California Corner
Festivals, Feasts & Fairs
CARLSBAD--Golf fans can start the new year at the 41st annual Infiniti Tournament of Champions, Jan. 5-10 at La Costa Resort and Spa, 2100 Costa Del Mar Road. Watch the pros, including Tom Kite, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Greg Norman and others. Practicerounds are Jan. 5 ($8); pro-am rounds are Jan. 6 ($10); competition rounds are Jan. 7-10 ($12 in advance or $15 at the gate). Interstate 5 south, exit at La Costa Avenue, turn left and left again on El Camino Real. (800) 999-4862 or (619) 438-9111.
PALM SPRINGS--A global showcase of 85 movies from 25 countries is featured at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Jan. 7-17. Among the foreign films scheduled: “Leolo” from Canada; “The Story of Qiu Ju” from China, and “Indochine” from France. Screenings are at various times daily at the Metropolitan Theatres’ Courtyard 10, the Plaza Theatre and the Annenberg Theater ($6 general; $4 seniors). Special events include opening and closing night films and parties ($35). The closing night celebration honors Marcello Mastroianni. (619) 778-8979.
SAN JOSE--Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester Rifle Company fortune, built what is now called the Winchester Mystery House after a medium instructed her to shelter the souls of all people killed by rifles. The night of Jan. 8, you can tour the 160-room mansion on the Full Moon Flashlight Tour 6-11 p.m. From the time she started building the home in 1884 until her death 38 years later, Winchester kept carpenters building new rooms one after another. Reservations recommended. $17. The home is at 525 S. Winchester Blvd. U.S. 101 north to Interstate 880 south, take the Stevens Creek Boulevard exit, then left on Winchester Boulevard. (408) 247-2000.
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND--Catch glimpses of migrating whales and playful porpoises on a Jan. 16 whale-watching cruise sponsored by The California Native. Participants meet in Westchester to catch a 7 a.m. bus to Ventura, where they board a boat to cross the Santa Barbara Channel to Santa Cruz Island. Topics of discussion along the way include biology and history. Once on the island, a barbecue lunch is served at Scorpion Valley Ranch, followed by a treasure hunt around the island. $130; reservations required. (310) 642-1140.
PACIFIC GROVE--The Gatehouse Inn Bed and Breakfast pays tribute to a local literary hero with a three-day John Steinbeck program, Jan. 17-19. “Steinbeck Returns to Pacific Grove” includes discussions and slide shows on the author and his works, and walks around Cannery Row and other locales featured in his books. The fee is $60, plus two nights’ accommodations. (Rooms are $80-$125 per night.) (800) 753-1881.