BCNARTS: Best Bets: Free 'Ocean Hoptismism' Speaker Series At Alameda Brewery Let's clear up one thing now about the free monthly ocean-themed speaker series titled "Ocean Hoptimism."

Looky! We just made SF Gate’s Best Bets Freebie of the Week! 🎉 (We don’t even mind that they misspelled our name.)

Join us TONIGHT at Faction Brewing to meet Steve Peletz and hear how he found purpose and connection in the ocean—and how you can too. 🌊

FREE and open to all.
7-8 pm
#OceanHoptimism

Florida bans sociology from core curriculum at state universities For years, Republican lawmakers and education leaders have argued that sociology — especially high-enrollment introductory courses — has been overtaken by progressive ideology

Thoughts turn to our sociologist friend @mam52.bsky.social as entire states ban sociology from core university curricula. His most recent book, “The High School” is an amazing study of academics, sports, race and gender at John Steinbeck’s own Salinas High School.

Announcing the Edge of the Pacific: Bay Perspectives call for entries! Capture the Bay—from foggy piers to salt marshes—and be part of an April–May exhibition celebrating place, art, and community. Proud to support our friends at the West End Arts District. Apply by March 10!

bit.ly/40FBNDK

They are literally a force of nature.

We attended this event last night, and Adam was great. It turns out they have a triage facility in Castroville serving large numbers of our Monterey Bay population. If you can make it north, the Marin HQ is a great place to visit. Thank you, Ocean Hoptimism!

We’re gonna need a bigger… pint. Sea. Stories. Suds. That’s the vibe. Join us every 4th Thursday at Faction Brewing for pints, purpose, and the hope we need for the ocean we love. #OceanHoptimism #SeaStoriesSuds #FactionBrewing #OptimismOnTap

Opening Brief Filed in Appeal of Florida’s Discriminatory Book Ban Law Parents Elevate Concerns in Important First Amendment Case Tallahassee, FL – Three parents of Florida public school students have filed an appeal challenging the dismissal of their lawsuit…

so parents who don’t want to ban books get zero say? how is this okay? florida’s law literally lets pro-censorship parents override everyone else. i’m beyond annoyed rn. how is this even legal?

If seals and sea lions could talk, they’d probably say “see you Jan 22.” 🦭
An evening of wild stories, real science, and the human effort behind marine mammal rescue. Equal parts heart, humor, and hope. Free, open, and very worth your night.
www.oceanhoptimism.org/save-the-date

SCUBA Great White Shark Encounter - Monastery Beach, CA, 2025 - 4K YouTube video by Soup Cat JJ

Amazing underwater video by local divers at Monastery Beach showing a white shark swimming right past them — looks elegant from this angle more than fierce! From Dec. 30, 2025: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GO1...

So cool.

Monterey Bay Aquarium opposes federal move to reopen waters off California to offshore drilling : Indybay Renewed drilling poses unnecessary threats to ocean life and coastal communities

John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts are turning over in their graves.

Everyone keeps arguing OCEAN OPTIMISM vs OCEAN HOPTIMISM and honestly… why not both? 🌊🍺

Hope for the ocean and a pint in hand feels like the correct energy. Join us Nov 20 at Faction Brewing and let’s do the both/and thing.

www.oceanhoptimism.org/save-the-date

#OceanHoptimism #BskyBeer

Mohac (@mohacyucel) | Cara - Artist Social & Portfolio Platform John Steinbeck.

Great drawing of John Steinbeck. #Steinbeck

Good night, New York.

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: Of Mice and Men Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck Another story I read in HS. They are an unlikely pair: George is "small and quick and dark of face"; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet they have formed a "family," clinging together in the face of loneliness and alienation. Laborers in California's dusty vegetable fields, they hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence.

Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: Of Mice and Men

Exercise Your Rights: Read Banned Books Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck Another story I read in HS. They are an unlikely pair: George is "small and quick and dark of face"; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has the mind of a young child. Yet…

This isn’t an uncommon opinion. What makes this book stand out for you?

Steinbeck and the Difficult Art of the Friend Breakup “I can’t consider you a friend when out of every contact there comes some intentionally wounding thing.”

Steinbeck and the difficult art of the friend breakup www.themarginalian.org/2016/03/18/j...

Sorry we missed this!

Well, check out this news:

National Steinbeck Center’s former interim director strikes out to start a new nonprofit. Former Steinbeck Center director starts The Steinbeck Experience in Monterey, offering free tours and digital experiences.

Great story by @sarahayleyrubin.bsky.social in @montereycountynow.com about The Steinbeck Experience starting up in Monterey! Join us!