All Weekend
The Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational tees off throughout the weekend at Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Del Monte. Professional and amateur golfers will compete for a $300,000 purse; first place receives $60,000. The Invitational gives spectators a special chance to watch their favorite golfers with breath taking views of the Monterey Peninsula as the backdrop, and best of all it’s free! Tuesday-Sunday, Pebble Beach and Monterey. Free admission.
Ice Skating by the Bay kicks off this weekend at Custom House Plaza! The outdoor ice rink will be open for winter fun well into the holidays. Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday noon-8pm, Custom House Plaza, Monterey. $12 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under and $3 skate rental fee.
The 2011 Health and Fitness Expo takes place Friday and Saturday before the Big Sur Half Marathon on Sunday. Over 40 vendors will offer the latest in health and fitness related products. Race participants can also pick up their race bib, sweats bag and event shirt. The expo will be open on Friday from noon-6pm and Saturday from 9am-6pm. 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey. Free admission.
Classic guitarist Terrence Farrell plays this weekend at the C Restaurant + Bar at the InterContinental. Enjoy champagne flights and a fantastic ocean view! Friday and Saturday from 5:30pm-9pm, 750 Cannery Row, Monterey. Free admission.
Just in time for Turkey Day, the Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates their Feathered Friends this weekend! Activities include bird feedings, face painting, family crafts and more. Kids can even meet a penguin and Makana, a rare Laysan albatross. Click here for a detailed list of events. Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey. Free with aquarium admission.
Friday
The Del Monte Center is gearing up for Black Friday with their Annual Holiday Tree Lighting today. There will be plenty of holiday cheer with live music from Eight Second Ride and tasty treats. Don’t miss when Santa magically lights up the tree near Macy’s. 5pm-7pm, 1410 Del Monte Center. Free admission. Jack Nielsen’s Triple Threat performs tonight at the Mucky Duck. Enjoy their blues tunes and prepare to be stunned at what Jack can do on the guitar! 5pm-9pm, 479 Alvarado Street, Monterey. Free admission. Pink Martini performs tonight at the Sunset Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea. This 13-piece orchestra crosses all sorts of music genres including jazz, old-fashioned pop, lounge and classical. The Portland-based band has gone gold in Canada, France, Greece and Turkey and has collaborated with everyone from Carol Channing to drag queens dressed like Carol Channing. 8pm, San Carlos & 9th Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea. $77. Matt Masih and the Messengers groove tonight at Bullwacker’s. This jam band is all about having fun and playing funky beats. 8:30pm, 653 Cannery Row, Monterey. No cover. Rex Wheeler jams tonight at the London Bridge Pub on Fisherman’s Wharf. Rex’s acoustic rock music is a perfect way to wind down after a busy work week. 9pm, 256 Figueroa St., Wharf #2, Monterey. No cover.Saturday
Start your morning off with a hike through Garland Ranch’s Lower Trails. Guides from the Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District will take guests on a low-key hike through the Waterfall, Cliff, Mesa and Lupine trails. The 3 mile hike is expected to last 1 -2 hours. Don’t forget to bring water, snacks and good hiking shoes. 9:30am, Garland Ranch Visitor Center, Carmel Valley. Get in the Thanksgiving spirit today out at The Farm in Salinas. The event will include a vegetable treasure hunt, a pumpkin toss, hay rides and more! 11am, Spreckels exit off of Highway 68, Salinas. Free admission. Looking for a fun and inexpensive way to entertain the kids? Visit the Monterey Museum of Art- La Mirada for Family Day. Today kids and adults will be admitted into the museum for free to explore the new Pop Icons exhibit and for special activities geared towards tiny tots. 11am-4pm, 720 Via Mirada, Monterey. Free admission. Head over to Oldtown Salinas for a performance from the Monterey Symphony and performers from the American Ballet Theater at the Steinbeck Institute of Art and Culture. The show entitled “George² + Bragado² = Who Cares?” includes selections from the ballet by George Balanchine, featuring some of George Gershwin’s greatest Broadway tunes. 2pm (rehearsal) and 7pm, 940 N. Main Street, Salinas. $15 at 2pm and $20 at 7pm. The Mucky Duck presents cover group the Roadhouse Band tonight on the patio. Join in on the Happy Hour fun! 5pm-9pm, 479 Alvarado Street, Monterey. Free admission Come out to Bullwacker’s tonight and listen to live rock n’ roll music from the Temple Tigers. 8:30pm, 653 Cannery Row, Monterey. No cover. Nothing to do this Saturday night? Don’t worry mon, Jonah and the Whalewatchers are performing tonight at the Fernwood Tavern in Big Sur. This local favorite plays original reggae and world music which is sure to keep ya jammin’. 9pm, 47200 Highway One, Big Sur. Free admission. Jose’s Underground Lounge presents The Silent Comedy and Standing Shadows tonight. Folk rock and indie band The Silent Comedy will play tracks off of their newest album and Standing Shadows will round out the night with indie and electro melodies. 9pm, 638 Wave Street, Monterey. $10 for those 21 and older. London Bridge Pub presents the Sean Ryan Duo tonight. Check out their alternative, rock and jazz styles. 9:30pm, 256 Figueroa St., Wharf #2, Monterey. No cover.Sunday
Get ready, get set, go! The Big Sur Half Marathon sprints off bright and early this morning. The course makes this run painless with spectacular views of historic downtown Monterey, Cannery Row, Monterey Bay’s coastline and Pacific Grove. The race is currently sold out but spectators can cheer on participants along the 13.1 mile course or at the finish line at Custom House Plaza. 7am, Del Monte near Figueroa Street, Monterey.
The competition heats up at this year’s Monterey Bay Blues “Battle of the Blues Band”. Ten bands will compete for the title and the opportunity to play on the main stage during 2012’s Monterey Bay Blues Festival. Fans will have the ultimate say as to who takes home the prize. 1pm-7pm, Monterey County Fairgrounds, Monterey Room, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. $10 admission fee.
The Monterey Symphony presents “George² + Bragado² = Who Cares?” at the Sunset Center this afternoon. The symphony will be paired with performers from the American Ballet Theater to perform selections from the ballet by George Balanchine, featuring some of George Gershwin’s greatest Broadway tunes. 3pm, San Carlos & 9th Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea. $26-$75.
Reggae artist Tony Miles performs at Mucky Duck today during Reggae Sunday. Come on over and relax before Monday hits. 4pm-8pm, 479 Alvarado Street, Monterey. Free admission.
