Monterey Symphony’s 2019-2020 Season Returns with Two Massive Symphonic Works, Women’s Night Out

A night of golden indulgence and symphonies with a story welcome the Monterey Symphony back for the second half of its Ovation season.

Monterey, CA, December 31, 2019 — A night of golden indulgence and symphonies with a story welcome the Monterey Symphony back for the second half of its Ovation season.

The baton raises for the third concert of the Monterey Symphony’s six-concert 74th season on Feb. 15-16, 2020.

Before the performance on Saturday night, all ticketholders are welcome to Studio 105 at Sunset Center for the 3rd Annual Women’s Night Out. Desserts from Parker Lusseau, wines from Chalone Vineyard, music by David Holodiloff, tarot reading by Wendy Burch, decadent giveaways from Cos Bar and more await guests to celebrate Valentine’s Day in sparkling style. Guests can receive tickets for only $30 with discount code GOLD.

Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations are comprised of 14 separate movements sketching a different friend or close acquaintance. Rather than depicting the person as a whole, a single element of their personality or relationship with Elgar is illustrated musically. The movement titles contain cryptograms or keys to the identity of the subject! Elgar started the work casually at the piano as an exercise to capture someone musically, and evolved it into a large and beloved symphonic work.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade is based on the Arabian Nights. Replete with Russian folk melodies, many excerpts of this piece are used for Olympic figure skating – making it a well-known and recognized work. Rimsky-Korsakov worked tirelessly on this composition, along with his ornate Russian Easter Overture and the completion of Alexander Borodin’s opera Prince Igor. The work features stunning and virtuosic violin solos — not to be missed!

Performances on Saturdays are at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. One hour prior to every performance there will be a pre-concert lecture in the Hall of Sunset Center.

Single tickets range from $44-$85 and are now on sale at www.montereysymphony.org.

Subscriptions are available. Please contact the box office for availability at (831) 646-8511. For more information and pricing visit: https://www.montereysymphony.org/subscriptions.htm

About the Monterey Symphony
The mission of the Monterey Symphony is to engage, educate and excite our community through the performance and continual discovery of symphonic music.

The Monterey Symphony, under the artistic leadership of Music Director & Conductor Max Bragado-Darman, is the only fully professional, full-season orchestra serving the communities of the Monterey Bay, Salinas, Salinas Valley, Big Sur, and San Benito County. It provides double performances of a six-concert subscription series at Carmel’s Sunset Theater, as well as youth education programs that include in-class visits and culminate in full-orchestra concerts for students.

The Monterey Symphony is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation, supported through various generous individuals and through grants and corporate gifts from The Arts Council of Monterey County, The Barnet Segal Charitable Trust, The Berkshire Foundation, California Arts Council, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Harden Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Music Performance Trust Fund, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The William H. and Kristine M. Schuyler Charitable Foundation, Inc., The Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment, Teichert Foundation, The Upjohn California Fund and many others.

For additional information, please call (831) 646-8511 or visit the website: www.montereysymphony.org

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereysymphony.org

Local Boys and Girls Ages 4-17 invited to Register for Gil Basketball Academy’s 2020 Season

While basketball promotes health and well-being, it’s also a vehicle for change in a community.

Salinas, CA, December 26, 2019 - While basketball promotes health and well-being, it’s also a vehicle for change in a community.

As the calendar turns to 2020, Gil Basketball Academy prepares for another year spent teaching local youth the fundamentals of the sport, along with life lessons surrounding teamwork, discipline and respect.

Online registration is now open for the East Salinas-based Gil Basketball Academy’s 2020 season for boys and girls ages 4-17.

Membership includes weekly evening practices, possible opportunities to travel and play in tournaments (with GBA’s Select Traveling Teams), international tours, campus visits to colleges and universities, field trips, participation in community events and learning the fundamentals of basketball from qualified and background-vetted volunteer coaches.

Registration is open to all local youth, no matter where they live. The academy is committed to making every member a well-rounded student-athlete who can compete at any level.

GBA offers camps, clinics, leagues, academy nights and more, teaching athletes the skills and techniques of shooting, passing, dribbling, rebounding, and defense. Athletes will be coached by GBA co-founder Jose Gil and other qualified and experienced coaches.

GBA will not only teach basketball fundamentals but will also build confidence and character in all GBA members while having fun.

Register online at: gilbasketballacademy.leagueapps.com/camps.

About Gil Basketball Academy
Jose Gil and Eva Silva co-founded GBA out of the belief that one of the most effective ways to strengthen a community is for its youth to be surrounded by positive adult role models, positive peer influences, and immersed in meaningful and constructive activities. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, GBA currently has 420 members, boys and girls ages 4 to 17. Find out more at www.gilbasketballacademy.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.gilbasketballacademy.com

From Yoga and Workshops to Hands-on activities, PG Museum of Natural History Plans busy 2020

As a vital community and educational hub, the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History plans varied and engaging events and activities to help inspire discovery, wonder and stewardship.

Pacific Grove, CA, December 23, 2019 - As a vital community and educational hub, the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History plans varied and engaging events and activities to help inspire discovery, wonder and stewardship.

This mission reshapes the typical museum experience, while creating a busy calendar to pique anyone’s interest.

The following schedule represents the first quarter for 2020:

What: California Native Plant Society Meeting
When: Thursday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Kanyon Sayers-Roods, Ohlone and Chumash educator, artist and storyteller from Indian Canyon, will share botanical teachings from the Indigenous community and perspectives on sustainable harvesting. She will also discuss tensions between colonial and Indigenous practices, and issues of access to traditional land use and land acknowledgement. The Costanoan Ohlone-Mutsun California Native is active in the native community as an artist, author, activist, student and teacher. The daughter of Ann-Marie Sayers, she was raised in Indian Canyon, trust land of her family, one of the few spaces in Central California available for the Indigenous community for ceremony. Her art has been featured at the De Young Museum, and she is a consultant on Indigenous California. She recently formed an LLC called Kanyon Konsulting with the mission of bridging the gap between indigenous and contemporary value systems. All are welcome to these free presentations held on the second Thursday of every other month.

What: Member Event: Yoga at the Museum!
When: Saturday, Jan. 11, 8-9:30 a.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Bring your mats and enjoy a yoga session inspired by the museum’s connections to the natural world. Rise and shine with Union Yoga instructor Marybeth Murray, who teaches an alignment based Vinyasa yoga, and is focused on helping to build strength, create openings, and connect to the body through safe, fun and creative movements. Finish with some wellness refreshments. Suitable for all experience levels. Members are encouraged to bring their own mat (limited mat supply available). Not a member yet? Join here: pgmuseum.org/membership. RSVP to brooker@pgmuseum.org.

What: LiMPETS Rocky Intertidal Teacher Workshop
When: Saturday, Jan. 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

LiMPETS (long-term monitoring program and experiential training for students) is a community science program, and this workshop is open to high school and college teachers who want to participate in LiMPETS with their classes. Contact Hannah Sarver, LiMPETS program coordinator, at (831) 648-5716 ext.11 or sarver@pgmuseum.org for registration and questions.

What: Hardcore Natural History Series — Masters of None: Why Being a Generalist is Advantageous in Changing Oceans
When: Thursday, Jan. 16, 6:30-8 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Humpback whale populations have increased strongly in the Eastern North Pacific (and Monterey Bay) since the end of commercial whaling. This rebound in numbers is due in large part to their generalist foraging strategies. Join us as we explore the versatile foraging habits of humpback whales with Dr. David Cade. We will explore how whales can not only switch prey types — with whales in different environments feeding on many species of krill as well as anchovies, herring, sand lance, capelin and other forage fish — but can capture these different prey in a variety of ways that continue to surprise researchers. $5 members online • $10 non-members online • $15 at the door

What: Junior Naturalist — The Snowy Plover
When: Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m.-noon
Where: Monterey State Beach

Join us as state parks representative Dave Dixon guides us through the coastal dune ecosystem and reveals the hidden world of the federally threatened snowy plover. Come learn about the important role these birds play in our local ecosystems and how we can help preserve this incredible species for the future.

What: Natalie Arnoldi Show Opening
When: Thursday, Jan. 23, 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

The museum is proud to host the work of artist Natalie Arnoldi's (b. 1990, California) in a special exhibition, “The Depths of Monterey Bay.” Her large-scale oil paintings explore the fine line between abstract and figurative painting and the psychological effects of ambiguous representation. Her work often includes an environmental narrative, as this show will focus on the fantastic ocean creatures that spend time off our shores.

Currently pursuing a PhD at Hopkins Marine Station, Arnoldi has pursued careers in both art and science for the past decade. She has found a synergy in painting and science: two endeavors that might appear counterintuitive. Instead, each has given her a unique and enriched perspective into the other. Arnoldi's work will show at the museum between January 23 and April 26, in conjunction with a Hardcore Natural History devoted to Monterey Bay.

What: Science Saturday — Amazing Migrations
When: Saturday, Jan. 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Join us for January’s Science Saturday as we investigate the world of long-distance animal travels. Whales, birds, insects, and more will be the focus of our deeper look at these natural phenomena. Learn about the many amazing migratory birds that visit Monterey County every year, and celebrate another birthday for Sandy the Whale with cake served at noon. As always, admission to Science Saturday is free.

What: Volunteer Orientation Classes
When: Wednesday nights, Feb. 5-March 11
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Are you interested in volunteering at the museum? From docenting to joining one of our community science programs, there are many routes one can take. Learn about the museum's mission, our area's natural history and our volunteer opportunities. If you are interested in being a class member, or want more information, contact maddenfulk@pgmuseum.org.

What: Volunteer Event: California King Tide
When: Saturday, Feb. 8, 8:30 a.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Learn about the King Tides and document the high tide first hand as part of the California King Tides Project. Not only will we participate in community science, but we will hear from a speaker after our journey to the beach. Open to museum volunteers.

What: Hardcore Natural History Series — Conversation with the Artist
When: Thursday, Feb. 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Join us for a conversation with Natalie Arnoldi, whose artwork is featured in the museum’s Special Exhibit Gallery “Depths of Monterey Bay.” $5 members online • $10 non-members online • $15 at the door.

What: Science Saturday — Animal Athletes
When: Saturday, Feb. 29, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

This highest jumping, fastest flying, strongest biting Science Saturday of the year focuses on the Olympians in the animal kingdom. From falcons to mountain lions, and beetles to beavers, every athlete has a story to tell. Join us for crafts, activities and science as we sprint, jump and dive into the world of Animal Athletes. As always, admission to Science Saturday is free.

What: Member Event: Birding by the Bay
When: Saturday, March 7, 8-10 a.m.
Where: Frog Pond Wetland Preserve, Del Rey Oaks

Members are invited to join us as we wake up with the birds for some spotting and identifying. Amanda Preece, board member of the Monterey Audubon Society and with California State Parks at Asilomar, will lead the walk as we peer through our binoculars to get a better look at those flighty friends that live all around us. Preece is no stranger to birds — making her living restoring native habitats and leading bird walks at Asilomar, pursuing a graduate degree in environmental science with her thesis related to songbird use of nest boxes, and spending her free time as a Black Oystercatcher monitor, among other volunteering pursuits. Binoculars available to share. RSVP to brooker@pgmuseum.org.

What: Night Owl: Prehistoric Party
When: Saturday, March 14, 7-10 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Are you ready to party like it’s 19 million years ago? Join us as we put on a Night Owl fundraiser of epoch proportions. This will be an opportunity to get up close to fossils from our collection, while enjoying games, craft drinks, delicious bites and tromp-stomping music. Rediscover your sense of wonder while supporting the museum during this ancient after-hours event! Prehistoric costumes encouraged, with special prizes awarded. $29 members online, $39 non-members online, $49 at the door. Proceeds support museum education programs. Must be 21 and over.

What: Science Saturday — Bees, Wasps, Honey & Hives
When: Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Explore the sweet side of science as Science Saturday turns its attention to bees, wasps, honey and hives. Do all bees make honey? How do you tell a wasp from a bee? Do all bees sting? Find the answers to all of your buzzing questions as you complete a craft, and learn about some of our most important local pollinators. As always, admission to Science Saturday is free.

Open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the museum is at 165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. For more information, call 648-5716, or visit www.pgmuseum.org.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.pgmuseum.org

Alvarado Street Brewery Updates its Sunday Brunch Menu & Industry Night Food and Drink Specials

Exciting new things are on tap in downtown Monterey — Alvarado Street Brewery has introduced a new rotating Sunday brunch menu and Industry Night food and drink specials every Monday.

Monterey, CA, December 18, 2019 — Exciting new things are on tap in downtown Monterey — Alvarado Street Brewery has introduced a new rotating Sunday brunch menu and Industry Night food and drink specials every Monday.

The brunch menu will be served every Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., and features food and drink specials, including chilaquiles ($11); and a house-made brunch waffle ($10). Drink specials include Biggie’s Brunch Bloody Beer Bonanza, a house-made Bloody Mary topped with Alvarado Street Brewery Citraveza; Ginger Spritz with ginger liqueur, grapefruit, ginger beer and sparkling wine; the Amelia Earhart with California gin, California pear brandy, Lillet, lemon, crème de violette, and butterfly pea syrup; plus classics such as a traditional Bloody Mary, Mimosa and Aperol Spritz.

Industry Night will be held every Monday night from 6 p.m. to close and will feature $4 draft beers, shot specials, and food specials for people working in the hospitality industry with proof of employment (such as a pay stub, business card, etc.).

For more details, call 831-655-BEER.

About Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill
Located in a historically registered building in Old Monterey, the Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill serves locally sourced, gastropub-influenced fare built around its beers that are produced on-site. The Brewpub contains 140 seats, including a shaded sidewalk patio overlooking Alvarado Street, a 50-seat Beer Garden in the back, a full bar, and over 20 house beers on draft.

426 Alvarado Street
Monterey, CA 93940
831-655-BEER

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.alvaradostreetbrewery.com/

Gil Basketball Academy invites Local Media to Observe Hoopin’ for Change Motto in action during Key dates

Gil Basketball Academy believes in its motto Hoopin’ for Change.

Salinas, CA, December 17, 2019 — Gil Basketball Academy believes in its motto Hoopin’ for Change. It has spent the last 10 years teaching local youth not only the principles of the sport, but the tenets of resiliency, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and family.

This summer GBA will give 300-plus kids a safe, healthy and educational experience — all built around fun. The media is invited to see first-hand how basketball and teamwork can help change the outlook of active adolescents.

Because as the late-great UCLA championship coach John Wooden once said: “What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player.”

GBA has put together a media schedule to better facilitate coverage for the next session (online registration begins Jan. 1). Academy nights are held on Mondays in the Alisal High School gym, with ages 4-12 practicing from 6-7:30 p.m., and ages 13-17 from 7:30-9 p.m.

Members of the media are invited to observe the activities on March 9, 17, 23 and 30, April 20 and 27, and May 4, 11 and 18.

Other key dates include: Salinas Slam Tournament (April 24-26); World Tour 2020 (June 21-July 3); Summer Basketball Camp (July 13-15); GBA Annual Gala Dinner/Dance (Oct. 10).

About Gil Basketball Academy
Jose Gil and Eva Silva co-founded GBA out of the belief that one of the most effective ways to strengthen a community is for its youth to be surrounded by positive adult role models, positive peer influences, and immersed in meaningful and constructive activities. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, GBA currently has 420 members, boys and girls ages 4 to 17. Its mission is to help them all grow up to be healthy, caring, competent, responsible and resilient. Find out more at www.gilbasketballacademy.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.gilbasketballacademy.com

Carmel Jewish Film Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Award-Winning Movies, Speakers, Receptions March 7 – 22, 2020

The 10th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring 10 films from six countries, noted speakers, and panel discussions, will be held March 7-22, 2020.

Carmel, CA, December 17, 2019 - The 10th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring 10 films from six countries, noted speakers, and panel discussions, will be held March 7-22, 2020. Film and venue information, dates, and times can be found on the CJFF website (www.carmeljff.org). Tickets will be available either through the website or by calling (800) 838-3006 starting at the beginning of January.

Media interviews will be available in late January or early February with three outstanding individuals who will appear at this year’s festival:

*Alexandra Silber: Born in Los Angeles, California, Grammy-nominated artist Alexandra Silber received her formal training at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, graduating with a degree in Acting, and just days later, at the age of twenty-one, made her professional and West End debut as Laura Fairlie in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Woman in White.Alexandra's British stage work includes Hodel in the Sheffield Crucible’s 2007 production of Fiddler on the Roof, and its subsequent West End transfer, and Julie Jordan in Carousel at The Savoy Theatre in London’s West End (for which she received a TMA Award for Best Performance in a Musical). She also appeared at the BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall with the John Wilson Orchestra. Alexandra made her American acting debut in a revival of her portrayal of Julie Jordan for Reprise Theater Company in Los Angeles, her New York theater debut portraying The Young Wife in the Transport Group’s Revival of Michael John LaChiusa’s Hello Again (Drama League Award), and later that year played opposite Tony-Award winner Tyne Daly in Terrence McNally’s Master Class at the Kennedy Center. She made her Broadway debut in the same production (called by Backstage one of the great theater performances of 2011), and played Sara Jane in the highly-acclaimed Arlington—a new one woman, tour-de-force musical at the Vineyard Theater (Outer Critics Circle Nomination for Best Solo Performance). Alexandra recently completed a run on Broadway as Tzeitel in the Tony-nominated revival of Fiddler of the Roof directed by Barlett Sher, and starring 6-time Tony Nominee Danny Burstein as Tevye.On screen she appeared in Stephen King's 1408 starring John Cusack, and has been a Guest Star on Elementary, The Mysteries of Laura and Law & Order. Alexandra was honored to be a part of Barbara Cook’s Spotlight Series at The Kennedy Center, and made her Carnegie Hall debut singing the role of Nina in a concert performance of Song Of Norway with the Collegiate Chorale and American Symphony Orchestra. She was nominated for a 2014 Grammy Award for her portrayal of Maria (opposite Cheyenne Jackson as Tony) with the San Francisco Symphony in a concert presentation of West Side Story, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, and performed on the 57th Grammy Award broadcast with Cheyenne Jackson.

Alexandra Silber will entertain following the March 7 Opening Night film Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles and talk about her book, After Anatevka. A reception will precede the film.

*Cookie Segelstein, violin and viola, received her Masters degree in Viola from The Yale School of Music in 1984. Until moving to California in 2010, she was principal violist in Orchestra New England and assistant principal in The New Haven Symphony, and served on the music faculty at Southern Connecticut State University. She is the founder and director of Veretski Pass, a member of Budowitz, The Youngers of Zion with Henry Sapoznik, has performed with Kapelye, The Klezmatics, Frank London, Klezmer Fats and Swing with Pete Sokolow and the late Howie Leess, Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys, and The Klezmer Conservatory Band.

Cookie has presented lecture demonstrations and workshops on klezmer fiddling all over the world, including at Yale University, University of Wisconsin in Madison, Marshall University in Huntington, West VA, University of Virginia in Charlottesville, University of Oregon in Eugene, Pacific University, SUNY-Cortland, and at Klezmerwochen in Weimar, Germany.

She is a regular staff member at Living Traditions' Klez Kamp, Klezmerquerque, Klez Kanada, Klez California, Klezmer Festival Fürth, Klezfest London, and has been a performing artist at Centrum's Festival of American Fiddle Tunes in Port Townsend, Wash.

She was featured on the ABC documentary, “A Sacred Noise,” heard on HBO’s “Sex and the City,” appears in the Miramax film, “Everybody’s Fine” starring Robert De Niro, and heard on several recordings, including the Veretski Pass self-titled release, Trafik, and The Klezmer Shul, Budowitz Live, the Koch International label with Orchestra New England in The Orchestral Music of Charles Ives, Hazònes with Frank London, A Living Tradition with the late Moldovan clarinetist, German Goldenshteyn, Fleytmuzik with Adrianne Greenbaum, and Budowitz Live.

She is also the publisher of "The Music of..." series of klezmer transcriptions. Active as a Holocaust educator and curriculum advisor, she has been a frequent lecturer at the Women’s Correctional Facility in Niantic, CT. She is on the boards of both the North California Viola Society, and the American String Teacher Association, Bay Area chapter. Cookie is also an Apple Certified Support Professional, and owns and operates The Macmama. Cookie lives in Berkeley, California with her husband, Josh Horowitz, 2 cats, a dog and her occasionally visiting adult children.

Following the film Violins of Hope on Sunday, March 8, Cookie Segelstein will play some the actual instruments, tell their stories, and talk about the cultural significance of music in Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. This program is part of Violins of Hope San Francisco Bay Area, presented in association with Music at Kohl Mansion, Burlingame, CA. A reception will precede the film, and a private reception with Cookie Segelstein at a private home will follow the event.

* Éva Gárdos is an award-winning film director and editor born in Hungary. Francis Ford Coppola gave Gardos her first job in film, working as a production assistant on Coppola’s epic Apocalypse Now in the Philippines. “That was my film school.”

She went on to establish a career as a film editor (Valley Girl, Mask, Bastard Out of Carolina), working with distinguished directors such as Barbet Schroeder, Peter Bogdanovich, and Anjelica Huston.

Éva’s screenwriting and feature film directorial debut, An American Rhapsody, starred a young Scarlett Johansson. The film is based on the true life events of Éva’s family escaping from Hungary in the 1950’s and being forced to leave their infant child (Éva) behind. Éva spent six years in Hungary with foster parents before rejoining her biological parents in America. The film won many prizes on the Festival Circuit and was released by Paramount Classics.

After discovering the bestselling Hungarian novel, Budapest Noir, she returned to Hungary to develop and direct the film version, "After making Rhapsody, a very personal story, I was excited by the idea of making a genre film with suspense and action." Set in 1936, when Hungary was on the verge of embracing facism, the film resonates the politics of today. It premiered at the Chicago Film Festival, and has played at many other festivals such as Palm Springs, Denver, Shanghai. It will be released in the US by Menemsha Films mid 2019.

Amongst her current projects is Cindy in Iraq inspired by the true life events of a Cindy Morgan a truck driver from Arkansas having fallen on hard times, left her home and children to work as a contractor for KBR Halliburton during the height of the Iraqi war.

The CJFF will host a Q&A with award-winning filmmaker Éva Gardos following the film Budapest Noir on Saturday, March 14.

CONTACT
Susan Greenbaum
831-277-3211
greenbaumcarmel@sbcglobal.net

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.carmeljff.org

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa Hosts Exclusive and Extraordinary New Year’s Eve Block Party on Dec. 31

Don't settle for just one New Year's Eve party — grab a ticket to the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa Block Party and get exclusive access to an extraordinary celebration that features four venues to party hop between.

Monterey, CA, December 16, 2019 — Don't settle for just one New Year's Eve party — grab a ticket to the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa Block Party and get exclusive access to an extraordinary celebration that features four venues to party hop between.

So grab your friends and prepare to choose from the fire pit and outdoor patio, Fireplace Lounge, TusCA Restaurant and Knuckles Sports Bar, or hop from venue to venue to your heart’s content.

Join us for house-smoked brisket, an old-fashioned BBQ, incredible desserts, a s’mores bar and more! Dance to live music and watch the ball drop from Times Square in New York City — Pacific Time!

Take advantage of awesome drink specials, including a Hot Toddy Bar, an Adult Hot Chocolate Bar, Specialty Themed Cocktails and a champagne toast at 9:00 p.m. — midnight New York time. With a lineup like this, you can't go wrong!

In addition to the food and drink specials, there will be a no-host cash bar available for beer, wine and cocktails.

Join us from 6–9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, for The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa Block Party, the ultimate New Year’s Eve experience. Get your tickets ASAP. Each ticket comes with a $10 Lyft ticket for a ride home!

Purchase your tickets before Dec. 15 and pay $75 per person, which includes dinner, specialty drinks, hot toddy bar, adult hot chocolate bar and champagne toast.

Purchase your tickets after Dec. 15 and the cost is $100 per person, which includes dinner, specialty drinks, hot toddy bar, adult hot chocolate bar and champagne toast.

Kids ages 5-12 are $40, and kids 4 and under are free.

Stick around after 9 p.m. and enjoy live jazz in the Fireplace Lounge with the David Morwood Jazz and Dance Band featuring guitarist Mike Lent from the Barry Manilow Orchestra or watch sports on the large screen TVs at Knuckles Sports Bar.

For more information or to buy tickets, call (831) 372-1234.

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
Nestled in 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience. Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well known attractions. With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort. Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s house, TusCA Restaurant, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, Spa, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools. The hotel is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, California. For information call (831) 372-1234 or visit http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com/.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com

Are you ready to Party Like it's 19 Million Years Ago? Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History has a Fundraising Party for you!

The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History will host a fundraiser of epoch proportions when it hosts a special Night Owl event featuring games, craft drinks, delicious bites, and tromp-stomping music on March 14, 2020.

Pacific Grove, CA, December 16, 2019 — The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History will host a fundraiser of epoch proportions when it hosts a special Night Owl event featuring games, craft drinks, delicious bites, and tromp-stomping music on March 14, 2020.

This will be your opportunity to get up close to fossils from the museum’s extensive collection and rediscover your sense of wonder while supporting the museum during this ancient after-hours event. Extinction not guaranteed!

The Night Owl fundraiser, which supports museum education programs, will be held 7-10 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2020. Tickets available soon.

For more information on Museum events, call (831) 648-5716, email admin@pgmuseum.org or go to the website at www.pgmuseum.org.

About the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
In 1883, our museum opened its doors among the first wave of natural history museums in America. Naturalists of this era, such as John Muir And Louis Agassiz, began a national tradition of hands-on science education and nature preservation. The museum has continued this tradition for over 130 years. The museum’s mission is to inspire discovery, wonder, and stewardship of our natural world. It envisions a community of curious minds, engaged in discovering the natural heritage and cultural legacy that exist today on the Central California Coast. The Museum is a catalyst for conservation and a valued learning resource in this region, facilitating active inquiry for all ages.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.pgmuseum.org

Carmel’s Yeast of Eden Brewpub Hosts its First Anniversary and New Year’s Eve with Food and Beverage Specials, Live Music, Two Bottle Releases, and a Tap Takeover

Yeast of Eden will host its one-year anniversary celebration beginning Wednesday, Dec. 11 through Sunday, Dec. 15

Carmel, CA, December 02, 2019 - Yeast of Eden will host its one-year anniversary celebration beginning Wednesday, Dec. 11 through Sunday, Dec. 15, which will include lawn games, a raffle benefiting The Carmel Foundation, food and beverage specials, live music, two bottle releases, and a tap takeover with nine-plus breweries.

The schedule of events for the first anniversary:

Wednesday, Dec. 11 — Patio Party with Cornhole, life-sized Jenga, hot drink specials, and live music featuring Scott Fenton from 4:30-8:00 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 12 — 10% of sales for the day will go to The Carmel Foundation.

Double bottle release of Vinisimilar Albarino and Vinisimilar Pinot Noir.

Friday, Dec. 13 — Tap Takeover with nine-plus breweries, including Sante Adairius Rustic Ales, Casa Agria, The Rare Barrel, Cellarmaker, Modern Times, Highland Park, Beachwood Blendery, and more!

Saturday, Dec. 14 — Food and drink specials all day and live music featuring Austin Metreyeon from 12-3 p.m.

Sunday,Dec. 15 — Brunch specials and drink specials from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Live music featuring Jenna Vivre from 12-2:30 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Celebration:
Tuesday, Dec. 31 — Live music, food and drink specials and an East Coast Toast at 9 p.m. with bubbly!

For more information, call (831) 293-8621.

About Yeast of Eden
Yeast of Eden started as a lighthearted pun turned passion project for co-owner J.C. Hill and now Head Brewer Andrew Rose in 2014. Born out of an obsession with oak in the early days of Alvarado Street Brewery in Monterey, Hill and Rose were allured by the seemingly limitless potential of mixed fermentation beer (a catch-all term of a genre of beers that have been fermented with various microflora that includes wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria) and it’s interaction with oak wine barrels in the aging process. So much so that Yeast of Eden became its own brand once Alvarado Street expanded their brewery operation in 2016 with the opening of a larger production facility in Salinas.

Fast forward to December 2018, and Yeast of Eden opened its first brick-and-mortar location with a restaurant and bar in the south wing of the Carmel Plaza in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. The brewpub features 120 seats inside and 40 seats in an outdoor courtyard patio, all in a hip, contemporary design aesthetic. The menu features global, street-food inspired cuisine to pair with the crisp, effervescent open-fermented beers made on-site.

Yeast of Eden
Carmel Plaza, Suite 112
Mission Street & Seventh Avenue
Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
Opens 11:30 a.m.
Phone: (831) 293-8621

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.yoebeer.com/

Carmel Honey Company Opens Second Store Dec 3rd on Cannery Row in Monterey

Ribbon Cutting with Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Announced Dec 3rd at 5:30 p.m.

Carmel, CA, November 19, 2019 — The Carmel Honey Co. is setting Cannery Row abuzz with the announcement that it will open a second store on Dec 3rd, 2019, at 700 Cannery Row, Suite Q, in Monterey. There will be a special ribbon cutting with the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, December 3rd at 5:30 p.m. The ribbon cutting is open to the public.

“We’ve been looking for a location in Monterey for quite some time and are super excited to partner with Cannery Row,” said Jake Reisdorf, founder and chief beekeeper of Carmel Honey Company.

The new store will feature premium honey, hive-related specialty products, unique honey gift packages, bee inspired apparel and their luxury bath and beauty line. You can also schedule a Mini Sweet Experience - Honey Education and learn the basics about bees, how honey is made and sample a variety of honey paired bites.

This is the second retail store for Jake and the CHC team. Their first store is located in Carmel By-the-Sea on the courtyard level of the Carmel Plaza. Stop by either location to taste honey samples, talk bees with Jake, and purchase a local gift that not only supports small business but also gives back.

Everyone is invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony coordinated by the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, Dec 3rd from 5-7 p.m.

For more information, call (831) 687-8511or go to www.CarmelHoneyCompany.com.

About Carmel Honey Company:
Jake Reisdorf is the owner of Carmel Honey Company. The business began as part of a school project when Jake’s 5th grade teacher was trying to get the class to think about the future. The teacher assigned professions to each student and directed them to research the profession, duties, compensation, etc. and return to class with a presentation to share their findings.

While researching his assigned profession of website designer, Jake, 11 years old at the time, decided to take it one step further and actually create a real website. At that time, Jake had taken one beekeeping class with his Dad and thought it would be cool to design a website about honey bees.

Not only did Jake get an “A” on the project, but it inspired him to start Carmel Honey Company.

Jake’s passion for honey bees grew as he learned about Colony Collapse Disorder and the benefits of real honey. Expanding his research and education drove Jake to learn more about honey and bees and ultimately decide it was critical to give back.

His “Jake Gives Back” program includes sharing honey bee knowledge with kids and adults of all ages. Whether he’s speaking to the Second Lady of the United States of America, a classroom of first-grade students, or at a corporate event talking with business owners and seasoned professionals, his passion and appreciation of how honey bees impact our world is infectious. CHC also “gives back” by making an annual financial donation to a honey bee research or education organization. So when you purchase something from Carmel Honey Company YOU are giving back to the honey bee.

Jake is currently 17 years old and a Junior at Carmel High School. When not attending class he, with the help of his family, manages his bee hives, works the retail stores, maintains connections with his honey wholesale accounts and processes online orders placed through his website from honey lovers all over the country. But his visionary retail stores are only the beginning for Jake. He’s now setting his sights on a state of the art, interactive, kid-friendly Pollination Center. A place where visitors can learn more about the key pollinators; birds, bats, butterflies & bees and discover why pollination is so important, not only our ecosystem but to our livelihood as human beings.

Since founding the company, Jake has won several awards, including SCORE Young Entrepreneur and CSUMB Start Up Challenge Winner in 2016; Young Beekeeper of the Year in 2017; California Small Business of the Year in 2018; SBDC Rising Star in 2019.

Carmel Honey Company
(831) 687-8511
www.CarmelHoneyCompany.com
www.Facebook.com/CarmelHoneyCompany
www.Instagram.com/CarmelHoneyCompany
www.Twitter.com/CarmelHoneyCo

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.CarmelHoneyCompany.com

Monterey County Nonprofit Max’s Helping Paws Foundation Announces Hiring of New Assistant Executive Director

Max's Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF), which provides a financial lifeline for pet owners with a pet in a health crisis, has announced Shelley Wise as its new Assistant Executive Director.

Del Rey Oaks, CA, November 19, 2019 — Max's Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF), which provides a financial lifeline for pet owners with a pet in a health crisis, has announced Shelley Wise as its new Assistant Executive Director.

Wise has 20-plus years as a healthcare professional and two years nonprofit management experience. Her last position was as full-time Assistant Director at Valley Health Associates in Salinas, California from 2017-2018.

“I am excited to find an organization that shares the same values that I do — helping families care for and protect their animals,” she wrote in applying for the position. “I am a passionate animal advocate with a mission to serve, which is why I returned to school. I have worked in both the private sector and non-profit settings, and have participated in all aspects of running a non- profit including budgeting and fundraising, which will enable me to support your mission and growth.”

Prior to Valley Health she was co-owner and chiropractor at Carmel Orthopedic and Sports Therapy, in Carmel, California from 1990 to 2017. She received her bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Kaplan University in Chicago, Illinois, and doctor of chiropractic degree from Palmer College in Davenport, Iowa. She received a master’s degree in Health Policy and Law from UC San Francisco and UC Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, California in 2018.

Wise’s hobbies include therapy dogs, paddle-boarding, working out, and volunteering for Gathering for Women. She is also a board member for Power Over Parkinson’s in Carmel.

About Max's Helping Paws Foundation
Max's Helping Paws Foundation was founded in 2016 to provide a financial lifeline for responsible Monterey County pet owners with a pet in a health crisis. Since it first started providing financial assistance in mid-2017, Max’s Helping Paws has approved more than $135,000 in financial assistance to pet families dealing with financial hardship.

https://www.maxshelpingpaws.org
(831) 704-6473
info@maxshelpingpaws.org
451 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Del Rey Oaks, CA 93940

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.maxshelpingpaws.org

Etats-Unis Bistro in Carmel to Host ‘Howliday Fundraiser’ Featuring Special Doggie Menu With Monterey County Nonprofit Max’s Helping Paws Foundation

Etats-Unis French-American Bistro in Carmel will host a “Howliday Fundraiser” lunch featuring a special doggie menu, Dec. 7, 2019, to benefit Max's Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF), which provides a financial lifeline for pet owners with a pet in a health crisis.

Carmel, CA, November 14, 2019 - Etats-Unis French-American Bistro in Carmel will host a “Howliday Fundraiser” lunch featuring a special doggie menu, Dec. 7, 2019, to benefit Max's Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF), which provides a financial lifeline for pet owners with a pet in a health crisis.

From 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Saturday, December 7, 2019, 25% of all sales will go to MHPF. Etats-Unis has a dog-friendly patio with heat lamps and a special doggie menu, which includes a Puppuccino — fresh, steamed organic milk.

In addition, with the purchase of a meal you get a complimentary howliday pet photo by Richard Green Photography. Get your photos in time for your holiday cards! The photo will be emailed to within 72 hours of the event.

Dress you pet in their favorite outfit that day and the best-dressed pet will win a prize. The winner will receive either:

Wine tasting for six with the winemaker on the dog-friendly patio at Twisted Roots Winery in Carmel Valley.
One-night stay at Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel in a dog-friendly room.
A dog goodie basket.

Reservations Recommended. Space is limited. Email Amy astouffer88@gmail.com for your reservation.

About Etats-Unis
Located in Carmel, California, Etats-Unis pronounced (eh-taz-oo-nee) means United States, which represents Chef Soerke Peters’ menu choices and cooking techniques. Incorporating local ingredients into traditional French cooking from the Old World has always been a passion of his. Going back to basics is bringing back memories of his grandmother cooking in the kitchen in Germany. Experience traditional French comfort food prepared with an emphasis on taste, not theatrics. Savor favorites like Bouillabaisse, Escargot, Ratatouille, Charcuterie and much more. Chef Peters is a leader in sustainability on the Monterey Peninsula. Sourcing only the freshest local ingredients. Organic and farm to fork are not just words in his kitchen. He was just awarded the Ocean Hero Award from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey for his responsible sourcing of seafood and preserving our oceans for generations to come.

Etats-Unis Bistro
Address: Dolores between Fifth & Sixth avenues, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93921
Menu: etatsuniscarmel.com
Phone: (831) 238-6010

About Max's Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF)
Max's Helping Paws Foundation was founded in 2016 to provide a financial lifeline for responsible Monterey County pet owners with a pet in a health crisis. Since it first started providing financial assistance in mid-2017, Max’s Helping Paws has approved more than $135,000 in financial assistance to pet families dealing with financial hardship.

https://www.maxshelpingpaws.org
(831) 704-6473
info@maxshelpingpaws.org
451 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Del Rey Oaks, CA 93940

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.maxshelpingpaws.org

Carmel French-American Bistro Etats-Unis Hosts Bark-N-Brunch Events on Sundays for You and Your Dog

Carmel French-American Bistro Etats-Unis wants you to bring your dog to brunch for a mimosa at its weekly Bark-n-Brunch events starting Dec. 1, 2019.

Carmel, CA, November 12, 2019 - Weekends are for sleeping in, tidying up your home, and enjoying a delicious brunch. And now, you can enjoy your eggs Benedict with your dog by your side. Etats-Unis welcomes brunch lovers and their pets to enjoy mimosas together at their weekly Bark-n-Brunch events.

Starting Dec. 1, every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., you can enjoy Etats-Unis’ French-American menu while your doggie can select from a pup friendly menu created by Chef Soerke.

Plus, your four-legged companions can also enjoy a Puppuccino — fresh, steamed organic milk — while you enjoy mimosas made with fresh oranges pressed to order from Etats-Unis’ old-fashioned French juicer.

To top it all off, 10% of all brunch sales benefits Max’s Helping Paws Foundation, a Monterey Peninsula non-profit that provides a financial lifeline for pet owners with a pet in a health crisis.

About Etats-Unis
Located in Carmel, California, Etats-Unis pronounced (eh-taz-oo-nee) means United States, which represents Chef Soerke Peters’ menu choices and cooking techniques. Incorporating local ingredients into traditional French cooking from the Old World has always been a passion of his. Going back to basics is bringing back memories of his grandmother cooking in the kitchen in Germany. Experience traditional French comfort food prepared with an emphasis on taste, not theatrics. Savor favorites like Bouillabaisse, Escargot, Ratatouille, Charcuterie and much more. Chef Peters is a leader in sustainability on the Monterey Peninsula. Sourcing only the freshest local ingredients. Organic and farm to fork are not just words in his kitchen. He was just awarded the Ocean Hero Award from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey for his responsible sourcing of seafood and preserving our oceans for generations to come.

Etats-Unis
831-238-6010
www.etatsuniscarmel.com
Breakfast & Lunch, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday - Sunday
Dolores Street between Sixth & Fifth avenues
Carmel, CA 93921

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.etatsuniscarmel.com

Twisted Roots Winery Makes Holiday Shopping Easy with wine discounts, Free shipping, Gift packs

When it comes to spreading Christmas cheer this holiday season, nothing brings more joy than the gift of wine.

Carmel Valley, CA, November 08, 2019 - When it comes to spreading Christmas cheer this holiday season, nothing brings more joy than the gift of wine.

Let Twisted Roots Winery be your holiday headquarters for unique gifts that will surely bring smiles to any adult friend or family member.

It all starts with Black Friday, widely regarded as the first official day of the Christmas shopping season. Always celebrated on the day after Thanksgiving, this year’s Black Friday madness occurs on Nov. 29.

Avoid the chaotic shopping malls and head to sunny, tranquil Carmel Valley. Twisted Roots will offer a 30 percent discount on cases (including mixed varietals) purchased from the tasting room at 12 Del Fino Place. The discount extends to the online store (coupon code is CYBER) at www.twistedrootsvineyard.com/online-store, and includes free shipping.

What follows Black Friday? Cyber Monday, of course. Twisted Roots has you covered, offering free shipping from its online store, along with 40 percent off select varietals.

Interested in holiday gift packs? The Twisted Roots tasting room makes it easy to “grab-and-go with a pretty bow!” Pair an Old Vine Zin with a Chardonnay, or a Petite Sirah with a Sparkling Brut Rosé — all with savings of 30 percent off (tasting room only).

Finally, Twisted Roots offers gift certificates. Available on the bar in the tasting room, they allow the recipient to shop for what they want, when they want!

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.twistedrootsvineyard.com/online-store

Carmel Jewish Film Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Award-Winning Movies, Speakers, Receptions March 7 – 22, 2020

The 10th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring 10 films from six countries, noted speakers, and panel discussions, will be held March 7-22, 2020.

Carmel, CA, November 07, 2019 - The 10th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring 10 films from six countries, noted speakers, and panel discussions, will be held March 7-22, 2020. Starting in December, film and venue information, dates, and times can be found on the CJFF website (www.carmeljff.org). Tickets will be available either through the website or by calling (800) 838-3006 starting at the beginning of January.

Festival highlights include:

OPENING NIGHT (MARCH 7)

“Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles”

When "Fiddler on the Roof" opened on Broadway in 1964, it explored themes of tradition, religion, and anti-Semitism against a modern backdrop of radical social change that addressed gender roles, sexuality, and race. Rare archival footage and interviews with musical luminaries explore the legacy of this long-running, award-winning musical. London and Broadway theater star Alexandra Silber will entertain following the film and talk about her book, After Anatevka. A reception will precede the film.

“VIOLINS OF HOPE” (MARCH 8)

Marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Violins of Hope will visit Northern California and make an appearance at the Carmel Jewish Film Festival. Some of these violins were played in concentration camps to entertain Nazis and lift the spirits of fellow prisoners; others were played in ghettos and labor camps to earn money for food. These instruments were restored in Israel and are a testament to the remarkable resilience of the human spirit. The CJFF is partnering with the Monterey County Symphony and Chamber Music Monterey for this event.

Following a film about the Violins of Hope, renowned violinist Cookie Segelstein of Berkeley, CA, will play some the actual instruments, tell their stories, and talk about the cultural significance of music in Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. This program is part of Violins of Hope San Francisco Bay Area, presented in association with Music at Kohl Mansion, Burlingame, CA. A reception will precede the film, and a private reception with Cookie Segelstein at a private home will follow the event.

“BUDAPEST NOIR” (March 14)

The CJFF will host a Q&A with award-winning filmmaker Éva Gardos following this thriller set in Budapest in the politically fraught autumn of 1936. The film follows a scrappy reporter as he probes the murder of a femme fatale, leading him into the dark crime underworld. Francis Ford Coppola gave Gardos, born in Hungary, her first job in film, working as a production assistant on Coppola’s epic “Apocalypse Now”. She went on to establish a career as a film editor (“Valley Girl”, “Mask”, “Bastard Out of Carolina”), working with distinguished directors such as Barbet Schroeder, Peter Bogdanovich, and Anjelica Huston.

Éva’s screenwriting and feature film directorial debut, “An American Rhapsody”, starred a young Scarlett Johansson. The film is based on the true life events of Éva’s family escaping from Hungary in the 1950s and being forced to leave their infant child (Éva) behind. Éva spent six years in Hungary with foster parents before rejoining her biological parents in America. The film won many prizes on the Festival Circuit and was released by Paramount Classics.

“THE ACCOUNTANT OF AUSCHWITZ” (March 15)

Partnering with the Catholic Diocese, the CJFF will screen a Canadian film “The Accountant of Auschwitz”. In 2015, 94-year-old former German SS officer Oskar Groning admitted his guilt and went on trial. But bringing war criminals to justice asks fundamental moral questions with few simple answers. From Nuremberg to the new alt-right, this documentary is a stark reminder to “never forget”.

CLOSING NIGHT (MARCH 22)

The CJFF also will partner with the local Muslim community for the Closing Night selection Abe, a Brazilian film centered on a teen curious about his family’s Middle Eastern culinary heritage. A reception with Israeli and Arab dishes will precede the film.

As the only Jewish film festival in Monterey County, we serve all residents with our efforts to promote understanding, respect, and cooperation through education using the medium of film. While informed by a uniquely Jewish sensibility, our films communicate themes and messages with universal appeal to a wide audience drawn from the Monterey Peninsula and beyond. Our festival’s accompanying programs further engage mind and heart through discussion and social interaction. We hope that our festival will help bridge cultural and religious differences and contribute to community solidarity and peace.

Additional information about all films and events, including ticket prices, can be found on the Carmel Jewish Film Festival website (www.carmeljff.org).

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.carmeljff.org

There’s a Gift inside Every Gift Purchased at Goodwill Central Coast — your Holiday Shopping Headquarters

What if you could buy someone a holiday gift that would keep on giving long after the wrapping paper is recycled?

Salinas, CA, November 06, 2019 - That’s the reality when shoppers comb the aisles or the online store at Goodwill. Each purchase enables the community-based nonprofit to better fund its job-training and employment placement services — so you’re actually giving twice.

Make Goodwill Central Coast your holiday headquarters — from setting your Thanksgiving table to finding that perfect gift on Black Friday and beyond.

Thanksgiving
Goodwill Central Coast stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day, allowing employees time with their families. But gearing up for Turkey Day has never been easier thanks to the wide range of items Goodwill sells at lower-than-retail prices.

Find deals on platters, wine glasses, table runners, silverware and more. Or create that perfect DIY tablescape with marked-down items such as candles, ornate pumpkins and decorative linens.

Black Friday
The busiest shopping day of the year begins at 7 a.m. at all Goodwill Central Coast stores. Find 25 percent off all items marked with a colored tag, along with Door Buster specials on new goods (including cookware).

Arrive early and stay late for two daily drawings in each store, where you could walk away with special merchandise.

Other special shopping days
There’s always a good excuse to shop at Goodwill during the Season of Giving. Join us for Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30), Sorting Sunday (Dec. 1) or Giving Tuesday (Dec. 3). Except for Thanksgiving, our stores are open throughout the holiday season.

Stocking Stuffer Campaign
Throughout December, all Goodwill Central Coast stores will put an emphasis on stocking stuffers priced in four categories (under $20, under $10, under $5, and under $2).

The list of stocking stuffers is as long as your imagination, but popular items include jewelry, games, earbuds, phone chargers, candy, ornaments, decorative mugs and books.

Donations
Remember, if you’re not in the shopping frame of mind, you can donate new and gently used items to Goodwill — all treasures for someone else to find and turn into jobs. From home pick-ups to tax write-offs, Goodwill makes donating as easy as possible. Find out more at www.ccgoodwill.org.

About Goodwill Central Coast
Goodwill Central Coast, a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, began in 1928 in the city of Santa Cruz and today has expanded into three counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo. Goodwill Central Coast now employs more than 600 people, including employment training professionals, sales personnel, donation center attendants, warehouse and distribution workers, and administrators. Its programs strengthen communities by improving job growth, the lives of individuals and families, and the health of our environment. Each year Goodwill assists more than 9,000 job seekers get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence. Goodwill provides a positive learning environment that creates brighter futures through connecting people to meaningful work.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.ccgoodwill.org

Goodwill Central Coast CEO Moving to New Position in Goodwill Organization; Board of Directors to Begin Executive Search

The Goodwill Central Coast Board of Directors today announced that CEO Ed Durkee will be moving to a new position as CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida in Orlando.

Salinas CA, November 05, 2019 - The Board said that Durkee leaves Goodwill Central Coast on sound financial footing and that the strength of the management team and Board will contribute to successfully move the organization through the transition.

The Board has also appointed Tom Moran as interim CEO effective upon Durkee’s departure date of December 13. The Board has formed a search committee and will hire a search firm to begin a search for a new CEO.

“We are entering this transition as a strong organization,” said Board Chairman Tom Strait. “We wish Ed all the success in his new position. He leaves Goodwill Central Coast in good shape, allowing a new CEO to seamlessly continue Goodwill’s important work.”

Durkee has been the CEO at Goodwill Central Coast since 2013.

About Tom Moran
Tom Moran has been CFO of Goodwill Central Coast since the beginning of 2018. He previously served on the organization’s Board of Directors from 2009-2014, including holding the role of Board Chair in 2013. Tom brings to Goodwill 20 years of experience in retail strategic planning and finance, including CFO roles at Conn’s, Inc., and at West Marine, with prior experience at ARAMARK, Limited Brands, and CarMax Auto Superstores. He has a bachelor’s degree in Physics from the College of the Holy Cross, and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Tom and his wife Lindora enjoy hiking and the many other outdoor activities that California has to offer.

About Goodwill Central Coast
Goodwill Central Coast, a private 501(c)3 non-profit organization, began in 1928 in the city of Santa Cruz and today has expanded into three counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo. Goodwill Central Coast now employs over 600 people, including employment training professionals, sales personnel, donation center attendants, warehouse and distribution workers, and administrators. Its programs strengthen communities by improving job growth, the lives of individuals and families, and the health of our environment. Each year Goodwill assists more than 13,000 job seekers get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence. Goodwill provides a positive learning environment that creates brighter futures through connecting people to meaningful work.

Goodwill Central Coast
1566 Moffet Street
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 423-8611
https://www.ccgoodwill.org

Media inquiries: Marci Bracco Cain at 831-747-7455 or marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.ccgoodwill.org

Interim’s OMNI Resource Center needs volunteers, donations for its annual Thanksgiving feast in Salinas

For many the holiday season brings bountiful joy, but for others it can create loneliness, anxiety and depression.

Salinas, CA, October 04, 2019 - For many the holiday season brings bountiful joy, but for others it can create loneliness, anxiety and depression.

Each year the OMNI Resource Center in Salinas hosts a lunch on Thanksgiving Day, serving about 150 people hungry for more than food.

A program run through Interim Inc., which provides services and affordable housing for those with mental illness, OMNI needs volunteers and donations to help with this year’s meal on Nov. 28.

Guests at this special holiday lunch represent not only members of Interim’s housing program, but also the homeless, those with limited income, and/or those with no family.

The lunch gives attendees more than just a meal; they also make new friends, gain a sense of community, and get a meal to take home for later in the evening.

There are many volunteer opportunities to not only help brighten their day but also give hope for their future.

Donations can be dropped off at the Pajaro Street Wellness Center in Salinas (339 Pajaro St., Suite A). Deadline is Nov. 12 for non-perishables, and Nov. 15 for fresh food. OMNI needs everything from oval roasting pans to food items such as turkeys, spiral-sliced hams, boxes of stuffing mix, chicken broth, jars of cranberry sauce, cans of whipped cream and much more.

Volunteers are needed to cook food, but also to help register and usher guests, to serve food and clean up.

Volunteers (aside from cooks) will be asked to arrive at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 28 for a quick training followed by lunch. Cooks will be asked to bring prepared food by noon on Nov. 27.

Anyone interested in donating to the Thanksgiving lunch or volunteering their time, should contact Lisa Corpuz at (831) 800-7530 x431 or email lcorpuz@interiminc.org.

ABOUT INTERIM INC.
Interim’s mission is to provide services and affordable housing supporting members of our community with mental illness in building productive and satisfying lives. Interim is a private nonprofit organization that provides a unique combination of support services, housing and treatment for adults with mental illness in Monterey County. Services provided include affordable supportive housing, residential treatment, mental health and dual-recovery services, case coordination, therapeutic services, outreach and intensive support for homeless adults, supported education and employment, day treatment and peer support.

ABOUT THE OMNI RESOURCE CENTER
The OMNI Resource Center offers peer-led programs promoting wellness and recovery, as well as recreational and social opportunities. Wellness programs are free and open to anyone with mental health challenges. Programs are also offered off-site at other community locations. No referral is necessary. The OMNI Resource Center is located at the Pajaro Street Wellness Center, 339 Pajaro St., Salinas, CA, 93901. The center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.interiminc.org/omni/

Interim Inc will be hosting an Open House at Shelter Cove on December 6, 2019 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM

Interim Inc will be hosting an Open House at Shelter Cove on December 6, 2019 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM and will offer Holiday Treats and Tours of the remodeled facility. 613 Bayonet Circle, Marina, CA.

Monterey, CA, October 03, 2019 - The need transitional housing has been identified by Monterey County’s Coalition of Homeless Services Providers Local Continuum of Care. According to the 2017 Monterey County Homeless Census, approximately 28% of the homeless have serious mental illnesses and approximately 34% have substance use disorders.

Those who are homeless and in need of transitional housing often have a wide variety of needs to address before they are ready to move on to a permanent, independent living arrangement. Examples of common barriers to stability include lack of an income source (employment and/or access to benefits), history of untreated or undiagnosed mental illness, physical illnesses, substance use issues, a lack of basic life skills and deep emotional traumas. Interim staff at Shelter Cove offer case management, individual and group counseling, collaborative treatment planning focused on symptom management, social/family functioning and activities of daily living, coordination with psychiatric and other healthcare providers, including transportation if needed, medication education and support, linkage to community resources, recreational and social activities and peer counseling and support.

Residents of the Shelter Cove Program have private bedrooms and share the common living areas. The Bridge House Academy, a successful dual-diagnosis (mental illness and substance addiction) rehabilitation program located nearby, is available to all residents of Shelter Cove as well as, individual and group counseling and peer support groups for people for whom a day rehab program is not indicated. For example, clients in Shelter Cove are strongly encouraged to work, go to school, or do volunteer work. There is a resident manager available at night for emergencies. Residents pay 30 percent of income or the General Assistance set amount for rent. The maximum length of stay is one year.

· Interim originally acquired the Shelter Cove property under the McKinney Act from the US government as part of the decommissioning of Ft. Ord and has successfully operated transitional housing at this site for adults with mental illness since 1996.

· The Shelter Cove site formerly had 32 bedrooms. We have added seven bedrooms to the project by converting ground-floor community spaces into bedrooms. The ground-floors of these units are large enough to accommodate these renovations easily (approximately 1,000 square feet in shared space). These additional bedrooms were added without changing the exterior footprint of the buildings and were completed at a fraction of the cost of new construction. Adding these seven beds to Shelter Cove (now 39 beds) allows Interim to increase the number of homeless/at-risk individuals it serves from 45 to 65 individuals per year, an approximate increase of 22%.

· We have converted ground floor powder rooms in these units into full baths by adding showers. This conversion, in addition to the new ground floor bedrooms will better accommodate mobility-impaired residents. Although these units are not fully ADA compliant due to floor plan constraints, they are more accommodating for residents unable to climb stairs.

· Additionally, the kitchens of these seven units have been completely remodeled with new cabinets, flooring, countertops and appliances. Kitchen storage has been optimized as well. All Shelter Cove residents cook for themselves in the shared kitchens. The remodeled kitchens better accommodate multiple cooks.

We will be hosting an Open House at Shelter Cove on December 6, 2019 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM and will offer Holiday Treats and Tours of the remodeled facility. 613 Bayonet Circle, Marina, CA.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.interiminc.org/

Nest Boutique in Pacific Grove Celebrates its 20th Anniversary with Special Shopping Events in November

Phyllis Davis is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her women’s wear shop Nest Boutique in Pacific Grove and she says she owes it all to the love and support of her loyal customers.

Pacific Grove, CA, October 31, 2019 — Phyllis Davis is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her women’s wear shop Nest Boutique in Pacific Grove and she says she owes it all to the love and support of her loyal customers.

“I’m just amazed and feeling very blessed,” says Davis, when asked about her thoughts on celebrating 20 years in business. “Somehow in this world of online shopping and big box stores, a little family boutique has survived. A lot of it is due to our wonderful customers. Without them, we wouldn’t be here. I love showing my clients designer fashions that are fashionable, flattering and fun!”

With that in mind, Davis and Nest are hosting two special events in November to celebrate its 20th anniversary, a one-night-only shopping event for VIP customers and a weekend event in which a percentage of proceeds from sales go to three local charities.

The event for VIP customers will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, where VIP customers will be treated to a night of shopping and mingling with bubbles and nibbles, a special 20th anniversary gift for all attendees and a drawing to win a $200 gift certificate — every shopper is eligible! The drawing will be held at 7:30 p.m. and you must be present to win the gift certificate.

In addition, for every $100 spent during the month of November, VIP customers will receive a $20 gift certificate to shop in December only. The certificate would be valid December 1 – December 31, 2019.

The community event supporting Nest’s 20th anniversary and its charity partners will be held all day Friday, November 15 through Sunday, November 17. Each charity partner will receive 20% of all sales for the day:

•Friday, November 15, I-Help, Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program •Saturday, November 16, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

•Sunday, November 17, Animal Friends Rescue Project (AFRP)

On Sunday, AFRP will have a table and adoptable animals in front of the shop from 12 – 2 p.m.

Customers will get a chance to meet someone from the charity, pick up some information on the organization, shop and support a good cause with their purchase.

To RSVP for any of the events, call/go to xxx.

“This celebration is to show our customers what their patronage has meant to us,” she says.

Nest started life in The Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel in 1999, and moved to its current Grand Avenue location in Pacific Grove in January 2005. Davis and her husband Mitch and her mother and stepfather Bonnie and Milt became partners in the venture. In fact, Davis’ mother came up with the name for the boutique.

“My mom was all excited and she asked me, ‘Can we call it Nest?’, ” says Davis about starting the business venture. “I asked her, ‘What does that have to do with women’s fashions?’ ‘Well, we want it to be a warm and welcoming place don’t we? Like a nest.’”

Her mother loved clothes and had a background in retail, owning and running both The Attic on Cannery Row and The Cottage Collection in The Crossroads Shopping Center. She was very close to her mother, whom customers called “The Bulldog” for her dogged enthusiasm, and likening their relationship to Lucy and Ethel of the “I Love Lucy” TV show.

With her mom’s sales acumen, her stepdad’s knack for woodworking and cabinetry, her husband Mitch’s business mind and her jack-of-all-trades skills, Nest thrived, allowing her and Mitch to also pursue their other love: the theater.

“I started acting at age 14, my first show on the Monterey Peninsula was nine years later in 1978, and I met Mitch in a production of ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ at the Outdoor Forest Theater,” she says. “Nest is my daytime passion, theater is my nighttime passion.”

While Nest started out as a women’s wear boutique, it has earned a reputation as the place to go for special occasion wear — weddings, formal events, and so forth.

“We have everyday casual wear, all the way to bridal wear and everything in between, that’s why our slogan is ‘From Blue Jeans to Bridal, Nest Has It All!’ ” she says. “Mitch calls it the ‘world’s smallest department store.’ ”

As for whether there are any plans in the future for expansion or other measures, Davis says they just want to keep serving the community as best they can.

“We’re happy, so we want to keep it simple and easy,” she says. “We don’t need a lot of drama, we’ll leave that to the stage!”

About Nest Boutique
For the best selection of women's clothing and formal wear, come to Nest Boutique! Opened in 1999 by Phyllis Davis, her husband Mitch, and her parents Bonnie and Milt, their shop is the perfect place for all your clothing needs. Phyllis was born and raised on the Monterey Peninsula. She and her husband enjoy performing in many local theater productions. Phyllis runs the shop and enjoys helping customers or ordering new merchandise! Trust our friendly team to do whatever we can to make you happy!

Nest Boutique
229-B Grand Ave.
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
nestinpg.com
831-333-9184
phyllis@nestinpg.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.nestinpg.com

Sip, Buy and Save a Furry Friend! Raise a glass of De Tierra wine and help animal welfare charities in Monterey County

Buy a bottle (or two!) of De Tierra’s 2016 Frannin Red Blend and 10% of all purchases go to a rotating list of animal charities, including Animal Friends Rescue Project; Peace of Mind Dog Rescue; Max’s Helping Paws; and Birchbark Foundation.

Monterey, CA, October 29, 2019 - Buy a bottle (or two!) of De Tierra’s 2016 Frannin Red Blend and 10% of all purchases go to a rotating list of animal charities, including Animal Friends Rescue Project; Peace of Mind Dog Rescue; Max’s Helping Paws; and Birchbark Foundation.

De Tierra co-owners Dan McDonnal and Alix Bosch not only embrace sustainable winemaking, they are passionate dog owners who are committed to helping the health and welfare of our four-legged friends. Their 2016 Frannin Red Blend is inspired by and named after their two beloved dogs, Freya and Annin, De Tierra’s official, four-legged ambassadors who are considered local celebrities in dog-friendly Carmel-by-the-Sea, and who can be found greeting visitors at the De Tierra Tasting Room at Mission Street and 5th Avenue.

De Tierra will kick off this tail-wagging campaign by hosting four separate parties through October 2020, at its tasting room in downtown Carmel. At each event, individual charity partners can reap extra rewards. Wine and animal lovers will be able to sip and save by attending events during these months:

Animal Friends Rescue Project will be having an adoption night from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 at De Tierra. The event includes complimentary nibbles, and all wine purchased during that night will benefit Animal Friends, which will receive double the rewards for every purchase.

Peace of Mind Dog Rescue will hold its double-the rewards adoption night on Feb. 7, 2020, at De Tierra Tasting Room in Carmel.

BirchBark Foundation will hold its double-the rewards adoption night on August 2, 2020, at De Tierra Tasting Room in Carmel.

For more Information call (831) 622-9704, or go to www.detierra.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.detierra.com

Second Concert of Monterey Symphony’s 2019-2020 Season, ‘Ovation,’ Nov. 16-17, 2019, Features Guest Pianist Kun Woo Paik

The second concert of the Monterey Symphony’s six-concert 74th season “Ovation” will be held Nov. 16-17, 2019, with pianist Kun Woo Paik returning to the Symphony to perform two piano concerti.

Monterey, CA, October 29, 2019 — The second concert of the Monterey Symphony’s six-concert 74th season “Ovation” will be held Nov. 16-17, 2019, with pianist Kun Woo Paik returning to the Symphony to perform two piano concerti.

Max Bragado-Darman will conduct Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27, KV 595, and Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15, with guest pianist Paik.

Paik, winner of the Naumburg award and gold medallist at the Busoni International Piano Competitions, is considered one of the finest pianists of his generation.

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27, KV 595 is his last piano concerto ever written. Myths surrounding both its composition and premiere give the work an air of mystery.

Elegant in nature, the Mozart is complemented by Johannes Brahms’ 1st Piano Concerto, the first work Brahms ever premiered from the piano! Although Brahms was only 25 when he composed the work, the melodies are mature and sophisticated. The piece was composed two years after Schumann’s death and explores a complex set of emotions. Schumann played an important role in Brahms’ life and it is hard to not see the connection between them in some of his works.

Paik came to prominence at the age of 10 performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the Korean National Orchestra. His international career took off soon after with his first New York recital at the Lincoln Center and his orchestral debut at Carnegie Hall.

Paik has collaborated all over the world with the most renowned conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Lorin Maazel, Mariss Jansons, Neville Marriner, Jiří Bělohlávek, Vladimir Jurowski, Dmitri Kitaenko, Paavo Järvi, and Ivan Fischer, with orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, London Symphony, BBC Symphony, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony, and the Deutsche Bremen Kammerphilharmonie. He has recently performed with the New York Philharmonic, Lucerne and Berlin Symphony orchestras and given recitals at Carnegie Hall, La Scala, the Mariinsky Theatre and all over Asia and Europe. His numerous recordings appear on BMG, Decca and Deutsche Grammophon. Kun Woo Paik studied at the Juilliard School in New York with Rosina Lhevinne and worked with Ilona Kabos, Guido Agosti and Wilhelm Kempff.

Performances on Saturdays are at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. One hour prior to every performance there will be a pre-concert lecture in the Hall of Sunset Center.

Subscriptions are available. Please contact the box office for availability at (831) 646-8511. For more information and pricing visit:
https://www.montereysymphony.org/subscriptions.htm

Single tickets are now on sale at www.montereysymphony.org.

The Symphony’s season continues with Concert No. 3, Feb. 15-16, 2020, and features two massive symphonic works, both weaving elegant stories for the listener. The fourth concert of the season is set for March 14-15, 2020, and features guest conductor Oleg Caetani making his debut with the Symphony.

Concert No. 5, April 18-19, 2020, features Symphony favorite, violinist Judith Ingolfsson, performing Brahms’ violin concerto. The sixth and final concert will highlight works by Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler and be conducted by Symphony Music Director Max Bragado-Darman.

The roster of special events, luncheons and dinners includes six preview luncheons hosted on the Thursdays prior to each concert and five supper clubs to be held on Sundays after the matinee concerts (through April). Special Events culminate on May 17, 2020, with the Finale Celebration to give the Maestro a send-off worthy of his 15 years at the helm of the Symphony.

Concert 3: February 15-16, 2020
February’s program features two massive symphonic works, both weaving elegant stories for the listener. Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations are comprised of 14 separate movements sketching a different friend or close acquaintance. Rather than depicting the person as a whole, a single element of their personality or relationship with Elgar is illustrated musically. The movement titles contain cryptograms or keys to the identity of the subject! Elgar started the work casually at the piano as an exercise to capture someone musically, and evolved it into a large and beloved symphonic work.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade is based on the Arabian Nights. Replete with Russian folk melodies, many excerpts of this piece are used for Olympic figure skating – making it a well-known and recognized work. Rimsky-Korsakov worked tirelessly on this composition, along with his ornate Russian Easter Overture and the completion of Alexander Borodin’s opera Prince Igor. The work features stunning and virtuosic violin solos — not to be missed!

Max Bragado-Darman, conductor
Edward Elgar / Enigma Variations, Op. 36
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov / Scheherazade, Op. 35

Concert 4: March 14-15, 2020
Guest conductor Oleg Caetani hails from Italy and is making his debut with the Monterey Symphony. The son of famed conductor and composer, Igor Markevitch, Caetani completed his formal training at the Moscow Conservatory and graduated from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. He won the RAI Competition and third prize at the Karajan Competition in Berlin.

Tchaikovsky’s 3rd Symphony, “Polish,” opens the program. This symphony is unique in that it is his only Symphony both in a major key, and containing five movements. The piece, sans first movement, was used by choreographer George Balanchine for Diamonds, the third and final part of his ballet Jewels. Various instruments are showcased in this iconic work, including a lovely flute solo in the third movement.

The second half of the program contains Shostakovich’s 15th Symphony, written in 1971 and premiered in Moscow, which is full of references to other composer’s works. Shostakovich tips his hat to Rossini and Glinka, as well as featuring the “Fate” motif from Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

Oleg Caetani, one of the greatest conductors of his generation, moves freely between symphonic and opera repertoire. Caetani has conducted all over the world including: La Scala in Milan, the Mariinsky in Saint Petersburg, the Royal Opera House in London, the Opera House in San Francisco, the Musikverein in Vienna, Lincoln Center in New York and Suntory Hall in Japan, working with the greatest soloists of our days.

Oleg was chief designate at the ENO in 2005, chief designate 2002-2005 for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Music Conductor and Artistic Director for the same orchestra from 2005 to 2009. Before that, Caetani was the Principal Conductor for the Staatskapelle Weimar, First Kapellmeister of the Frankfurt Opera and GMD in Wiesbaden and in Chemnitz.

Oleg Caetani, guest conductor
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Symphony No. 3, Op. 29
Dmitri Shostakovich / Symphony No. 15, Op. 141

Concert 5: April 18-19, 2020
A Monterey Symphony favorite, violinist Judith Ingolfsson returns in April to perform Brahms’ violin concerto. Judith is currently Professor at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart and co-artistic director and founder of the Festival “Aigues-Vives en Musiques” in France.

Brahms’ violin concerto was written for Joseph Joachim and is the only violin concerto he wrote. Marked by soaring melodies for the violin, it contains some of the most challenging passages for the instrument.

Jean Sibelius’ 2nd Symphony was started in Italy and completed in Helsinki. Sibelius himself declared the work “a confession of my soul.” The piece was premiered with the composer conducting and received three back-to-back sold out performances! A beloved work, after his wildly popular tone poem Finlandia, the 2nd Symphony is Sibelius at his finest with whimsical touches throughout!

Violinist Judith Ingolfsson is recognized for her intense, commanding performances, uncompromising musical maturity, and charismatic performance style. Based in Berlin and enjoying a global career, she performs as soloist, chamber musician and in recital as the Duo Ingolfsson-Stoupel. The New York Times has characterized her playing as producing “both fireworks and a singing tone” and Strings Magazine described her tone as “gorgeous, intense, and variable, flawlessly pure and beautiful in every register.”

Ingolfsson studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has also been appointed to the violin faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University.

Max Bragado-Darman, conductor
Johannes Brahms / Violin Concerto, Op. 77
Judith Ingolfsson, violin
Jean Sibelius / Symphony No. 2, Op. 43

Concert 6: May 16-17, 2020
The season concludes with Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler. Both of these works require intense playing from the orchestra and give our fabulous Monterey Symphony the chance to boldly shine! Strauss’ Don Juan is a powerful tone poem for large orchestra featuring many passages used for Symphony auditions. The piece is based on the unfinished poem Don Juans Ende which tells the story of a man searching for love, which he never finds.

Symphony No. 1 by Gustav Mahler, or “The Titan,” was composed in 1887–1888 in Leipzig and premiered in 1889. There are as many as six versions of the work, as Mahler was impassioned about perfecting it. He borrowed from some of his own works, and highlighted certain lied, or songs, in the movements. At one point there was an additional movement, which Mahler rejected after the first few performances. This Symphony is massive, lush, and gorgeous — a fitting end to a season deserving of many ovations!

Max Bragado-Darman has served as Music Director of the Monterey Symphony since 2004. He was Music Director/Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Castile and León in Valladolid, Spain, for nine years. With this ensemble he recorded works of Turina and Rodrigo and the cello concerti of Alberto Ginastera on the Naxos Label. He also recorded the flute and clarinet concerti by Joan Tower on the Opus One label.

In 1995, Max Bragado-Darman was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Louisville Orchestra. He has worked with artists Alicia de Larrocha, Teresa Berganza, Horacio Gutiérrez, Elmar Oliveira, Dubravka Tomsic, André Watts, Angel Romero, Gary Graffman, and Aaron Rosand.

In 2003, he made his debut at the Wexford Opera Festival with the Granados opera “María del Carmen.” His conducting has been guided by teachers Robert Fountain, Robert Baustian, George Szell, Igor Markevich and Franco Ferrara. He has been the conductor for the “Iturbi Piano Competition” in Valencia, Spain in several editions.

Max Bragado-Darman, conductor
Richard Strauss / Don Juan, Op. 20
Gustav Mahler / Symphony No. 1

About the Monterey Symphony
The mission of the Monterey Symphony is to engage, educate and excite our community through the performance and continual discovery of symphonic music.

The Monterey Symphony, under the artistic leadership of Music Director & Conductor Max Bragado-Darman, is the only fully professional, full-season orchestra serving the communities of the Monterey Bay, Salinas, Salinas Valley, Big Sur, and San Benito County. It provides double performances of a six-concert subscription series at Carmel’s Sunset Theater, as well as youth education programs that include in-class visits and culminate in full-orchestra concerts for school children.

The Monterey Symphony is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation, supported through various generous individuals and through grants and corporate gifts from The Arts Council of Monterey County, The Barnet Segal Charitable Trust, The Berkshire Foundation, California Arts Council, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Harden Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Music Performance Trust Fund, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The William H. and Kristine M. Schuyler Charitable Foundation, Inc., The Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment, Teichert Foundation The Upjohn California Fund and many others.

For additional information, please call (831) 646-8511 or visit the website: www.montereysymphony.org

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereysymphony.org