The Monterey Museum of Art Announces Year of the Woman 2018 Exhibition and Events Schedule

The Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) is pleased to announce a full slate of exhibitions, lectures, pop-up dinners, tours, workshops, and fundraisers with a focus on notable women artists of California and the Central Coast.

Monterey, CA, January 11, 2018 - The Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) is pleased to announce a full slate of exhibitions, lectures, pop-up dinners, tours, workshops, and fundraisers with a focus on notable women artists of California and the Central Coast.

Why is the very idea of artistic greatness rarely extended to women? The MMA puts the question center stage in a series of exhibitions showing groundbreaking work of California women artists spanning 100 years plus of style, medium, and perspective.

“We have some amazing work by women,” said Stuart Chase, the Museum’s Executive Director, “but their work only makes up about twenty percent of our entire collection. By recognizing the work and wisdom of women artists past and present, we hope to help articulate an inclusive vision for the future.”

From E. Charlton Fortune, a bold and free-spirited early 20th century impressionist, to Kim Campbell, an abstract expressionist, women artists exhibited this year are not only “as good as the men,” some of them have blazed new trails where no man has gone before.

Please note: the MMA on Pacific Street will be closed February 5 through March 14, 2018 for gallery renovations.

Exhibitions slated to open in 2018 include:

Special installations throughout the year, beginning with Kim Campbell, January 5

Collection Highlights of Women Artists throughout the year, such as: E. Charlton Fortune, Margaret Bruton, Esther Bruton, Grace Carpenter Hudson, Eugenia Frances Mc Comas, M. Evelyn McCormick, Mary De Neale Morgan, Edna Bullock, June Felter, Adelie Landis, Emiko Nakano, Beatrice Wood, Tracey Adams, Mabel Alvarez, Susan Manchester, Malin Lager, Ruth Bernhard, Gene Kloss, Anne Brigman, Marie Brumund, Pamela S. Carroll, Martha Casanave, Imogen Cunningham, Jean Kellogg Dickie, Christel Dillbohner, Amy Ellingson, Andrea Johnson, Inez Storer, Robynn Smith, Henrietta Shore, Lucy Valentine Pierce, Jane Olin, Emilia Newell, Jeannette Maxfield Lewis, Alma Lavenson, Bertha Stringer Lee, Dorothea Lange, Amy Kaufmann, Althea Hills, Anna Hoffman, Robin Sawyer.

Beth Van Hoesen, Entry Gallery, March 15 – April 30
Photography by Women, Outcalt Gallery, March 15 – May 27
Joan Savo, Coburn Gallery, March 15– April 29
2018 Weston Scholarship, Coburn Gallery, May 10 –July 8
E. Charlton Fortune: The Colorful Spirit, Work and Outcalt Galleries, May 24 –Aug. 27
Our Ocean’s Edge, photography by Jasmine Swope, Outcalt Gallery, June 14 – Sept. 10
The New Domestic (part 1), Coburn and Entry Galleries, July 20– October 28
Salon Jane, Outcalt Gallery, September 20–November 26
The New Domestic (part 2), Work Gallery, September 13– October 28
Miniatures, Work Gallery, November 15– December 16
Alyssa Endo, November 15– January 2019
Edna Bullock, Outcalt Gallery, December 20 – February 2019

The 2018 calendar also includes the Spring Gala on April 28, Free Family Fun Days in February, June, August, October, and December, along with the Museum’s 25th Annual Miniatures exhibition November through December. The MMA’s “Brews for a Cause” fundraiser takes place in November, with “Christmas in the Adobes” following in December.

Programs for 2018 and the months in which they will be held are listed below.

Dates are subject to change.

Maker’s Series of Workshops – January 9, 16, 23, 30
Family Day – February 3
Winter Studio Series – March, 5, 12, 19, 26, Mondays
Pop-Up Dinner – March 20 (off-site)
Family Day – April 7
Spring Gala – April 28
Spring Lecture Series – May (Mondays)
Family Day – May 19
Summer Camps – June and July
Pop-Up Dinner – July
Family Day – August 19
School Tours – August 2018 – May 2019
Afternoon Art Clubs – August 2018 –May 2019
Annual Docent Training – September and October
Family Day – October 8
Fall Fundraiser – October 20
Pop-Up Dinner – October 23
Fall Lecture Series – October and November (Mondays)
25th Annual Miniatures – November 16 – December 17
Brews for a Cause Fundraiser – November 30

About the Monterey Museum of Art
The Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) was established in 1959 to uphold the artistic legacy of the region by collecting, preserving, and presenting the art of California and the Central Coast.

The only nationally accredited museum between San Jose and Santa Barbara, the MMA’s goal is to expand a passion for the region’s visual arts—past, present, and future. Exhibitions and programs are designed to demonstrate California’s vibrant, diverse spirit, and to inspire, engage, and connect art and community.

In 2017, the MMA hosted two photography exhibitions: Edward Weston: Portrait of the Young Man as an Artist, which opened in February, and Who Shot Monterey Pop! Photographs from the 1967 Music Festival, which debuted in June.

Visit montereyart.org for additional information about the Museum's exhibitions, programming, and events.

Media Inquiries: pr@montereyart.org or 831.372.5477 x101

Photography

E. Charlton Fortune PR images https://goo.gl/67FHEF
Miniatures PR images: https://goo.gl/ZWGCwt
Weston Scholarship: https://goo.gl/4PtEzf
Family Day: https://goo.gl/gHMnQy
Fall Fundraiser: https://goo.gl/Dg61U8
Spring Gala: https://goo.gl/4EXmuj

E. Charlton Fortune (1885-1969), Pilchard Boats, circa 1922–1924, oil on canvas. Collection Monterey Museum of Art, gift of Monsignor Robert E. Brennan, 1985.041

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

Baby Boomer Alert — Santa Cruz Lifespan Aging Care Management Agency Announces New Personal Assistant Services for Older Adults

Lifespan, a comprehensive aging care management agency locally owned and operated and serving Santa Cruz for 35 years, is now offering a new and innovative service — Personal Assistants.

Santa Cruz, CA, January 08, 2018 - Lifespan, a comprehensive aging care management agency locally owned and operated and serving Santa Cruz for 35 years, is now offering a new and innovative service — Personal Assistants.

Personal Assistants are skilled individuals with experience serving aging and disabled persons who can offer a variety of activities, such as socialization, recreation, home organization, escort to medical appointments, and more. Support is also available with organizing mail, bill paying and completing forms.

Kathy Geerin, of Santa Cruz is one such personal assistant. Born and raised in Long Island, New York, and a graduate of Hofstra University, Geerin was an art teacher and art therapist in special education before joining Lifespan in 1997. She started out working in Lifespan’s conservatorship program and later became a part-time care management assistant prior to that program expanding into the current personal assistant program.

Geerin works with six to seven clients for several hours each per week. A typical day with a client might involve going grocery shopping, escorting to a hairdressing or manicure appointment, sorting and organizing mail and other paperwork, trips to the library or a scenic beach drive. She may also assist with scheduling appointments and arranging transportation. Sometimes Geerin will simply sit and talk with a client if the client desires. “I enjoy learning about my clients, some have a fascinating history, it’s really interesting.”

There is a one-hour minimum for the Personal Assistant service.

About Lifespan
Lifespan is a comprehensive aging care management agency dedicated to providing the highest quality of care in the home or setting of one’s choice.

Lifespan’s goal is to maximize the health, safety, comfort, and independence of its clients through compassionate person-centered care. Since 1983 Lifespan has provided all-inclusive home care and professional geriatric care management services to adults in need of assistance. A leader in aging care services, Lifespan is one of the very first organizations to provide this combination of care on the West Coast, and still the only agency of its kind in Santa Cruz County.

Lifespan’s professional care management is provided by registered nurses and master’s level social workers who conduct assessments of client strengths and unmet needs then help the client and family decide on a plan of care. In addition, care managers can coordinate a variety of resources and work with health care providers, fiduciary agents, and other professionals to make sure that all needs are met as conditions change. Lifespan also offers medication set-up and managements by RNs.

Home care aides provide the important support with activities of daily living such as light housekeeping, shopping, laundry, meal preparation and clean up, personal hygiene, mobility, and medication reminders. They also provide protective supervision for persons with cognitive impairment. Care up to 24/hours per day is offered based on staffing availability. All home care aide services are supervised by the professional care manager RNs and social workers to ensure optimal care.

Lifespan is in full compliance with the 2015 California Home Care Services Consumer Protection Act, under the auspices of the California Department of Social Services, which specifies that all employees meet criteria as registered home care aides. This includes thorough screening, criminal background clearance (fingerprinting) by both the Department of Justice and FBI in addition to verifying initial and ongoing professional training. Employees of all levels are covered by Lifespan’s general liability bond and worker’s compensation policies.

There are more than 2 million professional home care workers in the U.S. providing care and support to aging adults and persons with disabilities in home and community-based settings. The home care workforce has doubled in the past 10 years and the population of those 65 and older is expected to double to 88 million by 2050, making the role of professional aging care professionals that much more critical.

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

Instructor Certification from World Leaders in Self-Defense & Personal Protection

SAFE International™, a global organization that offers world-leading self-defense and personal-protection instruction, is hosting an instructor certification program in Ottawa from March 9 - 11, 2018 at Plyomax Fitness, 3771 Spratt Road, Ottawa, ON.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, January 05, 2018 — SAFE International™, a global organization that offers world-leading self-defense and personal-protection instruction, is hosting an instructor certification program in Ottawa from March 9 - 11, 2018 at Plyomax Fitness, 3771 Spratt Road, Ottawa, ON.

As part of the organization’s mission to empower 500,000 women and girls in self-defense by 2020, the instructor certification program aims to spread the reach of life-saving safety information and physical skills from a curriculum designed to reach some of society’s most vulnerable to violence in often limited time.

SAFE International’s self-defense curriculum has been honed, tested, and proven effective over the course of more than twenty years. It is currently taught by experts in security and personal protection, reaches leaders in public safety around the world, and is delivered regularly to teens, women and youth in a framework that promotes responsible citizenship and teaches survival skills that are effective no matter someone’s age or size.

“We want to teach the next generation of teachers now,” says Chris Roberts, SAFE International’s founder and managing director. “We know that the best way to reach the most people with safety and survival skills that work is to share our expertise with as many instructors as possible. Outside instructors who take our training bring their own knowledge, skills and experiences into the classroom and it enriches the learning environment for everyone who attends.”

The instructor certification program will be led by founder Chris Roberts and instructor Richard Dimitri, a world leader in personal protection and security training. With skills and expertise amassed over two lifetimes in the professional realm of self-defense and violence prevention, Roberts and Dimitri team up to deliver this program with passion and purpose. Their mission is fueled by evidence-backed information, personal and professional experiences with real-world violence.

“A lot of people believe that self-defense training and martial arts are similar. They’re not. When it comes to violence there are psycho-social influences and behavioural elements that exist in uncontrolled environments with many variables that simply don’t apply when people are sparring on the mat or in the ring where rules exist. To effectively deliver self-defense training these dynamics need to be addressed, dissected and explored long before physical training is introduced,” says Roberts.

“And physical applications need to account for the differences in how violence exists in the real word versus in the classroom,” says Dimitri. “The reason I teach this program and work so closely with SAFE International™ is because I know what we’re teaching works.”

SAFE International™ believes anyone who is interested will benefit from the instructor certification program and registration is open to anyone interested in attending. Previous certification has included a range of attendees from martial artists, workplace safety and violence prevention coordinators, fitness instructors, parents, teachers, and others interested in learning and passing on credible information about staying safe.

For more information, or to register, visit www.safeinternational.biz.

Media Contact
Chris Roberts
SAFE International™ Founder & Managing Director
chrisroberts@safeinternational.biz
1-800-465-5972

About SAFE International™
SAFE International™ was launched by Chris Roberts in 1994 and has since reached more than 200,000 people around the world with world-class safety and self-defense instruction. The organization is based in Canada and operates throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Each year, SAFE International™ reaches more than 10,000 teens, women and youth with life-saving information and skills.

Contact:
Chris Roberts
SAFE International™
15535 Cooper Rd.
Lunenburg, ON
Canada K0C 1R0
1 800 465-5972
http://www.safeinternational.biz

Hofsas House Hotel New Pin It To Win It Contest. Enter Today!

Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea announces its new Pin It To Win It contest!

Carmel-by-the-sea, CA, January 03, 2018 - Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea announces its new Pin It To Win It contest! This January we are ready to be mindful. Post your favorite mindful spots or moments anytime throughout the month of January and our favorite post will win a two-night stay in a two-room suite!

Simply:

* Follow us on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/hofsashouse
* Create a board titled: Being Mindful
* Add a minimum of 5 mindful pictures of your mindful moments or locations with the hashtag #HofsasHouseGetaways
* Email a link to your board to marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com
* One lucky winner will receive a two-night stay at our beautiful hotel in Carmel.
* Contest runs January 1st- January 31st. Winner to be announced February 5th

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

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa Dream Wedding Contest

 The beginning of the year is a great time to start planning the details of your #weddingday, and Pinterest is the perfect place to check out the latest trends

Salinas, CA , December 27, 2017 - The beginning of the year is a great time to start planning the details of your #weddingday, and Pinterest is the perfect place to check out the latest trends — from wedding activities to finding your something blue! The team at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa is here to make your dreams come true ... so pin your favorites for a chance to win! Happy posting!

Follow us on Pinterest: pinterest.com/montereyhyatt Create a board titled: Dream Wedding

Add a minimum of 5 pins with your favorite smile quotes and/or picture From babies to animals there is no shortage of great smiles on Pinterest Make sure to use the hashtag #WeddingsInAHyattWorld

Email a link your board to: marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com. One lucky winner will receive a two-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey and romantic dinner with wine pairings at at TusCA! Winner will be announced February 5.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455 
https://monterey.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

2018 Big Sur Foragers Festival Takes Place January 12-14, 2018

 Thursday and Friday Night Fundraising Dinners, Special Raffle, Fungus Face Off, Mushroom Walk and Talks and More!

Big Sur, CA, December 24, 2017 - Big Sur Foragers Festival is excited to announce the return of their feature venue, the Fungus Face Off, to longtime partner, Ventana Big Sur, for 2018. The community’s non-profit, Big Sur Health Center, will receive the proceeds from all of the festival events to help support the continued presence of local healthcare services in the Big Sur area.

2018 Includes:

• Thursday Night:  Join us at Lugano Swiss Bistro on Thursday, January 11th. The restaurant will be donating 25% of all sales on Fondue as well as all items off the menu including beer and wine on Thursday, January 11th to the Big Sur Foragers Festival benefiting the Big Sur Health Center. Lugano's will also have live music that evening.  Dine, Laugh, Dance, Enjoy and Support the Big Sur Health Center!

• Friday Night:  Rio Grill Restaurant will be donating 10% of all dinner sales on Friday, January 12th up to $500 to benefit the Big Sur Health Center and help kick off the Big Sur Foragers Festival weekend!

• Stay tuned for details on a special Friday Night dinner at Il Grillo in Carmel-by-the-Sea.  Il Grillo will be teaming up with Chappellet Vineyards for a special fundraiser winemaker dinner on Friday, January 12th.

• Stay tuned for details on a special events to take place at Post Ranch in honor of the Big Sur Foragers Festival.

• Don’t Miss Out in the Special Raffle!

Foragers Festival Raffle

Tickets $5.00 Each ~ 6 for $25.00 ~ Need Not be Present to Win

Raffle Item #1:

Dine Around Package

$100 Haute Enchilada

$100 Portobello’s Salinas

$100 Montrio Bistro, Rio Grill or Tarpy’s

$300 Value 

Raffle Item #2:

Casa Cactus Cabo Pulmo

3 Nights stay in Cabo Pulmo Baja Mexico (Air fare not included)

$350 value 

Raffle Item #3:

VIP Tasting Experience at Bernardus Winery for up to 10 with wines paired with Artisan Cheese, Charcuterie and Chocolate Tasting

$500 Value

Raffle Item #4:

The Arts

8 Tickets to Monterey Museum of Art

4 Tickets to Monterey Symphony

National Steinbeck Center (Books, 4 Admission Passes, 2 Festival Passes and Guided Tour by the Director

$500 Value

Raffle Item #5:

Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea ($150)

Dinner at Bistro Moulin Monterey ($100)

$250 Value

• The sixth annual Fungus Face Off will take place at Ventana Big Sur Ocean Meadow Lawn. The Big Sur Health Center is looking forward to returning to Ventana Big Sur for 2018. 

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW 

Participants Include:

Chefs/Restaurants

·        Alvarado Street Brewery

·        A Taste of Elegance

·        Big Sur Bakery

·        Big Sur River Inn

·        Carmel Valley Ranch

·        Fernwood

·        Post Ranch

·        Roy’s

·        The Sur House at Ventana Big Sur

Wineries and Breweries

·        Alvarado Street Brewery

·        Baker and Brain

·        Bernardus  Winery

·        Blair Wines

·        Boony Doon Vineyards

·        Chappellet Vineyards

·        Chesebro

·        Comanche Cellars

·        Fillipponi Winery

·        Fly Wheel Wine

·        Firestone Walker

·        Mad Otter Ale

·        Mesa del Sol

·        Morgan Winery

·        Paul Lato Wines

·        Tablas Creek

·        Twisted Roots

Marketplace Vendors and Tastings

·        Carmel Berry Co.

·        Carmel Honey Company

·        Fattoria Muia

·        Quail and Olive

·        Percy Pies

Wild Mushroom Walk and Talk

 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-sur-foragers-festival-tickets-38958154890?aff=utm_source%3Deb_email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dnew_event_email&utm_term=eventurl_text

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.bigsurforagersfestival.org/

Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) Announces Three-Lecture Series on Women in Arts Management in Early 2018

The Monterey Museum of Art will launch a three-part lecture series in January 2018, about honoring women who have made a difference in the creative arts.

Monterey, CA, December 24, 2017 — The Monterey Museum of Art will launch a three-part lecture series in January 2018, about honoring women who have made a difference in the creative arts.

The series, “Women Who Have Made a Difference in the Creative Arts,” opens Monday, Jan. 22, with “Living the Handmade Artist's Life” with Elizabeth Murray, followed by “Musically Speaking, Leadership in the Arts,” with Nicola Samra, Executive Director of the Monterey Symphony, on Monday, Jan. 29, and finally, in honor of Black History Month, “A Dramatic Presentation of ‘Corn Hollow’ ” with author LaVerne McLeod, on Monday, Feb. 5.

All one-hour lectures will be held from 1-2 p.m. Mondays, at the museum’s 559 Pacific St. location. The lectures are free to museum members and free for non-members with general admission to the museum.

Admission is $10 for adults and free for students and active duty military with I.D. and those 18 years and under. Visitors are welcome to bring food and drinks during this lunchtime lecture series.

The first lecture features painter, photographer, author, international workshop leader, and gardener Murray, who will be sharing the stories of her life as a multi-faceted artist.

Murray’s passion for nature and beauty has taken her around the world — from remote African villages and the Amazon rain forest, to Giverny, France, where she helped restore Monet's Gardens — inspiring her to create a diverse range of art works. Today some of her work resides in permanent installments in corporate collections.

As a popular keynote speaker, she uses the beauty of her photographic images, personal stories, garden metaphors, and humor, to inspire and connect her audience to what has meaning for them. Her goal is to help people express their own creativity in their work and personal lives.

Today, Elizabeth Murray lives in an historic artist colony belonging to painter Charles Rollo Peters in Monterey. She has been restoring the house, cottages and gardens for the last 18 years. The author of nine books, including best-selling “Monet's Passion,” “Living Life in Full Bloom,” and “Cultivating Sacred Space,” Elizabeth Murray finds the garden to be both a life-enriching art form, and a path to intimacy with nature.

Nicola Samra will discuss the role of women in arts management — the challenges and the opportunities. She promises to address favorite topics such as “work/life balance,” and “successful fundraising tips.” She will also give her take on common questions such as “Is classical music is dying? “Can you have it all?” and “What is the role of art in society?. In the process, Samra will share her own path to becoming Executive Director, and the things she learned along the way.

A classically trained violinist, Samra has performed, toured, or recorded with Mastodon, Sky Cries Mary, and Sera Cahoone, in addition to founding the all-female string trio, The Bella Trio.

She previously held positions at the Carmel Bach Festival and California State University Monterey Bay, in the university’s development department. A Seattle native, Samra worked for the Seattle Chamber Music Society, the Women’s Medieval Choir, and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Samra holds degrees in Spanish Literature and Music History from the University of Puget Sound, and an advanced degree in Arts Administration from the University of Washington.

In her spare time, Samra, along with her husband, Dr. Todd Samra, enjoy arguing about pronunciation and grammar, and playing Wiffleball with their three children, John (20), Connor (10) and Enzo (6).

Through an interactive performance of her novel, “Corn Hollow,” author LaVerne McLeod will tell the story of a young African American girl living in the heart of Tennessee during the rise of the civil rights movement.

The book is based on McLeod’s own experience with segregation in the American South. Using an innovative performance style, she will choose a chapter from her book, and bring the story to life by engaging the audience as participants.

McLeod has lived in communities in various parts of the country, including Arkansas, Missouri, and Palo Alto. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a Master of Arts degree in Counselor Education from Southeast Missouri State University, with continuing education work from San Jose State University in California.

She has lived in Big Sur since 1979, where she balances life as a wife, mother, educator, artist, and author. McLeod also has a rich history of leadership involvement with our community, including creating and facilitating Bridge Building to Equity workshops.

About the Monterey Museum of Art
The Monterey Museum of Art expands a passion for the visual arts and inspires appreciation of California Art — past, present, and future. The Monterey Museum of Art connects art and community, with an emphasis on participatory experiences built around the Museum’s strong collection of California and regional art. Exhibitions and programs of the highest quality are designed to engage and inspire visitors.

The museum was established in 1959, to uphold the artistic legacy of the region by collecting, preserving and presenting the art of California and the Central Coast. Originally a chapter of the American Federation of the Arts, MMA remains the only nationally accredited museum between San Jose and Santa Barbara.

Visit montereyart.org for additional information on the Museum's exhibitions, programming and events.

Media Inquiries: pr@montereyart.org or 831.372.5477 x101

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

Hyatt Carmel Highlands Announces Forks. Corks. Action! 2018

Save the Date for the Firs Winemakers Dinner of the Year with Joyce Vineyards January 26th

Carmel, CA, December 24, 2017 — An experience for all the senses, Hyatt Carmel Highlands’ California Market at Pacific’s Edge pairs unmatched views of the Pacific Ocean and the famed Big Sur coastline with spectacular “California Coastal” cuisine prepared with the freshest locally sourced ingredients.

Celebrate the Hyatt Carmel Highlands’ 100th Anniversary with the Forks.Corks.Action! Winemaker Series 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 Pancho’s seasonal, locally sourced and plant-based menus.

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

Dates for Winemakers Dinners in 2018:

Jan. 26th Joyce Vineyards
March 15 Twisted Roots
April 19 Winery Partner to be Announced
May 17 Winery Partner to be Announced
June 21 Winery Partner to be Announced

Save the Date: There will be a special winemakers dinner in September in honor of California Wine Month! Details to be announced soon
November 15 Bernardus 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.

· $120 per person inclusive

· Reservations required

Purchase Your Tickets Now for Forks. Corks. Action! https://forkscorksaction2018.eventbrite.com

· Sip featured wines

· Meet the winemaker

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
https://highlandsinn.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

Renowned Florist and Floral Designer Teresa Sabankaya to Release Her First Book in Spring 2019

Renowned florist and floral designer Teresa Sabankaya, founder and creative director of Bonny Doon Garden Company, will release her first book in the spring of 2019 on the Countryman Press imprint.

Salinas, CA, December 24, 2017 - Renowned florist and floral designer Teresa Sabankaya, founder and creative director of Bonny Doon Garden Company, will release her first book in the spring of 2019 on the Countryman Press imprint.

Sabankaya’s book, “The Posy Book” (temporary name) explores one of her favorite topics, Posies, or a sentiment nosegay.

Sabankaya's modern invention of a historic nosegay, Bonny Doon Posies, have been a core part of her retail business from the beginning, and have been featured in such media as CBS Sunday Morning, Romantic Homes magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Santa Cruz Sentinel and The New York Times.

Founded in 1999, Bonny Doon Garden Company is a full-service floral design studio, florist, and botanical gift shop located inside New Leaf Community Market in west side Santa Cruz.

Sabankaya holds an influential position as one of the most innovative florists in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her floral designs are highly desirable due to their unique style of arranging and elegant garden appeal. Her wedding florals have been featured in numerous wedding blogs and magazines including Smitten, Sweet Violet Bride, Style Me Pretty, Ruffled Blog, Grey Likes Weddings and Green Wedding Shoes.

She has been featured in Amy Stewart’s “Flower Confidential” book as well as her blog, and was featured “like a florist from 100 years ago” in the PBS documentary “Botany of Desire,” based on Michael Pollen’s bestseller “Botany of Desire.”

She is a Certified Green Gardener; a member of Slowflowers.com, an online directory of florists who source their materials locally; and Greatgardenspeakers.com.

The Countryman Press has a long history as an independent publisher. Now owned by W. W. Norton and Company, Inc., Countryman and its books continue to grow both in scope and number.

Countryman publishes beautiful healthy-living cookbooks and guides to everything from mixing drinks and baking dump cakes to hiking Vermont’s hills and valleys. It continues to build its flagship Explorer’s Guide travel series, and actively pursues the subjects of nature, country-living manuals, narrative non-fiction, fitness and exercise, reference, pets, and humor. Most of their books are illustrated and full color with high-production values.

Teresa Sabankaya & Bonny Doon Garden Company

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

Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) Announces Monterey Artist Hector Dionicio Mendoza to Hold Month-Long Artist-in-Residency and Art Project Starting Dec. 23

The Monterey Museum of Art has announced that Monterey-based multi-media artist Hector Dionicio Mendoza will hold a one-month artist-in-residency and mixed-media art project starting Dec. 23.

Monterey, CA, Dec. 22, 2017 — The Monterey Museum of Art has announced that Monterey-based multi-media artist Hector Dionicio Mendoza will hold a one-month artist-in-residency and mixed-media art project starting Dec. 23.

Mendoza’s residency and art project “Process in Progress,” begins Saturday, Dec. 23, when the public is invited from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to stop by and interact with the artist. Other sessions are scheduled for Jan. 4, 2018; Jan. 5 at the First Friday reception; Jan. 8; and Jan. 15, which will be a screen-printing workshop where the public is invited to participate and learn basic screen-printing techniques on both paper and fabric. The residency closes on February 4, 2018.

“Process in Progress” includes drawings, sculptures and installations that invites the public to experience a glimpse into the artist’s studio practice, a behind-the-scenes look into the artist’s process of making art.

According to Mendoza, the main impetus of the project is to present a body of work in its various stages of completion, allowing the public to consider the following questions:
1. When is artwork considered complete and ready to exhibit?
2. What are the influences that dictate, inspire or inform a body of work?
3. What role does the alchemy of materials play when creating art?
4. How is the process of experimentation a major contributing factor for generating new art techniques and ideas?

In addition to artwork, the project will include supporting materials such as sketches, books, magazines, photos, and sound to engage the audience. He hopes to have at least 35 works on display, including about 10 at various stages of completion. Mendoza will be on site one day a week during regular museum hours during the one-month period of the project.

“By simultaneously using the museum as an exhibition space and an artist-in-residence studio, the practice of artmaking becomes more accessible to the public and consequently demystifies how art is created,” says Mendoza. “The project also seeks to add to the current dialogue of how contemporary museum spaces are being used by artists and the public.”

Mendoza, who was born in Uruapan, Michoacan, México, but grew up in King City, uses recycled clay, concrete, and rust in combination with found objects as a way of creating personal icons in his work. Mendoza’s work explores a wide range of themes, including the relationship between history, race and nature.

“My work is a social statement, a commentary on society. Visions from daily life are points of departure for my work,” Mendoza says. “The concepts I have used in my art are chosen as they are introduced via mass communication media or through personal experiences. I incorporate both expressive and realistically sculpted objects with significant gestures to portray metaphor.”

After graduating from high school with honors, he was awarded a scholarship to attend California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, California, where he studied graphic design.

His interest in graphic design led him to study art at California College of the Arts in Oakland, California, where he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in fine art.

After completing his bachelor’s degree, Mendoza was invited to several artist-in-residence programs and exhibitions in Europe, including Kust Futur in Switzerland 2000, The Bossard Project in Berlin 2001, Casa Santos in Barcelona 2002, and The Putney Arts Center in London 2003.

Mendoza’s awards include the Eureka Fellowship 2004 in California, Kunst Now 2005 in Berlin, and Eco-Conciente 2007 in Mexico City. In 2009, he received his master’s degree in fine art from Yale University. Most recently he was awarded an artist’s residency at the prestigious Djerassi Resident Artists Program in Woodside, California.

He currently lives in Monterey and is an Assistant Professor in the Visual and Public Art Department at California State University Monterey Bay. Mendoza teaches studio courses in sculpture, painting, and screen printing.

About the Monterey Museum of Art
The Monterey Museum of Art expands a passion for the visual arts and inspires appreciation of California Art — past, present, and future. The Monterey Museum of Art connects art and community, with an emphasis on participatory experiences built around the Museum’s strong collection of California and regional art. Exhibitions and programs of the highest quality are designed to engage and inspire visitors.

The museum was established in 1959, to uphold the artistic legacy of the region by collecting, preserving and presenting the art of California and the Central Coast. Originally a chapter of the American Federation of the Arts, MMA remains the only nationally accredited museum between San Jose and Santa Barbara.

Visit montereyart.org for additional information on the Museum's exhibitions, programming and events.

Media Inquiries: pr@montereyart.org or 831.372.5477 x101

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

Exodus Escape Room On Cannery Row in Monterey Adds Exciting New Room to its Experience

Escape Rooms Hottest New Trend in Interactive Immersive Entertainment

Monterey, CA, December 21, 2017 — Exodus Escape Room on Cannery Row in Monterey, part of a hot new trend in immersive entertainment, has announced that it is adding a new room on Dec. 1, just in time for the holidays.

The new Vault Heist escape experience joins Exodus’ two existing rooms, Sherlock’s Study murder mystery and Masquerade Manor criminal investigation, all with the simple goal of working together with other players, crack codes, solve cyphers and study clues within 60 minutes to escape the room.

Escape rooms are based on escape-the-room video and online games, as if the classic board game “Clue” became a live-action game you play with others in real locations.

In Vault Heist a team of heist experts (players) break into a bank vault to steal items from people we know are involved in highly illegal and unethical ventures that are going against the common good. The vault is used by four or five of these people with questionable moral character who might have things locked in the vault that can be used as evidence against them or used to expose them or shut down their illegal operations.

The “team leader” (not part of your group) has already gone into the vault under disguise to scope out the layout and to plant things to help the team complete the heist. He will break the team in, but will sit out the heist in order to disable the alarm system, which he can only do for one hour. The team has one hour to complete the heist and get out of the vault before the alarm goes off.

Exodus Escape Room on Cannery Row was founded earlier this year by entrepreneur Christina Riddoch of Monterey. Riddoch said she would play escape games online together with her granddaughter Andrea. They went to a live escape room in Kansas City and were hooked, so much so that Riddoch wanted to open one in Monterey.

She contacted an owner of an escape room in Los Angeles to discuss franchising and even attended an escape room conference in Niagara Falls. But it was that first experience with a “live” escape room in Kansas City that sealed it for her.

“I was literally on a high from it for days,” she said. “You feel alive again, it was such an experience, it got us outside of ourselves.”

She talked the escape room operator in L.A. into franchising, found a suitable location above and behind The Whaling Station restaurant on Wave Street in Cannery Row, set up two escape rooms there and opened to capacity crowds — “It was nonstop until 11:30 at night that first night,” she says.

In Exodus’ existing rooms, Sherlock’s Study is recommended for four-10 people and Masquerade Manor is recommended for four-eight people. Vault Heist is recommended for x to x people.

In Sherlock's Study, in the midst of a murder investigation, Sherlock Holmes has been kidnapped by the very murderer he was trying to catch. It's up to the players to piece together the evidence he has left behind in his study. Will you be clever enough to step into Sherlock’s shoes and solve the mystery?

In Masquerade Manor, wealthy and famous composer Ludovico Manin is the prime suspect in a recent, high-profile crime. That night, during his annual Masquerade Ball, is the best chance to look for evidence against him. Disguised as guests, players must infiltrate the ball, find proof of Manin’s guilt, and leave without being detected. Can you find the stolen object and escape in time?

The rooms are monitored by video cameras with audio. If players fail to solve the mystery and escape, they can return to take another crack at it for half-price.

“Ours is family-friendly since we're on Cannery Row,” said Riddoch, referring to some of the more gruesome or frightening escape rooms out there. “I think Cannery Row needs this.”

Originating in Japan as Real Escape Game (REG) in 2007, Seattle-based Puzzle Break became the first American-based escape room company in 2013. They are patterned after video or online games such as Zelda, Myst and Crimson Room. There are estimated to be more than 3,000 escape room venues worldwide. There's even a website directory of escape rooms (escaperoomdirectory.com) and people who are fans of the games are called Escape Room Enthusiasts.

"There is a growing consumer demand for social play experiences that are live and unique and can't be repeated," Sam Roberts, assistant director of the Interactive Media and Games division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, told the Los Angeles Times. Roberts says that immersive entertainment will be the next frontier of gaming — "the future of play spaces," he said.

“It's just so much fun,” said Riddoch. “It's great for team-building, it's fun playing it together with friends. It's such a great experience.”

Exodus Escape Room
765 Wave St., between Irving and Prescott, Monterey
Monterey@exodusescaperoom.com
(831) 324-0513
http://exodusescaperoom.com/monterey

Media Experiences Available Prior to the Event. Please Contact Marci Bracco Cain at Marci@ChatterboxPublicRelations.com to Schedule a Private Tour.

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

Theme of 2018 Monterey County Fair, “Shake Your Tail Feathers,” and official poster unveiled

The Monterey County Fair announced that the theme for the Aug. 30-Sept. 3, 2018, event will be “Shake Your Tail Feathers.”

Monterey, CA, Dec 11 , 2017 — The Monterey County Fair announced that the theme for the Aug. 30-Sept. 3, 2018, event will be “Shake Your Tail Feathers.”

The fair also unveiled its official poster for this year's event, featuring chickens in Mardi Gras-style beads, masks and hats and two chickens enjoying a Ferris wheel ride.

“We are very excited about the 2018 Monterey County Fair theme and dedicate it to our feathered friends at the Fair,” says Kelly Violini, Monterey County Fair CEO. “We hope that everyone can come out and join us in ‘Shaking a Tail Feather’!”

The artists and graphic designers who collaborated on the poster are Olivia Trinidad and Arnold Ramos of OT Graphic Design of Monterey, which has been doing graphic art and design work for the Monterey County Fair since 2008, including all official posters for the fair since then.

“They just wanted it to be colorful and fun, with chickens and roosters having fun at the Fair,” says Trinidad, who has 20 years of experience in graphic design, about the poster assignment. “It’s great to be able to do a poster on our own. Usually we work with art we are given, but this time it was my artwork, so we were able to play with it. It was fun and easy.”

The Monterey County Fair will run from Thursday, Aug. 30-Monday, Sept. 3, 2018, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, in Monterey.

About the Monterey County Fair & Event Center
The Monterey County Fair & Event Center is a premier event center set on 22 oak-studded acres with ample parking. It is a state-owned multi-use facility that features four large banquet rooms, two outdoor concert venues, and a variety of outdoor and indoor cost-effective sites ideal for all types of events. It is home of the annual award-winning Monterey County Fair, host to many major and private events on the Central Coast, and the site of the Monterey Bay Race Place, a Satellite Wagering Facility.

For more information, contact the Fair Administration Office, at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey, by calling (831) 372-5863 or go to www.montereycountyfair.com for more information.

Monterey County Fair & Event Center
2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940
www.montereycountyfair.com
montereyfairpr@gmail.com
(831) 372-5863

OT Graphic Design
PO Box 2454
Monterey CA 93942
Phone: (831) 402-7946
E-mail: olivia@otgraphicdesign.com
otgraphicdesign.com

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

Monterey County, California Vineyard/Winery Owner Expresses Frustration with U.S. Government’s Blanket Freeze Holding up Wine Area Designation

Ann Hougham, owner of Mesa Del Sol Vineyards in Greenfield, has written to President Donald Trump and various Congressional leaders expressing her deep frustration that a benign petition to expand the Arroyo Seco American Viticultural Area

Greenfield, CA, Dec 11, 2017 — Ann Hougham, owner of Mesa Del Sol Vineyards in Greenfield, has written to President Donald Trump and various Congressional leaders expressing her deep frustration that a benign petition to expand the Arroyo Seco American Viticultural Area, where her vineyard and winery are located, has been caught up in a Trump administration regulatory freeze that cuts across every level of government.

“I am writing as a small vineyard/winery owner frustrated over the lack of movement to lift the blanket ‘Regulatory Freeze Pending Review’ put in place as of January 2017 that is egregiously affecting my business,” writes Hougham in a letter dated Dec. 5. “How many other businesses are affected by this ‘Regulatory Freeze Pending Review?’ I am extremely frustrated, I can attest to that!”

Under the regulatory freeze, no rulings can be enacted until the freeze is lifted, even those that have been approved, such as Hougham’s.

The Arroyo Seco AVA is an up-and-coming region for wines of distinction. According to Hougham, wines made from grapes grown on her land have been garnering high honors, but she is not able to claim that the grapes grown on her land are in the Arroyo Seco AVA, nor can she label her wines as such.

Since December 2016, Hougham has had a “Petition to Expand the Arroyo Seco American Viticultural Area” signed and ready to go to public comment before publishing, just awaiting permission from the U.S. Treasury, but which is now stalled by the regulatory freeze.

“A ruling on this petition has absolutely no tax implications. Every person and entity is in favor of this ruling,” she writes. “In my case, a ruling in favor and the publishing of this petition is righting something that was previously thought to be fact. For me and the other wineries that purchase my grapes, however, it is taxing.”

Hougham’s petition has been “perfected” and meets the U.S. Alcohol and Tax and Trade Bureau’s (TTB) regulatory requirements for expanding AVAs. She was told in December 2016, that the petition was on the desk of Amy Greenberg, Director of TTB’s Regulations and Rulings Division, awaiting her signature before heading to a 90-day public comment period.

A few weeks later, Hougham was told that there was a halt to the process because a new administration was coming in, which is customary. In January 2017, she was informed that the Treasury Department was waiting for positions to be filled by the new administration. Then the regulatory freeze occurred, halting the entire process.

“I have spoken out because this issue needs to be addressed, not just for me but for many others,” Hougham writes. “Our government has ground to a halt, freezing businesses from moving forward. I know there are bigger issues at hand however, please, do this important piece of housekeeping and let’s move forward.”

Hougham said that she joined the Monterey County Growers and Vintners Association (MCGVA) specifically to be placed on the Arroyo Seco AVA map. She discovered, however, that her vineyard in Arroyo Seco was not in the Arroyo Seco AVA, but was contiguous to it. But she points out that, since 2001, it has been designated such by TTB permits, California Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) permits, Monterey County permits, and numerous distinguished wine labels, including her own Mesa Del Sol label.

She then began the arduous task of petitioning the TTB to expand the Arroyo Seco AVA to prove that the name and the area’s distinguishing features applied to her lands as well.

It took her two months of research to compile the evidence necessary, write the petition and garner a slew of signatures in support of her petition and submit it to the TTB. On May 19, 2015, Greenberg wrote her informing her that her petition had been “perfected” and met TTB’s regulatory requirements for expanding AVAs.

Her petition then went to the bottom of the list of the TTB’s “List of Pending American Viticultural Area Petitions” and eventually began making the rounds of various government agencies for review and approval. Her petition is now at the top of the list, which continues to grow longer with no movement forward due to the freeze.

“A regulatory freeze sounds good in principle, however, it freezes movement forward for everything across the board,” Hougham said.

Ann Hougham, Owner
Mesa Del Sol Vineyards
45803 Arroyo Seco Road, Greenfield, CA 93927
Email: mesadelsol@aol.com
831-624-8527/ moblie: 831-320-8274
Website: mesadelsolvineyards.com

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

Sheraton Palo Alto Opens ‘Reimagined’ Poolside Grill After Six-Month Renovation Project

The Sheraton Palo Alto has announced the re-opening of its popular Poolside Grill after an extensive six-month renovation.

Palo Alto, CA, Dec 04, 2017 - The Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel has announced the re-opening of its popular Poolside Grill after an extensive six-month renovation.

The 76-seat restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, opened its doors Nov. 27. The renovation, or “reimagining,” followed the renovation of the hotel’s lobby, bar and public spaces, which was also designed by Oakland-based design firm Arcsine.

“It feels really good to open,” said Suzanne Murdoch, vice president of Sales & Marketing for Pacific Hotel Management, the hotel’s parent company. “There are a lot of restaurants in Palo Alto to choose from, but it’s very unique because of the ambiance of being next to the pool. And, it’s always had a reputation of consistently offering fantastic food. It’s a local’s favorite too.”

Murdoch said the menu has basically remained the same, albeit with the introduction of a breakfast buffet and a few new touches here and there by Executive Chef Mark Ayers, who joined the culinary team in May. She added that Ayers will be making changes to the menu next year.

Ayers is not only Executive Chef of the Sheraton, but its nearby sister properties in the Pacific Hotel Management group, the Westin Palo Alto and The Clement Palo Alto.

“We didn’t want to change too many things just now and stay with the current lunch and dinner menu for now,” said Murdoch. “Mark added his own spin to breakfast, adding a few new items and embellishing our popular breakfast buffet.”

She said the restaurant’s signature items, such as the popular Minestrone Soup, the Wild Argentine Shrimp Tacos, the Scallop and Prawn Linguine and the Grilled Angus Flat Iron Steak Sandwich, will remain on the menu.

The design of the restaurant takes its cues from the style of the lobby renovations, with clean modern design also by Arcsine. The designers embraced the original modernist architecture while adding modest contemporary touches, including refined furniture and elegantly simple light fixtures. The palette of clear walnut and textural cream with brushed brass accents unites the restaurant aesthetically with the hotel’s renovated public space.

Inside the restaurant, natural light floods into the vaulted skylight and highlights the restored wood plank ceiling, diffusing light throughout the space.

The furniture layout is arranged to maximize views to the pool and patterned wood screens surround banquettes near the entry to create a strong sense of arrival. Considering the local tech nexus, connectivity is key; an elevated communal table offers power at the table apron, while minimalist outlets are installed at Pullman-style booths.

By relocating the buffet opposite the pool, the space better transitions from day to night: custom-patterned accordion doors stack discreetly away to feature the breakfast spread and expand during lunch and dinner service to create a feature wall.

“It really has a resort-style atmosphere, it feels like your dining at a resort,” said Murdoch. “It’s a great restaurant that opens up to the pool and you can either eat on the pool deck or inside. When the weather is nice and the doors are open, it’s a very popular place to eat.”

The Breakfast Buffet is available from 6-10 a.m. daily; a la carte breakfast is offered from 6-11 a.m.; lunch is served from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; and dinner from 5-10:30 p.m.

Murdoch added that the hotel also offers complimentary on-site parking for those dining at the Poolside Grill.

About the Sheraton Palo Alto
The Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel is the perfect location for business or leisure travel, bay area weddings or banquets in Silicon Valley. Located at the entrance to Stanford University, the hotel is within walking distance to downtown Palo Alto with its charming boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and nightlife.

Just one block away you will find the nationally recognized Stanford Shopping Center, Stanford Stadium, Stanford Medical Center, Palo Alto Medical Foundation and the Town & Country Village. The hotel is one block from the CalTrain Station, which provides easy access into San Francisco and San Jose.

The Sheraton’s resort-like setting provides 346 spacious guestrooms with many of the rooms featuring a patio or balcony that overlooks the koi ponds, water and flower garden or the sparkling pool.

The Club Level offers special in-room amenities with access to the Club Lounge. The Club Lounge provides complimentary continental breakfast and complimentary evening hors d’oeuvres as well as a private area to relax, read or utilize high-speed Internet access.

The Bay Area Silicon Valley Hotel offers event facilities for banquet and wedding receptions.

Sheraton Palo Alto
625 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, California 94301
TEL 650.328.2800
FAX 650.327.7362
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=214

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=214

Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel Announces Special Packages for 2018

The Hofsas House Hotel, a 38-room boutique family-owned inn in the heart of Carmel, is pleased to announce the launch of its special packages for 2018.

Salinas, CA, Dec 04, 2017 - The Hofsas House Hotel, a 38-room boutique family-owned inn in the heart of Carmel, is pleased to announce the launch of its special packages for 2018.

The packages appeal to a wide variety of guests, from art and wine lovers to dog owners, chocolate lovers and those looking for a relaxing spa experience. To book any of these packages during your stay, call (831) 624-2745 or email info@hofsashouse.com.

Hofsas House Packages for 2018

Get Artsy Package
For decades, Carmel, California has been a haven for artists, from authors, poets and actors to painters and sculptors. Today there are more than 80 art galleries within walking distance from the hotel. The Hofsas House is part of that artistic tradition and has been touched by one of the world’s most famous artists. Did you know that artist Maxine Albro was commissioned by Donna Hofsas to paint the welcoming mural and the headboard featured in Room 47 of the Hofsas House? In the 1940s and 1950s, Maxine was living in Carmel and was friends with Donna. After the main four-story addition to the Hofsas House was completed in 1957, Donna asked Maxine to paint the mural and add other highlights to the front of the building to enhance the hotel's Bavarian theme. Maxine also painted the three pictures now hanging in the lobby.

The Hofsas House celebrates Carmel's artistic legacy by offering guests its special “Get Artsy Package.” This package includes a stay in the Room 47 — the very room Maxine Albro painted! Mention the Hofsas House “Get Artsy” package with the code “HHArt” and receive a gourmet cheese tray and bottle of wine upon arrival.

Carmel continues to be an artist colony and attracts some of the world’s most famous artists, including painters, sculptors, and photographers. Hofsas House can help arrange a tour of Carmel's art galleries and artists' studios with Carmel Art Tours. Discover secret passageways, visit hand-picked galleries, both the internationally acclaimed and the hidden gems. There's also an opportunity for a chance encounter with an artist at work in a Carmel studio. Cost is $25 per person, reservations are required, and participants meet for the tour at Carmel Visitors Center. Info at www.carmelarttours.com, 800-979-3370.

Wine and Chocolate Package
Upgrade your stay at Hofsas House with a four pack of handcrafted artisanal sea salt caramels from Monterey's Lula’s Chocolates and a bottle of award-winning Monterey County wine.

Monterey County wines are now on par with California's other legendary wine regions such as Napa and Sonoma. In fact, Wine Enthusiast magazine named Monterey County as one of the world's top 10 wine destinations — ahead of the Napa Valley and in the company of the other famed wine-growing regions around the world.

Monterey County produces 42 different varietals of high-quality, award-winning wines, especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. For this special package choose either a Monterey County Chardonnay or Pinot Noir from a personally selected list of wines.

Lula's Chocolates, founded by Scott Lund, are made the old-fashioned way, using recipes passed down from Scott's grandmother, Lula herself. To this day, Lula's makes sure each hand-dipped, small batch, deliciously fresh chocolate is an experience worth savoring.

Cost for this wine-and-chocolate package is $25. Use the code HHChoc when booking this package.

Tail-Wagging Package
Hofsas House is one of the most dog-friendly hotels in Carmel. Guests receive a complimentary “Doggie Welcome Package” upon arrival that includes:
Hofsas House dog Frisbee
Hofsas House collapsible dog bowl
Special dog bed
Letter from Tank, our onsite Pet Concierge
Special dog amenities package
Tips and recommendations for your four-legged friend’s stay
Walking trail and hiking guide
A package of treats
Coastal Canine Magazine — offering the best four-legged options for visiting Carmel

This package requires a minimum two-night stay, $30 fee per night for one dog and $50 per night for two dogs.

Relax at Cinq Mondes Spa Carmel
Cinq Mondes Spa Carmel is the French cosmetic company's first and only Cinq Mondes spa in the United States and serves as the company's flagship location in the U.S. Cinq Mondes Spa Carmel combines tradition, beauty, authenticity, and luxury, allowing guests to enjoy a soothing sensory voyage of the five different worlds in the nearby Crossroads Shopping Center in Carmel.

Cinq Mondes has gathered a selection of traditional treatments from around the world that are remarkable for their quality, authenticity and ceremonial traditions.

Hofsas House is partnering with Cinq Mondes to offer guests a relaxing and soothing spa package that includes a 60-minute massage or facial. Cinq Mondes' signature facial is the "Ko-Bi-Do" for its unique use of Dermapuncture, or "acupuncture without needles,” as an anti-aging facial and its signature massage is the Moroccan massage. Price is $120 per massage or facials. All Hofsas House guests will get a special gift from Cinq Monde

This special package must be booked at least 72 hours in advance and is subject to availability.

About Hofsas House
The Hofsas House Hotel is a boutique family-owned inn with 38 uniquely decorated, spacious rooms, many with ocean views overlooking the pines in the village of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Dutch doors appoint each room allowing our guests to enjoy the fresh ocean air. Our guests watch glorious sunsets over the Pacific Ocean from the privacy of the inn's decks or rooms. Some rooms and most suites have fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars or kitchens.

The Hofsas House is located three blocks north of Ocean Avenue, eight blocks from the picturesque white sand Carmel beach and one block from a child-friendly City park. There is plenty of off-street parking and guests delight in walking everywhere in Carmel from the inn. Enjoy a continental breakfast in the morning with French roast coffee, tea, fresh pastries delivered from a local bakery, juice, yogurt and fruit.

Other amenities include a heated swimming pool, dry saunas, view deck areas and free wireless Internet access. Some rooms are dog friendly. Casual elegance, personal service and traditional family hospitality are the trademarks of Hofsas House Hotel.

Hofsas House Hotel
Between 3rd & 4th Ave on San Carlos Street.
P.O. Box 1195
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921
Phone: (831) 624-2745
info@hofsashouse.com
HofsasHouse.com

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

Monterey Law Firm L+G, LLP Becomes JRG Attorneys at Law

Managing Partner Jeff Gilles announced today that L+G, LLP, Attorneys at Law, will change the name of the law firm to Johnson, Rovella, Retterer, Rosenthal & Gilles, LLP and will be doing business as JRG Attorneys At Law, as of Dec. 1, 2017.

Monterey, CA, Nov. 30, 2017 — Managing Partner Jeff Gilles announced today that L+G, LLP, Attorneys at Law, will change the name of the law firm to Johnson, Rovella, Retterer, Rosenthal & Gilles, LLP and will be doing business as JRG Attorneys At Law, as of Dec. 1, 2017.

“JRG are my initials, and, they are also the initials of all of my partners,” said Gilles in a letter to staff and clients. “I have worked for over 38 years building a practice and relationships that allow for us to be leaders in our community and in our profession. I have also partnered with those that I truly feel will continue to build upon our legacy of teamwork, commitment and excellence.”

Gilles said the formal name for the Limited Liability Partnership will change to Johnson, Rovella, Retterer, Rosenthal & Gilles, LLP, but is asking that friends and colleagues call the firm simply, “JRG Attorneys at Law.”

“My partners Aaron Johnson, Paul Rovella, Jason Retterer, Bob Rosenthal and I are committed to ensuring that our team provides you the very best in legal services and we will always be Experts in Your Field,” Gilles writes in a letter to clients. “I am positive we have the staff, attorneys and experience to provide you the professional advice and consultation you require, now and for many years to come.”

The firm’s website will also be changed, to JRGattorneys.com.

About JRG Attorneys at Law
Jeff Gilles, Managing Partner of JRG Attorneys at Law, started his practice in the 1970s. Since then, he has assembled a team of attorneys and paralegals with offices in downtown Salinas, downtown Hollister, Monterey, as well as services to the South County and Paso Robles areas.

Gilles and his partners, associates, and staff offer legal services ranging from agriculture, business formations and transactions, civil litigation, estate planning, labor and employment, land use, municipal law, planning and zoning, cannabis business, and real estate.

The firm has more than 30 years of experience and more than 30 employees in its offices. For more information about JRG Attorneys at Law, please call (831) 754-2444 or visit JRGattorneys.com.

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

Monterey County Fair and Event Center Offering Discounted Rate For Tuesday Site Rental

Tuesdays get even brighter at the Monterey County Fair and Event Center when event site rentals are all 10% off through Dec. 31, 2018.

Monterey, CA, Nov 29, 2017 — Tuesdays get even brighter at the Monterey County Fair and Event Center when event site rentals are all 10% off through Dec. 31, 2018.

Book any site at the fairgrounds, including the Payton Garden Stage and four meeting rooms — Monterey, Salinas, King City and Seaside rooms — for a Tuesday event and get the reduced rate.

The following rooms are available under this special Tuesday rate at the event center at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey. Kitchen use is a separate fee.

Monterey Room
7,000 square feet
Max seated occupancy: 400
Max occupancy: 1,000
Carpeted
Permanent dance floor
P/A system
Built-in Bar
Kitchen

Salinas Room:
7,000 square feet
Max seated occupancy: 400
Max occupancy: 1,000
Non-carpeted
Tall vaulted ceilings
P/A system
Electrical drop boxes

King City Room:
7,000 square feet
Max seated occupancy: 400
Max occupancy: 1,000
Non-carpeted
Tall vaulted ceilings
P/A system
Electrical drop boxes

Seaside Room:
7,000 square feet
Max occupancy: 300
Carpeted
P/A system
Built-in bar
Large commercial kitchen

Floor plans and event request forms are available at montereycountyfair.com. For more information or to book a site, contact the Event Coordinator at (831) 372-5863.

About the Monterey County Fair & Event Center
The Monterey County Fair and Event Center is a premier event center set on 22 oak-studded acres with ample parking. It is a state-owned multi-use facility that features four large banquet rooms, two outdoor concert venues, and a variety of outdoor and indoor cost-effective sites ideal for all types of events. It is home of the annual award-winning Monterey County Fair, host to many major and private events on the Central Coast, and the site of the Monterey Bay Race Place, a Satellite Wagering Facility.

For more information, contact the Fair Administration Office, at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey, by calling (831) 372-5863 or go to www.montereycountyfair.com for more information.

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