Friday March 11

2 – 3:30 pm

• Beer Tasting at North Coast Brewery 444 North Main Street in Fort Bragg. Please register for each person attending and tasting. I will arrive about 1:45 pm. Although they don’t take reservations a woman named JESSICA will have an inside table ready for 7 of us. Beer Tastings vary in price. Look for me on the patio.
• Jessica’s Beach Walk in Fort Bragg Jessica is part of the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team and is a citizen scientist. She’ll show you “her beach” on this tour. This is not an easy hike so wear the right shoes and be in store for a slightly rocky ride but beautiful views. No cost and here’s the meeting location. Please register for each person attending Jessica’s beach walk.

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Fort Bragg History Walk. The walk begins in the Train Depot parking lot near the Skunk Train in Fort Bragg. The tour is free but please register for each person attending. The Skunk Train is at 100 West Laurel Street in Fort Bragg, behind the Company Store. There’s a big parking lot there. (I’ll be sending the tour guides out soon.) Here’s the guide:

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Complimentary Welcome Apps on Restaurant Deck. The Ledford House in Albion (3000 North Highway One). Please register for each person attending. Appetizers end at 5:30 pm. If you’d like to stay for dinner, please make a reservation by calling 707-937-0282 and tell Tony you’d like to reserve a table at the Leslie party near the bar. I will bring this book for people to check out; it’s influenced the Bonfire activities.

Saturday March 12

10:40 am – 1 pm

The Whale Watching Boat Trip actually starts at 10:40 a.m. Captain Tim leaves Noyo Harbor at 11 am for a two hour boat trip. The cost is $50/person. Please register on Zoom for each person who will attend the tour BUT you also need to contact Tim for payment

2:30 – 5:00 p.m.

2:30 pm Pacific Coast Winery in Ft Bragg. Located on the beach side 12 miles north of Fort Bragg at Mile Marker 73.58. Look for a trailer with multiple wine barrels. Outside seating at picnic tables. Tastings are $12/person for 5 wines (generally 1 white and 4 reds). Please try to bring exact cash so table only has one transaction). Register for further details.

5:30 pm – 10:00 pm

THE PARTY. Theme: The 1970s. Community Center of Mendocino, Curry Room (998 School St in Mendocino Village). Light fare (a la ’70s theme) will be available but you are welcome to bring food. No refrigeration or microwave is available. BYOB. Program includes: (1) Costume Contest; (2) Air Guitar Contest. I supply a guitar that requires air to enhance it. You get to keep the guitar. Select a song from the ’70s and tell me that by March 8. You can have others in your “band.” Limited to 5 contestants. Audience votes on the winner. (3) Trivia Quiz; (4) Dancing; and (5) Please feel free to bring photo(s) of you from the ’70s. Please register.

Time	Activity
5:30 – 6:30 pm	Display 1970s photos with mellow ‘70s background music
6:30 – 7:00 pm	Trivia Quiz Screener
7:00 – 7:45 pm	Four Contestants with Buzzers Who is this? Name that Tune!
7:45 – 8:00 pm	Costume Contest
8:00 – 8:30 pm	Air Guitar Contest
8:30 – 9:30 pm	Dance Party Dance Contest

Don’t forget to shift your clock 1 hour ahead tonight!

Sunday March 13

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Mendocino Village History Walk. Register to receive the guide and further information. The tour begins at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church in Mendocino Village (44831 Main Street). (I’ll be sending the tour guides out soon.) Here is the walking tour guide.

12:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. This time is cancelled. It is open daily from 10 am – 4 pm.

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Home Visit and Afternoon Tea. You’re welcome to dress for the theme but I realize a bonfire follows. It’s up to you. Parking is slightly difficult so you might want to share a ride? Once you drive up the incline in the driveway there are 2 spots to the left and 1-2 cars can park near the garage. Let’s leave these spots for people with mobility challenges. Everyone else can park to the left of the driveway on the incline.

We’re a 5-minute drive from Mendocino Village in Surfwood Estates. Register and you’ll receive directions. Cats will be closed off but if you’re highly allergic, maybe take an antihistamine before. (44760 Rosewood Terrace in Surfwood Estates). We’ll attach a balloon or 2 to the mailbox.

5:30 pm – 7:30 p.m.

Beach Bonfire. Unfortunately, the food truck dude just cancelled; you might want to bring some food from the Village but we will have the makings for s’mores ready.

Please bring: beach chair or blanket, layers of clothes and hat, any musical or percussion instrument and any natural foraging you do while up here. We’ll create a mandala/altar or many of them. Location: Big River Estuary State Marine Conservation Area, Mendocino Headlands State Park. Register and I’ll send you further directions. NOTE: A local friend, Sharman, is bringing some savory foods in addition to the s’mores. We’ll have water. Aviv is the Bonfire Boss.

Monday March 14

11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Forest Bathing Accessible Hike in a Pygmy Forest. We’ll walk through the Pygmy Forest until we reach the Redwoods. Along the way you’ll have all of your senses activated. You’re welcome to bring a sketch book and any writing/drawing implements. We’ll take it slow and stop a few times to look closely, listen, taste, smell, and touch. Register for each person who will attend.

Directions: Head south on Highway One past Mendocino Village. Turn Left onto Little River Airport Road. After about 3 miles you will see a small sign that points you to a left hand turn into a small parking lot (free). This is an approximate address: 42500 Little River-Airport Rd, Little River

1:30 pm

Farewell Lunch at Princess Seafood in Noyo Harbor. This is a fun outdoor restaurant by the water. They usually have live music. Register for each person so I can try to reserve tables. Here’s an article about the owner. (32096 North Harbor Drive)

Optional Activities that I am not organizing

Whale Festival There are a number of activities happening during March related to whales.

Friday at 8:00 p.m. John Reischman and the Jay Birds Concert at The Little River Inn. I never heard of them but if you’re looking for some later night fun.

14 Best Experiences in Fort Bragg

Miniature Golf I think we played once many years ago.

Skunk Train or Rail Bikes If you’re not into riding the train, the Model Railroad Barn is something you might get a kick out of. At least, i do. But, I love trains.

Kayak Rentals in Fort Bragg. I know nothing about this place but their brochure is glossy. Apparently you can bring your dog and they have a dog life jacket. For $10.

COVID Etiquette

In the next couple of days my newsletter update will include more details about this but suffice it to say I want to take all necessary precautions for my safety and yours. I’ve requested that each of you bring proof of vaccination and booster status; I’ll provide ours to you in the next newsletter. Several of the local restaurants check for proof of vaccination before entry.

On Wednesday, March 9 both Jessica and I will get tested at one of the free testing locations in Fort Bragg. On Friday, March 11 we’ll each take one of the home tests (I trust that you’ve taken advantage of the FREE government kit?). We have purchased a few OTC testing kits and I request that you do this as well.

I know of four guests that will be arriving here via air travel; we will greet them with the rapid covid test swab. At all of the activities you are welcome to mask if you feel more comfortable. We will have surgical masks on hand for anyone; they’re not N-95 or K-95.

Most of the activities are outdoors. At our home, and at the Community Center, we will have cross ventilation. The crowd capacity is being kept small, ~ 20 people. The Bonfire is the one event I’ve extended invitations to new, local friends.

Please try to be entirely transparent. If you feel any cold-like symptoms, you’re welcome to join us just wear an N-95 or K-95 and tell people why. I know we all operate in a unique comfort zone so that’s why I’m communicating what to expect.

CVS COVID Assessment Test.

Restaurant Reviews in Mendocino Village

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Luna Trattoria on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Frankie’s on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Fog Eater Cafe on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Little River Inn Restaurant on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Little River Inn on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Ledford House on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of GoodLife Cafe & Bakery on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Garden Bakery on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Mendocino Cafe on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Cafe Beaujolais on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of MacCallum House Inn on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Ravens’ Restaurant on Yelp

Home Style Cafe in Fort Bragg. Just tried this recently. They close at 2:00 pm. Really good biscuits, apple pie. The breakfast burrito had beans with cut up hard-boiled eggs and cheese. Interesting but dry. They have garden burgers too; none of that Beyond Meat stuff.

Restaurant Reviews in Fort Bragg

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Cravingrill on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of A Sweet Affair on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Princess Seafood Restaurant on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of The Pub at North Coast Brewing on Yelp

Read Leslie K.‘s review of Piaci Pub And Pizzeria on Yelp