DestinationMendocino.com      Your Guide to the Mendocino Coast

March : Whalewatching All Month! California Gray Whales are passing by all month.

March 6 and 7: Mendocino Whale Festival Wine tasting and whale watching will be the featured attractions of the 28th Annual Mendocino Whale Festival March 6 and 7 in Mendocino. On Saturday, many wineries will set up tasting stations in inns, galleries and shops throughout Mendocino Village and Little River, while the area’s top chefs produce their favorite seafood chowders in a tasting event. A marine mammal art exhibit, plein-air (live outdoor painting demonstrations) and docent-led walks are all part of the two-day festival. For more details, visit their Web Site. The Hotel is offering a special for this weekend.

March 13 at 6 pm: Bill Bottrell at the Mendocino Hotel Bill Bottrell performs to benefit music education in Mendocino. $15. Doors open at 6 pm; music starts at 7 pm. No-host bar and tapas available.

March 19 at 7 pm: Mendocino Stories& Music Series presents Main Street Bistro Poetry “Main Street Bistro Poetry” is presented by Gordon Black. Local poets ruth weiss, Janet DeBar, C. E. Chaffin and Armando Garcia-Davila will present four approaches to eloquence. Music with David Duret starts at 6:30PM, and the reading starts at 7:00PM at the Mendocino Hotel. Open reading follows. Doors open at 6:00 PM for bistro menu and drinks. Sliding scale $5-15. Call Pattie at 937-1732 or www.mendocinostories.com/events.

March 20 at 7:30 pm: Mendocino Stories& Music Series presents Kevin and the Coconuts Mendocino Stories and Music Series presents Kevin and the Coconuts, a calypso steel drum band on Saturday, March 20th, at 7:30 PM. This event is a CD Release Party for the Coconuts’ latest release, "Calypso Schmalypso” and will be held at the Hill House Inn of Mendocino. This new recording gives the band an opportunity to highlight the vocals of drummer, Dan Albrecht and trumpeter, Steve Paul. Enjoy dancing, libations and light fare in a cabaret setting. Doors will open at 6:30 pm. Sliding scale $10 - $15. Call Pattie at 937-1732 or www.mendocinostories.com/events.

March 26 at 7 pm: Mendocino Stories House Concert Series Mendocino Stories House Concert Series returns with the music of singer/songwriter Michael Ehlers and bass player Terry Shields in the intimate setting of a private home in Mendocino. Music will start at 7:30PM on Friday, March 26. Light refreshments will be served. Advance ticket sales only, due to limited seating, $15. Doors open at 7:00 PM for light refreshments. Advance ticket sales only, $15. Contact Pattie at 937-1732 or info@mendocinostories.com for tickets and more information.

March 27 at 7:30 pm: Mendocino Stories& Music Series presents Lynn Kiesewetter and the Mendonesians Lynn Kiesewetter and the Mendonesians will be featured on Saturday, March 27 with standard and Latin jazz as well as obscure and original tunes. This Mendocino Stories & Music series event will be held at the Mendocino Hotel, starting at 7:30PM. Join founding member Lynn Kiesewetter on piano and vocals, Bing York on drums and guitar, and Laura Maione, string bass with special guests including Marcia Sloane, and others. Bistro menu and drinks are available as soon as the doors open at 6:30PM. Come early for best seating. Sliding scale $10 - $15. For more info call Pattie at 937-1732 or www.mendocinostories.com.

April 27-28, 2010: Amici Americani California Mille The 20th California Mille stops in Mendocino at the Mendocino Hotel and Hill House Inn. This event covers 1000 miles throughout Northern California over 4 days. This is a great opportunity to see some beautiful classic cars! Read more about the Mille here; entry deadline is Jan 10, 2010.

May 14-16, 2010: 13th Annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival Celebrate the 13th Annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival at the Mendocino Hotel. Enjoy Anderson Valley Pinot Noir from more than 40 wineries while enjoying gourmet small bites and music in the vineyards at Goldeneye Winery. Learn all about Pinot Noir at the technical conference on Friday and dine with the winemakers Friday and Saturday evening dinners at the Mendocino Hotel. Return from the Mendocino Hotel Sunday, visit the wineries during their open houses for special tastings, seminars, food pairings, and more. It’s a weekend of food, wine and entertainment not to be missed!

On Saturday night, May 15, The Mendocino Hotel is having a Winemaker Dinner at 6 pm featuring the wines and expertise of Harmonique.

May 29, 2010 at 7:30 pm: Opera Concert and Dinner Carlos Montané – Tenor, David S. Johnson – Tenor, Erica L. Müller-Constien – Soprano, Josué Cerón – Baritone, Steve Gray – Piano & Organ, with Choir. The concert is in the Sanctuary of the Mendocino Presbyterian Church. A special pre-concert dinner is offered at the Mendocino Hotel starting at 6 pm, and limited to 60 people. Wines at dinner will be provided by Far Niente in the Napa Valley. Tickets are $70/person for Dinner and COncert; Concert only is $20/person. Here is the program for the concert.

June 4-6, 2010: Mendocino Film Festival Join us for the Opening Gala at the Hill House Inn on Friday, June 4, 2010 from 5-7 pm. This will be the fifth year of the Mendocino Film Festival.

July 10-24, 2010: Mendocino Music Festival Two weeks of music of all genres out in the big tent on the Mendocino Headlands, across the street from the Mendocino Hotel. Visit their Web site for concert details.

October 1-3, 2010: Abalone Festival This event supports the local parks system through MAPA, the Mendocino Area Parks Association. The Mendocino Hotel will offer a special package during this time. The Abalone Festival runs on October 2 from 10-4pm, with the actual cookoff competition between noon and 3.