Beautify Cambria and Dark Sky Initiative, in tandem with the International Dark Sky Association, will host a first-of-its-kind astrophotography event for the Central Coast, an educational and fun evening for adults and children alike. Savor the Stars endeavors to generate excitement and appreciation for the magnificent skies above our beautiful Central Coast, one of the last places in settled California that have not been greatly reduced by light pollution. Fun foods, hot drinks, activities for the kids, and a silent auction await. It all takes place Saturday, Oct. 9, from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Vineyard Church, 1617 Main Street in Cambria. Suggested donation is $10, kids 12 and under free. All proceeds go to the Dark Sky Initiative. For more information, go to beautifycambria.org.
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The Maritime Museum Wine Auction is live through 7:59 p.m. on Sept. 28. Join the fun and bid on fine wine to support the museum’s future. The Association was recently given an extensive collection of wines from Leonard and Jan Gelfand, the previous owners of Gelfand Winery, who have retired and sold their award-winning winery. The Museum is conducting an online auction for the extensive collection of wines from all over the world including many form Paso Robles and Edna Valley. Visit slocalestateauctions.com to bid today.
The Museum is also hosting a free concert with the Morro Bay White Caps Band from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 25.
And the Museum Association and Morro Bay In Bloom are teaming up for another drive-thru barbecue fundraiser, set for Tuesday, Oct. 12. Tickets are $15 for a whole smoked chicken and $30 for a rack of smoked pork ribs. Chicken and ribs are being cooked up by Tognazzini’s Dockside Restaurants.
Advanced tickets are available through Monday, Oct. 4 at the Maritime Museum, 1210 Embarcadero in the Front Street parking lot (look for the giant submarine), Thursdays-Mondays 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., from Morro Bay in Bloom members or call Bonnie Jones at (602) 526-4367. The barbecue will be from 4:45-6 p.m. on the 12th.
Time is running out to see needle felting work by Debbie Gedayloo at Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay. Gedayloo is a self-taught fiber artist. Her primary medium is wool but she also incorporates other fibers into her art. Her work is created both using wet felting and needle felting techniques.
The show runs through Sept. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. For more information, go to www.galleryatmarinasquare.com.
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The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St. holds free docent led tours every week on Saturdays through Nov. 27 from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Join the trained guides for interacting and engaging tours of the major exhibitions to help gain a deeper understanding of the artwork.
The Central Coast State Parks Association will hold their second annual gala event, The Butterfly Ball, the Monarch Masquerade, October 23. The event features mixology, a silent auction, performances by the Civic Ballet and other special guests, a guided art experience, delectable dining, informative speakers, and dancing to local Americana band The Mother Corn Shuckers. Funds raised will support the preservation of the Western monarch butterfly, an iconic and beloved species on the brink of extinction that overwinters in local State Parks.
The goal of the Butterfly Ball is to raise money for the soon to be launched program the “Western Monarch Trail.” The purpose is to shine a light on the plight of the Western monarch population, which has declined more than 90% since the 1990s. This campaign will kickstart political actions as well as provide resources and educational materials that focus on preservation in locations where Western monarchs overwinter, including the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove and other local sites. They will collaborate with other organizations such as the Xerces Society, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with the hope of rebuilding the population of this valuable species. For prices and tickets, go to centralcoastparks.org/butterfly-ball/.
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Sunday Evening Rap LGBTQ+ AA Group takes place virtually via Zoom every Sunday from 7 p.m.- 8 p.m. The meeting ID is 206 301 937. A password is required for access. To receive one, email aarapgroup@gmail.com and a member will reply back to assist you. Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of folks from all walks of life who meet together to attain and maintain sobriety. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership.
The Central Coast Writers Conference presents the virtual teen program Writing Horror, Weird, & Dark Fantasy Short Fiction.Writers N.R. Lambert and Jonathan Maberry will inspire and guide students as they learn to write successful short fiction in the horror genre. By the end of the workshop, students will be prepared to write a short story and will be encouraged to enter a writing contest for “Stories that Unsettle.”
Participants will also receive two short story collections that include works by Lambert, Maberry, and other renowned authors. This is a Zoom event on Saturday, September 25 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The cost is $35. Register at cuesta.edu/communityprograms and search Teen Writer.
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September is national suicide awareness month and more people than ever are being impacted by mental illness. This month, a local mental health and suicide awareness advocacy nonprofit, Knowing You Matter, will host a mental health conference on September 25 at Grace Bible Church in Arroyo Grande. The conference will feature a mental wellness and suicide prevention resource fair with over twenty partnering mental health organizations and services, including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). There will also be a mental health and wellness speaker that will share his story of struggle and strength, and a locally produced documentary about individuals who have been impacted by mental illness and suicide.
The conference is free to attend for people of all ages. You can register to attend at knowingyoumatter.org.
Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay will hold a book signing featuring “Finding Morro Bay: Stories from the Sea by J.P. Claypool on Saturday, Sept.25 from 2 – 4 p.m.
Claypool fell in love with the sea as a youngster, and his years in Morro Bay became a seminal time for him. His book is a collection of his adventures in sailing, charter fishing, commercial fishing, and aerial fish spotting. Inspired by stories from Robert Louis Stevenson, Joshua Slocum, Jack London, Herman Melville, and Henry Dana, Claypool recounts true stories of his experiences in Morro Bay and in oceans around the world.
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The next Parent Place virtual meetings are Sept. 23 and 30 with an English version at 6 p.m. and a Spanish at 6:30 p.m. Join a group of parents and caregivers of kids 0-3 to learn more about exploring your caregiving strengths, creating strategies to help strengthen your family, and the Protective Factors. Meet other parents and build community to support you on your parenting journey. Register beforehand for free self-care extras on the Event Calendar at slolibrary.org.
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