Mendocino Fun

The History of Three Glass Beaches: From Trash to Treasure

bruce — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:55:39 +0000

Fort Bragg is known for Glass Beach at MacKerricher State Park,the city’s dump from 1949-1967. But actually the city has three glass beaches; each more beautiful than the next.

The MacKerricher site has been picked over by thousands of visitors, but continues to toss beautiful sea glass from the former dump onto the beach.

About three coves to the south is Glass Beach #2, the city dump from 1943-49 and ankle deep in glass. Check out our video. Remember, don’t take buckets of glass. Just look for that ruby red gem (1 in 10,000 pieces) and leave the rest for others to see.

Even farther south, accessible by kayak only is our third and most spectacular glass beach, a dump from 1906-1943.

Glass Beach Museum – Treasure from Fort Bragg’s Beaches

bruce — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 22:49:53 +0000

Fort Bragg’s glass beaches — there are three — is a story of trash to treasure. At one time, local residents used the ocean as a dump. Over the decades, broken bottles and old car tail lights, frosted by the sea water and smoothed by the waves became beautiful pieces of glass. Go ahead and explore those beaches, but rather than take glass, go over to Capt. Cass’ Museum on Highway 1, just about a mile south of Fort Bragg’s Pudding Creek Bridge and Highway 20.

Whale Festivals in March 2012

dff — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:02:19 +0000

The Mendocino Coast Whale Festivals are coming up in March for the 30th straight year. The Mendocino festival is March 3-4, the Little River festival is March 10-11, and the Fort Bragg festival is March 17-18. Here are some highlights from the festivals:

Mendocino • March 3-4

Wine-Tasting throughout Mendocino Village.
KOZT Presents “An Evening of Wood and Steel”: former members of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Van Morrison Band, Jesse Colin Young Band, Sons Of Champlin, Moby Grape and more…Steven Bates, Roger Fritz, David Hayes, Gene Parson and James Preston. Guitars, upright bass, mandolin, pedal steel guitar and more plus Mendocino County wine bar benefiting Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce programs.
Chowder Tasting at Crown Hall
Marine Life Exhibit at Mendocino Art Center
Whalewatching Boat Tours
Whalewatching walks at Point Cabrillo Lighthouse and Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Little River • March 10-11

Taste of Little River: local chefs paired with Mendocino County wines
Whalewatching Boat Tours
Whalewatching walks at Point Cabrillo Lighthouse and Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Fort Bragg • March 17-18

Whale Run and Walk
Fort Bragg Kiddie Parade
Chowder Tasting
Wine Tasting and Microbrew Beer Tasting
Whalewatching Boat Tours
Whalewatching walks at Point Cabrillo Lighthouse and Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Whales and First Day Hikes Start January 1

dff — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 18:27:44 +0000

Migrating California Gray whales, numbering between 18,000–23,000 individuals, pass by the Mendocino coast twice each year. Here are several ways you can check out the whales and other wildlife along the Mendocino Coast, thanks to State Parks.

FIRST DAY WALKS: California State Parks announces guided interpretive hikes at 4 state parks along the Mendocino Coast on January 1, 2012. These hikes are part of a nationwide effort of special hikes on New Years Day in state parks in all 50 states. This will promote state parks and participation in healthy activities. All of these hikes will take place on California’s North Coast in wintertime. Be prepared for cool temperatures.

WALK #1: Westport-Union Landing State Beach. Meet the docent at 1:00 p.m. at the park headquarters building at park main entrance, just west of Hwy 1. The park is located about 19 miles north of Fort Bragg, California on Hwy 1. This will be a 1 mile long moderate hike. This hike is suggested for children 8 years and older, and adults. Learn fun facts about the once bustling town of Westport from local resident Steve Brigham.

WALK #2: MacKerricher State Park. Meet the docent at 10:00 a.m. at the Laguna Point parking lot, from Mill Creek Road, three miles north of Fort Bragg, California, west of Hwy 1. This will be an easy three-quarter-mile walk along a boardwalk. This short walk will be filled with fun facts about MacKerricher State Park as you walk to an overlook above the ocean. Park Naturalist Teresa Hurray will lead this walk. The walk is suggested for children 12 years and older, and adults.

WALK #3: Russian Gulch State Park. Meet the docent in front of the recreation hall at the park at 12:00 noon. The park entrance road is located on the west side of Hwy 1, three miles north of Mendocino, California. This will be a moderate 5.5 mile out and back hike (2.75 miles each way) to the beautiful waterfall at Russian Gulch State Park. You will learn about the park’s natural history from Dave Jensen, renowned birder and naturalist. This hike is suggested for children 10 years and older, and adults. Bring water and snacks with you.

WALK #4: Mendocino Headlands State Park. Meet the docent at the Ford House Visitor Center at 1:00 p.m. The visitor center is at 725 E. Main St. in Mendocino, California. This will be a moderate 2 mile out and back hike (1 mile each way) to the bluffs overlooking the ocean. Park naturalist Fred Andrews will talk about the annual migration of gray whales between Alaska and Baja. Binoculars will be provided to look for gray whales swimming southward. This hike is suggested for children 10 years and older, and adults.

WHALE TALKS: California State Parks announces weekend whale talks at MacKerricher State Park! Talks will take place from January 7 through March 18, 2012. Knowledgeable docents will talk about the annual gray whale migration and about other marine mammals seen along the Mendocino coast. Programs are scheduled to begin every Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 a.m., from January 7, through March 18.

Talks will begin near the visitor center at the main entrance to MacKerricher State Park. Docents will provide binoculars and a spotting scope to help visitors study whales and other fascinating wildlife found near MacKerricher’s shores. After meeting at the MacKerricher visitor center, groups will then drive to Laguna Point, where you will walk out to look for whales. Programs are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday from January 7 through March 18, 2011

Candlelight Inn Tours This Week

nancy — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 21:24:08 +0000

Visit the area’s finest lodging sites, enjoy fine food and wine, while helping support Mendocino Coast youth programs. 3-6 pm each evening. For more information, call 707-964-1228. Tickets: $25 pp; $10 under age 10

Thursday, December 8, Mendocino
Friday, December 9, Fort Bragg
Saturday, December 10, Little River
Sunday, December 11, Elk

Festival of Lights

nancy — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:08:52 +0000

Join us at the 2nd Annual Festival of Lights where thousands of lights transform Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens into a magical Winter Wonderland. Stroll through a tunnel of lights; amble by magical toadstools; gaze in wonder at exotic forms of lighted cacti; take your picture in front of illuminated art pieces; find your way by the glow of luminarias; be awestruck by a forest of decorated holiday trees; enjoy a hot drink and dessert; shop for holiday treasures and natural wonders; be prepared for surprises. Special pricing on unique holiday gifts and decorations. Open every evening – 4:30 until 7:30 pm. Tickets $5, Fridays & Saturdays $10

“Potluck” Ceramics Holiday Sale

nancy — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:05:21 +0000

Saturday, December 3rd at Town Hall, 363 North Main Street, Fort Bragg from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. There will be many potters represented, lots of reasonably priced ceramics just in time for your holiday shopping. There will be large pots, functional ware, decorative ceramics, sculpture, and musical instruments to choose from. Come and meet the artists! 707-964-3466

Santa’s Coming to Town

nancy — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 06:26:18 +0000

Kids both young and old will want to be at the Mendocino Hotel on Main Street for Santa’s arrival on the fire truck. He’ll be here promptly at 3 pm, so don’t be late! Candy canes for the kids, and a photo opportunity with Santa.

Historic Walking Tours

nancy — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:23:51 +0000

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday (11/24-26), the Kelley House will offer our
docent-led, historic walking tours of Mendocino. Learn about movie sites, ghost stories, and meeting places of yesteryear. Walks start promptly at 11 am at the Kelley House Museum, 45007 Albion St., Mendocino. Cost $10pp

The museum will be open 11 am – 3 pm Thursday-Monday.

Mendocino Art Center’s Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Fair, November 25 & 26

dff — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:36:55 +0000

The Mendocino Art Center hosts the 52nd Annual Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts Fair, Friday and Saturday, November 25 and 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days. Thirty-nine juried artists and craftspeople from throughout Northern California will exhibit original handmade artwork in all media. The Fair is a fund-raising benefit for the Mendocino Art Center.

In what has become a North Coast tradition, the Mendocino Art Center’s galleries and workshop studios are transformed into a two-day holiday marketplace, providing residents and visitors a pleasant alternative to hectic, stressful mall shopping while supporting local and regional artists. This year’s fair showcases a wide array of unique, high quality artwork and gift items, including stained, fused and engraved glass; enameled, gold and mixed metal jewelry; original paintings and photographs; functional and decorative ceramics; sculptural work, wearable fiber art, and local art books.

Live music will be performed both days. On Friday, Bejazzled plays swing, standards and Latin dance music. On Saturday, with more of a focus on Latin music, Bejazzled transforms into Samba Jamba, playing an eclectic mix of arrangements including well-known Latin jazz and Brazilian classics, fronted by Cherie Sheraque’s dynamic vocals in English, Portuguese and Spanish. More information at www.sambajamba.com.

Gourmet Street Food designed by local chefs, wood-fired pizza, apple-press fresh juice, mulled wine, Jennie Zacha’s traditional blackberry sundaes, baked goods, homemade soup for sale in handmade bowls and more.

Fair exhibitors have been selected in a competitive juried process with participants representing the Bay Area, Sacramento, Chico, Sonoma County, inland Mendocino County, and the Mendocino Coast, as well as Oregon and New York.

The Fair is held indoors and is free and open to the public. The Mendocino Art Center is located at 45200 Little Lake Street at Kasten Street in Mendocino. For more information, please call 707-937-5818, ext. 10 (toll-free 1-800-653-3328) or visit www.MendocinoArtCenter.org.