Stories for February 2012

Stories for February 2012

Thursday, February 23

Ultimate Oscars

Categories need not apply with this best-of-the-best assessment of the Academy Awards.

The Public Voice

Letters To The Editor 2.23.12

Wild and West

Don’t Fence Me In rides into town loaded with American West entertainment.

Up With Downs

Seaside moves forward with the next phase of a controversial Fort Ord development.

Bright Lights, Little City

Residents complain new energy-saving lights are a pain in the eye.

Off the Job

State audit finds fault in county’s job placement program.

Pay Dirt

State cries foul over six-figure payout as former WIB director departs. 

Budget Blowback 

Seaside Fire Department reorganization could eliminate the chief.

Water Wisdom 

Some sage advice from an old sage of journalism on how not to screw up the next water project.

Get Involved

Public Citizen 2.23.12

Local Spin: Seeking Absolution

Alleged victim in Diocese sex case says he forgives.

Squid Fry 2.23.12

Squid Speaks

Street Talk 01.26.12 (asked @ Paris Bakery in Monterey.)

If I gave you a blank check and said “go for it,” what would you do?

The Secret World of Arrietty

Famed Tokyo animation house takes on a classic story in <em>The Secret World of Arrietty</em>.

Strange Genius

Jolie Holland brings an unconventionally infectious brand of musical tricks to Seaside.

Scott Guard

Standout local jazz players rally for one of their own, Scotty Wright.

Thin Ice

Greg Kinnear skates on <em>Thin Ice</em> as a schemer who takes a turn toward the violently criminal.

Antiques, Reimagined 

Milestones, a still-young store filled with eccentric finds, sets up shop.

Brezsny's Astrology Feb 23-29, 2012

By The Numbers 2-23-12

Real Estate

Geo-Tag

How a guy who knows a guy gave a high-tech, graffiti-fighting tool to the masses.

A Game of Tag

People clash over what they see as an opportunity for escape, pride or redemption. 

C Believing

The C Restaurant seduces by way of fly seafood and wine barrels, 1833 earns a James Beard biggie.

Taste of Vietnam

Sporting Chance: Taste of Vietnam banks on authentic tastes and a feel uncommon for Southeast eatery.

Thursday, February 16

Getting Scrappy

There is such a thing as a professional scrapbooker – and one lives among us.

Handel-ed Beautifully

While Komen’s controversial V.P. resigned, it won’t be the last we hear from her.

The Public Voice

Letters To The Editor 2.16.12

This Means War

War Torn: Superspies vie for Reese Witherspoon’s affections, but lose their humanity, in <em>This Means War</em>

Pina

Wim Wenders sets bodies to motion in celebration of famed dancer Pina Bausch.

Pure Honey

The Turf Club Music Series starts with the perpetually evolving Persephone’s Bees.

School of Rock

Carmel High School students get boost from Ryan Scott in pursuit of their musical dreams.

Fort Ord Defense

Public opposition pushes supes to change course on MST/Whispering Oaks.

A New Acronym for Water Politics

Mayors form Monterey Peninsula Regional Water Authority to tackle supply crisis.

Marina Coasting

The Water District left behind in the desal collapse can’t even vote on hiring a new GM.

Capturing Ingenuity

Sights Unseen project gives cameras and voices to homeless women.

Get Involved

Public Citizen 2.12.12

LOCAL SPIN: Symbolic Gestures 

Supes vote to send a pointless methyl iodide message.

Squid Fry 2.16.12

Squid Speaks

Street Talk 01.26.12 (asked @ East Village Coffee Lounge in Monterey.)

What mementos would be on the scrapbook page of your life?

Donuts’ Hole

<em>Superior Donuts</em> entertains despite a weakness: playing surprisingly predictable stereotypes.

Big Sur Taphouse

Tapping Excitement: Big Sur Taphouse pours out great value and a surprising amount of character.

Mushroom Remix

The Big Sur Chanterelle Cook-off ain’t dead yet – just different. Plus some lady on Craigslist wants funky meat.

State of Hunger

The battle against food scarcity in California.

Hunger Pains

With more than a quarter of Monterey County’s children living in poverty, accessing food takes priority.

By The Numbers 2-16-12

Real Estate

Brezsny's Astrology Feb 16-22, 2012

Free Will Astrology

Wednesday, February 15

Latina Dream

Lila Downs brings a cornucopia of culture, and a monster voice, to the Central Coast.

Thursday, February 9

For Better, Avoid Worse

Extending the Fort Ord Reuse Authority’s lifespan could mean more jobs, better development and cooperation in the region.

Hair Peace

Larry Zellers uses his Boomerang Hair Studio to help locals find acceptance and relief.

Brezsny's Astrology Feb 9-12, 2012

Free Will Astrology

By The Numbers 2-09-12

Real Estate

Ready to Play

Coming off a historic year, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am gets even better.

When a man loves a golf game

Anthony Anderson earns audiences with versatility on course and on screen.

Best Golf Bag Ever

The top clubs from the top players in AT&T Pro Am – and the world – make for a mean set of sticks.

The Navy Man, the Bad Boy and the Fighter

Three relative unknowns are well worth following.

Well Above Par

Heartfelt benefits, EcoFarm insight and hall-of-famers.

The Public Voice

Letters To The Editor 2.09.12

Reading History

Monterey County Free Libraries celebrates 100 years of service

Safe House

Smoke and Mirrors: An unrealistic plot and shallow dialogue sends <em>Safe House</em> the way of countless failed CIA semi-thrillers.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Inane Island: <em>Journey 2: The Mysterious Island</em> smears steampunk legacies; shines dimly with CGI creatures.

Soul Survivors

A couple of R&B legends warm up Salinas just in time for Valentine’s Day.

All That

Five local musicians bring several genres, and a key memory, to Good Sams Band.

Labor for Health

Clinica de Salud employees may join the SEIU amid allegations of union-busting tactics.

Carmel River Issues Converge

New watershed coordinator brings more than a dozen groups together. 

Blue Gold

Feds look to the ocean for clean energy as scientists debate wave power potential.

Higher-Office Education 

Candidate School 2012 primes political hopefuls in time for the mid-term elections. 

Bank Breakers

County takes on more than $400 million in debt as Redevelopment Agency folds.

Rolling Rivers

Comedy legend, icon and rabble rouser Joan Rivers stays on the top of her game – and refuses to slow down.

Get Involved

Public Citizen 2.09.12

Local Spin: Up and Down

Finding hope in the fall of Prop. 8 and the rise of Gives!

Squid Fry 2.09.12

Squid Speaks

Street Talk 01.26.12 (asked @ Allure Salon in Salinas.)

What’s the biggest misconception about stylists?

Phoebe's Cafe 

Hidden Heaven: Phoebe’s Café helps make picturesque Asilomar a nice getaway for everyone.

Friday, February 3

Winter 2012 Food and Wine - Carmel Valley Tasting Rooms

Carmel Valley Tasting Rooms

Thursday, February 2

Winter 2012 Food and Wine: Foodie A to Z in Carmel Valley

An A to Z look at Carmel Valley's foodie credentials.

Pariah

Coming Out On Top: <em>Pariah</em> refuses to conform in its telling of a closeted lesbian’s trials of self-discovery.

Jazz Preservatives

The renowned Preservation Hall Jazz Band keeps New Orleans jazz alive at Sunset. 

Mr. Right for Marina?

Conservative Steve Emerson takes on Delgado for mayor.

Gene Pool

Citizens’ campaign to label GMOs in food comes to Pacific Grove’s EcoFarm Conference. 

EcoFarm Conference Highlights

Greener Pastures

Caught in the Middle

Seafood startup hopes to forge a truce between Aquarium and local fishermen. 

Tenacious D

Public Enemy energizer Chuck D visits CSU Monterey Bay, remains vigilant.

Newt vs. Mitt

If only they didn’t stand a chance at becoming president, this could be fun to watch.

Halfway Done, Halfway Dumb

Falling into the Bin Laden trap: One down, one to go.

Get Involved

Public Citizen 2.02.12

Local Spin: Seeking Obsolescence  

Capital defenders seek to replace the death penalty.

Squid Fry 2.02.12

Squid Speaks

Street Talk 01.26.12 (asked @ The Works Cafe and Bookstore in P.G.)

What in your life is currently clogged?

Piercing the Heart

Four bands rally for a local piercer lost to lymphoma.

Winter 2012 Food and Wine - Lokal Yokels

Brendan Jones recruits a partner from Prague to give the area an infusion of foodie energy. 

Foxy Lady

Quirky talent Laura Weinbach leads Foxtails Brigade into a world without Christmas.

Methyl Rules

Litigation could alter future of California pesticide; county stakeholders seek consensus.

Brezsny's Astrology Feb 2-8, 2012

Free Will Astrology

Smoke Alarmed

A real-deal local chimney sweep talks of smokestack stereotypes and fire prevention.

The Public Voice

Letters To The Editor 2.02.12

Athena’s Cafe

Freak for Greek: Athena’s Cafe widens Nimri brothers’ family of welcoming restaurants. 

Chronicle

Birthing a Hero: <em>Chronicle</em> takes a stylized, seductive page from comic book stories of yore.

Winter 2012 Food and Wine - Boxing Wine

John Saunders’ backstory makes him a Carmel Valley icon – and this icon makes good wine.

Out of the Valley

Beyond Carmel Valley, the bull is back and Happy Girl makes people… happy.

By The Numbers 2-02-12

Real Estate

Bistro Beaujolais Carmel-by-the-Sea

An advertiser of MCWeekly Marketplace - where locals do business.