Directories and Online Resources of Businesses & Services

• Coastside Live
• Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce
• Visit Half Moon Bay

Event Calendars

• Coastside Live
• Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce
• City of Half Moon Bay

Online Magazines

• Coastviews Magazine
• Half Moon Bay Review
• Montara Fog

• Coastside Life
• Coastviews Magazine
• Couture Celebrations
• Sam’s Chowder House
• Visit Half Moon Bay
• Weddings By The Sea

Webcam

• Sam’s Chowder House Harbor Webcam

At Weddings By The Sea we have a Half Moon Bay Coastside Resources page that includes Wedding Ceremony Locations, Coastside Reception/Restaurants/Lodging, Local Directories, Articles, and Links/Site Map.

In a future Blog I’ll list businesses and individuals with Twitter and Facebook Fan Pages.

Best Regards,

Terry

(Photo from www.Lacostanerarestaurant.com)

Let’s start with the food, excellent! Chief Carlos Altamirano also owns SF’s Piqueo’s and Mochica; his creations are made with authentic Peruvian ingredients, many of them brought regularly from Peru to provide a unique Peruvian fusion cuisine with a dozen types of ceviche, tiraditos and crudos. The bar has a wide range of unique Peruvian drinks and specialty cocktails.

The facility has a wide range of options for wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, and even small wedding ceremonies. In addition to the main dining area there is an adjacent smaller area, an upstairs room that is very private, a bar and lounge on the ground floor, and an outside seating area for up to 50. The restaurant is also wheelchair accessible. So whether you have just a few people or 300, this location can accommodate to your particular needs. Of course the rental fees depend on the space rented and the meals range from $50-100/person. They are open year-round, Tuesday-Sunday from 5pm to midnight.

You can’t beat the views from the restaurant above Montara State Beach location; see for yourself from a video I shot of the area.

Here is the address and contact info:
8150 Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA
Phone: 650/728-1600
Email: events@lacostanerarestaurant.com

Visit their site at www.Lacostanerarestaurant.com

Best Regards,

Terry

I’ve had the pleasure over the years to officiate at scores of weddings that Casey Sample has catered and I couldn’t agree more with the Rotary Club. Sample This! caters weddings, private parties, graduations, any of the celebrations of life. The most popular menu is buffet style and Casey works closely with the bride and groom to find a menu to fit the budget and theme, personalizing the menu to best suit their needs. She uses fresh produce and fruit from the Coastside when possible.

In addition to catering, Casey has a quaint restaurant in downtown Half Moon Bay, Casey’s Cafe. I asked Casey how she best describes her restaurant and her catering; her answer was “Fresh From The Coast”.  In fact she has received a listing in the San Mateo County As Fresh As It Gets awards for several years. Casey’s Cafe also serves gluten free soups and chowders as well as homemade salad dressings.

So for catering or just a good meal when visiting Half Moon Bay, Casey’s Cafe and Sample This! Catering are good choices for fine food and for finding a caterer you will enjoy working with.  She has a sharp wit and provides excellent customer service.

Learn more at their Half Moon Bay Chamber Sample This! Profile or at their Casey’s Cafe Profile. Visit the Cafe at 328 Main Street in Half Moon Bay or  phone them at (650) 726-2044.

Best Regards,

Terry

Old Thyme Inn Bed and Breakfast

The Inn was originally constructed in 1898 as a home for the George Gilcrest family. Of course, it has been completely refurbished, making it a perfect blend of old and new. Part of that “newness” is complimentary Wi-Fi, TV/VCR, and hypo-allergenic feather beds. There are 7 rooms named after a particular “thyme” you’ll also find in their beautiful garden surrounding the Inn.

I’ve visited Old Thyme Inn many times, used them for visiting guests, recommend them as part of our Intimate Wedding Ceremony Package at WBTS, and have even performed 2 person wedding ceremonies for guests.  They are not a wedding location, per se, but if you are staying there, they’re open to having a vow exchange ceremony in the garden. Renting the whole Inn is a great option for special guests attending your wedding at one of the many wedding locations in the area.

Morning breakfasts include as many local, fresh, and organic ingredients as possible; they also have a nice spread of wine and California cheeses laid out every afternoon. Their new website is very elegant and informative, I noticed they have some interesting specials on their Specials page.

I mentioned in the beginning about the artwork found throughout the inn.  It provides a unique and beautiful feast for the eye during your stay; Kathy specializes in natural settings from Big Sur through Point Reyes in California.  There is a link on the website to extensive information about Kathy. She has a degree in Art History and has studied at Pacific Art League in Palo Alto and the California Academy of Painters, as well as with many well-known artists over the years.

Learn more about this lovely Inn or just enjoy the beauty and functionality of their website. You can call for reservations at (800) 720-4277.

Best Regards,

Terry

Sunset From Miramar

What’s Unique To Do Around Half Moon Bay?

Visiting any area for a wedding weekend or just coming for a day there are the obvious things to do; local restaurants, special shopping areas, historic areas, art galleries etc. But, the Coastside has unique activities the uninitiated might not know to consider.

• Rent a bike at the Bike Works and bike the Coastal Trail for miles from south of Half Moon Bay through Pillar Point Marina . [Bike Works @ 520 Kelly Ave., HMB.
• Join a whale watching excursion or rent a kayak to paddle around the harbor and surf the waves at Seal Rock.
• Take a tour of  Harley Farms Goat Dairy www.harleyfarms.com, the only functioning Dairy in San Mateo County and buy some of their great goat cheese and other natural products produced onsite.
• Hike, hike, hike: Purisima Creek (redwoods and a creek) and Burleigh Murray Ranch State Park (historic dairy barn) are just a sample of scores of hiking opportunities.
• Ride a horse on the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean and even on to the beach. Sea Horse Ranch.
• Take a Coastside Ecotourism tour.

These are just some ideas, you can find a complete list of activities and things to do at the Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce website.

Best Regards,

Terry

We just went there this week and had their calamari sandwich, my favorite.  My wife had the  cream of green chile soup, but it’s a toss up as to which is better, green chile or the cream of artichoke soup.  Of course, being situated in Pescadero makes the serving of artichokes in a variety of dishes a natural. You get to Pescadero, just 17 miles south of Half Moon Bay, driving along a beautiful coastal road that leads to old historic Pescadero, town surrounded by fields of artichokes, brussel sprouts, and strawberries.

Duarte’s has breakfast and lunch menus; their fine dining evening selections can include crab cioppino, Pacific snapper, baked oysters, lamb chops since their specials vary throughout the season.

As if that wasn’t enticement enough to spend some time in Pescadero, then think “pie”!  They bake them all right there using local recipies, the Olallieberry pie being one of my favorites. An Olallieberry is a cross between a loganberry and a youngberry;  “olalli” comes from the Northwestern Native American’s word for berry and you can even drive a few miles further and pick your own olallieberrys in the field to take home if you want to make your own pie or just add them to your cereal in the next morning.

Pescadero is a nice to visit if you’re on the Coastside for a wedding or just looking for a fun spot to spend the day on the Coastside.  There is Arcangeli Grocery/Norms Market where you can excellent artichoke garlic break,  Harley Farms Goat Dairy to tour, shops, bed and breakfast inns, all within a mile of Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve and a couple of miles from Butano State Park.

Learn more at www.duartestavern.com and check out their online store to buy some Olallieberry Jam.   Call for reservations at (650) 879-0464.

Best Regards,

Terry

Richard received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Studio Performance from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a Masters Degree in Music from San Francisco State University on a Performance Scholarship. He has studied personally and in master classes with most of the world’s leading guitarists, including Andres Segovia. Signed by Columbia Artist for national tours, he has performed solo and in groups in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.  His solo, group and recording experience includes working with the virtuoso quartet Festival of Four and guitarist and recording producer/guitarist Stevan Pasero.

Drawing from his extensive repertoire in Classical, Flamenco, and Spanish guitar Richard is a good choice as a wedding musician who can provide the highest quality music for wedding ceremonies. If Richard doesn’t have something in his repertoire a bride wants for her ceremony, he is very willing to find the music if it’s possible to discover it. I have also found him to have a very winning personality; friendly, respectful, open, and professional.

A couple of final thoughts, Richard is the founder of the Omni Foundation for the Performing Arts, one of the leading series of guitar performances in the world at San Francisco’s Civic and Performing Arts Center. Finally as the head of the Guitar Department, also teaches Spanish guitar at Notre Dame de Namur University in California.

You can hear Richard playing at the Hastings House Weddings website and also on individual selections at iTunes. He can be reached at (650) 726-1203.

Best Regards,

Terry

Rates are competitive for the area and they have a number of Packages with reduced rates: Unlimited Golf Stay & Play, Romantic Escape, Dinner & A Movie, Family Dinner and Movie, Eco Tour, Family Fun Picnic are a few.

I asked Minako Maki, the Conference Manager, to suggest three words she thinks most reflect the Lodge, I’ve been to the Lodge several times over the years so I agree with her answer: “intimate”, “charming”, and “personal”.

The Lodge is one of the few locations on the coast with a heated pool; they also have an oversized whirlpool spa, a dry sauna, a Fitness Center, and can make arrangements for a professional massage in your room for individuals and couples. They also have six meeting rooms that accommodate up to 60 people and have corporate rates for lodging if participants decide to stay over.

In addition to being a great location for guests attending wedding ceremonies on the San Mateo County Coastside, the Half Moon Bay Lodge is a lovely site for a wedding ceremony and reception for up to 50 guests.  “Experience our garden lawn setting with golf course views for your ceremony then celebrate in our dining room adjacent to our pool and charming patio.  We will take care of the details that go into making your wedding day flawless.”

Learn more at www.halfmoonbaylodge.com, call, or email for reservations:  (650) 726-9000 – reservations325@halfmoonbaylodge.com .

Best Regards,

Terry

Ceremony Location

I’ve performed many ceremonies at the Golf Links and find this location one of the best places to officiate.

I asked Amy M. McNeil, Director of Sales & Marketing, a few questions to round out my thoughts about the location; the first was to give me 3 words she things best describes Half Moon Bay Golf Links; not surprisingly they were “Views, Service, Value”. Let me comment around her key words to describe their location and service.

Views?  You bet, you can see from a video I shot last November when I was there to officiate that the area is open and green right beside sea. There is a view of the ocean on their website; they are on more than a mile of scenic bluffs above the Pacific Ocean. Here is the link to the WBTS Video.

Service?  Amy and her staff of coordinators obviously love what they do, they take excellent care of every part of the rehearsal, celebration, and reception.  Couples always look relaxed and pampered by a staff that makes sure the whole experience goes smoothly and professionally.

Value?  Well, even with the expansive views, quality service, and fine food, the cost of Half Moon Bay Golf Links is one of the more affordable ones on the Coastside.

I asked Amy another question, what advice she would give to couples about their wedding?  Her answer?  “Trust your instincts -not only with each other, but with your wedding plans and vendors.  Everything should “click” and you should feel that your wedding vendors ‘have your back’ in all things and that they have your best interests at heart and are there to protect your overall experience.  Trust is key in all relationships from wedding planning through marriage.”

Look over their Wedding page at Half Moon Bay Golf Links.   If you’re interested in learning more specifics contact Amy McNeil, Director of Sales & Marketing at (650) 773-8895 or amcneil@hmbgolflinks.com.

Best Regards,

Terry

There are many Coastside and online resources to find information when considering a visit, planning an event, standing on the street corner in Half Moon Bay looking for a location, or living here and trying to find a local service like an Insurance Agency.

Coastside Live is the easiest to use for locating Coastside business addresses and phone numbers, things are readily findable in Coastside Live.  Sites like the Coastside Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce and the Half Moon Bay Review include only members or advertisers, Yelp and the search engine’s “Local” sites take some digging if you don’t know exactly what you are searching for.  Coastside Live has everything in clear lists in each category; it’s easy to scan and get that address and phone number.

So, ease of finding “everything local” is the first advantage of Coastside Live.

Next, the home page has three clear sections showing, the Coastside Calendar, Weather/Surf Reports, and Web Cams to showing exactly what the day looks like.  As a local resident and a wedding vendor I find that Coastside Calendar especially handy  for finding entertainment every night of the week and for recommending to wedding clients things to do if they are spending some time here before or after their wedding. The owners of Coastside Live make it easy for companies to enter their own entertainment or local activity listings and they follow up with those who don’t so it stays current.

Finally, comprehensivenes is a real plus; by following menu links like Eat, Sleep, Play, Shop, Move, or Local Services you can find everything you might need. I counted over 60 categories in Local Services alone. New local businesses and service providers can submit their information to Coastside Live by contacting them at coastsidelive@roguewebworks.com.

A word to businesses, organizations, and activity providers; since Coastside Live has excellent search engine findability for all the major keyword searchers use to find Coastside services, paying for a link or advertising on the site is a no-brainer for low cost traffic generation. However, your listing is free, so get it in the directory if you don’t find it there.

Visit this online directory at http://www.coastsidelive.com.

Best Regards

Terry