February Events California 2008

BELMONT SHORE - Chocolate Festival. Second St. is filled with chocolate! Approx. 30 merchants offer  chocolate treats. Residents may enter the Homemade Chocolate Dessert Contest, which is judged by local community leaders, business owners, and press. And children ages 5 - 12 can get a face full of chocolate during the Chocolate Pie Eating Contest. Ticket books (12 tickets for $10) will be sold the week of the event at Mail Boxes Etc., Salon Soma, Sweet Jill's, and Wiskers. Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm. belmontshore.org

LONG BEACH - Brazilian Carnaval aboard Queen Mary Ship - Live Bands and Fireworks.  Guests must be at least 21 years of age. Time: 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Cost: starts at $35 - 55/person, braziliannites.com. Call: (818) 566-1111. Location: 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California.   | Long Beach Hotels |  

PALM DESERT - Ground Hog Chili & BBQ is on of the ICS sanction California Chili Cook-offs. Time: Cooks meeting 9am at the stage area. Fee: $35/chili; $30/chili verde; $25/salsa. Location: Palm Desert Country Club, Palm Desert, California. Contact: Keith Caroselli (760) 200-0508. kcaroselli@dc.rr.com

RIVERSIDE - Dickens Festival Days. Plays, street performers, food vendors, workshops, living history with costumed characters and many activities bring the era to life. Location: Mission Inn Avenue between Lime and Orange Streets. Runs through Feb. 3, 2008.

SAN RAFAEL - Gem Faire. Classes, demos, and gems to adore in this popular event where you can even find jewelry repair while you wait! Time: Friday: 12pm-7pm, Sat: 10am-7pm, Sun: 10am-5pm. General Admission $5 Weekend Pass; Children 11 and under Free. Tel. (503) 252-8300. Location: Marin Center, Exhibit Hall, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael, CA 94903. gemfaire.com

SANTA BARBARA - Paper Cut.  Art From Scrap (AFS) Exhibit capitalizes on the remains and excesses of the holiday season. 18 artists (mostly from Santa Barbara) create artwork from reused or recycled paper products, transforming pulp based materials into works of art such as sculpture, drawing, painting, collage, photography, printmaking and installation. The event aims to inspire individuals to enact positive cultural and environmental change through art. Runs till Feb. 16, 2008. Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Location: 302 East Cota, Santa Barbara, CA. Cost: Donations accepted. Call: (805) 884-0459. artfromscrap.org

ST. HELENA - Mustard Magic - The Grand Opening Event of the Napa Valley Mustard Festival. Mustard Magic, the opulent grand opening event, will launch the season in a black tie dramatic tableaux vivants of works by European masters celebrating the fine art of food and wine. Mustard Goddess, this year's official Festival artwork by celebrated Napa Valley artist Jessel Miller, will come to life in the three story atrium, where trapeze artists perform in mid air. Sumptuous food and wine at every turn as you stroll through art-filled, candlelit spaces. Paintings of French Masters come to life  at Mustard Magic Entertainment at its finest complements living art and tantalizing tastes from the region's finest restaurants and wineries.  Time: 7 to 11 p.m. Location: Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, 2555 St. Helena Highway (HWY 29), St. Helena, CA. Ticket: $125 through January 4; $150 through February 1; $175 per person at the door. Call: (707) 944.1133 mustardfestival.org

TRINIDAD - Clam Beach Run.  Clam Beach Run 2008. The Trinidad to Clam Beach Run begins in Trinidad and ends at Clam Beach County Park. There will be an 8 3/4 mile race, a 5 3/4 mile race, and a 3 mile race. Since the run crosses the mouth of the Little River at Moonstone Beach, the date and start time  are determined by the height of the tide on either the last Saturday of January or the first Saturday of February. Time: 11:00am-7:30pm. Call: (707) 677-1610. Cost: $18-$28. racecenter.com/entries/2008/trinidad08.htm

WHALE WATCHING - Views available along the vantage points of the California Coast that include Big Sur, Santa Cruz, Humboldt Bay, Monterey Bay, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Point Fermin, Newport Beach and San Diego.

DANA POINT Cruise Photos & Tickets! - Each winter, thousands of California Gray Whales leave the cold Artic Seas and follow the coastline to the warm, calm waters of Southern California and Baja. This 5,000-mile migration brings much of the pod past Dana Point, where pods of Giant Grays can be easily seen and photographed. Dana Wharf Sportfishing – (949) 496-5794  www.danawharfsportfishing.com; Dana Island Yacht Charters – (949) 248-7400  www.danaislandyachts.com;  Ocean Institute – (949) 496-2274  www.ocean-institute.org; Aventura Sailing Association – (949) 493-9493 www.aventurasailing.com;  Captain Dave’s Dolphin Safari – (949) 488-2828 www.dolphinsafari.com | Dana Point Hotels

REDONDO BEACH - California gray whale migration from the Arctic to Baja and back. Dolphins, Harbor Seals and Sea Lions and the beautiful Santa Monica Bay coastline on three-hour experience.  (310) 372-2111 rbmarina.com

RIVERSIDE - Dickens Festival Days. Plays, street performers, food vendors, workshops, living history with costumed characters and many activities bring the era to life. Location: Mission Inn Avenue between Lime and Orange Streets.

SAN DIEGO -  Annual migration of California gray whales to the warm breeding grounds off the coast of Baja California. Glimpse these peaceful "giants of the sea" from Cabrillo National Monument or on special whale-watching cruises. 619-557-5450 or 619-236-1212

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