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Mendo Lake Family Life

A Taste of Purple

With their spiky, pincushion appearance, purple sea urchins may look cool, but they are a big problem. The invasive species are devouring kelp forests, which would otherwise be home to a wide range of marine life. In an effort to educate the public about urchins and give them a chance to taste the little creatures, the Noyo Center for Marine Science and the Mendocino Area Parks Association are hosting the Mendocino Coast Purple Urchin Festival—the first such festival in the United States. The event will include urchin cracking and preparation demos, a five-course purple-urchin tasting, a sake seminar, and a concert with musicians Cheryl Wheeler and Kenny White. The festival will be held June 17–19 in various venues; for more information and admission fees, go to urchinfest.com.