Blue Blanket Improv presents a laugh-out-loud, high-energy, fun-for-the-whole-family comedy theater experience unparalleled on the coast! Bring a friend or several and enjoy a night of laughs.

Performing in outdoor venues around the Bay Area -- from beaches to parks to anywhere they can hang their eponymous blanket -- Blue Blanket Improv is committed to inspiring laughter in others, bringing theater to those who might not attend otherwise, and giving back to the community.

Vipassana, or mindfulness meditation, was first taught by the Buddha 2,500 years ago. In this style of meditation, widespread today in Southeast Asia and increasingly popular in the West, one learns to watch what arises without judgment or reaction.

In so doing, the mind can become clear and steady, and we begin to see things as they really are, without the distortion of our hopes, fears and confusion. Some apply mindfulness to reduce stress and control pain, and many find the practice a help with daily life, but the Buddha's purpose was clear: this way of seeing leads to freedom from suffering.

Coastside Vipassana meets at the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel on Wednesday evenings, for meditation and a dhamma talk from a visiting teacher. Everyone is welcome--the merely curious, the earnest beginner, or the dedicated practitioner.

The James Johnston House, a.k.a. The White House of Half Moon Bay, sits overlooking the Pacific Ocean, its silhouette a striking sight against the surrounding hillsides.

This classic New England salt-box (two stories in front, one in back) was built by 49er pioneer James Johnston between 1853 and 1855, for his Californian bride, Petra Maria de Jara. In 1971, the Johnston House Foundation was established to protect, preserve, restore, and refurbish the house, and to promote the history of the Coastside and California.

The Johnston House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is open to visitors on the third Saturday of the month, January - September, with docent-led tours available. A special "Holiday House" event is held the first two weekends in November.

The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company is a casual oceanfront restaurant and brewpub in Princeton-by-the-Sea, located on Pillar Point Harbor (just half a mile from the world-famous Maverick's surf break).

Every Thursday through Sunday, local bands perform live at the Brewing Company, bringing sounds to the shore from jazz and blues to world beat and reggae. The bands perform Thursdays from 6-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights from 7-10 p.m., and Sundays from 4-8 p.m.

So, relax like the locals do, with a pint of locally brewed beer, some live music, and a beautiful ocean view taken in from the side of one of the pub's patio firepits.

Open 365 days a year, the Old Princeton Landing is Princeton-by-the-Sea's nightspot for live music, dancing, and pool. Artists of all stripes -- from rock-a-billy bands to hip-hop artists -- take to the stage on Friday and Saturday nights, often with a minimal cover change.

Every Sunday night, the Stan Erhart Band leads a cover fee-free, professional-level Blues Open Jam session with musicians from all over the Bay Area.

So, if you're feeling down, scrape up enough change for a bottle of beer and head down to the Old Princeton Landing to chase your blues away.

The Coastside Farmers Market offers an abundance of locally grown and/or produced vegetables, fruits, organic products, gourmet cheese, herbs, seafood, organic coffee, desserts, and wines, available right from the people who produce them.

This is the perfect spot to sample the coastside's agricultural bounty, grab fixings for a picnic, or stock up on groceries for your hostel stay.

The Farmers Market is held on Saturdays in Half Moon Bay, and on Wednesdays in Pacifica, May through December.

The Coastside Farmers Market offers an abundance of locally grown and/or produced vegetables, fruits, organic products, gourmet cheese, herbs, seafood, organic coffee, desserts, and wines, available right from the people who produce them.

This is the perfect spot to sample the coastside's agricultural bounty, grab fixings for a picnic, or stock up on groceries for your hostel stay.

Neighboring the Pillar Point Harbor, Sam's Chowder House is one of Half Moon Bay's most picturesque bars and seafood restaurants. This beachside restaurant boasts beautiful ocean views, from both the dining room and spacious outdoor patios.

Aside from serving food, Sam's presents live local music on the weekends, including jazz, blues, rock, and more.

During the summer, you can hear the bands at Sam's indoor bar on Fridays from 6-9 p.m., and on the outdoor patio on Saturdays from 4-8 p.m. and Sundays 1-4 p.m. For a list of scheduled performers, visit samschowderhouse.com/news/music.html.

The regular menu prices will considerably lighten your wallet, but for the cost of a beer or cocktail you can stop in to hear the sounds and soak up the surroundings. Grab some fresh shellfish appetizers to share at the chilled seafood bar on the patio, and lounge in Adirondack chairs while admiring the seaside sunset.

Cetrella Bistro and Cafe offers seasonal Mediterranean cuisine, an award-winning wine collection featuring over 400 wines from around the world, and ranked on the San Francisco Chronicle's Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants list from 2004-2007.

If the Bistro menu is beyond your budget, try dropping into the bar for a drink and live jazz music, presented every Friday and Saturday night. A bar menu featuring small plates, wood oven pizzas, and a few entrees is also available.

Every third Saturday between April and December, several art galleries in Half Moon Bay stay open until 8 p.m. to invite visitors to experience the coastal arts scene.

The participating galleries offer artist receptions, demonstrations, music, and light refreshments during the walk. Most galleries are gathered on Main Street, making for an easy stroll through Half Moon Bay's picturesque downtown.

Download a map at http://www.socogallery.com/artwalk01.html.

Join a Pacifica Historical Society docent on a moderate walk through one of the National Park Services' newest sites: Mori Point in San Mateo County.

Hear tales of old Mori's Tavern while walking through restored wildlife areas. Keep an eye out for red-legged frogs, San Francisco garter snakes, and whales passing in the ocean beyond.

Motorheads far and wide are revving up to come to Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay for Cool Harbor Nights, a coastal car and motorcycle show held on the first Thursday of each month, May-August.

Owners of classic cars, trucks, tricked-out motorcycles, and hot rods show off their pride and joy while providing a glimpse of early automotive and motorcycle technology. Chat with the owners to learn about the process that went into each machine, as many of them have taken years to create or restore.

What better place to celebrate the USA's Independence Day than on the scenic California coast?

Head to Half Moon Bay's Main Street for an old-fashioned 4th of July parade, complete with floats, music, antique cars, and equestrian riders. The parade is followed by a town picnic.

Head to Pillar Point Harbor to catch the traditional fireworks, which illuminate the sky right after sunset.