Salinas, CA 93912-3734
fromtheheart.info
k9tootr@gmail.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.fromtheheart.info

Monterey Cowboy Festival, Now in its 20th Year, Seeks Food Vendors at its Nov. 3 Event at Monterey County Fair & Event Center

The Monterey Cowboy Festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year on Nov. 3, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, is seeking food, art and craft vendors for its popular midway and marketplace.

Monterey, CA, October 05, 2018 — The Monterey Cowboy Festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year on Nov. 3, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, is seeking food, art and craft vendors for its popular midway and marketplace.

The Marketplace, located on the Main Lawn next to the food and drink vendors, hosts some of the finest western art and gear vendors in the country, from customs saddles, fine leather boots and stunning paintings to handmade jewelry.

To make a submission, each vendor should complete the submission form in its entirety. All submissions must be in the English language and must be received by the close of the submission period, Oct. 15. Incomplete submissions may be ineligible for consideration. All submissions are made on a non-commissioned basis and as such, do not create a fiduciary, confidential or contractual relationship between the festival and vendor, other than the contractual relationship established by the submission terms.

Food and craft vendors can apply at https://marcatoapp.com/forms/mcf2018/fooddrinkvendorapplication and https://marcatoapp.com/forms/mcf2018/artgearapp/new. Deadline for application is Oct. 15.

The 20th Annual Monterey Cowboy Festival, previously the Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival, takes place from 11:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Saturday, November 3, 2018, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center at 2004 Fairground Road, in Monterey.

Tickets range in price from $19 for a Grounds Pass to $247 for a VIP experience, and are available online at www.montereycowboy.org.

The festival celebrates Monterey's contribution to our country’s western heritage, bringing people together to enjoy and learn more about the "cowboy way of life," including its history, current values and culture.

The lineup includes “throwback” country artist Jon Pardi, Texas neotraditionalist country trio Midland, country singer Corb Lund, and cowboy poets Waddie Mitchell and Paul Zarzyski on the Main Arena Stage.

Playing on the Garden Stage on the grounds will be Ernie Sites, Cow Bop, Mike Beck, Juni Fisher, Andy Hedges, Tom Swearingen, The Carolyn Sills Combo, Joni Harms, Almeda Bradshaw, and The Hasslers.

Since its inception, the festival’s foundation has been charity, giving more than $50,000 to local charities over the past 19 years as a registered nonprofit 501(c)(3).

The majority of those years were led by the festival's founder and former Monterey police chief, Gary Brown, who lost his battle with lung disease in 2016. Brown founded the Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival in 1998 in an effort to preserve the culture of the American cowboy, while doing all he could to give back to the local community.

In an effort to continue Gary's commitment to giving, the festival has announced the formation of the Gary Brown Scholarship Fund, which will focus on students in seventh to 12th grade in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties who are looking to enhance their music education in the areas of school tuition, music camp tuition, private music lessons, or musical equipment purchase/repair. To donate to the fund, go to https://www.montereycowboy.org/scholarship.

Ticket prices are as follows and are available online:
Off-site parking, $25
VIP Floor Seating, Arena, $247 + $25.85 fee
VIP Box Seating, Arena, $247 + $25.85 fee
Reserved Box Seating Arena, $123 + #13.37 fee
GA Corral Arena, $91 + $10.15
GA Rear Arena, $48 + $5.83
Grounds Pass, $19 + $2.91 fee

For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.montereycowboy.org.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereycowboy.org

Monterey Cowboy Festival Celebrates its 20th Year on Nov. 3 at Monterey County Fair & Event Center

The Monterey Cowboy Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, so saddle up and mosey on down to the Monterey County Fair & Event Center on Nov. 3

Monterey, CA, October 01, 2018 — The Monterey Cowboy Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, so saddle up and mosey on down to the Monterey County Fair & Event Center on Nov. 3, and enjoy music from country artists such as Jon Pardi and Corb Lund, cowboy poetry, food and drink and a western art and gear marketplace.

The 20th Annual Monterey Cowboy Festival, previously the Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival, takes place from 11:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Saturday, November 3, 2018, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center at 2004 Fairground Road, in Monterey.

Tickets range in price from $19 for a Grounds Pass to $247 for a VIP experience, and are available online at www.montereycowboy.org. Food and craft vendors are also needed, and can apply at https://marcatoapp.com/forms/mcf2018/fooddrinkvendorapplication and https://marcatoapp.com/forms/mcf2018/artgearapp/new. Deadline for application is Oct. 15.

The festival celebrates Monterey's contribution to our country’s western heritage, bringing people together to enjoy and learn more about the "cowboy way of life," including its history, current values and culture.

The lineup includes “throwback” country artist Jon Pardi, Texas neotraditionalist country trio Midland, country singer Corb Lund, and cowboy poets Waddie Mitchell and Paul Zarzyski on the Main Arena Stage.

Playing on the Garden Stage on the grounds will be Ernie Sites, Cow Bop, Mike Beck, Juni Fisher, Andy Hedges, Tom Swearingen, The Carolyn Sills Combo, Joni Harms, Almeda Bradshaw, and The Hasslers.

The Marketplace, located on the Main Lawn next to the food and drink vendors, hosts some of the finest western art and gear vendors in the country, from customs saddles, fine leather boots and stunning paintings to handmade jewelry.

Since its inception, the festival’s foundation has been charity, giving more than $50,000 to local charities over the past 19 years as a registered nonprofit 501(c)(3).

The majority of those years were led by the festival's founder and former Monterey police chief, Gary Brown, who lost his battle with lung disease in 2016. Brown founded the Monterey Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival in 1998 in an effort to preserve the culture of the American cowboy, while doing all he could to give back to the local community.

In an effort to continue Gary's commitment to giving, the festival has announced the formation of the Gary Brown Scholarship Fund, which will focus on students in seventh to 12th grade in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties who are looking to enhance their music education in the areas of school tuition, music camp tuition, private music lessons, or musical equipment purchase/repair. To donate to the fund, go to https://www.montereycowboy.org/scholarship.

Ticket prices are as follows and are available online:
Off-site parking, $25
VIP Floor Seating, Arena, $247 + $25.85 fee
VIP Box Seating, Arena, $247 + $25.85 fee
Reserved Box Seating Arena, $123 + #13.37 fee
GA Corral Arena, $91 + $10.15
GA Rear Arena, $48 + $5.83
Grounds Pass, $19 + $2.91 fee

For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.montereycowboy.org

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereycowboy.org

Breast Cancer Assistance Group’s ‘Pink Partners’ Promotion with Local Businesses Raises Funds for Breast Cancer Patients

One in eight local women will experience the physical and emotional ravages of breast cancer.

Monterey, CA, October 02, 2018 — One in eight local women will experience the physical and emotional ravages of breast cancer. Breast cancer has high financial costs and many breast cancer patients find themselves unable to work during treatments.

The Breast Cancer Assistance Group of Monterey County (BCAG), an all-volunteer organization of breast cancer survivors, provides need-based grants that help patients in active treatment with their basic living expenses.

In honor of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, BCAG is partnering with local businesses to raise funds and awareness to enable BCAG to help local breast cancer patients experiencing financial hardship due to their diagnosis and treatment.

One hundred percent of every dollar donated through BCAG's “Pink Partners” promotion with local businesses will go to help breast cancer patients with food, housing, utilities, transportation, and other daily-living costs. During the past year BCAG awarded more than $116,000 to 77 local women.

BCAG is encouraging the public to show their support for helping the local community by patronizing the following businesses, participating in their special events and purchasing “Pink Partner” merchandise.

For the third year Pebble Beach Resorts will be showing its support for BCAG by donating $1 from every glass of rosé wine and “October Rose” cocktail at the following restaurants and bars:

• Stillwater Bar & Grill
• The Tap Room
• The Bench
• The Terrace Lounge
• Gallery
• Peppoli at Pebble Beach
• Roy’s at Pebble Beach
• Sticks
• Stave Wine Cellar
• Traps
• Spanish Bay Lobby

Quail Lodge & Golf Club will once again join the global effort to raise awareness on breast cancer through its Quail in Pink initiative. This year all fundraising proceeds will be donated to BCAG. Details on special events, including the Quail in Pink Afternoon Tea, the Quail in Pink Drive for the Cause guided motoring rally and Horsepower Happy Hour, Signature Pretty in Pink Vodka Cocktail, Quail in Pink embroidered apparel and accessories, and other specialty items for sale in the Golf Shop, Edgar’s Restaurant and Waypoint Bar & Deck can be found by visiting Quail in Pink

Carmel Valley Athletic Club will throw its annual Party in Pink, on October 20th from 10:00 – 2:00 p.m. This is a club-wide event open to members and non-members that donates all of the proceeds to BCAG. Members and guests who donate $20 or more will receive their own “Party in Pink” merchandise and will be able to utilize the club for the rest of the day. In addition, The Refuge outdoor relaxation spa will donate 10% from all gift certificates purchased throughout the month of October and $5 for every Deluxe Admission purchased on October 20th.

McIntyre Vineyards will once again hold its popular “Barre, Boobs & Bubbles” class on Friday, October 19th from 5:00pm – 7:00pm in the McIntyre Tasting Room at The Crossroads in Carmel. The class will be taught by Arianne Bautista, owner of CarmelBarre. All proceeds will be donated to BCAG. Call McIntyre Vineyards at 831-626-6268 to register for the event. In addition, McIntyre will donate 15% of sales revenue for purchases of 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir wine throughout the month of October.

Throughout the month of October Sur at the Barnyard in Carmel will be donating 20% of every dollar spent for lunch or dinner and 10% for Happy Hour to BCAG. Diners must bring in a special BCAG coupon to qualify. Coupons are available on the BCAG website: Sur Pink Partner Dining Coupon

About BCAG
BCAG is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization of breast cancer survivors who raise funds and awareness to improve the lives of local breast cancer patients and their families. BCAG provides basic living expenses grants (for food, rent, gas, utilities, etc.) that relieve some of the financial worry associated with breast cancer and allows women (and men) to focus on fighting their disease so they can again spend quality time with family and return to the local workforce. BCAG serves residents of Monterey County who are being treated by physicians located anywhere and residents of Monterey, San Benito or Santa Cruz counties who are being treated by Monterey County physicians.

Breast Cancer Assistance Group of Monterey County
(FEIN 91-1972448)
P. O. Box 221582
Carmel, CA 93922
Phone: (831) 649-6365
Fax: (866) 219-8561
Email: contact@bcagmc.org
http://www.bcagmc.org

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.bcagmc.org