CALENDAR
Calendar: events for February and March 2008
California Valentine's Day getaways
2008 California food festivals
CALIFORNIA
Blossom Days
It's Fresno County Blossom Trail season. The 62-mile self-guided trail is open February to April to show off groves, orchards, vineyards and wildflowers. To celebrate, Sanger will hold its Blossom Days festival, now in its 20th year, with a car show, food booths, live entertainment, arts and crafts and kids' activities. The same day, the 11th annual Blossom Trail Run is held, with races for nearly all levels of competitors.
When, where: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1 at 7th and N streets. Race registration starts at 6:45 a.m. at the Bank of America parking lot at 7th and O streets.
Cost: Free admission. Race registration $20.
Info: (559) 875-4575
Mendocino Whale Festival
As thousands of gray whales make their annual Mexico-Alaska">Alaska migration, visitors stop in Mendocino to look for spouts and tails, and to take part in the city's annual festival. This year, there will be wine tasting at inns, galleries and shops, a seafood- chowder tasting cooked up by area chefs, guided whale- watching walks, exhibits at the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, the marine wildlife exhibit at the Mendocino Art Center and whale-watching cruises from Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg, among other activities.
When, where: March 1 and 2 at various locations, including Crown Hall (for chowder tasting), 45285 Ukiah St.; the lighthouse, Point Cabrillo Road off California 1; Mendocino Art Center, 45200 Little Lake St.
Cost: Varies (lighthouse parking $3, four tastes of chowder for $5, wine tasting $30).
Info: (707) 961-6300, www.mendowhale.com.
Other Minds Festival
For this showcase of musical innovation, nine composers come to San Francisco to prepare music for three concerts, learn about one another's work in seminars and take part in public panel discussions. Among highlights this year: Dieter Schnebel, highly regarded in Europe as an avant-garde composer, makes a rare visit to the U.S. for the fest; and cellists Frances-Marie Uitti and Michael Bach perform the U.S. premiere of a piece by John Cage and Michael Bach Bachtischa.
When, where: March 6 to 8 at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California St.
Cost: $35 for a single concert, $79 for a three-day pass.
Info: (415) 934-8134, www.otherminds.org. Tickets (415) 292-1233, www.jccsf.org/arts.
LOUISIANA
Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival
Williams' adopted city celebrates the playwright. Among notables set to attend are playwright Terrence McNally; director and producer Gregory Mosher; singer- songwriter Tift Merritt; film critic Rex Reed; and authors Valerie Martin, Al Young and Betsy Carter. Highlights include one-man theatrical performances that depict Williams in his early and later years; Tennessee's Got Talent contest, likened to "American Idol," when contestants interpret dramatic scenes from Williams' work before celebrity judges; and the closing ceremony, the Stanley and Stella Shouting Contest, a humorous nod to Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire."
When, where: March 26 to 30, with most activities in the French Quarter.
Cost: $25 for a one-day pass; $60 for a festival panel pass; theater and special events are $10 to $50; master classes are $25.
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