Quick Bites (16 total): Popular Thai landmark to close, Trashion Show's best dress and Earth Day wine.

Tonight brings last supper for a long-time standby in Pacific Grove.

The owners of Thai Bistro II (372-8700) on Central Avenue are retiring, and insiders tell me they're training the new owners of what will become a Japanese restaurant.

The cute converted house was a perennial contender for our Best of Monterey County Readers Poll.

In fact, it won for Best Thai food a whopping 15 times.

The staff was too busy prepping for a big private party to furnish more details.

More food nibbles appear below:

• You never want to see a friend get catastrophically hurt in a car accident, receive a diagnosis of cancer or lose a leg. But you do want to help when it does. Find out how friends are helping resilient heroes like Heather Ream, Rachael Short and Chris Fowler to do good in the face of intense obstacles on the blog soon. 

• A delicious development on Castroville's main drag: Birrieria & Restaurant Estilo Coalcoman is now open.

• Big Sur Roadhouse is rolling out a streamlined menu by new Exec Chef Brendan Esons. Get more on the blog soon.

• The winner of the Cima Collina Trashion Show, aka "Dumpster Diva," is Stephanie Barajas for "Artic Crystals” with white plastic, paper, and tissue dress inspired by ice crystals and the snow. Honorable mention went to my best in show, Weekly photo intern Merve Girgin Yanar, who dressed like a daisy. (Check out the field above right.)

• Mama Chula's superb Mexican dishes pair with Don Julio tequilas at Lopez Restaurante Y Cantina ($45, 324-4260) 6:30pm Thursday, April 16—anticipate tandems like mole de olla with Don Julio 70 Anejo Claro.

• The first 22 customers at Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley get a free wine tasting in honor of Earth Day (April 22).

• Rancho Cielo’s Drummond Culinary Academy students prepare a menu of dishes like butternut squash ravioli, creole prawns, roasted baby beets with arugula salad and The Ranch steak for a nice wine dinner 6pm Friday, April 24. Cima Collina and Manzoni Vineyards provide the pairings. ($85, 444-3521)

• Tax relief special: In honor of the IRS tax filing deadline tomorrow (Wednesday, April 15), Salinas City Barbecue pays the sales tax all day and pours Stone Brewing Co.'s IRS (Imperial Russian Stout) for $5.

• Tuesdays and Thursdays 3-6:30pm are wine time at McIntyre tasting room: the price for a glass of red, white or sparkling is set by the clock. So at 3:45pm the charge is $3.45.

• The California Rodeo has a new partner: Oregon’s Pendleton Whisky. They celebrate with a Passport to Pendleton tasting event 6-9pm Friday, April 24, at the Salinas Sports Complex. Patrons sample Pendleton and other Hood River Distillers spirits like Brokers Gin and 44 North vodkas. Dinner provided by Grower’s Pub ($75, RSVP to 775-3100).

• Olana Sullivan of Pour Girl Bartending mobile services makes a rare appearance as an exhibitor at MEarth Day April 25, shaking up organic mocktails. A seasoned hospitality industry vet, Sullivan more recently founded her own bartending company where she uses organic and local herbs and to produce handcraft specialty cocktails ($5 admission; free/kids under 12).

• Favaloro’s Big Night Bistro hosts four-course winemaker dinner with Rich Tanguay of Heller Estate Organic Vineyards 6pm Wednesday, April 22. That's only appropriate for Earth Day because Heller is the wine region's organic pioneer. Dishes include orecchiette pasta with house-made chicken sausage and a rotini di pollo stuffed with caramelized leeks, asiago and prosciutto. RSVP (373-8523).

• April 24 is Sauvignon Blanc Day—and a great day to visit a number of Carmel Valley Wine Experience member wineries, which will be offering bottle specials and complimentary tastings of their Sauvignon Blancs.

• In honor of landmark Little Napoli’s 25th anniversary, chef Rich Pèpe offers a 25 percent off discount to newsletter subscribers.

• Monterey Bacon Festival returns with a rock-solid music lineup coming June 27-29 and very little mention of bacon on the website.