This Week on the Central Coast…
Carmel Art Festival returns, PG gets a new museum director, local nonprofits get support, a popular bakery opening in Aptos, and the Boardwalk’s Giant Dipper celebrates its centennial with beer.
Monterey
The Carmel Art Festival returns next weekend, May 17 through 19, and will feature a variety of skilled artists. The festival takes place in Devendorf Park where artists will display their work alongside local food and wine. Live music will keep the event lively.
Each day of the festival will culminate in a different special event:
On Friday (May 17), artists will begin bringing in their exhibition paintings at 10am, when the festival officially begins. All art will be up by 3pm, which is when judging will begin. At 4pm, “Buy Now” sales will start for attendees.
Friday is also the day that sculptor Steven Whyte will hold his Sculpture in the Park demonstration, where he will unveil a life-size figure of Coach John Madden. The sculpture will be permanently installed outside Bruno’s Market, where Madden “enjoyed sitting on the bench, having a sandwich, and engaging with passersby in his favorite community.”
On Saturday (May 18), the festival opens at 9am with newly painted art sales and historic items from past years. Live music starts at 11am and other activities are scheduled throughout the day.
On the final day, Sunday (May 19), all artists will participate in the popular 30-minute Quick Draw competition. The event features artists painting live and in front of guests who are welcome to ask questions.
From 11am to 12pm, the artists will present their paintings to the judges and an auction will be set up.
From 12pm on, live music, food, drink, and other festivities will continue as the art sale goes on. The entire event concludes at 3pm.
The Carmel Art Festival is a 501c-3 nonprofit. All proceeds will go towards the festival’s new Carmel Art Festival Scholarship, “which provides financial assistance to local students interested in studying the arts as part of their college experience.”
Pacific Grove’s New Museum Director
Dr. Rachel Miller is the new executive director of the Museum of Natural History in Pacific Grove. Dr. Miller spent the last several years as the executive director of the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. While there, she created fun new programs that incorporated science and health, such as a nutrition program complete with a culinary lab and edible garden.
Here in Pacific Grove, Dr. Miller is interested in creating some STEM-based programs for the museum. She also wants to “incorporate more programs about heritage and different cultures.” As she adjusts to the area, Dr. Miller says that the community has been very helpful and generous with recommendations of places to go.
Students Deliver Birthday Kits to the Food Bank
Students of Trinity Christian High School donated fifty “birthday kits” to the Monterey County Food Bank. Each kit included “a boxed cake mix, a 12-ounce can of soda, a disposable baking tray, a can of frosting, and a pack of birthday candles and balloons.”
The donation was made possible through the school’s FLEX program, where every other Wednesday, students spend three hours on community service activities. "A community is strong when a community always works together, within itself. So I really, really hope that, if anything, these students take from this, that, it doesn't end at school, that they need to carry it forward wherever life takes them to continuously, serve their community," said Hannah Britain, a staff member at Trinity Christian.
Rancho Cielo Gains Funding for Culinary Program
Rancho Cielo received $1 million of federal funding for its culinary program. Staff says the money will be used to expand their culinary arts program. A new pastry kitchen was already planned, but now the school can offer more “specialized programming opportunities and training to more students.”
Thanks to Rancho Cielo’s programs, many students and families have been able to secure a stable income in growing industries. This funding will ensure that their success can continue.
Santa Cruz
Whale City Bakery Bar & Grill Opening in Aptos
Whale City Bar & Grill is a popular spot in Davenport. Now, locals won’t have to travel as far to get some of their favorite pastries. Owner Jimmy Armas is opening a new location on Soquel Drive in Aptos. The grand opening will be on Tuesday (May 14). Armas says they will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as have pastries and breads ready and available to-go.
Notable dishes include a variety of Benedict’s and omelets; soup, salads, and sandwiches for lunch; and specials like calamari and fish and chips.
Armas hopes to eventually convert the lower level of the building into a full bakery to help meet the increased demand.
Boardwalk Celebrating the Giant Dipper’s 100th Anniversary
Next Saturday (May 18), the Boardwalk will be celebrating the Giant Dipper’s 100th anniversary. To commemorate the event, the Boardwalk has partnered with Discretion Brewing for a special Giant Dipper Golden Ale. The beer is a low-alcohol blonde ale that was inspired by “Discretion’s Castle Beach extra pale ale and its Stefano Italian-style Pilsner.” The brewery also included Centennial hops in honor of the event.
The Giant Dipper was opened on May 17, 1924 and is the fourth oldest roller coaster in the U.S. and one of the top ten in the world. Both, the Giant Dipper and the Looff Carousel were designated National Historic Landmarks in June of 1987.