Ski Week was started to give sunny Southern California a chance
to get some physical education in the mountains. Now it's used as
an excuse to come to Mammoth for great winter skiing.
California's Premier Wildlife festival, will be held Saturday, February
20th, at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area in Davis. This family friendly
event features 20 field trips to sites throughout the region, including
Central Valley Raptors, the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, and the all-day
Mystery Bird Trip.
Workshops will be held throughout the day and include duck calling,
bird box building, and a live bat workshop. Don't miss the crowd
pleasing Mallard ducklings, which will be on display, as well as
live raptors.
The cost for the California Duck Days activities on February 20th
is $20 per person, and children under the age of 16 are free when
accompanied by an adult. All participants are encouraged to pre-register
due to limited space on field trips.
For a complete schedule of events and to register online, please
visit www.yolobasin.org or contact the Yolo Basin Foundation at
(530) 757-3780
Cycling enthusiasts and fans are invited to participate in Breakaway
Ride presented by Specialized, two riding events held in conjunction
with the upcoming 2010 Amgen Tour of California professional cycling
race set for May 16-23, 2010. Both rides will be held in April2010
(one month prior to the 2010 Amgen Tour of California) and will
serve to raise awareness and funds for Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer®
initiative.
The two Breakaway Ride dates are:
Sunday, April 11:
Stage 8 route – Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Agoura
Hills (7AM)
Sunday, April 25:
Stage 2 route – Davis to Santa Rosa (7AM)
Davis to Santa Rosa Ride:
The long ride is approximately 100 miles and will start in California's
Central Valley and will head west into the mountains and valleys
of Napa and Sonoma County. The ride will pass by some of the most
famous and iconic wineries and appellations in the world. Don’t
befooled by the charm of the wineries and the vines: The route will
also have some of Northern California’s most legendary climbs. The
full route will be a beautiful, tough and satisfying day on the
bike.
Santa Rosa will be the start location for the short course of approximately
40 miles and the intermediate course of approximately 65miles. The
routes will travel out of Santa Rosa, will pick up the Amgen Tour
of California route back to Santa Rosa. Both the short and intermediate
distance rides will have a combination of rolling hills and at least
one serious climb.
Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village and Agoura
Hills Ride:
It is well known that the Santa Monica Mountains provide some of
the best riding in the United States: Just north of Los Angeles,
you can find 2,000 foot climbs from the ocean to Mulholland Highway
on the top. Stage 8 of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will incorporate
one of California’s iconic rides: The Rock Store loop. The famous
Rock Store climb ascends Mulholland Highway and proceeds along the
summit ridge with views to the ocean and Valley. Gorgeous and challenging,
this is a quintessential Santa Monica Mountains loop.
Three distances will be available: about of 30 miles (short course),
55 miles (medium), and 80 miles (long course).
Save the date. 2010 run is April 24The third annual Costa Mesa Community
Run presented by IKEA is scheduled for Saturday, April 24, 2010.
Last year's event attracted more than 600 participants and raised
more than $9,000.
Money raised benefits foundations supporting Costa Mesa schools.
This is a USTFA sanctioned event, both competitive and recreational
runners are welcome. 'Run for Fun' and support the Costa Mesa community
and its students.
Cycling enthusiasts and fans are invited to participate in “Breakaway
Ride presented by Specialized”, the riding event will be held in
conjunction with the upcoming 2010 Amgen Tour of California professional
cycling race set for May 16-23, 2010.
The ride will be held in April 25 2010
(one month prior to the 2010 Amgen Tour of California) and will
serve to raise funds for Breakaway from Cancer®, the signature initiative
of Amgen and the Amgen Tour of California, which aims to raise awareness
of the array of resources available to cancer patients.
This ‘Breakaway Ride’ will give cycling enthusiasts a chance to
ride on the actual route from Davis to Santa Rosa, of the 2010 Amgen
Tour of California, with three distances for each event to accommodate
various skill and fitness levels. The longest distance covers an
entire stage of the Amgen Tour of California, the same as will be
ridden by the pros. Participants will be chip timed and supported,
with a maximum of 3,500 riders per event.
Details of each ride route will be announced February 1, 2010, at
the official 2010 Amgen Tour of California route announcement. For
more information visit www.breakawayride.com
May 2010
• May 21 – 22
- Celebrity-Amateur Tournament
May 22 – 23 -
Official Celebrity Championship
Morgan Run Resort and Club
5690 Cancha De Golf
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92091
The 12th annual Celebrity Championship hosted by NFL Pro Bowl
Quarterback
Drew Brees is the premier community event in San Diego. This
event will
benefit the Brees Dream Foundation established in 2003 by Drew
and his
wife, Brittany. This year’s recipients are Rady Children’s
Hospital,
Pro-Kids Golf Academy, San Diego Armed Services YMCA and other
San Diego
Charities. Not only will this event bring together over 50 of
the best
celebrity golfers in the world for a purse of $100,000 but our
objective
is to provide an unforgettable experience for sponsors and
attendees while
maximizing charitable donations for the Brees Dream Foundation.
The tournament consists of a 2-day Celebrity-Amateur and a
36-hole,
celebrity-only competition. The general public is welcomed to
all three
days of the tournament. The tournament will be hosting its fifth
annual
Military Appreciation Day on May 23 where military families get
in free.
Family Day will also be hosted in conjunction with Military
Appreciation
Day on May 23. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see your
favorite
sports heroes and entertainers.
Three-day tournament tickets are $10. Children under 10 and
guests with
military I.D. are free.
Dates:
May 21 – 22: Celebrity-Amateur Tournament
May 22 – 23: Official Celebrity Championship
Location:
Morgan Run Resort and Club
5690 Cancha De Golf
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92091
Will be held Saturday 29 &
Sunday May 30, 2010 from 8 AM until 2 PM at Brian Ranch Airport,
34810 Largo
Vista Rd., Llano, CA 93544. There will be ultralight, light
sport, &
general aviation flying & static displays, RC airplanes, sky
divers, & other
events. Food & memorabilia will be available. There will be
activities for
kids. Fly-ins are welcome. Admission & parking are free. Check
our website
www.brianranch.com <http://www.brianranch.com/> for fly-in or
driving
directions. For more information, email felice@brianranch.com or
call (661)
261-3216.
Motocross riders from around the nation will take to the famed Mammoth
Motocross track this summer. This event draws some of the best riders
in the world and is the oldest continuously running motocross event
in the United States.
760-934-0605
800-626-6684
www.mammothmotocross.com
motosback@mammoth-mtn.com
A 3 -day fun filled event - Pier-side & throughout downtown Pismo
Beach,
Central California's finest seaside classic & street rod car show.
This
show has been presented for now its 25th year, with hundreds of
classic
restorations and street rods. A 3- Day Classic Car & Street Rod
event.
Featured events are a Car Show & Shine, "Cruise Night" when hundreds
of
cars parade for thousands of spectators who line the streets, Live
Entertainment, "The Hot Rod Bar and Grill" located pier-side and
provides the venue for the outstanding live entertainment, live
charity
auction to benefit the Veterans, great food and drink, BBQ, Poker
Run,
Gala. Don't miss out sign up today! Info: Just Cruzin at (866) 450
-7469; email pamb@thepismobeachclassic.com or checkout our website
at
www.thepismobeachclassic.com for detailed information. Registration
forms are available on our website
http://www.thepismobeachclassic.com/registration.htm, by phone,
fax or
email. Registration $65.00 thru Dec. 31, 2009, $80.00 Jan. 1, 2010
thru
May 15, 2010, $100 May 16, 2010 thru June 10,2010, Pre-Registration
Closes June 10, 2010. Weekend of show vehicle registration $115.00.
All
registrations include a T-shirt. No admission charge for spectators
to
the show. Hours: Friday / Saturday 9 am- 10 PM, Sunday 9am - 5pm.
Look
forward to seeing you in Pismo!
Activities start on Friday the 2nd and Saturday July 3rd. Throughout
the day on July 4th enjoy fun activities and events starting with
the Lion’s Club Pancake Breakfast, the Footloose Freedom Mile, Independence
Day Parade, Pops in the Park, Mammoth Celebrates the Arts, 4th of
July Celebrations at the Village at Mammoth and so much more. Fireworks
Spectacular at Crowley Lake starts at dusk.
760-934-2712
888-466-2666
www.visitmammoth.com
info@visitmammoth.com
The Mammoth Lakes Jazz Jubilee will be presented July 14-18th. This
family musical event features many types of Jazz: Cajun, Big Band,
Swing, 50'S-60'S R&R, Dixieland, and Straight Ahead Jazz. Come and
enjoy the breathtaking scenery and fresh air while experiencing
the spectacular High Sierra Mountains that become filled with the
sounds from some of the world's finest musicians. We call it "Jazz
with Altitude".
760-934-2478
877-686-5299
www.mammothjazz.org
mljj@qnet.com
Mammoth’s Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza promises an energetic
lineup of talent and a grand tasting of microbrews from around the
country. It all takes place outdoors among the pines at Sam’s Wood
Site, located on Minaret Road between Main Street and Meridian Blvd.,
with California’s Eastern High Sierra as the backdrop. Mammoth’s
Festival of Beers features more than 70 of the country’s best microbreweries.
Along with the beer and blues, a “Blues-style” BBQ and plenty of
other food will satisfy the heartiest of appetites and keep the
party going. Don’t forget the Sunday Morning Hangover Party.
888-992-7397
www.mammothbluesbrewsfest.com
jim@harvestmoonpresents.com
A festival of various classical music from small ensembles, both
vocal and instrumental, to an 80 piece symphonic orchestra. Closing
with a Gala Celebration.
760-934-7477
www.sierrasummerfestival.org
info@sierrasummerfestival.org
This two-day festival celebrates what many of us love most about
summertime in Mammoth - Good Friends and Great Music performed outdoors
in one of the most beautiful settings in the West - what could be
better! Festival organizers promise an eclectic and energetic lineup
of musical genres – reggae to rock; blues to bluegrass; folk to
jazz…a music lover's music festival!
888-825-5484
www.harvestmoonpresents.com
jim@harvestmoonpresents.com
Ford F-100 Elite of Northern California & Pickups Limited of Southern
California are once again presenting the oldest running event in
the world that highlights the 1953 through 1956 Ford F-100 pickups
and panels. It's also open to all Ford Commercial Vehicles through
1972. This edition marks 40 continuous years for this popular run,
and it is anticipated that this will be the best one yet.
August 20-22,2010 North-South Run will be held in San Luis Obispo,
California, and Embassy Suites will be the Host Hotel.
For a Entry Form (Flyer) Go to the link below and scroll down to
the month of August.
http://www.pickupslimited.com/Events/CaofEvents.html
The festival begins with a Wine Walk at the Village at Mammoth and
continues throughout the weekend with tastings from a variety of
world-class vintners. Visitors can also explore the works of local
and regional artists. The three-day festival also features live
concerts, and food from fantastic local restaurants all in the outdoor
setting of Sam’s Wood Site.
760-934-2571
800-626-6684
www.mammothmountain.com/mammoth_festival/index.cfm
info@mammothmountain.com
Taste your way through the Sierra's
best restaurants while enjoying music from the past and present.
760-934-6717
www.thetasteofthesierra.com
www.mammothrocks.net
info@mammothlakeschamber.org
Mammoth Lakes premier art event. Artist and contemporary craftsmen,
children's entertainment, food and family fun. Located at Sam's
Wood Site on Minaret Rd. Free admission.
Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm and Monday from 10:00
am - 5:00 pm
760-873-7242
www.monoarts.org
info@monoarts.org
The Mammoth Film Festival takes place annually in Mammoth Lakes,
California. In addition to a full lineup of competition films from
around the world, the event will also feature panel discussions,
special screenings, live music, and film premieres. If you’ve never
been to the Mammoth Film Festival, you’re in for a unique and exciting
festival experience. The Festival features the first film competition
to be set up as an elimination-style tournament. Every screening
is a double feature as films compete head to head, and you, the
audience, decide which film advances to the next round. So we’ll
pop some popcorn, and you get ready to pick the next winner.
760-965-4072
www.mammothfilmfestival.com
info@mammothfilmfestival.com
California Outdoor Recreational and Travel Information
Yolo
County has many unique wineries
stretching from Clarksburg, to the far edge of the Capay Valley
to the foothills of Berryessa. Here are just a few...
The Old Sugar Mill, a restored sugar
factory in Clarksburg, is home to numerous family wine makers. The
beautiful facility along the Delta also hosts events and other fun
gatherings along with wine tasting rooms.
Capay Valley Vineyards, located in
the rolling hills in the small town of Brooks is a family owned
and operated winery producing award wining wines.
Berryessa Gap Vineyards located in
the charming town of Winters just picked up six awards at the San
Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Stop by their tasting room
in Historic Downtown Winters for these worth-the-drive wines!
Yolo County is also home to new and
emerging wines from Fiddlehead Cellars in Davis, Route 3 wines in
Woodland, and Turkovich Family Wines in Winters.
For a map and a complete list of the many wineries to tour in Yolo
County’s emerging wine region visit www.yolocvb.org
OFFERING FREE ADMISSION TO ALL CALIFORNIA EDUCATORS
THROUGH
MARCH 31
Universal City, California – In recognition of the
importance of education and the vital role played by educators
in our communities, Universal Studios Hollywood is paying
homage to teachers and school personnel with a “Salute to
Educators” program, inviting all California educators to
receive a free theme park admission ticket, good through
March 31, 2010.
All California K through 12 public, private and charter
school teachers and school personnel with valid employee,
association/union and photo identification are eligible
for the free one-day theme park general admission ticket.
Eligible educators can also enjoy a 50 percent savings on
the purchase of up to three additional general admission
tickets for friends and family. (Tickets are valid for day
of purchase only.) More information is available at .
In making the announcement, Larry Kurzweil, President and
Chief Operating Officer, Universal Studios Hollywood said:
“This ‘Salute to Educators’ is just another step in our
commitment to education aimed at rewarding teachers and
school employees and encouraging community partnership in
the effort to provide quality education in an environment
of shrinking resources.”
Teachers spending the day at Universal Studios Hollywood,
The Entertainment Capital of L.A.SM, can enjoy a plethora
of movie and television based rides and attractions, including
“The Simpsons Ride TM,” the “Revenge of the Mummy SM —The
Ride” indoor roller coaster, “Jurassic Park® – The Ride,”
and the world-famous, behind-the-scenes “Studio Tour,” which
showcases an exclusive sneak peek of the world’s largest
working film and TV production facility.
Universal Studios Hollywood’s long-standing commitment to
education began over 12 years ago with the introduction
of its popular and ever-evolving school curriculum program,
“Youth and Education.” This interactive educational initiative
spotlights four areas: Workshop and Lessons, Assemblies,
Performances and Youth Days and are designed to meet California
State Standards and California Technical Education Standards.
More information is available at
Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of
L.A., is a unit of Universal Parks & Resorts, a division
of NBC Universal. NBC Universal is one of the world’s leading
media and entertainment companies in the development, production,
marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global
audience. Formed in May of 2004 through the combining of
NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns
and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment
networks, a premier motion picture company, significant
television production operations, a leading television stations
group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is
80% owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi.
Starring: Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Danielle Panabaker
and Joe Anderson
IN THEATRES February 26th
Imagine living in a small town where everything is safe
and happy…until suddenly it isn’t. Imagine your friends
and neighbors going quickly and horrifically insane. In
a terrifying tale of the “American Dream” gone horribly
wrong, four friends find themselves trapped in their hometown
in The Crazies, a reinvention of the George Romero classic
directed by Breck Eisner from a screenplay by Ray Wright
(Pulse, Case 39) and Scott Kosar (The Amityville Horror,
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre).
David Dutten (Timothy Olyphant) is sheriff of Ogden Marsh,
a picture-perfect American town with happy, law-abiding
citizens. But one night, one of them comes to a school baseball
game with a loaded shotgun, ready to kill. Another man burns
down his own house…after locking his wife and young son
in a closet inside. Within days, the town has transformed
into a sickening asylum; people who days ago lived quiet,
unremarkable lives have now become depraved, blood-thirsty
killers, hiding in the darkness with guns and knives. Sheriff
Dutten tries to make sense of what’s happening as the horrific,
nonsensical violence escalates. Something is infecting the
citizens of Ogden Marsh…with insanity.
Now complete anarchy reigns as one by one the townsfolk
succumb to an unknown toxin and turn sadistically violent.
In an effort to keep the madness contained, the government
uses deadly force to close off all access and won’t let
anyone in or out – even those uninfected. The few still
sane find themselves trapped: Sheriff Dutten; his pregnant
wife, Judy (Radha Mitchell); Becca (Danielle Panabaker),
an assistant at the medical center; and Russell (Joe Anderson),
Dutten’s deputy and right-hand man. Forced to band together,
an ordinary night becomes a horrifying struggle for survival
as they do their best to get out of town alive.
Yosemite
National Park Camping in an RV or in a Tent – A Great Destination
Either Way
Within
Yosemite National Park, RV camping opportunities abound.
Whether you’re camping in a tent or RV, with your family
or a large group, in Yosemite Valley or the backcountry
there’s a place for you. There are traditional campgrounds
and a variety of tent cabin options. The one constant
factor is to plan ahead. Check out all of the possibilities,
and then make your reservations early.
Traditional
Campgrounds
Thirteen campgrounds are spread out among three different
areas in the park. The most popular are the four in
Yosemite Valley, three of which require reservations during
the summer. Only Camp 4’s 35 sites are first-come,
first-served. There are two campgrounds in the southern
part of the park and seven ranged along Tioga Road (California
120) as it crosses the park from east to west. Of
these, Wawona and Hodgdon Meadow are open all year and require
summer reservations. When planning your trip, check
the Yosemite National Park camping website for opening and
closing dates, RV restrictions and water availability.
Housekeeping
Camp
This unusual Yosemite
National Park RV park area sits right on the Merced
River in Yosemite Valley. The 266 units have three
concrete walls, a concrete floor, and a canvas roof;
the fourth wall is a curtain which opens to a covered patio.
Inside the cabin are two single bunks, a double bed, table
and chairs, and electric light and outlets. Outside
on the patio you’ll find a picnic table and bear-proof food
locker. Visitors may supply their own bedding or rent
it for an
additional
charge. Housekeeping Camp may have units available
when the campgrounds are full.
Canvas Tent
Cabins
Yosemite National Park camping choices include two areas
with canvas tent cabins with wood framing, doors, and raised
floors. One of these is Curry Village, right in the
heart of Yosemite Valley. Here each 2 to 5-person
tent is equipped with cot-style beds, but no cooking is
allowed so campers should plan meals accordingly.
At White Wolf Lodge in the high country on Tioga Road 24
tent cabins (and two regular cabins) make a nice base for
high country hiking, trail rides, or rock climbing.
As might be expected, sales of recreational vehicles have
plummeted in the last year as the recession deepens, credit
dries up and consumers concentrate on saving money.
But over the past couple months, RV dealers have begun to
experience something unexpected – an uptick in the number
of savvy buyers drawn to their sales lots by steep discounts.
Like businesses looking to lure customers, dealers are cutting
prices to move their products. Industry experts say that
makes this the best time in 30 years to buy an RV.
"We're having people coming in saying 'make me a deal I
can't refuse,'" said Michael Jacque, president of Morgan
Hill-based Alpine RV, who said buyers can expect price cuts
of 15 to 20 percent across the board. "If you have the means,
without a doubt this is the best time to buy an RV."
Sales of RVs, from economical towables to luxurious land-yachts,
dropped almost 41 percent in California between November
2008 and the previous year, according to Statistical Surveys,
which tracks RV retail sales. Nationally, sales were down
28 percent during that same time period.
Slashed prices and fiscal incentives, including the recently
signed $789 billion federal economic stimulus package that
includes tax breaks for people buying RVs, are combining
to create one of the best buyers' markets in decades, RV
dealers say.
Jacque, who’s been in the business for 30 years, said this
recession is the worst hit he’s seen the industry take.
However, with sales and traffic on the rise, hope and optimism
are starting to creep back in. He expects business to get
better in the following months and possibly peak in May
– something Mike Nohr, director of the 21st Annual Manufacturers’
RV and Boat Show, is banking on.
Nohr originally had his Pleasanton-based show planned for
early January but changed the dates to the last two weeks
in May in the hopes of catching an upsurge in business.
“It's an oxymoron in a way,” Nohr said. “The industry is
hurting, yet we're hearing more and more of our vendors
saying people are interested in getting into an RV because
they realize this is the time to get a deal.”
When he made the decision to change the dates of his show,
which has been a staple at the Alameda County Fairgrounds
for two decades, Nohr knew it was a gamble. But with nearly
30 dealers planning to attend, he believes he'll be holding
the right cards come May.
"Obviously it's best to shop around when you're looking
to save money," he said. “And with this many dealers in
one place willing to negotiate, people could save a boatload.”
One of those dealers is Henry Flores, general manager of
Los Banos-based Toscano RV. Flores believes the industry
has already hit rock bottom and things are beginning to
look up. While his sales haven’t surged yet, he’s seen more
traffic on his lot than in previous months. The buyers perusing
his wares are hip to the situation the industry is in and
willing to capitalize on it, too, he said.
“They know it is the time to buy. They know they can buy
something reasonable and get a deal,” Flores said. “Two
to three years ago, no way. The market was hot. But now,
people know they’re gonna be able to steal it. They know.”
· RV sales in California are down nearly 41 percent and
28 percent nationwide
· Dealers are experiencing more buyer interest now than
they were six months ago
· Buyers can experience 15-20 percent discounts across the
board
· Economic stimulus package allows a portion of the sales
tax on motorhomes to be deducted; applies to the first $49,500
of the purchase price for people with an income of up to
$125,000
