Wine, Food, Mardi Gras Volleyball, MUN in DC

1. Take tastes from around the world and never leave Manhattan Beach Thursday, Feb. 16 at during its weekly Lido Wine Club Thursday. The starting time is 6 p.m. and you get five or more tastings and light appetizers for $15 per person. Stay for dinner and the restaurant will take 15 percent off of that night's entire check. Wines tomorrow night include Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Champagne, Brancott Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, Graffigna Reserve Malbec from Argentina, Jacob's Creek Cabernet Reserve from Australia and Cava, sparkling wine from Spain. 

2. MB Post Chef Dave LeFevre will host his inaugural "Can You Dig It?" event on Thursday, Feb. 24, at noon at the restaurant in downtown Manhattan Beach. The February event will feature a three-course meal of small plates for $65 per person, with an optional wine pairing for another $35 per person. The quarterly series will showcase local farmers and their products as well as chefs from around the world who will prepare dishes for you to taste. For the first "friend-and-farmer luncheon," LeFevre has teamed up with good friend and former colleague Chef Giuseppe Tentori of Boka and GT Fish & Oyster in Chicago "to highlight produce" from Maryann Carpenter of Coastal Farms in Santa Paula, CA. Reservations can be made by calling 310-545-5405. MB Post is at 1142 Manhattan Avenue.

3. It's mardi gras time for Volleyball Ventures members this Saturday, Feb. 18 beginning at 8:45 a.m. on the sand near the Manhattan Beach Pier. One tournament is a fixed-partner coed doubles, the other coed fours. The tournament costs $30 per player and advance sign ups are encouraged. According to a VV e-mail, "It's time to pull out your beads, feathered masks, colorful boas and velvet pimp suits. Get funky! Get crazy! It's time to be a sexy sultry harlequin, a Cajun King, a New Orleans Queen or flashy court jester for a day on the volleyball courts in Manhattan Beach." VV offers a one-day membership for $10 and $35 for a January-December season.

4. Mira Costa Model United Nations students are in Washington, DC, attending the 49th session of the North American Invitational Model United Nations. The invitational concludes on Sunday, Feb. 19. The MCHS student group left on Monday, Feb. 13 and met Congresswoman Janice Hahn, who represents Manhattan Beach.  

5. A free "Beginning the Conversation Symposium" by Adia for families and caregivers will be held at from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, March 18. Adia representatives and a panel of experts will discuss topics such as learning how to begin the conversation and planning for the care of an older loved one, identifying the needs and desires of your aging loved one and learning what options are available and discovering effective tools, techniques and resources available to you and your older loved one in the community, according to the Adia website. RSVP with your name and number of guests by e-mailing rsvp@adiacares.com  or calling 310-370-0555.