People who live, work, or play there need to become comfortable with the idea that change is coming along the coast.
World Surf League has cleared its final hurdle and will stage the Mavericks big-wave surfing contest within a waiting period running from Jan. 3 through Feb. 28.
Change is coming to the Pacific Coast. King Tides. Big-Waves. And Mother Nature unleashed her forces when we least expected it and could afford it. Fires and recovery efforts. Oh, and we celebrated Christmas in our unique ways.
Highlights and Headlines: December 2017
Arcata. History.
“The Arcata Theatre is a striking combination of Art Deco and Art Moderne architecture. This structure incorporates the geometric Art Deco design with the sweeping curved style of the Art Moderne; a frequent combination in 1930’s theater design. The marquee features neon lighting and is a focal point in the city’s skyline. In the original blue print designs, the neon marquee was nearly twice as tall as it was eventually built. “Best advertising for the town is George Mann’s new sign on the G Street Theater which emblazons to the world at large that south bound tourists are now entering Arcata”” arcatatheater.com
Mendocino. Victorian-inspired Mendocino mansion goes to auction for $3 million.
“As a final note, the original (and thus far only) homeowners, Linda E Pedroni and Rudolph H Light, were apparently quite active for years in circles working to preserve oak tree populations, the East Ranch even serving as the mailing address for the International Oak Society‘s election committee.” Curbed · Adam Brinklow
Sonoma County. Artists draw together at Schulz Museum for North Bay fire relief.

Some of the Bay Area’s most hailed graphic novelists, cartoonists and authors — including Dave Eggers, Raina Telgemeier and Stephan Pastis — are converged at Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz Museum on Saturday, Dec. 9, to raise money to support victims of the recent wildfires in Sonoma County. SF Gate · By Peter Hartlaub
Ronnie Spector, the bad girl of rock, and Summer of Love legends headline benefit concerts
“Ronnie Spector, the original bad girl of rock, a 2007 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, headlined Narada Michael Walden’s 21st Holiday Jam on Dec. 16 at the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley.” Paul Liberatore

Naughty is nice as SantaCon invades S.F.
The Santas were kicking off the start of this year’s SantaCon, a worldwide event that features a daylong bar crawl that sends many of its participants to the naughty list. SF Gate · By Vivian Ho
Mavericks surf contest gets the go-ahead
After months of dealing with a complicated permit process, the World Surf League has cleared its final hurdle and will stage the Mavericks big-wave surfing contest within a waiting period running from Jan. 3 through Feb. 28. Once known as the Titans of Mavericks, the event off the coast of Half Moon Bay now will be called the Mavericks Challenge. SF Gate · By Bruce Jenkins
Ellen DeGeneres Evacuates as California Wildfires Spread Through Santa Barbara County

DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi live in Montecito, an area where many celebrities own homes, including Patrick Stewart, Jane Seymour, Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bridges and former Vice President Al Gore. Residents there were told to evacuate as the Thomas Fire, which has burned 170,000 acres, has threatened homes in the area. The fire, which began in Ventura County, has pushed into Santa Barbara County SF Gate · Jeremy Fuster
California’s Thomas Fire Has Burned an Area the Size of New York

Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, has reportedly scorched an area the size of New York City. As of Sunday evening the fire has burned 230,000 acres since it began, and is the fifth largest fire in recorded state history.
South Bay.
‘Re-wilding’ a Santa Monica beach to protect against sea level rise
“At the north end of Santa Monica Beach, there’s a fenced off 2-acre section that looks a bit unkempt. It’s an experiment in “re-wilding,” or restoring the beach to what it looked like before humans altered it. The pilot project, a partnership of The Bay Foundation and Santa Monica, could also help protect the city from sea level rise.”
Long Beach’s Naples and Daisy Lane parades wind down the holiday marching season

“Do you want to watch the gaudily decorated toys of wealthy people cruise Alamitos Bay and the canals of Naples? If you don’t have a friend with a canalside home, you’re welcome to join the Great Unwashed as you elbow your way to a vantage point of the decorated yachts, dories and Duffys.”
King Tides Apply Pressure To San Diego Coastline
A Monday morning flyover of the region’s coast revealed that the high water levels are having a variety of impacts. People who live, work, or play there need to become comfortable with the idea that change is coming along the coast. The King tides offer that insight.