PGIF: The weekend you’ve been waiting for
19 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Dining, Events, Monterey Area, PGIF, Shopping Tags: acutions, annie, barnyard, bmw, carmel, chateau julien, concorso italiano, concours auto rally, concours d'elegance, divine, ferrari, italy, lamborghini, legends of the autobahn, mercedes, monterey, motor, musical, pacific grove, pebble beach, porsche, racing, sports, the quail, wine
This is it! If you’re one of the many auto enthusiasts in town this weekend, you’re already set for one of the biggest car events of the year—the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Here’s a tour of the weekend’s festivities…
Rallies: There are more concourses this weekend than there are days to have them! Besides the world-famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance this Sunday, August 21, you might want to check out the Central California chapter of the German Marque Concours/2011 Legends of the Autobahn, celebrating German craftsmanship with BMW, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz at the Rancho Canada Golf Ranch in Carmel Valley. The Concorso Italiano brings Italy’s finest to the Monterey area—automobiles, wine and dining, even a fashion show presenting some of Carmel’s best boutiques. This year highlights the Lamborghini Aventador, new Maseratis, and Fiats, as well as a display of classic Ferraris. And if you love Ferraris, there are plenty more to see tomorrow at the Annual Ferrari Event at the Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel.
Don’t forget our own Concours Auto Rally here in Pacific Grove this afternoon, a fun family celebration with a cavalcade of classics, some raffles, and a delicious barbecue dinner. This is a special year for the rally, honoring the 50th anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type. The concours benefits Pacific Grove Youth Action, Inc. and has raised over $134,000 for local non-profits.
And don’t miss The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering at the Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club in Carmel. A unique, sophisticated gathering involving much more than just automobiles, guests here can even try out some of the modern luxury cars on display. With four spectacular events packed into one day, it may be hard to choose!
Auctions: To buy or not to buy. RM Auctions, Mecum Auctions, the Pebble Beach Auctions, Ruso and Steele Auctions at the Marriott…the choice is yours and the sky’s the limit.
Racing: After almost forty years, the thrill still hasn’t left the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. With 17 racing groups and all kinds of collectibles from every drive of life, this event is a must for racing fans of any age. And after a hard day’s work racing around the famous track, these autos clean up nice too—you may see some of them at the Pebble Beach Concours on Sunday.
Dining: A whole new take on drive-through dining. Dine in DiVine at the Chateau Julien Wine Estate is a chance to take in an elegant display of classic cars as well as dine the way nature intended—in the vineyard, by starlight.
But what about the auto un-enthusiast? Not to worry. Monterey offers something for everyone, every day of the week. Annie the Musical is playing now through September at the Outdoor Forest Theater in Carmel, part of the Pacific Repertory Theatre, which is the only professional theater on the Peninsula. Or shop to the rhythm at the Del Monte Shopping center. Spend the day finding great buys at their Sidewalk Sale, then catch some dinner at any of the mall’s great restaurants, from California Pizza Kitchen, Islands burgers, to LALLA Grill, and enjoy the Music on the Mall series every Saturday this month. For a great family day trip, head to Salinas for Summer Harvest at The Farm, tomorrow starting at 10:30am, with hay rides, a watermelon eating contest, and much more summer fun.
No matter who you are or what you love, the Monterey Peninsula has it covered. Do you have a favorite MP summer event? We’d love to hear about it!
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Check out a couple of our favorite websites for more fun things to do in Monterey!
Chrome, steel, and classic wheels: The Concours d’Elegance 2011
08 Aug 2011 5 Comments
in Events, Monterey Area Tags: 17-mile drive, automobile, carmel, cars, concours, concours d'elegance, monterey, new york times, pacific grove, pebble beach, raceway, rolex
In Monterey, August may well be “Automobile Month.” Thousands of car collectors and enthusiasts from all over the world flock to the coast on the third Sunday of the month for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, an extravagant automotive event held on the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Links. With approximately 200 classic cars and motorcycles of all shapes, colors, makes, and models covering the lush fairgrounds, the Concours has been called the Super Bowl of car shows. The New York Times even hailed it as the Olympics of the automotive universe.
It all starts up in Washington today with the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic, which begins near Seattle and traces the coast along its way south to the next event, the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance on August 18. This tour traditionally follows parts of the famed 17-Mile Drive, passing through Carmel-by-the-Sea, where bystanders encounter a striking view from Ocean Avenue.
Begun in 1950, the Concours d’Elegance has grown from a small social event to a full-scale weekend of chrome competition, ceremonies, and champagne. Last year was a milestone for the Concours, which has raised more than $14 million dollars for charity in its 60-year history. The event draws numerous celebrities, including talk show host Jay Leno, who raised over $50,000 last year with an offer to give anyone who donated to the event a tour of his garage and tickets to The Tonight Show.
Other don’t-miss events in August include the Carmel-by-the-Sea Concours on Ocean Avenue on August 16, and a memorable weekend of rare four-wheeled gems at RM Auctions, the world’s largest auction house for vintage and collector cars. For the adrenaline junkie and to experience the excitement and energy of Monterey racing history, check out the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
And Pacific Grove has its own community auto events. August 17 is “The Little Car Show,” the second annual event to benefit the Pacific Grove Library and Youth Center. You can even stop by to meet writer Tad Burness and car collector Jack Passey and get signed copies of their books. We also have our own Concours, the 17th Annual Pacific Grove Concours Auto Rally on August 19.
Wherever you are in Monterey, you’re sure to do at least one double-take on the highway this month. So keep your eyes open—you may find yourself part of a caravan on your way to Pebble Beach.
Down in Monterey
20 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in Monterey Area Tags: bay, cannery row, carmel, cars, concours d'elegance, monterey, pacific grove, pacific grove inn, steinbeck
Cars, elegance, Steinbeck, Cannery Row, and local delicacies…these are just a few of the things happening in and around the Monterey Bay Area this month! Down in Monterey is our new guide to anyone traveling around the area—a list of things do to in Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, and the other amazing cities that make up our beautiful part of the world. Each month, we’ll feature some of our local restaurants, shopping locations, upcoming events, and much more.
Here are some highlights for August 2011: For motoring enthusiasts, the Monterey area is proud to be part of the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic August 8–17, and to host the Tour d’Elegance on August 18 and the world-famous Concours d’Elegance on August 21. There are many other highlights this month, including the Annual Steinbeck Festival in Salinas, CA, August 4–7; Spirit West Coast Christian Music Festival right here in Pacific Grove, August 4–6; the Annual Winemakers’ Celebration at the Barnyard Shopping Center in Carmel, August 13; and the Monterey County Fair, August 31 to September 5. For an extended list of all the exciting things to do in Monterey this season, visit monterey.winecountry.com.
Down in Monterey is the blog of Pacific Grove Inn, a cozy and intimate Bed & Breakfast in the Monterey Bay Area. We would love to welcome you to your home away from home the next time you are in town! For more information, please visit our website (www.pacificgroveinn.com), email us at info[at]pacificgroveinn.com, or visit our contact page.
