Wandering Wildlife

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Monarchs aren’t the only creatures to flock to Northern California in winter. Check out these hot spots to watch other beasts on the move.

Gray Whales: December–May

Thar she blows! Eschrichtius robustus graces our coast on its 10,000-mile round trip from Alaska and the Bering Sea to Baja California. Choice viewing spots include Salt Point, on Highway 1, 15 miles north of Jenner, as well as Bodega Head, 30 miles to the south, and Point Reyes.

To mingle among the whales, take a cruise with the Oceanic Society. Cruises depart from San Francisco; adult tickets $63, (415) 474-3385, www.oceanicsociety.org.

Boat trips with the Monterey Bay Whale Watch get you cozy with gray whales, killer whales, and dolphins; from $28. (831) 375-4658, www.gowhales.com.

Elephant Seals: December–March

A cacophonous delight, the bellowing elephant seal couples at Año Nuevo State Reserve have been described as "pairs of king-size traveling waterbeds"—but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And to the females, size does matter; the male’s floppy proboscis—which can be two feet long—advertises his virility. Año Nuevo State Reserve, on Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, is the only place you can watch the randy pinnipeds and their amorous antics. (800) 444-4445.

Sandhill Cranes: November–February

How’d you like to take a winter vacation with 42,000 of your closest pals? That’s what sandhill cranes from as far away as Alaska do in California’s Central Valley. Catch a glimpse of them feeding in the wetlands this winter.

The California Department of Fish and Game leads tours at the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve near Lodi, (916) 358-2869; The Nature Conservancy’s Staten Island and Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center, off Interstate 5 between Stockton and Sacramento, is open on weekends, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., (916) 684-2816, www.cosumnes.org.

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Faces

Stars to the Rescue

At this star-studded 29th annual event, guests gathered at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts to socialize, sip wine, and bid on silent auction items in support of Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). Grammy-nominated country singer Trace Adkins, the Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Al Pitrelli, Jeff Scott Soto of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and comedian Elayne Boosler all took the stage over the course of the night. The proceeds go toward funding ARF’s facilities and programs, which help save shelter animals.

Macy's Believe Campaign

As part of Macy’s yearly Believe letter-writing campaign, which works to grant the wishes of children with critical illnesses during the holiday season, Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area welcomed 4-year-old Nova to Macy’s Pleasanton at Stoneridge Shopping Center. At the event, Santa Claus told Nova, who is battling leukemia, that her dream to have a puppy came true. In January, Nova met her new best friend, Coconut.

Hometown Hoedown

For the fifth consecutive year, the Moraga Junior Women’s Club joined forces with the public to raise money and awareness for a chosen cause. The country-themed bash, which took place at the Lafayette Community Center, benefited the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Contra Costa. (CASA trains volunteers to help abused children stay safe in foster homes.) Attendees donned cowboy attire, listened to live music from local band the Ripplers, and enjoyed tasty barbecue and whiskey flights.

Ruby Slippers Gala

Hope Solutions—an organization devoted to healing the effects of poverty by providing services such as case management, housing advocacy, counseling, and more—held a fundraiser at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville to collect funds for local homeless and at-risk individuals. The event featured cocktails, appetizers, silent and live auctions, dinner, dancing, a wine pull, and entertainment by the band David Martin’s House Party.

Heartfelt Gala

Continuing its mission to assist those in need, Monument Crisis Center hosted its annual benefit at Alamo’s Round Hill Country Club. The evening included drinks, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dancing, entertainment, and live auctions, and the proceeds will aid low-income families in Contra Costa County.

Threads of Hope Awards

Every year, Diablo profiles five outstanding East Bay volunteers in our December issue. These individuals are then recognized at the Threads of Hope Awards—a presentation open to the entire community. This year’s ceremony, along with a reception, was hosted at the Lesher Center for the Arts, and Jessica Aguirre of NBC11 News was mistress of ceremonies. The 2019 award recipients were local heroes Edie Henchey, Karen Henrich, Linda Turnbull, Sharon Beswick Pappas, and Tom Wallace.

Sips in the City

At the top of the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, an estimated 300 guests gathered for an evening filled with wine tasting, delicious food, and silent and live auctions to raise money for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. The proceeds largely benefit the expansion of the hospital’s virtual reality technology, which was featured in Diablo’s October 2019 issue, and will also help with the purchase of other medical equipment. The event was put together by the Rowan Branch, a group that garners funds for supplies and programs at the Oakland institution.

Art of Mixology

For the sixth consecutive year, bartenders and drink enthusiasts came together at Orinda Theatre Square for Lamorinda Arts Council’s craft cocktail competition and fundraiser. Attendees were able to sample over 20 craft cocktails made by 18 participants, snack on tasty finger foods, and vote for their favorite drink. In the end, the Mixologist of the Year Award went to Casey Carr of Batch and Brine for his drink called “So-Shu Think You Can Dance.”

Shellie Awards

In January, the 41st annual Shellie Awards took place at the Lesher Center for the Arts. The awards show, which highlights the region’s outstanding performing arts community, honored more than 120 individuals and their work in both musicals and plays. The winning productions included Contra Costa Musical Theatre’s Matilda, Broadway Repertory Theater’s Annie, Center Repertory Company’s The Diary of Anne Frank and Mamma Mia!, and more.

Best in Show: Stories From Beyond the Shelter

To celebrate animals and beloved pets, Berkeley Humane held a storytelling contest at Freight and Salvage. The event, which was hosted by KQED’s Michael Krasny, featured cocktails, a silent auction, and international best-selling author Isabel Allende. All earnings went toward Berkeley Humane’s livesaving programs.

John Muir Health Gala

For the sixth year in a row, local residents celebrated John Muir Health at a black-tie bash. With hundreds of guests present—including community leaders, physicians and clinicians, corporate executives, hospital administrators and board members, and donors—the gala benefited John Muir Health’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. Following a reception, cocktails, appetizers, dinner, and a live auction, the night came to an end with music and dancing.

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