Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens celebrate Winesong!

Winesong! will b held on Sept. 9&10 from
1 to 5 p.m. This celebration of food, wine, music and philanthropy is 
hosted by the only coastal botanical gardens on the West Coast- the
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in Fort Bragg. 

Winesong! features a
wine auction and a wine tasting showcasing more than 100 wine producers from
several wine regions including Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, Sierra
Foothills, Oregon, and many more. 

Lots auctioned will include: rare
vintages from France and Italy, international cult wines, original arts,
and custom designed vacations.  Tickets are $40-$175.

http://www.winesong.org/ or (707) 961-4909

Half Moon Bay to hold first marathon

First Annual
Half Moon
Bay International Marathon
presented by Sam’s Chowder House
willbe held on Sept. 23-25.

The first Half Moon Bay
International Marathon will be held in Half Moon Bay this year. Runners
will begin and end the race at Princeton Harbor,
home to Mavericks Big Wave Surfing Contest.

The marathon path features 26 miles
of flat terrain, ranging across the Pacific Ocean coastline and provides
exquisite views of Half Moon Bay
landmarks such as the Pillar Point
Fishing Harbor,
Point Montara Lighthouse and the world-famous Mavericks big-wave surfing area.

To see the full course, visit www.halfmoonbayinn.org/course.
Princeton Harbor, Half
Moon Bay
(650) 479-5RUN (5786).

Mountain View holds Art and Wine Festival

Mountain View will hold the 40th Annual Art & Wine
Festival, Sept. 10-11.
Considered one of America’s top art
festivals, huge throngs of art lovers are expected to pour into
Silicon Valley’s epicenter for this “Cultural Community Celebration”
presented by the Chamber of Commerce Mountain View. Hours are 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m. both days. Admission is free.


Buyers and browsers will find thousands of handcrafted
items by America’s best artists while browsing among 600 well-stocked
booths featuring original work in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber,
leather, wood, jewelry, and fine art.

Fourteen dynamite bands
will play a wide-ranging musical mix on the Civic Center Plaza
Music Stage
and multiple street locations throughout downtown —
Motown, rhythm and blues, country, swing, rock ‘n roll, jazz, soul,
world-beat, Celtic folk, funk, disco, Latin rock, rumba flamenco and
party music.

The Kids’ Park Community Stage is
back! Fresh, talented, up and coming performers will strut their
showstopping stuff in front of a live audience in this “Mountain
View’s Got Talent” style showcase. Kids’ Park will
keep youngsters plenty enthralled with a special NASA exhibit,
hands-on art booths, Mobile Rock’s 24-foot climbing wall, super cool
body art, balloon twisters, gold fish toss, remote controlled NASCAR
race track, hula hooping, feather hair extensions, the thrilling
Froghopper, Zoom and Helicopter carnival rides, Monkey bounce house,
and Tsunami Tidal Wave slide.

Festival eateries will be serving up a
world of flavorful fare — fresh corn-on-the-cob, souvlaki made
with organic, locally sourced ingredients, Teriyaki chicken and
vegetables, barbecue chicken and pork skewers, plump smoked sausages,
paella, tacos, tamales, pizza, garlic chicken sandwiches,
Parmesan-sprinkled garlic fries, tri-tip and pulled pork sandwiches,
smoked turkey legs, smoothies, kettle corn and more.

Complementing the fabulous food will be premium wines, refreshing
mojitos, margaritas, sangria and microbrews.


On Sunday (Sept. 11), there will be a special 10-year remembrance
ceremony to honor the heroes from 9/11. Members of all military
branches, local police and fire officials, and civic dignitaries will
participate in a ceremony including speaker presentations, singing of
the national anthem, a moment of silence and lowering of the flag.

The festival will be held on September
10-11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Castro Street between El Camino Real
and Evelyn Avenue in Mountain View, California. Admission is free.
For festival information, call 650-968-8378 or visit
www.miramarevents.com

Last minute suggestions for Labor Day

If you haven’t made any plans for Labor Day yet,
Gogobot.com – the social travel planning site – has got you covered with
a list of great places where you can make the most out of your last
weekend of summer.

Suggestions include:

         Ojai: Great for hiking, art workshops, the amazing spa, golf, equestrian activities, and much more

         Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: A jewel of nature in southern California features amazing hiking and camping

         Soule Park Golf Course: One of the most beautiful courses in the world.

Check out the full list here: http://www.gogobot.com/user/labor_day_getaway/passport/california