Posts Tagged ‘Santa Monica Pier’
Getting Geared Up for March Events
Posted by FCEC | February 28, 2013

How are you gearing up for some spring time fun? We have listed some of our favorite upcoming events this month to help you swing into Spring the right way. From dancing under the sea stars to an incredible ocean adventure and a sustainable seafood festival, there’s plenty of action to keep you moving this month.

>> Start the month off with a night under the sea stars on March 1! Join the Aquarium of the Pacific for their annual Noche de Estrellas for live Latin music, dancing, dinner, underwater dive shows and more.

>> It’s celebration time! March 1-3 the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium celebrates its 10 year anniversary. The celebration is happening all weekend long, so be sure to be a part of the fun with Heal the Bay, Aquarium staff and volunteers for this exciting benchmark. There’ll even be birthday cake and ice cream for those of you with a sweet tooth!

>> Learn about the ocean’s most feared predator in a three part series of lectures from an underwater cinematographer on March 5, 7 & 13. There will also be a shark exhibit titled “Sharks: The Beauty of the Ocean Predator” through May for you to enjoy at the Aquarium of the Pacific.

>> Want to go on a journey of a lifetime? Cabrillo Marine Aquarium has just the trip for you. March 7 – 15, go on a nine-day ocean voyage filled with the friendly whales of Baja, offshore island hikes and more!

>> Love Chowdah? Seafood for the Future is hosting a Best of the West Chowderfest March 9 to celebrate sustainable seafood and enjoy one-of-a-kind chowders cooked with local California seafood. FCEC will be attending this event, so don’t miss out on this one!

>> Aquarium of the Pacific celebrates divers on March 23 at their 12th annual Divers Day. Take a look at live dive demonstrations, meet local organizations related to the sport and science of diving, and learn how to get involved with dive related organizations and volunteer opportunities to protect the ocean and marine life we all love.

More information about these events and others are on our FCEC calendar.

Where will you be this month? Share with us below!

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October Events: Fear Not, Fall is Here!
Posted by FCEC | September 28, 2012

With plenty of volunteer events, fairs and Halloween fun this month, you will find events the whole family can enjoy. Take a look at some of our favorite happenings this month and dive into the fall fun:

>> Wednesdays and Saturdays in October, join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy and lend a hand as they maintain the preserves to ensure healthy habitats for local wildlife and safe trails for visitors.

>> Aquarium of the Pacific is hosting an Aquarium Kids Fun Run Saturday, October 6. Sign your child up and they will receive a commemorative marine animal medal, a finisher certificate and free Aquarium admission!

>> Do you love clean water and healthy water bodies for marine life? Join Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on Saturday, October 13 for the World Water Monitoring Challenge and be a part of the team that protects our water resources worldwide.

>> Take a trip to Redondo Pier and experience their 3rd Annual Taste of the Pier.  On Sunday, October 14 hop on the Redondo Pier for food tastings, face painting, live music and more!

>> Join FCEC and head over to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium for their annual Autumn Sea Fair on Sunday, October 21. There will be ocean-related activities for every age, face-painting, cast a fishing line class and a Beach Olympics! We will be hosting a booth at this event so stop by to play our fishing game and say hello.

>> Are you ready for some ‘spooktacular’ fun this month brings?  You’re in luck! Aquarium of the Pacific will be hosting their annual Scarium of the Pacific October 20-21, for friends and families to enjoy a costume contest, pumpkin carving, spooky storytelling and kooky crafts!

>> For some not-so-scary fun, join the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s Sea Scare 2012 on Saturday, October 27 for an underwater world of chills, thrills and gills or have a good time at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium for a fishy fest celebrating Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos on October 27-28.

May you have a frightfully good time this month! For more information about these events and others, check out the FCEC calendar. Have you been to any of these events before? Share you past experience with us!

*Photo courtesy of Aquarium of the Pacific.

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September Events Roundup: Festivals and Clean Water, oh My!
Posted by FCEC | September 1, 2011

Make this a September to remember!  There are great events and activities taking place in our area this month that are sure to entertain. You can attend a native garden workday, pick up trash at the California Coastal Cleanup, dance the night away at a Lobster Festival, or even learn about Native American maritime culture. There’s sure to be something the whole family can enjoy!

»FCEC’s partner, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, invites you to join them on September 3 to help maintain their native garden. It’s a great way to learn more about plants and animal habitats and how these mini-ecosystems help to improve beach quality.

»On September 9-11, the famous Long Beach Lobster Festival will be firing up at scenic Shoreline Village. Not only will there be tasty lobster abound, there will also be great music and a cool dance floor to strut your stuff. It’s an all-day outing, so bring along your sunscreen and your appetite!

»There’s nothing quite like the largest volunteer event in the state of California! On September 17, Heal the Bay will be organizing dozens of cleanup events locally in conjunction with California Coastal Cleanup Day. It’s a wonderful way to give a little back to nature. It’s also a great way to build community, and here at FCEC we love community building! Since 1985 over 800,000 Californians have removed more than 14 million pounds of trash. We hope you’ll chip in this year and add to those numbers!

»FCEC’s  partner,  Herald Community Center, will be hosting a booth at the 16th Annual Harvest Moon Festival on Sunday, September 18. The Harvest Moon Festival is a holiday celebrated by many Asian communities and revolves around the family, bountiful food and the full moon. Enjoy a family-filled event with Asian foods, live entertainment, cultural activities, shopping and prize giveaways!

» FCEC is proud to promote the annual Moompetam Festival that will be taking place at the Aquarium of the Pacific on September 17-18. This weekend celebration of Native American cultures will feature traditional crafts, storytelling, live demonstrations, music and dance that celebrates the indigenous California Indian maritime cultures of Southern California.

»On September 28, Heal the Bay will be at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium for a kick-off to celebrate the October 1 implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) with a free lecture series. These legally protected zones will help improve the health of the ocean ecosystem and the species that live there. It’s sure to be informative, so join FCEC’s partner, Heal the Bay, to learn more about MPAs!

More information about these events and others are on our FCEC calendar.

What events will you be attending this month? Tell us below!

*Photo courtesy of South Bay Foodies

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Pictures from Fisherman Appreciation Day: Relive the Celebration
Posted by FCEC | July 1, 2011

FCEC celebrated our annual Fisherman Appreciation Day Saturday, June 25 at Santa Monica Pier.  Anglers, members from our partner organizations, families and pier-goers alike joined us to enjoy the sunny weather, learn more about the local environment and which local fish are contaminated, and celebrate our fishing communities!

There were many activities at the event that we think you would like to read about, so why not tell a story through photos?

 

Happy team member Paula

 

 

 

The day started off with FCEC and our partners setting up educational tables where visitors can learn about the work of local environmental, ocean and fishing-related organizations.  Here is our table, complete with a display, tip cards, brochures, and our happy team member Paula!

 

 

 

 

Marina del Rey Anglers

 

 

 

Our partner organizations also had tables, including: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Heal the Bay, Montrose Settlements Restoration Program, Santa Monica Baykeeper, Marina del Rey Anglers and Seafood for the Future.  Our friends with Marina del Rey Anglers had a table even though they hosted Youth Fishing Day at Fisherman’s Wharf in Marina del Rey that same morning!

 

 

 

Colorful face paint

 

 

 

 

 

We had plenty of fun activities for the kids.  Creative Faces provided face-painting activities to make kids’ faces wonderfully colorful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hooked on Mr. Hookbaitman's trivia game

 

 

 

“Mr. Hook Baitman” from Westside Comedy Theater got the kids hooked on his entertaining trivia game.  Here’s a sample question; see if you can get it right:

1. Which fatty fish has been found to be the most toxic?

A. Dorothy, Elmo’s goldfish   B. Jaws   C. White Croaker

 

 

 

 

Larry Fukuhara's fishing workshop

 

 

 

 

 

Just before enjoying the delicious Mexican food provided by Mariasol Restaurant, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s Programs Director Larry Fukuhara led a fishing workshop.  He shared his best techniques for catching local fish that are not contaminated, among other fishing tips.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monica and her new custom-wrapped fishing rod

 

 

 

And at the end of the day, it was time to give away our raffle prizes!  The grand prize was a custom-wrapped fishing rod won by a fisherwoman named Monica.

Thank you to Harbor Breeze Cruises, Spirit Cruises, the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific and Santa Monica Pier Bait & Tackle Company for their contributions that made the amazing giveaways possible!

 

 

 

 

Heal the Bay's Angler Outreach crew

 

 

 

 

We hope everyone had a great time at Fisherman Appreciation Day and left Santa Monica Pier as happy as our partners from Heal the Bay!

 

 

 

 

 

For more pictures from Fisherman Appreciation Day, take a look at the photo album on our Face book Page.

Did you attend Fisherman Appreciation Day?  Tell us what you thought of the event by leaving a comment below.

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Our Second Annual Fisherman Appreciation Day: Join Us for a Celebration at Santa Monica Pier
Posted by FCEC | June 9, 2011

Everyone is invited to Fisherman Appreciation Day!FCEC team members and partners always appreciate those who fish!  This month, we will be showing our appreciation with a big event: our Second Annual Fisherman Appreciation Day.  We invite you, your family and friends to join us for a day of free food, fun games, educational displays and raffle prizes.  Everyone is welcome!

Date: June 25, 2011

Time: 11am – 2pm

Location: The end of Santa Monica Pier

This year’s Fisherman Appreciation Day will have face painting activities offered by Creative Faces, entertainment by Westside Comedy Theater, and interactive games for the children along with educational booths staffed by several organizations, including Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Heal the Bay, Montrose Settlements Restoration Program, Santa Monica Baykeeper, Marina del Rey Anglers and Seafood for the Future.  These booths will give you the opportunity to learn about the local environment and contamination.  FCEC team members will also provide tips on how to protect your health by not consuming contaminated fish.

As for those who are interested in honing their fishing skills, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s Program Director, Larry Fukuhara, will lead a workshop at the event.  During the workshop, we will serve free food and refreshments provided by Mariasol Restaurant.

Finally, to really show our appreciation, we are giving away raffle prizes valued at over $400.  The prizes include whale watching and harbor cruise tickets, tickets to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific and a custom wrapped fishing rod.  Thank you to Harbor Breeze Cruises, Spirit Cruises, the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific and Santa Monica Pier Bait & Tackle Company for their generous contributions.

Fisherman Appreciation Day happens only once a year.  So, help us to make this celebration worthwhile by coming out with your friends and family!  You can download the event flyer and distribute it to others.

If you have any questions or thoughts about this event, leave a comment below and we will get back to you shortly.

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June Events Roundup: How Are You Celebrating Summer?
Posted by FCEC | June 2, 2011

Get your dose of summer fun.June is here!  There are plenty of celebrations and excursions this month; consider attending the ones we’ve listed below to get your dose of summer fun.

»Visit Cabrillo Marine Aquarium on Saturday, June 4 and celebrate World Ocean Day.  Children will get to participate in a scavenger hunt and storytime.  The celebration will also include a cleanup of Cabrillo Beach.

»The Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race and Ocean Festival is on Saturday, June 11.  Sponsored by Santa Monica Pier and the Honolua Surf Co., the festival will feature paddleboard races, dory competitions, outrigger canoes, live music and a museum of antique surfboards, paddleboards and lifeguard equipment.  A portion of the proceeds from the event will go toward Heal the Bay and the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium.

»Are you interested in learning about the marine life near Catalina Island?  Join the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium staff on an expedition on June 11.  Participants will travel with aquarium staff as they look out for marine birds, dolphins, whales, sea lions and seals.  They will also assist staff in collecting specimens of marine life for study.  A highlight of the trip involves a controlled shark baiting, which lures sharks to the boat for closer observation.

»The ‘Fishing for $50k’ Trout Derby at Big Bear Lake is also on June 11.  A total of ten tagged trout will be released into the lake for the competition.  Anglers who catch a tagged trout will win a prize, and one will win the grand prize of $50,000.

Looking to catch $50k?

»Humans use the coastal ocean for many purposes.  During the weekend of June 18-19, join the Aquarium of the Pacific staff at the Urban Ocean Festival as they explore how humans, marine life and the coastal environment are all related.  The festival will include an art exhibition, eco-friendly fashion show and contest, interactive mural painting, urban ocean cruises, poetry readings, sustainable seafood demonstrations, live music, and educational activities.

»On June 25, join FCEC team members at Santa Monica Pier for our 2nd Annual Fisherman Appreciation Day.  Attendees will learn about healthy fish consumption information and fishing tips.  We will also give out raffle prizes, including aquarium tickets, harbor cruise and whale watching tickets and a fishing rod.

There are more events on our FCEC calendar.  Be sure to take a look!

Images via jurvetson and HuntFishGuide on Flickr

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