WHALE WATCH INN EVENTS

Point Arena Flower Power Festival and Daffodil Explosion

March 13 - 14, 2010 will kick off the Point Arena Flower Power Festival located on the Northern California coast. Food, crafts, events and music along with thousands of blooming daffodils will welcome spring to the Northern California Coast. This blossoming, and the advent of spring itself, is the focal point of the Point Arena Merchants Association Annual Flower Power Festival and Daffodil Explosion. The multi-colored blossoms will brighten the drive along historic Highway 1 which becomes Main Street through Point Arena.  An early sign of spring, daffodils will trumpet the season from scenic Arena Cove to the historic Point Arena Lighthouse. Saturday’s festival events include a mural scavenger hunt, scrabble tournament, 60’s art car show, crab Cioppino feed, a craft fair, flower arranging contest and musical events throughout the weekend. The festival culminates Sunday at the newly renovated Point Arena Lighthouse with a day of Wind and Whales.  Experience the thrilling climb to the top of the 115 foot tower; watch migrating gray whales and enjoy this dramatic setting for a kite flying demonstration. So mark your calendar - It's going to be a great time for the whole family!  Come for a day, come for a weekend, or come for a week! This event is about 15-20 minutes from the Whale Watch Inn. For additional information please visit www.pointarena.net

A must see, Saturday April 10, 2009 beginning a 5p, Jennifer Lee will be in the Whale Room performing.

You've heard her backing luminaries like Joe Walsh, Eric Carmen, and Michael Stanley - on stage and on record. You've seen her open for everyone from Ringo Starr to Rick Springfield, to The Eagles. And now; sweet-voiced siren Jennifer Lee has stepped out of the crowd and struck out on her own. Her music springs from the chaos of "Being a woman in music;" juggling home, career, and three beautiful children. From what she describes as "love, spirit, happiness, and sorrow" comes songs like Madison, Hand of God, and These Days of Goodbye, setting the stage for a solo excursion that's bound for greatness.

Make your reservations now at The Whale Watch Inn for this special night. $5 per person charge for non-guest of the Whale Watch Inn.

Other Upcoming Local Events

March 7, Gualala Arts Chamber Music Series presents: Jacques Thibaud String Trio. Prize-winners in the prestigious 1999 Bonn Chamber Music Competition, the trio was founded at the Berlin School of Art in 1994. Since then, the ensemble has performed throughout Europe, Japan and the U.S. $20 advance, $5 more day of concert. Young people ages 7 - 17 admitted free. 4 pm at Gualala Arts Center, 46501 Gualala Road in Gualala. More information at (707) 884-1138 or www.gualalaarts.org

March 12 – March 21, Gualala Art Center Theater presents the romantic comedy An Ordinary Woman Under Stress by Sandra Marie Vago. Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:30 pm. Tickets are available online here. $5 more the day of performance. Coleman Auditorium at Gualala Arts Center, 46501 Gualala Road in Gualala. More information at (707) 884-1138 or www.gualalaarts.org

March 13 – April 4, Gualala Arts will present an exhibit, titled Threads of Life, of pictorial quilts by the Los Hilos de la Vida group. This mostly Latina group tell their stories with fabric and thread. Gualala Arts Center, 46501 Gualala Road in Gualala. More information at (707) 884-1138 or www.gualalaarts.org

March 18 - Point Arena Third Thursday Poetry Series -- featuring San Francisco Poet, Ethel Mayes. Doors open at 7:15 pm & the reading starts at 7:30 pm with an open mic. This event is supported by Ling-Yen Jones, our generous community and Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant it has received from The James Irvine Foundation. Old City Art Building, 284 Main Street, Point Arena. For more information, email: blake@snakelyone.com

March 27 - Arena Theater presents The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD – Ambroise Thomas' Hamlet. Simon Keenlyside in the title role and Natalie Dessay as Ophelia bring their extraordinary acting and singing skills to two of Shakespeare’s most unforgettable characters. When the production by Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser opened at London’s Royal Opera House, Keenlyside’s portrayal was called “a revelation... thrilling throughout.” Louis Langrée conducts; with Jennifer Larmore, Toby Spence, and James Morris.. Run Time: 3 hours 45 minutes - 1 intermission. Doors open at 9:15 am, performance at 10 am. Arena Theater, 214 Main Street, Point Arena. More information at (707) 882-3272 or www.arenatheater.org

Monterey restaurateur and television chef John Pisto

Monterey restaurateur and television chef John Pisto visited Gualala for three days last week to film segments for his cooking show, “Monterey’s Cookin’ Pisto Style”. Chef Pisto and his film crew stayed at Whale Watch Inn and visited several other local attractions. The chef filmed segments including preparing fresh sea urchin from Fort Bragg and pasta featuring locally collected mushrooms. He also visited with St. Orres chef Rosemary Campiformio and sampled the whirlpool tubs at Whale Watch Inn. Kazie Popplewell, owner of the Whale Watch Inn, surprised the chef on his final morning with fresh sea urchin sushi. Chef Pisto was quite taken with the local community and plans to introduce his viewers to the many exciting reasons to visit the Northern California Coast. The program is carried nationwide on American Life Network, Hometown Network, and Monterey Cable channel 7. Click play on the video to watch the segment!

Click here to see Joe Pisto and Kazie Popplewell at the Inn